Skiing : Monday’s Storm Gave a Boost to the Spring Season
With the calendar on the wall saying it’s officially time for spring skiing, winter’s last storm got out just in time Monday after dumping three to eight inches of fresh powder in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains.
All Southland ski areas are operating daily on 12 to 48 inches of snow, and it appears safe to predict that they’ll now make it through Easter, which is April 7.
The High Sierra is also in good shape. Most major resorts plan to remain open until the end of April or beyond as the snowpack shows no signs of dwindling very soon. Mammoth Mountain reported an average base of 92 inches at midweek, while June Mountain had 70, Sierra Summit 60 and Badger Pass 74, to name just the ones closer by.
The sun has been out lately, creating ideal conditions for skiing in just a sweater--or less--and stopping to work on a tan while picnicking on wine and cheese in the snow, if you’re so inclined.
Skiing’s White Circus, also known as the Alpine World Cup tour, will wind up a two-day engagement at Park City, Utah, today, and then will hop across Nevada to Heavenly Valley, Calif., for the World Cup Finals this weekend.
The women’s slalom is scheduled Friday, followed by the men’s slalom Saturday and both men’s and women’s parallel races Sunday. All events will take place on the California side of the mountain, overlooking the south shore of Lake Tahoe.
The U.S. Ski Team has been buoyed by recent announcements that Subaru of America will renew its contract to provide 40 vehicles plus cash for another five years and Descente Ltd. of Japan will supply ski clothing and uniforms for four years.
Calgary, host city for the 1988 Winter Games, reported this week, incidentally, that the total costs are now projected to be $718 million, more than $300 million above the original estimate.
But John Lecky, chairman of the financial and budget committee, said there is no cause for worry because revenues will also be up.
The largest revenue item doubtless will be the $386 million that ABC-TV has contracted to pay the Canadian organizers for U.S. television rights.
Skiing Notes
Franz Klammer, Austria’s 1976 Olympic gold medalist in the downhill, announced his retirement during the annual Ski Industries America trade show, which ends today in Las Vegas. Klammer, 31, was there to promote his new line of ski gear. . . . Any Mountain, a ski shop in Concord, Ca., won the fifth annual Corporate Ski Challenge over 159 other teams at Alpine Meadows. . . . The Great American Ski Chase series ends with the California Goldrush Ski Marathon Sunday at Royal Gorge, near Soda Springs. . . . The Yosemite Winter Club’s annual Ancient Jocks race open to all skiers 30 and over, will be held Saturday at Badger Pass. . . . The final meet of the World Cup Freestyle circuit is set for Saalen, Sweden, Friday through Sunday. . . . The Peugeot Grand Prix men’s pro racing schedule also concludes this weekend with the $60,000 World Finals at Vail, Colo.