Copper Mountain announces February special events

#Copper Mountain, Colorado.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News

Copper Mountain Resort received 35 inches of snow a week ago, bringing its season total to 166 inches.

With conditions the best they’ve been in years, mountain officials announced this week its calendar of special events for February, providing additional incentive to fall in love with Copper Mountain this season.

Beginning Friday, Feb. 14 and running through Monday, Feb. 17, Copper Mountain will host its annual wine festival, Copper Uncorked and In Love, featuring affordable wines from across the globe. Local chefs also will be on hand to compete for best pairing during the Wine-n-Wing Challenge scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 15.

Following the competition, Copper Mountain Resort ambassadors will lead a moonlight snowshoe tour. The tour takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. beginning in the West Village. The tour will then traverse frozen creeks and wooded trails en route to a moonlit meadow.

Space is limited and reservations can be made by calling guest services at 968-2318 ext. 45861. For more information about Copper Uncorked, visit www.coppercolorado.com.

In addition to its February special events, Copper Mountain officials said Woodward Winter Camps are in full swing for both skiers and riders. Winter Camps follow the same progression as the regularly offered Freestyle Lessons, including a half-day in the Woodward at Copper Barn and a half-day spent in Woodward’s award-winning terrain parks.

Copper’s freestyle camps also feature free gear giveaways thanks to camp-specific partnerships with some of the hottest ski and snowboard brands in the industry. Woodward coaches help skiers and riders take tricks to the next level and boast an 85 percent success rate in meeting camper’s goals. For more information on Woodward Winter Camps, including a full list of dates and sponsors, visit www.woodwardatcopper.com.

There’s still time to lock in some personal days with the $119 Snow Day Pass, good for unlimited riding at Copper Mountain anytime the slopes are graced with 4 inches or more of new snow.

Visit www.CopperColorado.com for the latest information on winter pass products, lodging deals and terrain updates.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

High Gear looks at spherical googles with the Smith I/O and VZ El Kabong

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Special to the Daily |

What separates a $50 pair of ski goggles from a $235 pair? Sure, sometimes it’s the name on the goggle strap, but often it’s the technology in the goggle itself, i.e., the quality of the lens. Entering the $200 range, you’re typically looking at better antifogging capability and features such as light-sensitive adjusting lenses.

Just like a good pair of boots or a good pair of skis, the right goggles can be worth the investment and will improve a skier’s or snowboarder’s on-mountain experience. Fogged-up goggles or a pair that make you feel like you’re looking through a tunnel everywhere you go can really make for a frustrating day on the mountain.

Anyone hitting the hill for more than the annual trip should consider investing in some solid eyewear.

This week, we checked out the world of spherical lens goggles with the Smith Optics I/O and VonZipper (VZ) El Kabongs to see if spherical lenses lived up to the hype. Not only that, but we also got to test the Smith’s photochromic, light-adjusting lens technology, which lightens and darkens based on changing weather conditions.

Spoiler alert: Spherical lenses make a difference, and the photochromic lens is awesome.

Spherical vs. Flat lenses

The biggest price jump between a cheaper, entry-level goggle and a higher-end model has to do with the lens — specifically, is it spherical or flat? From there, costs increase slightly for polarized or light-adjusting lenses. The difference between spherical and flat, or nonspherical, lenses is in field of vision and amount of light distortion. Spherical lenses allow for a wider field of view, greatly improving peripheral vision, which obviously is nice on a ski slope. Like the name implies, spherical lenses are rounded, designed to simulate the lens in your eye. The spherical lens allows light to pass through the way it’s supposed to. A flat lens will bend light, creating some degree of distortion. A flat lens also can create tunnel vision, whereas a spherical lens opens your field of view.

Having long opted for the cheaper alternative, I immediately noticed the difference the spherical lens makes while testing the Smith and VZ models. I was never a fan of goggles and often opted for sunglasses instead, in order to not lose peripheral vision. I also constantly found myself putting goggles on my head if I was trying to find something in a jacket pocket on a chairlift, for example.

Both the Smith I/O and the VZ El Kabongs made it much easier to look down and see what I was doing than did my previous flat-lens goggles, and on the slope, my peripheral vision was greatly increased. As far as spherical lenses are concerned, I’m sold. Still, frame design and padding could potentially counter the benefits of a spherical lens, but that was not the case with the models tested.

Both also offer features that makes it easy to change lenses and have both a variety of replacement lens options.

Heres a quick look at each:

Smith I/O goggle with photochromic and polarized lenses

While the lens on the I/O is extremely easy to pop out to change — thanks to its two-clip quick-release system — with Smith’s photochromic light-adjusting lens, you may never need to. Its rose-tinting lightens and darkens based on weather conditions, making it extremely versatile in most situations. Only on the sunniest of days would a more tinted lens be a consideration, and even then the photochromic lens performed admirably. It absolutely shined in low light. Smith Optics goggles come with a suitable alternate lense. We also tested the company’s polarized lens, which is a great option for a sunny day. Polarized lenses reduce glare. Smith’s polarized lens also holds up pretty well in low light. In addition, they offer plenty of other replacement lens options in the $40 to $100 range.

As for the design, the I/O offers a medium fit suitable for most head sizes. The three-layer foam makes for a comfortable, breathable fit while not obstructing the field of vision that the spherical lens offers. You really can see more of what’s around you.

The I/O also offers a 5X antifog dual-lens technology. When tested, the lenses fogged only slightly while wearing a neck gator and blowing directly upward. Even then, the lens cleared quickly. Assuming that’s not how you breathe while skiing, there should be no trouble. The goggle’s strap has a quick release and a rubber strip that helps keep it from slipping on a helmet.

All in all, this is a solid, extremely versatile goggle well worth the investment.

Retail: $175 to $235; replacement lens: $50 to $100

VonZipper El Kabong

VZ is known for its stylish, oversized reflective lenses, and while a number of the company’s models look large, they actually fit most head sizes. The El Kabongs we tested offer a number of features similar to Smith’s I/O goggle; in fact, they could probably be goggle cousins. The El Kabongs also have quick release with push-button clips on either side of the lens, and like the I/O, the frameless design makes it easy to change lenses.

While VZ doesn’t currently offer light-adjusting lenses, the company does have a variety of tint options, including polarized lenses. And for a rider going for steeze, VZ provides a number of mirrored-lens colors.

The oversized lens also provides an excellent field of vision while not feeling bulky or cumbersome. We tested one of the SpaceGlaze green-tinted lenses. It performed admirably in both sun and low light. The VZ goggle also comes with a yellow replacement lens well suited to foggy, low or flat light conditions. The El Kabong’s foam padding with polarfleece exterior provides both comfort and breathability. The dual-lens antifog system also keeps the goggles from fogging up.

The El Kabongs are a solid blend of style and performance and a great option to take to the slopes.

Retail: $185; replacement lens: $40 to $60

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Breckenridge Music Festival Encore Winter Concert Series continues in Dillon

#Dillon, Colorado.

The Breckenridge Music Festival’s Encore Winter Series presents an afternoon of sonatas and trios with pianist Michael Linville, violinist Kate Hatmaker and cellist Alex Greenbaum in a program entitled Beethoven, Debussy and Mendelssohn. The program features Beethoven’s Third Cello Sonata, the Debussy Violin Sonata and the Piano Trio in D Minor by Mendelssohn.

The program begins with Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major. The A major cello sonata of 1808 dates from the most productive period of Beethoven’s life. It was written during the same time period as his Fifth and Sixth symphonies and several of his most important compositions, including three of his most well-known solo piano works, the Moonlight, Appassionata and Waldstein sonatas.

The Violin Sonata in G Minor was Debussy’s final composition before his death from cancer in 1918 and forms the third in a projected series of six solo sonatas — the first two being the Cello Sonata of 1915 and the Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp of 1916. The work received its premiere in May 1917 with Debussy at the piano — his last public performance. This music, while rather more serious than some of his earlier works, is still overflowing with Debussy’s characteristic inventiveness, lyricism and color.

Closing the program is Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor. The D minor piano trio was completed in July 1839.The trio is full of driving energy, from the restless agitation of the first movement to the animated dance of the scherzo to the powerful forward rush of the finale. The work has remained one of Mendelssohn’s most popular and beloved instrumental creations.

About the musicians

Pianist, percussionist, conductor, arranger and educator Linville is currently the director of chamber music activities for the New World Symphony. Linville is also the artistic coordinator of the New World Percussion Consort, an ensemble dedicated to the performance of contemporary chamber music that features percussion. As a soloist, Linville has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, the New World Symphony, the BMF and the National Repertory Orchestra. He has also performed with the Honolulu and Pasadena symphonies, the Florida Orchestra and the Florida Philharmonic. His playing can be heard on a number of recordings, including “New World Jazz,” “A Night in the Tropics,” “Orchestral Music of Bernstein” and “White Mares of the Moon,” which Linville also produced.

Born in New York, cellist Greenbaum enjoys a diverse and adventurous musical life.

As one of the principal cellists of The Knights, he has performed and recorded throughout the United States and Europe and collaborated with some of his musical heroes. An avid chamber musician and advocate for the music of our time, Greenbaum’s affiliations include San Diego New Music and the Tarab Cello Ensemble, and he often appears on San Diego’s Art of Élan series. His varied interests have led to collaborations with dance companies, studies of baroque cello and performances throughout Mexico. He lives in San Diego.

Hatmaker is currently a violinist with the San Diego Symphony, in addition to being the co-founder and artistic director of San Diego’s newest chamber music organization, Art of Élan. Hatmaker has played with a wide variety of American orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony, and has been a featured soloist with the San Diego Symphony and the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra. She completed her Master of Music at Carnegie Mellon University and her undergraduate training at both the University of Iowa and the Sorbonne University in Paris, earning degrees in both political science and French.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Keith Martin captains Breckenridge’s international snow sculpting team

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Special to the Daily 

When Keith Martin moved to Breckenridge in 2001, his balcony looked right out onto the parking lot where the snow sculptures go up every winter during the International Snow Sculpture Championships.

“I told my wife — we were sitting right there on the patio, overlooking the parking lot — and I said, ‘I’m going to do that someday,’” Martin said.

Not only has he kept his word, but Martin is also the captain of Team Breck, the local snow-sculpting team whose founders started the championships 24 years ago.

Drawn to the artistry of snow and ice

Martin’s love affair with snow and ice sculpting started even before he arrived in Summit County. He can recall exactly the moment when he knew he wanted to be a sculptor — while attending culinary school in Pennsylvania, he was given a block of ice to carve as a table decoration. Having been drawn to the culinary field by its artistic opportunities, the icy challenge intrigued him and he was hooked.

“I knew it right then,” he said.

Martin spent years working for Hearthstone Catering, improving his artistic and presentation skills and keeping an eye out for ways to follow the passion that was calling to him.

In 2006, he got his big chance. As it turned out, the team from Germany that year had only two people, and they needed a third to have any hope at competing. A colleague connected them with Martin, and they got started.

“The dynamics just clicked,” Martin said of working with his first teammates, a couple that is now married.

It turned out that it was the first snow sculpture for them, as well, so everyone started out on equal footing, working together and finding a rhythm with one another.

“None of us had ever sculpted snow before, and we won a bronze medal,” Martin said of the result. “What a great accomplishment!”

Making the team

Working with the Germans jumpstarted Martin’s snow-sculpting career. Whenever he could in his work, he’d do an ice carving or anything snow or ice related.

Not long after his debut with the German team, the town revived the Breckenridge Snowflake Challenge, a snow-sculpting competition for amateurs. Ecstatic, Martin teamed up with a friend to enter the competition. They shoveled out most of a stranger’s driveway for snow and got to work. They won.

The next year, as winner, Martin was able to make his sculpture in the middle of downtown and won again. It was then that he was approached by Rob Neyland, one of the Team Breck founders, and asked if he’d be interested in joining the team.

“Thanks to them for having that competition because I’d never have been able to get my name out there,” Martin said.

Working with Team Breck was Martin’s dream and allowed him to join in on not only the championship in Breckenridge but competitions all over the world.

“It opened the door of why I loved it,” he said. “It gives me a great way to travel and see different parts of the world. I had never been to Japan and would never have had a reason to go there.”

Now, Martin’s winters are nearly entirely taken up by snow and ice sculpting. He does a couple of competitions each year and spends the rest of his time doing sculpting for events, such as the ice podium for an ice-climbing event in Ouray.

In the summer, he restores vintage trailers and campers, an act that also fulfills his artistic proclivities.

The artistic process

Creating a snow sculpture, especially for an international competition, is a team effort.

“Dynamics of the team really make a big difference,” Martin said. “I think we all respect each other’s talents.”

Being able to explain his artistic vision for the sculpture is a key component, he added. In a way, giving directions for the sculpture is like giving directions as a chef, he said.

“You have to make the people in the kitchen envision what the thing’s going to look like out on that banquet table,” he said.

And, in the end, minor details “really make the difference between the gold and the bronze.”

Martin’s favorite part of the process is the beginning, before any snow is packed or tools readied.

“Coming up with the ideas might be the most fun, and at the same time, it is the most challenging,” he said.

The design he chooses not only has to evoke the right emotions from the viewer but also stand up against designs from some of the best snow sculptors from around the world. Breckenridge also provides snow of a very high quality, which allows sculptors to become more creative and daring with their designs. The most successful sculptures are both artistic and challenging in an engineering aspect.

“You want people to actually get into it, so they’re feeling what you’re trying to put into that sculpture,” Martin said. “In our sculpture there’s emotion. We want people to see that and feel that and relate with it to work with the story that we’re portraying.”

Martin’s favorite sculpture with Team Breck was the underwater sculpture he and the team carved for the Breckenridge competition in 2011. It won them a bronze medal.

“It was something different that no one else had come up with before,” he said. It was also the first time competitors could use colored LED lights.

“It gave it that underwater feel and that look,” Martin said. “People walked up to it and felt like they all of a sudden stepped out of where they were standing and got into this underwater cave. There were so many aspects of it that I really, really loved.”

Future plans

Martin hopes to do more with his sculpting in the future, whether it be for competitions or as part of winter sporting events such as the X Games or the Olympics.

He also expressed interest in working with some of the nearby parks to create interactive designs for people to ski and ride over.

“I’ve got a gazillion ideas for designs in my head,” he said.

After the international championships in Breckenridge, Martin will be heading to Iceland with Neyland to create a collaborative sculpture in an art museum in Rekjavik with the Iceland national team.

Whether he’s sculpting at home or abroad, Martin is happy.

“I think it’s awesome to get out there and tell people what we’re doing and inspire other people,” he said.

When spectators tell them that he has the coolest job ever, he responds that it’s not a job.

“This is truly just love.”

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Logging operations near Miners Creek Road and Iron Springs spark clear-cutting controversy

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

National forest land along Miners Creek Road and in the Iron Springs area, located in the Dillon Ranger District between Frisco and Breckenridge in Summit County, will undergo mitigation efforts, with logging set to start in the next few weeks.

The winter operations will continue through March. The contractor, West Range Reclamation, will cut and haul trees, and the public can expect log-truck and chip-van traffic on Miners Creek Road, County Commons, the Farmer’s Korner area and along Colorado Highway 9.

The project was evaluated in the 2011 Ophir Mountain Forest Health and Fuels Environmental Analysis, part of the White River National Forest’s 10-year stewardship contract — an effort to mitigate damage as a result of the recent mountain pine-beetle epidemic. The plan is to work on 1,000 acres in the area every year.

Summit County author and historian Mary Ellen Gilliland said she and other outdoor enthusiasts are concerned about the U.S. Forest Service plan to clear-cut trees in an area that includes popular, highly used trails. The new timber cut in the Ophir Mountain section of trail threatens to disrupt skiing and snowshoeing in the area, she said. Gilliland said while the cuts were approved in 2011, she and others are hoping the trees near the trail can be spared.

“There’s already heavy cutting around Gold Hill, close by on Peaks Trail, and the area gets overrun by bulldozers and then the forest floor is devastated,” she said. “I hope the contractor will move back a little from the trail, where reduction could still be accomplished, not cut right alongside where people will just see these stumps.”

According to the project’s proposed action plan, the main purpose of the clear-cutting is to reduce fuel loads and expedite forest regeneration. The proposal to clear dead and dying trees on and around Ophir Mountain attracted some controversy when it was first announced.

“This project should just be slightly amended,” Gilliland said. “It’s already been passed. I know there’s nothing that can be done to stop it. You can mitigate the forest fire threat, but should also mitigate the degradation of the outdoor experience for mountain bikers and hikers in the summer, cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the winter.”

Ken Cunning, Forest Service representative, said this winter’s projects include logging near Miners Creek Road, to clear 11 acres, and along Highway 9 near Iron Springs, to clear roughly 70 acres.

“A lot of these projects are working on important fuel mitigation, as well as trying to get some different species for diversity of the next multiple years,” he said.

Gilliland said there are relatively few dead lodgepole in many of the planned clear-cut areas, and in some cases after the dead needles fall after about two to three years — which has already happened — the fire danger is diminished because there is little overstory to fuel a crown fire.

“No one wants a wildfire, but the areas (where) they plan to do this reduction, there’s nothing close there — no homes, no people,” Gilliland said.

West Range Reclamation was awarded the contract in late 2012, but because of other commitments across the state could not start work until now. Cunning said once work begins, roads and ski and bike trails will be marked with caution signs to alert passersby about the logging operations.

The majority of the product, he said, will be ground up and hauled to Gypsum, where it will be used to power the Eagle Valley Clean Energy plant. A representative from West Range Reclamation could not be reached for comment.

The Dillon Ranger District does not anticipate a need for road or trail closures as a result of the work, but the public is urged to use caution if in the vicinity. Questions should be directed to the Dillon Ranger District office at (970) 468-5400.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Arctic char in Dillon Reservoir could enhance lake as top fishing destination

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

As freezing temperatures sweep through Summit County, one aquatic creature is actually thriving.

The Arctic char is showing signs of success in Dillon Reservoir, according to a study conducted by a team of researchers from Colorado State University. Typically found only in Arctic waters, this cold-water fish — a species of trout — could help turn the reservoir into an angler’s paradise.

Brett Johnson, fisheries biology professor at the Warner College of Natural Resources at CSU, led the research initiative. Johnson is developing models to improve the ecosystem of Dillon Reservoir and enhance the lake as a fishing destination.

“The Dillon Reservoir is a high-profile resource, located on the interstate, around many resort towns,” he said. “Yet it’s had a fairly lackluster reputation as a fishery for a long time. It’s difficult to manage fish there — it’s cold and there are a lot of shrimp.”

The mysis shrimp was introduced into Dillon Reservoir in 1970 as a food source to fatten trout and salmon. But the small nocturnal crustaceans missed the trout’s daytime feeding patterns and began eating all of the zooplankton — leaving salmon and trout hungry and small. The CSU research project focused on a comprehensive study of the lake’s ecosystem, with a goal of restoring balance. As Denver’s largest single water supply source, the reservoir is held to strict nutrient standards.

“The biggest surprise was that we determined the char in there were reproducing naturally,” Johnson said. “One-third of the sample of fish we used for our study were a result of natural reproduction in the reservoir. That stocking program has been very successful.”

The Arctic char was introduced to the reservoir in 1990 to see if they would feed on the shrimp — a main part of their diet. Johnson was curious about how successful the stocking program had been so far. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages the fishery; Arctic char was stocked in Dillon in 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2008 to 2011. The reservoir is the only public fishery in the lower 48 states outside of Maine where anglers have a chance of landing the prized fish.

“A lot of anglers don’t even know the char is there; it’s a deep-water fish and it’s such a big system — they’re hard to catch,” Johnson said.

Brad Eckert, resource specialist at Summit County Open Space and Trails, said Summit County’s role in this project is served through the Dillon Reservoir Recreation Committee, a committee that manages the Dillon Reservoir Recreation Area, which includes the surface of Dillon Reservoir and many of its adjacent properties. The committee comprises Denver Water, the towns of Dillon and Frisco, the U.S. Forest Service and Summit County Government.

Travis Thompson, spokesman for Denver Water, said his company values recreation throughout Colorado’s watersheds and supports the effort to boost the diversity of fishing opportunities at Dillon Reservoir.

“We continue to work with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to manage and ensure fish habitats at our reservoirs thrive, and are excited about this project to restore balance of the fishery at Dillon,” he said.

After three years of study, Johnson’s research team — which also includes CSU fishery biology master’s student Devin Olsen, Parks and Wildlife biologist Jon Ewert and scientist and financier Douglas Silver — believes the notion of a committed stocking effort of Arctic char holds promise.

The Dillon Reservoir Recreation Committee “is anticipating the impact to be positive, with the Arctic char attracting more anglers to Dillon,” Eckert said. “The (char) could provide a valuable ‘boutique fishery,’ or a unique angling experience.”

Eckert said the impacts to the environment and ecosystem are also anticipated to be positive.

There is no cost to the recreation committee for the stocking, nor is there any cost for the research projects. An update from CSU will be provided to the committee at an April 15 meeting.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Summit County pets available for adoption

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Courtesy of Summit Daily News

Pets available for adoption at the Summit County Animal Shelter.

Contact the shelter at (970) 668-3230.

CATS

CATALONIA, 2 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, white and black, spayed female

GOLDIE, 1 year 7 months, Domestic Shorthair mix, white and brown tabby, spayed female

JEREMIAH, 10 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, black, neutered male

MASYA, 7 years, Domestic Mediumhair mix, dil calico and gray, spayed female

MONA, 9 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

MISSY, 3 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, calico, spayed female

CHUPPIE, 8 years, Domestic Mediumhair mix, bl tabby, neutered male

SIDNEY, 2 years, Domestic Shorthair mix, brown tabby, neutered male

KATNISS, 10 months, Domestic Shorthair mix, tortie, spayed female

FIONA, 11 months, Domestic Shorthair mix, tortie, spayed female

DOGS

IZZY, 3 years, Boxer mix, black and white, spayed female

PRINCESS, 3 months, Labrador Retriever mix, blonde, spayed female

DOT, 3 months, Labrador Retriever mix, tan, spayed female

ROCK HUDSON, 6 years, American Bulldog, brindle and white, neutered male

JOEY, 2 years, Labrador Retriever mix, white, neutered male

RUDY, 2 years, Rottweiler and Doberman Pinscher mix, black and tan, neutered male

WAFFLES, 11 months, Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix, tan and white, spayed female

DIEGO, 4 years, Pit Bull Terrier, brindle, neutered male

LUCY, 2 years, Dachshund and Chihuahua - Smooth Coated mix, red, spayed female

CHANCE, 4 years, Australian Cattle Dog and Pit Bull Terrier mix, white and brown, neutered male

CLEMENTINE, 4 years, Pit Bull Terrier and Boxer mix, white and tan, spayed female

SASHA, 2 years, Collie - Rough mix, brindle, spayed female

PIP, 2 years, Australian Shepherd and Labrador Retriever mix, tan, spayed female

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Wise and Bowman punch tickets to Sochi with Breckenridge Grand Prix halfpipe wins

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Sebastian Foltz / sfoltz@summitdaily.com | Summit Dail

While snowboarding remains a question mark, the U.S. freeskiing Olympic team picture got a little clearer Sunday with the conclusion of the U.S. Grand Prix at Breckenridge. Halfpipe skiers David Wise (Reno, Nev.) and Maddie Bowman (Lake Tahoe, Calif.) both punched their tickets to February’s winter games in Sochi, Russia, after claiming top honors in the men’s and women’s superpipe finals.

Weather was a factor all weekend as all other halfpipe and slopestyle finals were canceled. A jury of Grand Prix organizers decided to nullify snowboarding competition results altogether, while freesking slopestyle qualifiers were used as finals, based on International Ski Federation (FIS) rule. No rule exists for snowboarding, making a jury decision necessary.

“I’m so happy we got the event off,” Wise said. “It’s never a good thing to turn a qualifier into a final, which was potentially going to happen.”

As for the Olympics, he said, “I have a spot clinched, I’m going. It feels really good. The pressure’s off. I don’t have to worry about any more podiums. I can just focus on my skiing and improving it.”

For Bowman, it hadn’t quite registered yet.

“I think I’m Sochi bou ...” she said as U.S. team spokeswoman Haley Caruso confirmed. “... Yeah, I’m going to Sochi.”

When asked how she felt, Bowman said laughing, “I don’t know; it hasn’t really sunken in yet.”

The two joined slopestyle freeskier Nick Goepper and three-time Olympic snowboarder Kelly Clark as the only athletes to have locked spots on the freeskiing and snowboarding Olympic teams, headed into the final two qualifying events. All four have two podium appearances as the highest American finishers, making them unbeatable in points standings. The U.S. Ski and Snowboarding selection committee will look at competitors’ top two results from the five U.S. selection events. A number of contenders remain in the running in each sport’s two disciplines, including Crested Butte freeskier Aaron Blunck, dual slopestyle and halfpipe threats Gus Kenworthy of Telluride and women’s freeskier Devin Logan, two-time snowboarding gold medalist Shaun White, X-Games star freeskier Simon Dumont and past Olympic snowboarders Louie Vito, Gretchen Bleiler and Greg Bretz.

Taylor and Arielle Gold — the brother-sister duo from Steamboat Springs — are also top contenders for snowboard halfpipe. Both are currently the No. 2 ranked Americans in the snowboard halfpipe, each with podium appearances at the Dew Tour and the Grand Prix at Copper.

Blunck was bumped from the top spot in skier halfpipe this weekend by Wise, but he remains the No. 2 contender after podium appearances at the Breckenridge Dew Tour (second) and Copper Grand Prix (first).

Blunck failed to make the finals at Breckenridge after crashing during qualifiers and separating his shoulder. But he said Sunday he is cleared to compete in Park City.

“I feel like I could ski right now, but the doctors want me to take it easy until I get to Park City,” he said.

Shaun White — who also hopes to compete in both slopestyle and halfpipe — is close to qualifying, but like the others will need another podium spot in one of the two remaining competitions to lock his position in each event.

Breckenridge locals Keri Herman and Bobby Brown kept themselves in skier slopestyle contention when their first place finishes in qualifiers became final results Friday.

Both remaining Olympic team selection events for skiing and snowboarding are U.S.-only competitions. So while a podium position in one of the events will help, a top finish may be necessary.

Snowboarders head to Mammoth, Calif., for back-to-back competitions Jan. 14-19. Freeskiers will close the selection process in Park City, Utah, also with back-to-back events, Jan. 17-18.

Note: The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association announced late Sunday that it has plans to replace the Grand Prix snowboard finals that were canceled over the weekend with with a U.S. only make-up qualifier at Mammoth Mountain in addition to the scheduled competitions.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Backcountry Film Festival celebrates backcountry women

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Courtesy Summit Daily News - Weekender

The start of the new year in Summit County brings with it multiple diversions, from enjoying the powder on the slopes to exploring Main Street shops. Yet another exciting options is an upcoming film festival celebrating the outdoors and those who love to challenge themselves and explore.

The Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival is on Jan. 12 at the Eileen and Paul Finkel Auditorium at Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge. An after-party at The Warming Hut in Breckenridge will follow.

This is the ninth year for the festival, which originated in Boise, Idaho, by the Winter Wildlands Alliance, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving winter wildlands and human-powered snowsports. After premiering in Boise, the films move on to more than 100 showings around the U.S. and the world, according to events and outreach coordinator Shelley Pursell. Each show funds local nonprofits with like-minded ventures such as avalanche awareness, outdoor programs and youth education. All the films fall under the category of human-powered snowsports, meaning no helicopters, no snowmobiles, no machines — just pure human will.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” Pursell said of the film styles and themes, which range from messages of environmental conservation to celebrations of the backcountry lifestyle. The filmmakers, also, range from amateur to professional.

This year’s overall festival winner is the film “Valhalla,” which takes an artistic look at backcountry enthusiasts. The trailer features a poetic voiceover and scenes of skiers and riders reveling in deep powder. The film has already won two awards from the Powder Awards film festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, — Best Editing and Movie of the Year.

Pursell’s personal favorite entry in this year’s festival is the two-minute documentary “Bigger, Braver,” by amateur filmmaker Luc Mehl. The documentary-style film features Alaskan skier Erica Madison and the challenges she faces as a woman in a male-dominated sport.

Mehl cut an hour-long interview with Madison into two minutes, focusing on her message of determination.

“Mostly, it’s hoping that others, athletes, will relate to her because of strength and motivation and come out of it with some empowerment,” he said of the intended impact of his film. “I know Erica really well, and I know she’s got a lot of things that she can offer friends and other athletes, so really she gets all the credit for that (message of feminine empowerment), that message came straight from her.”

Proceeds from the festival in Summit County will go toward the Backcountry Babes scholarship program, which donates the cost of avalanche education clinics to women who cannot afford to attend the outdoor educational workshops on their own.

“We’re just trying to be able to help promote getting more women safely into the backcountry and to be able to travel and have more knowledge, as well as get them into more professional careers in that industry, if they’re interested,” said Jenna Boisvert, owner of Backcountry Babes. As for this year’s selections, “I feel like I’m always inspired by all of the films that they choose to do in their film festival because they are really homegrown, down-to-earth sort of concepts. … I’ve always liked their choice of films because they’re pretty touching and moving and have a real full storyline behind them. I think just about anybody who has a passion for snow or film or even just art would enjoy these films.”

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Ullr Fest parade in Breckenridge

#Breckenridge, Colorado.

Jessica Smith / jsmith@summitdaily.com 

The Ullr Fest parade rolled down Main Street in Breckenridge on Thursday, marking the festival’s 51st year. Parade watchers lined the streets and nearby balconies and peered out of windows to see the floats go by. 

The floats depicted various versions of Ullr, as well as Summit County activities — snowmobiling, sledding, rafting and being pulled by sled dogs. Children picked up candy thrown from the floats and everyone did their best to get at least one picture with Ullr. 

You can see more photos of the parade and following bonfire by visiting our website at www.summitdaily.com.

Nordic racers flood Frisco for the town’s Gold Rush Weekend

#Frisco, Colorado.

On Saturday, Jan. 11, the Frisco Nordic Center and town of Frisco will host the 44th annual Frisco Gold Rush benefiting the Summit Nordic Ski Club. The Frisco Gold Rush is the longest-running Nordic event in Colorado, and Gold Rush Nordic races are open to skiers of all ages and abilities. Racers will receive commemorative Frisco Gold Rush socks and hot soup at the Frisco Nordic Center Lodge and will compete for prizes designed by local artist Sheila Trowbridge.

New this year, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) will bring racers from around Colorado to compete.

“We anticipate seeing 200 to 300 participants from high schools and middle schools around the state competing in the Frisco Gold Rush this year,” said Linsey Kach, town of Frisco recreation programs manager. “Their attendance solidifies the great value and tradition of having a Nordic race event in its 44th year. We’re excited to welcome these young racers to take part in our winter tradition and to witness citizen racers of all levels and ages competing, as well.”

A day of Nordic races will be capped off with a community bonfire, Spontaneous Combustion, at the Frisco Bay Marina and a fireworks display. The community is invited to the Marina lot at the corner of Highway 9 and Marina Road at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, to watch the bonfire and fireworks light up the Frisco sky. Beverages and food will be available for sale benefiting the Summit Nordic Ski Club.

The town of Frisco is accepting Christmas trees to fuel Spontaneous Combustion until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11. Trees must be stripped of all lights, tinsel, garland, tree stands and decorations prior to drop off at the Marina dirt lot. The tree drop off is open 24 hours a day.

To register for the Gold Rush races, visit www.friscogoldrush.com. Preregistration is open until noon on Friday, Jan. 10, and entry fees vary from $20 to $35 per race. Day-of registration fees will increase by $5 per race.

‘The Gold Rush’

The Frisco Historic Park & Museum will present the 1925 Charlie Chaplin film “The Gold Rush” in the Log Chapel on Friday, Jan. 10, with free hot cider and popcorn. This screening is in celebration of not only Frisco’s gold mining history, but also pays homage to Frisco’s history of mining “white” gold, snow, with the 44th year of the Frisco Gold Rush.

“The Gold Rush” is considered one of Chaplin’s greatest films, and perhaps even one of the best films of the silent age. Chaplin plays the role of a lone prospector intent on finding gold in Alaska. Hunger and harsh conditions give way to romance. A remarkable cast of characters, Chaplin’s imagination and comedic turns and the mastery of silent filmmaking making this a classic film experience.

“This film certainly illustrates the severe conditions and hardships faced by gold prospectors,” said Simone Belz, Frisco museum director. “And it is an incredible glimpse at the ability of silent filmmakers to tell a compelling story without the spoken word. I always marvel at how easy it is to become thoroughly involved and lost in this type of storytelling. The very successful 2011 film ‘The Artist’ certainly proved that silent filmmaking is not relegated to the past.”

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.