COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ― The United States Olympic Committee today announced that U.S. Paralympics Snowboard National Champions Evan Strong (Nevada City, Calif.) and Heidi Jo Duce (Ouray, Colo.) and nine other athletes are nominated for the 2013-14 U.S. Paralympics Snowboard National Team, which is the first-ever national team in the sport.

In May 2012, the International Paralympic Committee announced that snowboard cross will be included in the alpine skiing program at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, March 7-16, in Russia. The Paralympic competition is open to men and women with lower limb impairments.

“As we look toward the start of the Paralympic Winter Games in 10 months, the nomination of these athletes to the inaugural U.S. Paralympics Snowboard National Team marks a significant step for the program and the sport,” said Kevin Jardine, USOC high performance director for Paralympic alpine skiing and snowboarding. “A year ago, there was very little opportunity for Paralympic snowboarders, and now there is chance for a Paralympic gold medal. Our national team athletes are among the world’s best and are up to the challenge of medaling in Sochi.”

Joining Strong and Duce are nominees Christina Albert (Denver, Colo.), Tyler Burdick (Salt Lake City, Utah), Keith Gabel (Ogden, Utah), Lucas Grossi (Billings, Mont.), Amy Purdy (Las Vegas, Nev.), Nicole Roundy (Bountiful, Utah) and Mike Shea (Castaic, Calif.), all who have lower limb impairments, and Joseph Chandler (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Marc Dervaes (West Chester, Pa.), who have upper limb impairments.

“There are no words to describe what it feels like to be nominated for the first-ever U.S. Paralympics Snowboard National Team,” said Duce, who won two bronze medals on the 2012-13 International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing Snowboard World Cup circuit before taking the inaugural national crown. “I am stoked to be a part of history with so many great athletes. While we will always be known as trailblazers, I hope that we are remembered not just for being a part of the national team but for inspiring other amputees to get involved in snowboarding.”

SLUG Magazine & Snowbasin Resort are proud to present for the first time The Winter Wizardry SLUG Games amateur ski and snowboard contest on March 16th, 2013.  Featuring an enchanting course where riders will be forced to level up while dodging Ice Trolls, Mystical Dragons, and fellow Orcs alike.  Bring your strongest spells and potions with you, for something magical is bound to happen….

Schedule:

8 am – 11 am Registration Huntington Room in Earl’s Lodge

11 am Warm Up on Little Cat Terrain Park

Contest 11:30 am – 3:15 pm

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm Awards Base of Little Cat Terrain Park

*Registration is Free

**Helmets Required

***Under 18 you need to have releases signed by an adult

In participation with NSAA’s National Safety Week starting tomorrow Snowbasin’s Ski Patrol will be offering skiers & snowboarders the chance to “Know The Code” and win a prize.  Individuals can approach Ski Patrol and be tested on how many rules they know from the NSAA’s Responsibility Code. A person who knows at least three rules of the Responsibility Code will receive a coupon for a free drink. A person who answers four or more is entered into a daily drawing for a helmet from January 19^th through January 27^th.

Winners

Syndey Ditulst

Korey Rosen

Nathan Stickers

Steven Swanson

Vicky Baab

Elisabeth Beli

Megan Gray

Ted Dumont

Christian Winn

Snowbasin Resort will open on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, to mark the official start of the 2012-13 winter ski and snowboard season in Ogden Valley. The resort will begin the season with 2.5″ of new snow since Saturday.  Combined with extensive snowmaking, Snowbasin will be offering a base averaging between 18-22 inches on 5 runs.

For opening day, Snowbasin will offer skiing & snowboarding off Middle Bowl Triple and Little Cat Quad lifts.  Skiers and snowboarders will upload and download on Needles Gondola for Middle Bowl lift access. There will be no top to bottom skiing and snowboarding.  The following runs will be groomed for our snow enthusiasts’ enjoyment: Sweet Revenge, Powder Puff, Strawberry Traverse, Middle Bowl Traverse and Porcupine Traverse. Snowbasin will offer two “pocket” terrain parks containing several features along the open trails with more terrain and lifts opening as weather permits.

Snowbasin’s Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Earl’s Lodge has sold out; however Needles Lodge will be serving food on Thanksgiving Day.

Early season lift prices:

All Day Adult Lift Ticket $49/ Half Day $39

All Day Youth Lift Ticket $34/ Half Day $26

All Day Senior Lift Ticket $42/ Half Day $32

Please ski and ride with care. Obstacles can be hidden just at or below the snow surface. Hiking is not permitted because of snowmaking, avalanche control, and grooming on the mountain. The ticket windows will open at 8:30 a.m.  For more information, call 801.620.1000 or the Snow Report Hotline at 801.620.1100, or visit: www.snowbasin.com

Snowbasin will be opening in just under a week, November 22nd, for Skiing and Snowboarding conditions permitting.  The annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Earl’s Lodge has sold out!, but food will be served from a limited menu at Needles Lodge on Thanksgiving Day.

We will be updating lift ticket pricing, trail openings and conditions early next week.

Snowbasin is proud to introduce the new Discovery Pass Program for the upcoming 2012/2013 Winter Season. The Discovery Pass program gives several options for skiers and riders to enjoy all that Snowbasin has to offer. Beginning July 21st, Snowbasin’s Discovery Pass can be purchased online through Snowbasin’s eStore. Then starting July 28th The Discovery Pass can also be purchased at Earl’s Lodge on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

The DiscoveryValue Pass is available for a limited time for only $449. The Value Pass contains some restrictions including holiday blackout dates. For those people who want to enjoy Snowbasin every day of the season we offer the Discovery Value Plus Pass. The Value Plus Pass offers unlimited skiing and riding at Snowbasin, summer gondola use, three days of skiing/riding at Sun Valley Resort, a $149 rate on hotel rooms at Sun Valley Lodge or Inn during the 2012-13 ski season on a space available basis, a 15% discount on winter repairs in the Grizzly Center, two 50% off buddy vouchers, and tubing hill discounts. The Value Plus Pass is available for $649 with no blackout dates.

A complete list of pass types and current prices can be viewed by visiting www.snowbasin.com/winter/winter-rates/#/passes/.

*Prices Subject to Change. Passes are non-refundable and non-transferable. Snowbasin does not guarantee season length or weather conditions.

Snowbasin will be providing complimentary bus transportation from the Ogden area to the Dew Tour Events at Snowbasin on Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 11^th & 12^th). Spectator pick-up will be approximately every 15-20 minutes at each location during peak periods.

Dee Events Center & Weber Canyon* to Snowbasin

Saturday           9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Snowbasin to Weber Canyon & Dee Events Center*

Saturday        10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 *Specific pick-up points are the south parking lot of theDee Events Centeron 4600 South and the Staker/Parson’s parking lot west of the Weber Canyon Park ‘n Ride.

Thursday, February 9^th

Festival Village Hours: 9:00am-4:00pm

Friday, February 10^th

Festival Village Hours: 9:00am-4:00pm

SNB SlopeStyle Women Semi-Final                                           10:00AM – 11:30AM

SKI Superpipe Women Semi-Final                                              11:00AM – 12:00PM

SNB SlopeStyle Men Semi-Final                                                  11:30AM – 1:50PM

SKI Superpipe Men Semi-Final                                                     12:00PM – 1:30PM

Gatorade Free Flow Tour SKI  Slopestyle Men Final            3:30PM – 4:30PM

SNB SuperPipe Women Semi-Final                                            4:30PM – 5:30PM

SNB SuperPipe Men Semi-Final                                                   5:30PM – 7:30PM

Concert                                                                                                                8:00PM – 10:00PM

Saturday, February 11^th

Festival Village Hours: 9:00am-4:00pm

SKI Slopestyle Women Semi-Final                                              9:00AM – 10:15AM

SKI Slopestyle Men Semi-Final                                                     10:15AM – 12:30PM

SNB Superpipe Women Final                                                       11:00AM – 11:40AM

SNB Superpipe Men Final                                                              12:00PM – 1:30PM

Gatorade Free Flow Tour SNB Slopestyle Women Final    2:15PM – 3:15PM

Gatorade Free Flow Tour SNB Slopestyle Men Final           3:30PM – 4:30PM

SKI Superpipe Women Final                                                         5:00PM – 5:40PM

SKI SuperPipe Men Final                                                                                6:00PM – 7:00PM

Sunday, February 12^th

Festival Village Hours: 9:00am-4:00pm

                SNB SlopeStyle Women Final                                                      9:00AM – 9:40AM

                SNB SlopeStyle Men Final                                                             10:00AM – 11:00AM

                SKI SlopeStyle Women Final                                                        12:00PM – 12:40PM

SKI SlopeStyle Men Final                                                                               1:00PM – 2:30PM

Gatorade Free Flow Tour SNB SuperPipe Women Final    2:30PM – 3:30PM

Gatorade Free Flow Tour SNB SuperPipe Men Final           4:00PM – 5:00PM

Gatorade Free Flow Tour SNB SuperPipe Men Final           5:30PM – 6:30PM

Dew Cup Awards                                                                              2:30PM – 3:30PM

**Schedule is subject to change**

Salomon Announces Dates and Locations of Jib Academy Season Six

Salomon elevates the youth slopestyle dream in the event’s sixth season

Ogden, UT—Marking half-a-dozen years of slopestyle goodness, Salomon Jib Academy has announced its schedule for 2012. Five ski areas in the U.S. and Canada will host young athletes in one of the sport’s most coveted opportunities to learn from Salomon pros and compete for the chance to attend a week-long dream session at the Salomon Jib Academy North American Finals at Mammoth Mountain Resort in May 2012.

Internationally known as an unforgettable series of slopestyle contests for athletes 16 and younger, the program is free to enter and includes lunch, giveaways and a full day of shredding with Salomon pro coaches, which include Bobby Brown, Nick Martini, Alexi Godbout. 

“Jib academy was a huge opportunity for me, and helped start my ski career. Now being able to go to the events and coach kids is awesome, says Salomon pro skier and first-ever Jib Academy winner Nick Martini.”

Salomon Jib Academy Season Six North American tour dates and locations include:

Killington Mountain Resort, VT—February 25^th

Blue Mountain, ON—March 3^{rd                                                                                    Photo Credit:Matt Stauble}

Saint Bruno, QC –March 10th

Silver Star, BC—March 18^th

Snowbasin, UT—March 24^th

Mammoth Mountain Resort, CA FINALS—May 2012, Invite Only

Registration opens on January 9^th, 2012: www.salomonjibacademy.com . Space is limited. Website goes live January 9^th, 2012.

The first stop of the Friday Night Jib Fights Rail Jam series began with a completely redesigned terrain park and with over 60 participants the competition was high.  Snowbasin would like to thank Ramp Sports and the Marines for coming out.  We also appreciate the support from DC, Dragon, Vitamin Water, Nitro, Blindside, Revival, and Skullcandy.  Final round Results are below: