The 2005 winter sports calendar is being launched with a myriad of clinics, races, camps and events beginning this week and planned for people of all ages.
For the 28th consecutive year, the Sun Valley Ski & Snowboard School offers a Snow Sports Camp for local kids in kindergarten through sixth grade.
For many tykes, this camp is a ticket to a life-long love affair with alpine sports.
The camp takes place over the next four Saturdays and Sundays, beginning Jan. 15 and 16 and ending the first weekend in February.
All participants should plan on meeting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at Carol's Dollar Mountain Lodge.
In Hailey, the Hailey Figure Skating Club take to the ice Saturday, Jan. 15, with former professional figure skater and instructor Heidi Albrecht.
Offered are two classes each Saturday at Roberta McKercher Park for the next four weeks. For kids in grades kindergarten through five, the Beginner Class runs from noon to 12:45 p.m. Intermediate Figure Skating takes place from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Both classes are $35 for the four-week session. For more information, contact Albrecht at 788-7827 or Diane Heiner at 788-6474.
Also at Roberta McKercher Park, Hailey Hockey starts this week. For girls in grades one through five, coaching is from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesdays though Feb. 16.
For boys in grades one through five, practice is 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. on Fridays though Feb. 18.
For middle school students, the hockey program is on Mondays from 4 to 5:15 p.m. for girls and boys.
To register for the hockey program, call Bege Reynolds at 788-3325.
Things are busy on Baldy this weekend, starting with the Sun Valley Freestyle Ski Team, which is hosting a three-day Intermountain Division freestyle event with training, today through Sunday, Jan. 16.
The 24th annual Local Adult Ski & Snowboard Clinics kicks off Saturday, Jan. 15, for Wood River Valley adults. It runs for the next three weekends. There is an initial meeting for Baldy skiers and snowboarders at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at River Run Day Lodge. The cost is $90. For more details, call 622-2289.
The Sun Valley Ski Club holds a Giant Slalom Race open to all skiers, Tuesday, Jan. 18. The first run is at 10 a.m. on the Warm Springs side of Baldy. Registration is from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Warm Springs Lodge. The cost is $15 for ski club members and $20 for non-members. An awards ceremony follows at 1 p.m. at Warm Springs Lodge.
Sun Valley Adaptive Sports has been operating its 4th Annual Cross Country Ski Development Camp in conjunction with the U.S. Disabled Ski Team since Thursday, Jan. 13. It runs through Sunday, Jan. 16.
Athletes with disabilities who excel in other sports were invited to Sun Valley to learn cross-country skiing. There were daily snow clinics, video sessions, time in the gym to learn sport specific dry land training techniques, and information presentation, as well as some off time for relaxing. The coaches include past U.S. Disabled Ski Team coaches as well as guest coaching by current members of the national team.
On Saturday, Jan. 15, at 6:30 p.m., there is a champagne and lobster fundraiser and silent auction for SVAS at the Gail Severn Gallery in Ketchum.
Wait there's more!
Up at the gorgeous Galena Lodge and North Valley Trails, the fun opportunities for the outdoorsy and adventurous continue. There are yurts for rent, snowshoeing with rangers on Fridays, masters skate ski clinics on Wednesdays, beginners skate ski clinics on Sundays, and wildlife walks with naturalist Cathy Baer on Wednesdays.
For some evening fun, take your skis and enjoy a full moon or stargazing dinners after a tour around the lodge's many trails. The next full moon dinners are Sunday, Jan. 23 and Monday, Jan. 24.
On Wednesday, Jan. 19, the Sun Valley Town Series begins. The seven-week racing series involves four-member teams who start at 11 a.m. on the Warm Springs side of Baldy, each week. Sign-up at the Warm Springs Lodge race desk. The first night's awards party is at 4:30 p.m. at the Ketchum Kantina.
So much to do, so many sports to master, so little time. What the heck. Do it anyway.
Freestyle skiing maneuvers such as this can be seen on Bald Mountain this weekend. Photo by Willy Cook
