Area’S Slopes Covered In Skiing Bargains

Sun., Jan. 16, 2000

Rich Landers Outdoors Editor

The year 2000 has kicked off an avalanche of bargains, promotions and pure entertainment at the region’s alpine ski areas.

Drive a Toyota on the right mountain on the right Friday this year, and your lift ticket is free.

Every resort has scheduled at least a few demo days, during which skiers can test run the latest skis and boots.

Fifth-grade students throughout the Inland Northwest can get a “ski free passport” that offers three free tickets at each of the five area ski resorts. An adult must bring the child to the mountain and buy a ticket. Application forms are available at participating Subway sandwich shops and on the Internet at www.ski-inlandnorthwest.com.

Silver Mountain is inviting season pass holders to bring a new skier or boarder to the mountain on Jan. 30 for free lift ticket, lessons and equipment rental.

Schweitzer has a masters speed camp Jan 24-30.

Nordic skiers can bring their dogs for the Paw & Pole fun race at 49 Degrees North on Saturday.

Take Your Daughter To the Snow Week, Jan. 31-Feb. 6, has inspired Schweitzer to offer two-for-one group ski or snowboard lessons while Lookout Pass will be offering two-for-one lift tickets. Mt. Spokane will offer half-price lift tickets or lessons that week to parents and daughters, but only on Feb. 2 and 3.

For pure entertainment value, you can’t beat the Mountain Bike Snow Race Feb. 12 at 49 Degrees North.

Silver Mountain is featuring a weekend of skiing and micro-brews on March 11.

Following are some of the season’s upcoming highlights.

Chicks-on-Sticks, Jan. 25: For women only, this day-long ski and snowboard clinic features national-class instructors, pampering and a bargain price at 49 Degrees North.

The day starts with an indoor coaching session over pastries and coffee, on-snow training, lunch, lectures, more on-snow coaching and video-taping before winding up the session in the lodge with wine and hors d’oeuvres as coaches provide video critiques.

Featured coaches include Cindy Pattersen, ski magazine’s instructor of the year for 1998 and Amy Zahm, a member of the national junior ski education team.

Cost: $85, includes everything, including food, lift tickets and equipment for those who need it.

Nordic events: Free-heelers can go both ways - uphill or down - in competitions this year.

Saturday at 49 Degrees: Paw & Pole, cross country an snowshoe races for people who want to bring pooch along. Lunch and games are planned, with proceeds earmarked in a very humane way for SpokAnimal.

Next Saturday and Sunday at Schweitzer: Selkirk Classic Telemark Weekend, races for novice to experienced three-pinners.

Jan. 29-30 at 49 Degrees: Cross Country Ski Fest, includes free instruction and use of equipment for newcomers, plus a race on Sunday.

Feb. 26 at 49 Degrees: Hill Climb and Descent Challenge features a 1,800-vertical-foot ascent up the slopes followed by a rapid run back downhill to the finish. Event is open to skiers, boarders and snowshoers.

Toyota freebies: Drive a Toyota and ski free at 49 Degrees on Friday, Lookout Pass on Jan. 28, Silver Mountain on Feb. 4, Schweitzer on Feb. 11 and Mt. Spokane on Feb. 25.

Boarder series: The Bigwoodie.com Rider Cross series will visit each area resort this season as follows: Silver Mountain on Jan. 23, Lookout Pass on Feb. 13, 49 Degrees on Feb. 20, Mt. Spokane on March 5 and Schweitzer on March 19.

Snowboard festivals: Special days and events for snowboarders include the Slope Style ski and snowboard freestyle at Mt. Spokane on Feb. 12, a Friday night halfpipe series in February, the Ground Zero Board Fest March 17-19 at Schweitzer and the USSA Snowboard series for all levels Feb. 26-27 at 49 Degrees.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.