By Sandy Chio
Special to the Turnagain Times
Opening Day
The snow guns are out and signs of ski season are in the air, literally. Alyeska Resort is scheduled to open for skiing and riding on Wednesday, November 25th (conditions permitting). The Sitzmark Bar & Grill officially opens at the same time, and weekend live music starts Friday, November 28th with H3 (admission is $5).
Superpipe Update
The Parks & Pipe crew took advantage of the dry and warm autumn season and the dirt work on the new Alyeska Pipeline Superpipe is 95% finished. This week, the crew is laying down snow-making along the pipe and they plan to blow snow as long as the temperatures stay cold. The tentative opening date for the superpipe is mid-to-late December, depending on conditions.
Ski Film Fridays
What's the next best thing to skiing? Watching ski movies! Join us at the Daylodge the following Fridays at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $5 and shows are all ages. Food and bar will be open.
• November 6: Rage Film presents “Pretty Good”
• November 13: Matchstick Productions presents “In Deep”
• November 20: Poorboyz Productions presents “Everyday is a Saturday”
Family Season Pass Savings
Families can still save when buying season passes together. Choose from either the Perfect Family Discount (PFD) where you can save 50% off up to two kids passes (17 & under) with the purchase of one adult season pass or save up to $50 off each additional pass for immediate family members when you buy at least two passes at the same time. Season Pass details are online at AlyeskaResort.com or call the Ticket Office for more info at 754-2275.
Avoid Lines, Save Time
This November, Alyeska Resort is offering a variety of ways to purchase and pick-up season passes or gift cards.
• Starting November 3rd, the Ticket Office is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The Ticket Office will be open every day starting November 18th.
• Season passes can also be purchased and picked-up at The Hotel Alyeska starting November 15th between noon and 7 PM in the Harding Room (3rd floor of hotel, just past the Aurora Bar & Grill). Between November 25 and 29, the Harding Room will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM.
• For added convenience, the Alyeska Booth at the Dimond Center Mall (in front of Forever 21) will continue to offer in-town season pass purchase and pick-up on weekends from noon until 6 p.m. From November 20 to 29 (excluding Thanksgiving Day), the booth will be open daily.
Season Pass Holder Party
Save the Date! Kick-off winter at the annual Season Pass Holder Party on Saturday, November 21st. At the Daylodge, the party starts at 7 PM and is free for all 2009-10 season pass holders. Pass holder guests are welcome at $25 per person. New this winter, Season Pass Holders will receive a “Season Passport” filled with savings for the ski season. Following the event, the party will move to the Sitzmark for a 9 PM show with the 11:20s (admission is $3).
Comfort Food, 42” TVs
Aurora Bar & Grill continues its popular football specials this month with $9 Mile-High Nachos (November 5-9) and $4 Alaska Seafood Cakes (November 12-16), perfect complements with $3 draft beers. The A-Bar is open 11 AM to 11 PM every day. Call 754-2186 to order a hand-tossed pizza to go.
Kids Camps & Programs
Registration for the Discover Skiing & Snowboarding Program and popular Powder Blasters Camp are available online and through the Mountain Learning Center. Call 754-2280 for more information about these programs and other clinics or camps available throughout the ski season for adults and kids.
Alyeska Resort Awarded Outstanding National Ski Patrol Honor
Alyeska Resort recently learned that the National Ski Patrol will be awarding the Alyeska Ski Patrol the National Outstanding Large Alpine Patrol Award for 2009. This award represents Alyeska Ski Patrol's commitment to safety, teamwork and overall service to the sport of skiing and riding.
To honor the members of Alyeska's Ski Patrol, Dave Skitt, long-time Alyeska patroller, presented the prestigious award to the resort's owner, John Byrne III, at a special ceremony held at Seven Glaciers Restaurant on Oct.16.
The multi-tiered application process started with a review by the Alaska Division of the National Ski Patrol who accepted the application and forwarded it onto the National Ski Patrol Review Board, comprised of a select group of patrols across the US. Ultimately, Alyeska's application made the final review where the resort competed with nine other patrols to win this year's award. Factors that contributed to Alyeska receiving the award include patrol's management of multiple Class A avalanches and extreme freeskiing events and Alpine Nationals in recent winters.
Alyeska Resort's Ski Patrol is considered a Large Alpine Patrol with more than 41 patrol members. The patrol staff is comprised of both paid and volunteer members, and provides 80 percent of patrol training in the Southcentral region. Alyeska has hosted National Ski Patrol volunteer training for close to four decades and a majority of Alyeska's professional patrollers are a direct result of the program.
“Alyeska's commitment to teamwork between professional patrol, volunteer patrol and snow safety is why we received the award,” said Don Spencer, Alyeska Resort's National Ski Patrol Representative. “On the hill, everyone works together. Whether it's a broken leg in an out-of-bounds area or managing safety at an extreme event. Every member of patrol contributes to the process and there is arguably no better snow safety team in the country.”
In the same award cycle, members of Alyeska's patrol will also be receiving multiple individual awards in the Alaska Division of the National Ski Patrol. The official announcement of the 2009 award recipients will take place mid-November.
![Super pipe construction 10-18-09[1].jpg](images/super-pipe.jpg)
