Spring Ski Resort Events: Far West
Ski resorts stage springtime events nearly every weekend.
At ski resorts nationwide, warm weather and longer days add up to unending soft snow and non-stop skiing and snowboarding special events.
Ski resorts go balmy when the weather gets balmy, staging all kinds of wacky events an competitions that give skiers and snowboarders innovative and fun ways to have fun.
Looking around the Western U.S. and Canada, here are some of the highlight ski resort events.
British Columbia
- Sundays through April 1, Fire & Ice Show, an action-packed, family-friendly extravaganza with ski jumpers and snowboard tricks and treats.
- Performances at the resort, include Mozart’s The Magic Flute, The Arrogant Worms comedy show, and John MacDermott, one of opera’s famous three tenors.
- April 13-22, the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival, North America’s largest annual snowsports and music festival, a 10-day, non-stop festival with 50 free concerts, pro ski and snowboard contests, photography and film exposes, kids and adventure zones, a dog parade, nightlife, great spring skiing/riding.
California
- March 24-25, college weekend means college students receive discounted lift tickets, food and drink and live music plus a Rail Jam.
- April 4-6, Kirkwood Jammin' XIV, the annual slopeside spring break party for the whole family, with pond skimming, big air comps, rail jams, snow volleyball and lots of crazy kids' activities make this a spring classic.
- April 14-15, the Two Day Children's Camp provides kids with a fun, safe learning environment and a team in which to learn. And, on April 22, at the Kirkwood Cup Series - Rail Jam: jibbers hit different rails as many times as they can in a 20-minute session.
- March 18, Babes in the Backcountry, an intro to backcountry skiing and skills.
- Snowbomb a Park Jam Series, Sundays
- Music at the Meadows Concert Series, Saturdays.
- At Squaw Valley www.squaw.com
- March 16, Patrick Callaghan's 23rd Corned Beef Feed
- March 17, the Shamrock Scavenger Hunt On the Mountain, where magnetic green, Irish Shamrocks are hidden around the mountain; find one and you get a half-price lunch.
- March 24, Rodeo Ball and Bikini Bull Riding in which live music accompanies bikini-clad bull riders riding for prizes.
- April 8, Village Easter Egg Hunt sees thousands of eggs scattered throughout The Village for kids to find, filled with candy, prizes and village coupons.
- April 13-15, the Squaw Valley Spring Jam roars with on-mountain competitions, live music, spring skiing fun and wacky events.
- April 28, Earth Day Celebration & Push, Pull or Pedal Eco Parade features floats in the theme of recycling and participants are encouraged to make their floats out of recycled materials. Prizes are awarded for creativity and flair.
- May 5, Lake Cushing Classic is Squaw Valley’s signature spring event, including pond skimming.
- March 31 - April 1, the 4th Annual Telegrass Festival offers telemark clinics on all terrain, including steeps, bumps, backcountry and in the terrain parks. Free equipment demonstrations, competitions and live bluegrass music round.
- March 19 to season’s end, Sacramento and Bay Area residents can pick up discounted lift tickets for just $44 at select ski and snowboard shops. Get a list of participating shops at www.sierraattahoe.com.
- Every Tuesday, Turtleneck Tuesdays at the ice rink in the Village with DJ Remmel from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Saturdays, Live Music in the Village
- March 25, Nordic Wine Tour
- March 26-30, April 2-6 and April 9-13 College Week features $44 lift tickets for collegians.
- April 8, Easter Festivities start with a fun obstacle race course especially designed for kids with prizes for all, followed by a raw egg toss and an Easter Egg Hunt.
- Mammoth Mountain www.mammothmountain.com
- March 17, St. Patrick's Day Festivities include face painting, a treasure hunt, dancers, jugglers and more.
- Sundays, Live music.
- April 7-8, Easter Festivities include a petting zoo, photos with the Easter Bunny, an egg hunt and more.
- April 15, Tour De Taste, combines cross country skiing, a sampling of food from Mammoth Lakes' finest restaurants, and a beer or a glass of wine.
- April 23-May 31, Spring Fest, a month-long party celebrating epic spring conditions with outrageous deals, lodging specials, giveaways, parties, entertainment, etc.
Oregon
- April 8, The Easter Bunny hops around the mountain, there’s a spectacular Easter Brunch, and three separate Easter egg hunts.
- Apr 14, 2007 Riders for the Cure 2007, a fundraiser for breast cancer research
- Apr 22-23, Banff Mountain Film Festival
- May 5, Race and Ace, the chance to ski and golf in one day.
Washington
- March 24, 2007 Dirt Bag Ball, is the biggest ski party of the year, a costume affair, to benefit ski patrol.
- April 1, Military Appreciation Ski Day, present a valid military ID and ski for half-price ($27).
- April 7, Annual Dummy Downhill, using a ski or snowboard platform participants create a "dummy" that can catch air after being pushed down a steep ramp and off a jump.
- April 8, Easter Sunrise Service & Golden Egg Hunt.
The copyright of the article Spring Ski Resort Events: Far West in Winter Sports is owned by Mitch Kaplan. Permission to republish Spring Ski Resort Events: Far West must be granted by the author in writing.
