SKIING : Just When It Looked Bleak, Series of Storms Makes All the Difference

“It’s here! Top’s open. Skiing is great.” That was the bulletin this week from Mammoth Mountain, where snow depths are being measured in feet--rather than inches--for the first time this winter. Between six and seven feet, to be precise.

Of course, Mammoth isn’t the only California ski area to benefit from the recent series of storms. Closer to Los Angeles, Kratka Ridge, Mt. Baldy and Ski Sunrise have finally opened on a sustained basis, joining Mountain High, Snow Valley, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, and all report enough snow to operate at least through Easter Sunday, March 31.

Farther north, High Sierra slopes are blanketed with fresh powder clear to Lake Tahoe, where all resorts are in full swing.

Apparently, the report of the 1990-91 ski season’s death in this state was a bit premature.

Snow also has been falling on Aspen, Colo., where the men on the World Cup circuit are scheduled to race this weekend.

Downhill training was blown out by winds gusting to 65 m.p.h. Tuesday, then was scrubbed Wednesday because of the heavy overnight accumulation on Aspen Mountain. Up to 16 inches fell in about eight hours, causing race chief Tom Anderson to say: “I haven’t seen it snow that hard that fast for a long time.”

A minimum of two training runs are required to hold the downhill Friday, and it’s hoped that both can be completed today. A giant slalom is set for Saturday, followed by a slalom Sunday.

Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg continues to lead the overall standings with 215 points, 73 more than runner-up Alberto Tomba of Italy. Franz Heinzer of Switzerland, who figures to make up some ground in the Aspen downhill, is third, another 13 back.

The women, who had two races canceled because of snowy weather at their last stop in Morioka-Shizukuishi, Japan, are at Lake Louise, Canada, for a downhill, giant slalom and slalom Friday through Sunday.

Petra Kronberger of Austria, with 285 points, leads runner-up Carole Merle of France by 112 in the women’s overall standings.

Skiing Notes

ESPN will carry same-day, delayed coverage of the Aspen men’s World Cup races Friday at 2:30 p.m., Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. . . . Taped highlights of the Lake Louise women’s World Cup competition will be included in “Olympic Winterfest” on Channel 2 between 1:30 and 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

The U.S. Pro Tour swings by Pico, Vt., this weekend, with Bernhard Knauss still in command. The Austrian fell and was eliminated in the round of 32 as Norwegian Ove Nygren won the giant slalom last Saturday at Stowe, Vt., but came back to beat American Phil Mahre in the next day’s slalom final. Knauss has 520 points and earnings of $133,025. He is followed by Nygren with 425 1/2 and $63,431, then Mahre with 414 and $67,450. . . . The Women’s Pro Ski circuit is scheduled to stop at Sierra Summit Friday through Sunday.

Mammoth Mountain will play host to the American Cancer Society’s Race to Beat Cancer Saturday. The event, on Lower Fascination, is open to skiers of all ability levels, who will race in coed teams of three. The $100 entry fee includes a lift-ticket, a chance at prizes, participant giveaways and refreshments. Information: (805) 945-7585. . . . Jimmie Heuga’s Mazda Ski Express will travel to Diamond Peak at Ski Incline Sunday, instead of Sugar Bowl as originally scheduled, then move on to Mammoth on March 15 and Snow Summit on March 16.

North Lake Tahoe will have an especially festive atmosphere this weekend as the Snowfest Winter Carnival continues with a mix of on-snow and apres-ski activities. . . . Saturday, Alpine Meadows will stage its 21st annual Family Ski Challenge, originally organized by TV’s Art Linkletter, and Squaw Valley will be the scene of the fifth annual Jose Cuervo Games of Winter. . . . Sunday, Northstar will conduct a 10-kilometer gourmet cross-country ski tour, starting at 12:30 p.m., with periodic trail-side stops for a movable feast. The cost is $30 for adults, $10 for children 5-10, and includes a trail pass.

Not to be outdone, South Lake Tahoe will celebrate Playboy Ski Fest ’91 this weekend at Heavenly Valley. . . . The McKinney Speed Challenge, named in honor of the late Steve McKinney, is under way through Sunday at Mt. Bachelor, near Bend, Ore. It’s the second of seven meets on the 1991 World Cup of Speed Skiing schedule. . . . A total of 125 teams will race for the glory of their companies in the 11th annual Corporate Ski Challenge Monday through March 16 at Alpine Meadows. . . . The Jeep National Ski Club Challenge Far West Championship, originally set for Mammoth last weekend, was rescheduled for Bear Mountain March 16.