Make your Valentine’s Day something to remember by renewing your vows. Recommit your love in a nondenominational, spiritual and joyous ceremony.
Call Unity at the Lake (530.544.2266) to make a reschedule a time between 1-5pm on Feb. 14.
By U.S. Snowboarding News
KILLINGTON, Vt. – Jamie Anderson of South Lake Tahoe and Norway’s Torstein Horgmo made it two-for-two Sunday as they each pulled in their second Winter Dew Tour slopestyle wins during the Killington stop of the three-part series.
Being undefeated in the men and women’s slopestyle for the 2011 tour puts Anderson and Horgmo in the lead for the overall tour rankings.
“I feel great. I’m really excited,” Anderson said. “This event has been great, and I’m happy to end it with a win. I feel confident heading into the final stop.”
Anderson took the win thanks to an incredible second run that included a blunt on the rail, fifty-fifty frontboard, boardslide switch out and a front 3 mute to give her a score of 91.25.
Canada’s Spencer O’Brien finished second, and New Zealand’s Rebecca Torr followed behind in third.
Horgmo led the way with his first run, putting together a cab 270 to fakie, switch blunt 270 on to switch tailslide 270 out on the up rail, switch frontside double cork 10, switch back 12 and a double cork.
The Dew Tour slopestyle comes on the heels of the sport’s inaugural appearance at snowboard World Championships in La Molina, Spain, on Jan. 22 where Allyson Carroll of Truckee notched a fifth in the competition, which is being considered for Olympic inclusion.
Official results, Winter Dew Tour, Killington, Vt., Slopestyle
Men’s
1. Torstein Horgmo, Norway, 95.25
2. Eric Willett, Breckenridge, CO, 92.50
3. Mark McMorris, Canada, 90.50
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4. Tyler Flanagan, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 82.50.
5. Brandon Reis, Peterborough, NH, 68.00.
6. Jeremy Thompson, Elka Park, NY, 65.00
9. Sage Kotsenburg, Park City, UT, 53.25
10. Tim Humphreys, Basking Ridge, NJ, 52.00
Women’s
1. Jamie Anderson, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 91.25
2. Spencer O’Brien, Canada, 87.25
3. Rebecca Torr, New Zealand, 74.75
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4. Megan Ginter, Stevens Pass, WA, 71.25
5. Madison Blackley, Park City, UT, 54.25
6. Nicki Slechta, Los Angeles, CA, 21.50
By Reno Gazette-Journal
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it has found a body in the area of the Mount Rose summit. The sheriff’s office used its RAVEN helicopter to move the body from where it was found to the highway so it could be transported. The Mount Rose Highway was briefly closed so the helicopter could land.
Authorities are not commenting on the cause of death or on the suspected identity of the dead person and said the case remains under investigation.
More of the same on the slopes of Tahoe today — warm, sunny, and hard pack conditions.
Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.
By Susan Wood
BEAVER CREEK – Deer who?
Beaver Creek, the Vail Valley-area ski resort that considers the comfort of the roaming resident elk like it does its patrons, takes the experience of a real snowsports vacation to new heights.
Where else would a family-oriented ski area in the Vail Resorts’ six-area lineup offer such skiing extremes to differing abilities, yet appeal to the pleasure of all who seek a getaway that consumes the enthusiast in sense of fun and adventure without being overbearing? The advertising tag line “not exactly roughing it” couldn’t be more appropriate.
At the top of the 11,440-foot summit off the Cinch Express chairlift lay the possibilities. Many long groomed runs mark the front side of the resort like its Park City, Utah, counterpart — Deer Valley. On a powder day, skiers are advised to head over to the more unkept Grouse Mountain.
The Gore Mountain Range in the distance from Beaver Creek. Photos/Kathryn Reed
Turn right off the BC summit, and you can test your nerve and skill on the famed Birds of Prey Men’s Downhill Course – characterized as one of the three toughest in the world. Plans are in order to expand the expert offering to women racers just east of the men’s downhill for the 2015 World Championships. The U.S. Forest Service has accepted the plan and has put it out for public comment.
“This is an enormous deal – tremendous for our community. It focuses the world spotlight here,” said resort spokeswoman Jen Brown, herself a member of the U.S. Ski Team as a teenager.
Still, one doesn’t have to be a world-class racer to appreciate the thoughtfulness and attention to detail of Beaver Creek. At that same summit, a few beginner runs meander down the slope.
“At most resorts, green skiers only experience the bottom level of the resort where there’s not as good of snow (as the top),” tour leader Dawn Fogarty said before taking her group of 11 eager skiers on a two-hour excursion. Fogarty volunteers 20 days of her life in exchange for a ski pass. Same with her smiling counterpart Jim Knez. The duo, an architect and retired airline pilot, respectively, appear to genuinely like their extracurricular jobs. They gleamed at the prospect of taking the long, open Harrier run billed as the volunteers’ favorite.
She summoned a shot of gourmet hot chocolate at the start of the tour for those who followed, brought history lessons to light and introduced a wide reach of the 1,815 acres of terrain — from runs off the Rose Bowl chairlift to Bachelor Gulch. Fogarty designed one of the first homes in the area. Now a stately Ritz Carlton with a mountain motif stands at the base.
Seven elk herds roam through the area, and the resort accommodates them. Clusters of trees no wider than 150 feet apart dot the runs because research shows the elk won’t cross otherwise. Right above the gulch, a 400-acre Nordic trail system for cross country skiing and snowshoeing provides another option to alpine skiing. Just below the 9,560 summit, Trapper’s Cabin became known as the site of a famous date of the “Bachelor” television show. The ski-in, ski-out cabin, where a private cook can be hired, is located off the Intertwine run toward the Strawberry Park Express lift. Strawberries once grew there.
There’s no shortage of options to feeding the regulars or newbies at Beaver Creek. The Spruce Saddle Restaurant at mid-mountain, with its new nearby wedding deck overlooking the Gore Range, combines regular ski area menu items like pizza and soup with sushi. The $9.95 lunch special – something Vail Resorts implemented as one answer to the recession – featured London broil with mashed potatoes and a roll.
Evening dining takes the other extreme. After hours, one can sign up for a pricey but exquisite, on-mountain dinner at Beano’s Cabin off the Larkspur chairlift. Just take a snowcat-driven sleigh ride below millions of stars to get there. Along the way, a banjo picker from Tennessee makes the 15-minute ride go by fast. Take the “cabin” in Beano’s to heart. Bring your wallet. The meals combined with a cozy atmosphere reflect a luxurious dining experience that runs in the hundreds of dollars.
And for more of the casual outdoor option during the day, Mamie’s Mountain Grill lets you throw your own burger on the grill and either sit out on the patio or eat inside the nearby yurt. The welcome tour was treated to a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream, while basking under the afternoon sun.
“It’s days like these that I feel sorry for people who don’t ski,” said Kathy of Atlanta, while relaxing from the tour at one of the picnic tables.
It’s no wonder Knez smiles a lot. He’s had one of the toughest jobs on the mountain – handing out warm chocolate chip cookies at the village base at 3:30pm.
“That’s when you’re everybody’s best friend,” he said.
It seems many of the Beaver Creek workers aim for that goal. The ski resort comes with extensive training in guest services for a culture where no stone of helpful and hospitable service is left unturned. Ambassadors, within a program Vail Resorts implemented to assure above-and-beyond care, roam the grounds and make contact to see to it guests who may pay $108 for an adult day lift ticket can share every request or whim at the drop of a hat.
Among the whims of bargain seekers, weekly lift ticket specials and discounted menu items are offered. Events cater to the desires of most in the family. Upcoming is the Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic presented by Bon Appetit on Jan. 27. Those wanting to eat up the slopes may participate in the Talons Challenge in which one can ski or ride 13 black diamond and double black runs in one day – Feb. 26.
Go online for more information. As of this past week, the 30-year-old ski resort had a snowpack of 49 inches on its 25 lifts that serve 149 runs from a base of 8,100 feet at the village off Interstate 70.
ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)
The nonprofit Tahoe Fund is partnering with nine Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts in California and Nevada to offer a free lift ticket for every purchase of a Lake Tahoe license plate.
Plate sales fund bike trails, lakefront parks, interpretive programs and other tangible projects that enhance the Tahoe experience for residents and visitors alike.
Newly-issued Tahoe plates are $50 in California and $61 in Nevada.
The Tahoe Fund works with the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Nevada Division of State Lands as well as public and private entities to identify and obtain funding for on-the-ground projects that support conservation, recreation and environmental education in the Lake Tahoe basin.
The California and Nevada Tahoe plates generate about $1.5 million annually for conservation and recreation projects in the Tahoe basin.
The Plate for Powder Program runs through the 2010–11 season, or until tickets are sold out. Participating ski areas include Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Homewood, Heavenly, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl, Tahoe Donner, and Tahoe Cross Country.
To purchase a Tahoe plate and receive your complimentary lift ticket, visit www.tahoeplates.com or www.tahoefund.org.
To the community,
Thank you to all members of the South Shore community who attended Tahoe Chamber’s Business After Hours Mixer hosted by Riva Grill last week. The event brought generous support to local food banks and demonstrated our community’s dedication to South Lake Tahoe.
Cash donations amounting to $1,500.00 were collected and have been donated to local food banks to help feed less fortunate South Shore families and individuals this winter season.
A special thanks to Scott Craig and his staff at the Riva Grill for generously hosting this wonderful event. Over 125 people enjoyed the delicious foods and beverages offered.
Kudos to Sessions Salon, Blue Angel Café, Opal, the Fallen Angel, Bistro Danielle, 4 Seasons Soup & Salad Café, BioSpirit, ServPro, Lake Tahoe Adventures, Ski Butlers, Bethany Owens, and Hard Rock Café for their donations to the event raffle.
Once again, thank you very much to everyone who attended and helped the South Shore community start off 2011 on the right foot.
Sincerely,
Isabella Mill, Events & Communications coordinator
By Ed Fletcher and Bobby Caina Calvan, Sacramento Bee
It’s not unusual for schools, in some instances, to test kids for drugs or alcohol, and home-testing kits have been available to parents for years.
But law enforcement and schools in Placer County are teaming up to make it easier for parents to keep tabs on their kids.
They’re offering parents home alcohol and drug screening kits at deeply discounted prices – all for sale at the Sheriff’s Department and the six high schools it serves.
While some suggest parents or guardians could hurt their relationships with their wards by asking them for a urine sample, backers say having the facts can spark an honest conversation.
Under the program, a 10-panel drug screening kit, which sells for about $40 in stores, will be sold for $10 at the Sheriff’s Department and at Granite Bay, Del Oro, Chana, Colfax, Foresthill, and North Tahoe high schools. Alcohol test strips sell for $2.
Four young women from the South Shore are being recognized for making the community and world a better place through their volunteerism.
Riana Cerceo, Haley Dressell, Allyson Marchus and Alejandra Medina will be formally recognized March 8 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe on National Women’s Day. Each will also receive $100.
Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe and Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra give the Violet Richardson Award each year to young women ages 14-17.
The Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards honor women who provide the primary financial support for their families, and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program, to help them with their education. This year the two South Lake Tahoe Soroptimist clubs are awarding Tiffany Reid and Lisa Shafer the distinction, with come with a check for $2,000.
Celebrate Mardi Gras in Minden on March 4 benefits Austin’s House. The third annual Mardi Gras Magic Dinner & Dance is at the Carson Valley Inn.
This fundraiser will recreate the party atmosphere of New Orleans on Fat Tuesday with food, music, dancing, raffle prizes and a Grand Prize drawing for a trip to The Big Easy.
The evening starts at 6pm with a cocktail hour. Then feast on a Cajun buffet dinner featuring peel and eat shrimp, chicken gumbo, blackened fish, sausage steamed in beer, shrimp etouffee and smoked rib eye roast with all of the trimmings.
After dinner, the Mardi Gras Magic party hits full stride with dancing music provided by Fabrizio. Raffle prizes will be drawn every 15 minutes. The silent auction features donated prizes from local businesses.
Tickets are $50. Tables of 10 are available for $500. Only 200 tickets will be sold. Call Austin’s House at (775) 267.6711 to order your tickets. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
Austin’s House is the only emergency children’s shelter in rural Northern Nevada.