Free Republic

An avalanche prompted the closure of the Squaw Valley ski resort in Northern California Friday. The Placer County Sheriff's Department tweeted that it appears that all skiers and snowboarders had been accounted for. KCRA Reporter Tom Miller posted dramatic video of snowboarders and skiers digging out a man buried under snow.

- Resort Opening Earlier Than Ever Before - The 2009-2010 season at the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is underway, the earliest the resort has ever been open. Unseasonably cold nighttime temperatures and aggressive snowmaking efforts have produced snow on Chair Three, Rabbit Peak, the only lift and trail scheduled to open. “There are many skiers and snowboarders who love to jib on our freestyle terrain features, and we expect many families to take advantage of this great opportunity to learn the sport and have fun so early in the season,” said Base Operations Manager Craig Baldwin. * snip...

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo., April 5, 2007 – U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Nick Bennett said he’ll take away lifetime memories and new discoveries from the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. He's counting on his experience here to steel him through his upcoming—and 27th--surgery since he was wounded in Mamadiyah, Iraq. Marine Staff Sgt. Nick Bennett calls the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass, Colo., his “last big adventure” before his 27th surgery for wounds suffered in Iraq. Defense Dept. photo by Donna Miles  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The 37-year-old Marine Corps Reservist said he’ll always remember...

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo., April 1, 2007 – Some 450 disabled veterans converging here today -- about 100 of them wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan -- aren’t looking for April Fools pranks. They’re expecting miracles. The veterans are kicking off the 21st National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, six days jam-packed with activities designed to push them to new heights and enhance their rehabilitation. Veterans of past clinics -- and the people who have watched them show themselves and the world what they can still do — refer to what happens here as “Miracles on the Mountainside.” Participants will learn...

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo., April 5, 2006 – More than 350 severely wounded troops and disabled veterans are conquering emotional as well as physical mountains at the 20th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here. Participants in the 20th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic prepare their gear at the base of Snowmass Mountain. Photo by Donna Miles  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The participants, who range in age from 19 to 83 and served in every conflict since World War II, are joining together and showing the world they're not going to let an amputation or a spinal...

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo., April 5, 2006 – When he was undergoing treatment 16 years ago following a near-fatal accident in Germany, Paul Miosek asked Red Cross volunteer Jim Mayer for just two things: a poster of Madonna and a milkshake. Disabled Army veteran Paul Miosek (left) reunites with Jim Mayer, a Department of Veterans Affairs employee and long-time volunteer at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, at the 20th Annual Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, in Snowmass Village, Colo. Miosek credits Mayer with opening his eyes to new possibilities while living with a disability. Photo by Donna Miles  (Click photo for...

Adventure in Sun Valley By Dave Barry (This classic Dave Barry column was originally published on Feb. 11, 1996.) ------ This is the second part of a two-part series titled ''Recreational Winter Sports That You Can Do Sitting Down.'' In Part 1, I discussed snowmobiling, my key finding being that you should not go snowmobiling with adolescent boys unless your recreational goal is cardiac arrest. Today, I'll discuss a sport that is more relaxing, as well as far more fragrant: dog-sledding. A dog sled is-follow me carefully here-a sled that is pulled by dogs. And if you think that dogs...

Winter sports without fear BY DAVE BARRY (This classic Dave Barry column was originally published on Feb. 4, 1996.) Skiing is an exciting winter sport, but it is not for everybody. For example, it is not for sane people. Sane people look at skiing, and they say: ``Wait a minute. I'm supposed to attach slippery objects to my feet and get on a frozen chair dangling from a scary-looking wire, then get dumped off on a snow-covered slope so steep that the mountain goats are wearing seat belts, and then, if by some miracle I am able to get back...

I gave my 17 year old daughter an IOU for a snowboard package for her birthday last August. I promised her we'd shop for it when the preseason sales started. It looks like Sports Authority has some good packages for sale tomorrow from 5 AM to 11 AM. So...does anybody have recommendations on what we should buy? She's a beginner / intermediate and loves the sport.