"Colorado Winter Special Olympics at Copper Mountain"

This Sunday and Monday, Copper Mountain will host the Colorado Special Olympics Winter Games. The athletes will participate in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure and speed skating, snowshoeing, and snowboarding.

This season is the 20th consecutive year that Copper has hosted the Winter Special Olympics, and they will continue the tradition until 2010. More than 400 athletes from around the state will compete over the two-day competition.

If you’re looking for a reason to head out to the mountain this weekend, make sure to check out the competitions in the afternoon. Don’t miss the opening ceremonies including the Copper Mountain Ski Patrol Flame Parade and fireworks.

Copper Mountain is still looking for volunteers to assist with the events. For more information on volunteering please visit www.specialolympicsco.org/get/get_involved.html

"Are You Up For The "Tele" Challenge?"

Telemark skiing (or “tele”) has been around for hundreds, or possibly thousands of years. It all began when Norwegian, Sondre Norheim, popularized the new type of skiing. He is recognized today as the father of telemark skiing. Telemarking is mostly about the turn and your heel.

When telemarking, one ski is advanced in front of the other, and the heel is raised on the rear ski. The skier is in a very bent knee position. Now just picture this imaginary skier in your head. Although I have never tried this type of skiing, I have total respect for anyone who does this on a weekly or even monthly basis. The amount of leg and core strength this must take is extraordinary!

When telemarking was fist invented, it was used for traveling long distances, not for recreation. Telemarking was a viable technique for the equipment of the day. The telemark position allowed skiers to make easier turns, however, with wooden skis I can’t imagine how that would be anywhere close to “easy.”

You can visit Beaver Creek Mountain this Saturday for one of the seven telemark skiing workshops offered throughout the season. Equipment rentals are available.

"Reach your True Ski Potential"

As I check out my options at the top of the Mercury Chair at Breckenridge Ski Resort, I can veer to the right and take the blue cruiser down to the bottom, or I can adventure into the double black diamond tree run to the right.

I ask myself whether I’m ready for the challenge, or if I should play it safe. I hesitate for a moment and head to the narrow opening to my right. The snow is un-groomed and I pick up speed as the pitch becomes steeper. Most skiers find themselves stuck where they are comfortable and hesitate to advance to the next level.

There are several exercises that can help skiers reach their true potential. The first step is having confidence and being mentally prepared, however, you cannot throw yourself onto a challenging run without being physically fit.

Preseason training is a great way to prepare yourself for improvement on the mountain. Some ways to improve include:

1) Cardiovascular conditioning such as mountain biking or jogging.
2) Strengthening leg muscles by doing squats on a single leg.
3) Improve agility by hoping from side to side while staying in a squat position.
4) Flexibility can be improved through several exercises focusing on the back, legs, and quadriceps.
5) Power can be enhanced by practicing polymetrics.

For the latest news on how to get in shape for skiing check out Ski Magazine.

"Vail's Snow: Best in Seven Years"

Residents of the Vail and the Summit County area are claiming that this year’s snow is the best they have seen in several years. The average snowfall each year at Vail Mountain through Jan. 31 is 189 inches, however this season they have already gotten 239 inches.

“It’s just endless powder,” said Tom Calvin. The lucky local has already skied about 60 days this season. Snowing 24 of the 31 days in January, this is Vail’s snowiest year in seven years.

Climatologist, Klaus Wolter, originally predicted a dry season, but has been proven wrong thus far. As we have seen in the past years, weather patterns don’t last all winter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a dry February and March.

This is unfortunate news for fans of spring skiing. There’s nothing like skiing fresh powder on a sunny spring afternoon. Let’s just hope that if it keeps snowing the snowplow drivers can clear the roads so we can get out there!

To find out the latest snow report in the mountains visit http://www.coloradoski.com/SnowReport/.

"Know Your Limit: Are You Prepared For Backcountry Skiing?"

More and more backcountry skiers are hitting up East Vail’s chutes, and conditions are growing worse as more and more snow falls in the area.

Despite two deaths, the area can not be shut down because it is not part of the ski company’s permit area. Forest Service officials have been warning skiers of the dangers at the back country gate at the top of Vail Mountain.

Both skiers were carrying rescue equipment, which is essential while skiing backcountry, such as shovels, beacons, and probes. However, when conditions are dangerous your equipment can only do so much.

If you plan on skiing backcountry, make sure you are knowledgeable on what to do in case of an avalanche and how to ride safely.

Here are some tips…

1) Take an avalanche safety course to learn personal safety and rescue techniques.

2) Always ski with a buddy.

3) Practice searching for your partners avalanche transceivers.

4) Research your route and show conditions in the area you plan to ski.

5) Always carry avalanche equipment (shovels, beacons, probes) as well as extra clothes, high energy food, and plenty of water.

6) Be aware of your surroundings.

If you plan on skiing backcountry know your limit and never be afraid to say no if the terrain doesn’t look safe.

For more information on avalanche safety visit http://classic.mountainzone.com/features/avalanche/

"Locals Say Goodbye to Smoke Shacks"

For several years now, locals living in the Breckenridge area have been building little cabins in between the runs at Breckenridge Ski Resorts. These huts, known as “smoke shacks,” are of serious concern to the resort because the resort leases the terrain from the U.S. Forest Service.

“Anything and everything [Breckenridge Ski Patrol finds] will be torn down,” said Breckenridge spokeswoman, Emily Jacob.

Using materials from the forest is illegal and Breckenridge officials feel that they must restore the area to its purity.

Many locals and riders that know the mountain well would be heartbroken to ride a shack-less Breckenridge. It is a tradition to stop by the shacks while riding peak nine or 10.

The first time that I arrived at the peak 10 shack known as Leo’s, I was amazed at how extravagant it was. It has two stories, windows, tables, benches, and even Ninja Turtle action figures dangling from the ceiling.

Apparently people have built cabins at all of the other resorts in the Summit County area, however, I have only visited Breckenridge’s shacks.

Another problem the “smoke shacks” pose for the resort is that people bring food and leave their trash for the animals to find. I can confirm that the shacks that I have visited have been pretty trashed and I’m sure the name hints at what goes on inside.

Aside from the environmental and safety problems that the shacks pose, most people skiing on a day-to-day basis don’t even know that the cabins exist. Thomas Berger, a Summit County resident, is determined to keep the “smoke shacks” alive.

I guess I’ll know whether or not the Breckenridge Ski Patrol has made any progress on my next adventure there.

"Make History on Winter Park's Panoramic Express"

A new improvement at Winter Park/Mary Jane ski resort has allowed everyone make history. The new Panoramic Express Lift is the highest six-person chairlift in North America. The lift will hoist skiiers up to 12,060 feet in the air.

Coming from someone who road this lift yesterday, I can confidently say that it is the Cadillac of ski lifts. Mary Jane is one of the top five ski resorts in North America for skiing bumps. Fans of the resort appreciate resting their knees on a luxurious lift like the Panoramic.

Replacing the Timberline Lift, which took 11 minutes to reach the top of the Parsenn Bowl, a ride on the Panoramic Express takes only seven minutes. In addition to the new lift, 100 acres of new terrain has opened on the Mary Jane side of the resort.

The chairlifts mind-blowing view of the Continental Divide from over 12,000 feet will be sure to draw in tourists from all over the world.