Safety is Number One at Mammoth Mountain

This week (Jan. 21-25) Mammoth Mountain is recognizing National Safety Awareness Week with activities such as avalanche rescue demos and the opportunity to spend a day cruising around with Ski Patrol.

Last week Gregg Schmidt, Mammoth Safety Manager, shared a very important “Safety Tip of the Week” with a description of the difference between Closed and Boundary signs.
Closed Areas
You should never enter a closed area. You will lose your pass/ticket and face arrest and citation, not to mention serious danger.
Boundary Areas
Mammoth Mountain has an open boundary policy. We do not deny backcountry access, however, skiers and snowboarders venturing beyond our boundaries should have backcountry skills and be prepared to encounter uncontrolled avalanches, cliffs and other obstacles. People who are rescued are held financially responsible for personnel and equipment used in their rescue. A wrong turn can get you into a life-threatening postition and cost thousands.

Freeride Tour at McGee Mountain TODAY

Freeride World Tour Mammoth Challenge
Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008
9am – 12pm
McGee Mountain
There will be a total of 56 competitors (men/women, skier/snowboarder). The skiers/riders will have only one chance to show the judges what they can do. Awards will be at the base of McGee immediately following the event.

Prize Purse: $40,000
Men Ski & Snowboard: 1st – $10,000, 2nd – $4,000, 3rd – $1,500
Women Ski & Snowboard: 1st – $3,000, 2nd – $1,000, 3rd – $500

The Freeride World Tour is an international snowboarding and skiing competition based on big-mountain riding. The tour consists of two rounds of qualifying events (which took place at Mammoth early last week) followed by today’s final event at McGee Mountain. Event date and times are still subject to change.

A Week of Snow Showers for Mammoth Mountain

It’s the time of year when snowy weather is more common than dry skies. Howard Scheckter reports on his web site that there are no long breaks in snowfall as we head into February:

MammothWeather.com informs Mammoth-goers to “expect scattered showers the next few days with no significant accumulations today and only an inch or two possible later Tuesday. Light snow likely Wednesday becoming possibly heavy by night.” The site reported on Monday morning that this light storm is developing off the Northern California coast, heading southwest over the next 36 hours, and added that Tuesday morning looks like the best time to be outside. The storm is thought to clear up by Thursday night, at which time it is likely we’ll have 1 or 2 feet of fresh on the ground. A second system follows in the early part of Saturday. If you are making the trip up Highway 395 on Friday night, stay tuned to weather and Cal Trans (call 800.427.7623 for updates).

Yum Yum McCoy Station

I am loving McCoy Station’s new salad bar. It has a wide selection of lettuces, various pre-made veggie and meat salads and even bread with olive oil (It’s good to know our chefs appreciate the need for carbs when you’re out skiing all day). It reminds me of the deli selection at places like Bristol Farms. Fill up your plate with Marinated Artichokes, Citrus Marinated Beets, Cold Poached Asparagus, Roasted Pepper Salad, Couscous, Curry Chicken Salad, Baby Shrimp Salad, and daily specials such as Coriander Seared Ahi Nicoise w/ Haricot Verte, Watermelon Radish, Teardrop Tomatoes, & Olives; Dill Poached Salmon w/ Marinated Asparagus, Teardrop Tomatoes, Mixed Field Greens; Tomato & Buffalo Mozzarella Salad.

Hint #1: carry your lunch tray the extra two steps to the Parallax area. This corner of the building is a restaurant at night but it’s open for cafeteria seating during the day. Best view on the mountain.

Other new menu items at McCoy Station (still cafeteria style):

New BBQ! Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket, Pork Spare Ribs, Smoked Meatloaf, Cajun Mac & Cheese (Andouille Sausage, Peppers, Onions, Spicy Jack Cheese)

Grab & Go Sandwiches may be something like: Black Forrest Ham & Brie with Whole Grain Mustard on Baguette; Fresh Roasted Turkey with Sharp Cheddar, Herb Aioli, & Cranberry Chutney; Peppered Beef with Spinach, Grilled Tomato, & Horseradish Aioli; Tomato & Mozzeralla on Pesto Foccacia; Curry Chicken Salad Wrap.

Hint #2: non-skiers can eat at McCoy Station too – it’s the first stop on your Scenic Gondola Ride.

Mammoth Hosts Freeride World Tour

During the last few days the world’s best skiers and snowboarders hucked, dropped, slashed, skied, rode down intense terrain, all competing for the top three spots that would guarantee entry in Jan. 23’s Freeride World Tour final at McGee Mountain: The Nissan Mammoth Challenge.

The qualifying events opened up incredibly challenging areas of the mountain that are normally closed. “I got to ski a line today that I’ve been looking at for eleven years,” said Mark Hendrickson on Wednesday, when the Quest Qualifier Final was held at the Upper Cliffs, skier’s right of Roger’s Ridge.

The upcoming McGee event is one of five stops on the 2008 Freeride World Tour and the only stop in the USA. Prize money totals $40,000, with money up for grabs in four categories: ski men, ski women, snowboard men and snowboard women. Athletes are judged on choice of line, control and fluidity. They will reach the top of McGee Mountain by helicopter, which is scheduled to be equipped with an ESPN camera operator. Winners go on to Sochi, The Alps, Tignes and Verbier.

McGee Mountain is 10 miles south of Mammoth Mountain. 56 athletes each get one run on the 10,871-foot tall mountain (3,313 meters). Average steepness is 35 degrees. Vertical drop is 3,281 vertical feet (1,000 meters). It has a natural quarterpipe which runs about half the length of the mountain and features numerous lips, gulleys and jumps.

Spectators are welcome to watch from the base of the mountain, but should be aware that the nature of this event relies on weather conditions – meaning that while the event is scheduled for 10am on Jan. 23, the event could be rescheduled to any of the following three reserve days. Awards will be at the base of McGee immediately following the last run.

Steve Klassen, five-time winner of the Verbier Xtreme, one of eight professionals on the Pro Freeriders Board and the only snowboarder to be a part of the event since the beginning, is a Mammoth resident who was instrumental in bringing the World Tour to Mammoth.

Freeride World Tour at Mammoth Mountain – Quest Day 2 (Wednesday, Jan. 16) Results

Top three from each category go on the the event at McGee Mountain next week.

Ski Men
1. Cody Townsend (USA)
2. Griffin Post (USA)
3. Cory Zila (USA)

Ski Women
1. Stina Jakobsson (NOR)
2. Elyse Saugstad (USA)
3. Ane Enderud (SWE)

Snowboard Men
1. Ralph Backstrom (USA)
2. Jonas Emery (SUI)
3. Max Zipser (AUT)

Snowboard Women
1. Berangere Moroc (FRA)
2. Tiffany Noel (USA)
3. Kaisa Harkonen (FIN)

Freeride World Tour at Mammoth Mountain – Quest Qualifier Results

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008
Mammoth Mountain – Hemlock Ridge

Ski Men
1. Griffin Post
2. Matthias Haunholder
3. Cody Townsend
4. Justin Modroo
5. Cliff Bennett
6. Cory Zila
7. Cedric Pugin
8. Evariste Berney
9. Sam Smoothy
10. Steve Leonard
11. Willie Lindberg
12. Julien Lopez
13. Mark Hendrickson
14. Thibault Duschosal
15. Drew Stoecklein
16. Roman Rohrmoser
17. Anthony DiFoggia
18. Sylvain Authier
19. Fred Syversen
20. Kevin O’Meara
21. Willie Schneider
22. Jack Nelson

Ski Women
1. Elyse Saugstad
2. Caroline Meynet
3. Stina Jakobsson
4. Ane Enderud
5. Johanna Erikson

Snowboard Men
1. Dave Watson
2. Korey Kaczmarek
3. Stewart Trevor
4. Ralph Backstrom
5. Max Zipster
6. Olivier Favre
7. Tyler Dewitt
8. Jonas Emery
9. Raphael Bullet
10. Gennady Khryachkov
11. Berny Stoll
12. Will Brommelisiek
13. Matthew Annetts

Snowboard Women
1. Tiffany Noel
2. Anniina Karvinen
3. Kaisa Harkonen
4. Elisabeth Pahl
5. Lisa Ruggieeri

Freeride World Tour at Mammoth Mountain – Open Qualifier Results

Monday, Jan. 14, 2008
Mammoth Mountain – Hemlock Ridge

Ski Men
1. Willie Schneider
2. Sam Smoothy
3. Cedric Pugin
4. Steve Leonard
5. Julien Lopez
6. Thibault Jurie des Camiers
7. Coots Forrest
8. Herve Guoy
9. Phillippe Buschi
10. Nick Frey
11. Eric Schmitz
12. David Twinning
13. Guillaume Roux
14. Michael Vaughan
15. Thibault Duschosal
16. Ryan Kindervater
17. Nicolas Boidevezi
18. Jamie Blair
19. Lars Haukom
20. Oskar Svensson
21. Mukhatar Shavayev
22. Barrett Hawkins
23. Anthony DiFoggia
24. Mark Hendrickson
25. Daryn Edmunds
26. Nicolas Renevier
27. Johannes Haugen
28. Matthias Haunholder

Ski Women
1. Johanna Erikson
2. Tine Huber
3. Katharina Mihlajavic

Snowboard Men
1. Adam Devargas
2. Eli Lieberman
3. Ralph Backstrom
4. Aurelien Routens
5. Christophe Cardinaux
6. Mika Voirol
7. Tyler Dewitt
8. Pete Bennett
9. Stewart Trevor
10. Forrest Palumbo

Snowboard Women
1. Lisa Ruggieeri
2. Lisa Longo
3. Lucas Casey

Night of Lights – Oooooh, Aaaaahh

Night of Lights at Mammoth Mountain’s Canyon Lodge
Thousands of people showed up for the outdoor nighttime show on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008.

Sledstyle stars Heath Frisby and Joe Parsons gave the audience a preview of the crazy tricks they’re planning to bring to the X-Games later this month on a 70 foot super kicker and 85 foot snow gap.

Then the entire team of Mammoth ski instructors paraded down the slope with a glowing red flare in each hand, forming an M like a marching band and parting ways for Woolly’s appearance on skis.

Fireworks lit up the snow and the sky for the grande finale (you know how the sun reflects off the snow on sunny days? Imagine the reflections from fireworks…)

This once-a-winter “spectacular” was resurrected from the 90s, when it was held at Main Lodge. Thirteen years later it’s back, and it looks like something that will continue in future seasons.

Mammoth Ice Rink Now Open

Now we can skate! The Mammoth Lakes Ice Rink opened Monday, Jan. 7, 2008. Public skate sessions ($10 for adults and $8 for kids) are scheduled around hockey league and private lessons, so call in advance. Facilities include skate rentals and snack shop.

Mammoth Lakes Ice Rink: 760.934.2505
ML Ice Hockey League: 760.914.0856
Parks & Rec. Department: 760.934.2712 ext. 1234