The next general TAMBA meeting is Jan. 26 at 6pm in Room G2-b at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe.

At the Jan. 5 leadership meeting the following positions and officers were proposed, with the seven board position terms staggered as noted:

– President, Kevin Joell, 1 year

– Vice president, John Drum, 2 years

– Treasurer and Truckee liaison, Linda George, 1 year

– Secretary, Lauren Lindley, 2 years (might include database, email distribution, and membership coordination)

– Trail committee lead, Ben Fish, 2 years

– Agency liaison/government affairs director, Kevin Crifasi, 1 year

– Communications, outreach, PR coordinator, Nils Miller, 1 year

– Advocacy coordinator/youth outreach and education, Pete Fink

– North Shore liaison, Mike LeFrancois

Open position to be considered/filled later is the events director.

All those snow dances last fall worked. It’s time to have more pray for snow parties in Lake Tahoe.

Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Olympic gold medalist Hannah Kearney of Norwich, Vt., swept to her second win in two days in this weekend’s Nature Valley Freestyle Cup in the Olympic village of Lake Placid. It was her fourth straight individual moguls World Cup win.

Kearney has been nearly unbeatable, finishing on the podium in five out of the first six moguls and dual moguls World Cups. She remains the overall World Cup leader.

Since her victory at Lake Placid a year ago, Kearney has been the definition of consistency, winning seven of her last eight individual moguls events. Kearney’s hot streak does not count her win at last year’s U.S. Championships in Squaw Valley or her gold medal win at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

“My final run of the day was my best. One judge gave me a 5.0 and that’s such an honor,” exclaimed an exuberant Kearney. “It feels great to be in Lake Placid which is basically my second home. My mom and dad are here, my best friend was here yesterday and everything just felt right.”

Sunday’s event was the first time in five years that the U.S. men have placed four athletes in the top 10 of a World Cup. Jeremy Cota of Carrabassett Valley, Maine, was the top finisher in sixth, followed by David Digravio of Farmington, Maine, seventh, Bryon Wilson of Butte, Mont. eighth, and Patrick Deneen of Cle Elum, Wash., 10th.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup, Lake Placid, N.Y., Moguls

Men

1. Guilbaut Colas, France. 25.70

2. Mikael Kingsbury, Canada. 25.59

3. Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau, Canada. 25.16

–

6. Jeremy Cota, Carrabassett Valley, ME. 23.98

7. David Digravio, Farmington, ME. 23.68

8. Bryon Wilson, Butte, MT. 23.00

10. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA. 15.18

–

(Results based on qualification)

22. Ryan Dyer, Steamboat Springs, CO

23. Sho Kashima, Lake Tahoe, CA

29. Jimmy Discoe, Telluride, CO

31. Jay Panther, Park City, UT

36. Nathan Roberts, Park City, UT

39. Joe Discoe, Telluride, CO

Women

1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT. 26.12

2. Chloe Dufor-Lapointe, Canada. 24.85

3. Kristi Richards, Canada. 24.57

–

6. Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT. 23.04

11. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO. 20.75

–

(Results based on qualification)

14. Kayla Snyderman, Winchester, MA

15. Alison Digravio, Farmington, ME

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

–

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

–

4. Megan Ginter, Stevens Pass, WA, 71.25

5. Madison Blackley, Park City, UT, 54.25

6. Nicki Slechta, Los Angeles, CA, 21.50

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.)

By Lindsey Sine, U.S. Snowboarding

KILLINGTON, Vt. – Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) has done it again. Vito nailed his runs in the icy Vermont halfpipe Saturday to take his second Dew Tour win of the season in the three stop series. Joining him in the winner’s circle was none other than Vermont native and all around halfpipe slayer Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT) whose 95.75 score not only got her first, but gave her the honor of having the highest scored women’s run in Dew Tour history.

The win marked the third overall this season for Vito, who also took first at the Visa U.S. Halfpipe Grand Prix in Colorado in December. He led the competition after the first run, but upped the ante in his second with back-to-back double corks, a frontside 10 and a frontside tailgrab, earning the top score of 93.00 on his victory lap.

“I feel great about landing a solid run out here. The halfpipe was good and everyone rode really well overall,” Vito said. “I feel good heading into Snowbasin next month, and hopefully I can just stay on my feet.”

The streak of three puts him in a good string of consistency as he looks ahead to the X Games as well as the final stop of the Dew Tour at Snowbasin, Utah in the beginning of February.

Colorado’s JJ Thomas (Golden, CO) took second for the day, followed by Mason Aguirre (Duluth, MN) in third.

For Clark, the Killington Dew Tour stop marked her fourth win thus far in the season, including the Grand Prix in Colorado, the O’N’eill Evolution halfpipe comp, and the Burton European Open a week ago.

“Every day is a new day and it’s hard to take the scale from one event to the next in a great sport like snowboarding,” Clark said. “I’m really happy with the way I rode and I walked away with a win I can be happy with.”

Now, the riders move on to Aspen for the X Games.

Official results, 2011 Winter Dew Tour. Killington, Vt., Halfpipe

Men

1. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 93.00

2. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 88.00

3. Mason Aguirre, Duluth, MN, 86.50

–

4. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 83.50

5. Spencer Shaw, Stratton, VT, 83.00

6. Matt Ladley, Steamboat Springs, CO, 82.00

7. Ben Watts, Bend, OR, 75.25

8. Trevor Jacob, Malibu, CA, 71.50

9. Zack Black, Breckenridge, CO, 58.00

10. Jack Mitrani, Mammoth Mountain, CO, 55.50

Women

1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 95.75

2. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 92.25

3. Queralt Castellet, Spain, 86.00

–

4. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 81.50

6. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA, 46.25

By Elizabeth Karam, U.S. Snowboard Team

LA MOLINA, Spain – Allyson Carroll of Truckee finished fifth in the FIS World Snowboard Championship slopestyle event in La Molina, Spain. Saturday’s contest marked the World Snowboard Championship slopestyle debut. Slopestyle snowboarding is one of four events being considered for the possible inclusion in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

After weather delays pushed the qualifier from Friday to Saturday, Belarus’s Seppe Smits and Finland’s Enni Rukajarvi came out on top to win. U.S. rider Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City) just missed qualifying for finals in 12th. Benji Farrow (Mt. Holly, VT) and Paul Brichta (Burnsville, MN) competed in the men’s division but failed to qualify for finals.

In front of a huge crowd, Carroll took full of advantage of every run, consisting of three roller features followed by three large feature jumps and ending with a rail feature, scoring a 14.2 to qualify for the finals in fourth.

“Going into qualifiers I just wanted to land my run, so I did kind of a safety run,” explained Carroll of her strategy.

Feeding off the energy of the crowd, once in the finals Carroll continued to throw it down, finishing in fifth. Rukajarvi never let the lead slip, sweeping both the qualifier and final to take home the victory. Sarka Pancochova of the Czech Republic and Sheely Gotlieb of New Zealand placed second and third.

“It was an awesome experience. It was way cooler than I expected,” said Carroll. “The vibe of the whole contest was really good. It was an all around great contest.”

Smits landed the crown for the men, followed by Sweden’s Niklas Mattson and Finland’s Ville Paumola in second and third.

Official results, FIS World Snowboard Championships, La Molina, Spain, Slopestyle

Men

1. Seppe Smits, Belarus

2. Niklas Mattsson, Sweden

3. Ville Paumola, Finland

–

26. Benji Farrow, Mt. Holly, VT

31. Paul Brichta, Burnsville, MN

Women

1. Enni Rukajarvi, Finland

2. Sarka Pancochova, Czech Republic

3. Shelly Gotlieb, New Zealand

–

5. Allyson Carroll, Truckee, CA,

12. Faye Guilini, Salt Lake City, 15.1

By Elizabeth Karam, U.S. Ski Team

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Olympic champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) won her third World Cup of the season at the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup in Lake Placid, NY. Jeremy Cota (Carrabassett Valley, ME) landed his first career World Cup podium in third. Kearney continues to hold the World Cup leader bib.

The Lake Placid streak for the U.S. is definitely still alive. After a successful day for the U.S. Friday with aerialists Ashley Caldwell (Charleston, SC) winning and Ryan St. Onge (Winter Park, CO), placing second, the momentum carried into Saturday’s moguls competition. The USA earned half of the top five spots, two men and three women, showing the depth of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team’s moguls skiers.

“There’s a lot of depth on our team and a lot of people stepped up,” said Moguls Head Coach Scott Rawles.

Kearney kept her own streak in motion, taking the top spot on the podium. She once again edged out 2010 Olympic silver medalist Canadian Jennifer Heil with Audrey Robichaud, also of Canada, in third.

The 2011 World Championships are scheduled for Feb. 2-5 at Deer Valley Resort and Park City.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup – Nature Valley Freestyle Cup

Men

1. Colas Guilbaut, France, 25.81

2. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada, 25.59

3. Jeremy Cota, Carrabassett Valley, ME, 25.31

–

5. David DiGravio, Farmington, ME, 24.40

9. Joe Discoe, Telluride, CO, 21.85

11. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 20.58

12. Bryon Wilson, Butte, MT, 19.23

16. Ryan Dyer, Steamboat Springs, CO, 22.03

18. Jimmy Discoe, Ridgway, CO, 21.48

19. Jay Panther, Park City, UT, 21.45

31. Nate Roberts, Park City, UT, 18.58

34. Sho Kashima, Lake Tahoe, CA, 15.82

Women

1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 25.45

2. Jennifer Heil, Canada, 24.72

3. Audrey Robichaud, Canada, 24.41

–

4. Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT, 24.23

5. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO, 23.73

9. Alison DiGravio, Farmington, ME, 22.18

13. Alyssa Lawson, Boulder, CO, 20.60

14. Kayla Snyderman, Winchester, MA, 20.55

24. Brittany Loweree, Point Lookout, NY, 18.20

37. Heidi Kloser, Vail, CO, 12.51

It’s a beautiful spring-like day at Lake Tahoe. Enjoy the slippery slopes, and ski and ride with care.

Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Lake Tahoe.