Spring Magic Continues at Squaw Valley USA
News
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March 31, 2005
Squaw Valley USA – To the delight of skiers and snowboarders, Mother Nature decided to celebrate the start of spring with over 97 inches or 8 feet of snow on the upper mountain during the past ten days. In between powder turns, Squaw Valley’s long list of fun spring events and activities continue April 9-10, 2005, with a variety of competitions and events that go up, down and all around the mountain.
The fun begins Saturday April 9, with a one-of-a-kind North Lake Tahoe tradition, the Billy Dutton Uphill. This uphill race, offers participants the opportunity to use any non-motorized gear to ascend the mountain. Popular choices include snowshoes, skating skis, hiking boots and tennis shoes. The race begins near the bottom terminal of Squaw Valley’s KT-22 chairlift and climbs 2,000′ vertical feet and approximately 3.2 miles up the Mountain Run to High Camp. Registration takes place at 7am in The Olympic Plaza and the race begins at 8am. The entry fee is $15 and includes a t-shirt and goodies.
Following the uphill racing, skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers are invited to switch gears and race downhill in the Squaw Valley Challenge last chance qualifier, and finals. Skiers and snowboarders have been racing all season long in dual-slalom races on Squaw Valley USA’s lower mountain Ford Race Arena. The top finishers of each of these races are qualified for the finals at 11am on Saturday April 9. Those that have missed the fun can still qualify for the finals during the last chance qualifier prior to the finals from 9-10am. All finalists are entered into a raffle for two airline tickets to Hawaii courtesy of Runaway Vacations.
Rounding out the entertainment on Saturday is the 3rd ever Undie 500, one of Squaw Valley’s most popular and hilarious spectator events. Open to the public, this unique running event features teams of two as they race relay-style in only their undergarments (including a pair of boxers that are provided) around Cushing Pond. Registration for the Undie 500 is $10 per team and begins at 3pm on the Olympic Plaza deck with the race taking place at 4:30pm. Participants must be 18 or older to race. The first place team walks with cash.
On Sunday morning April 10, skiers and snowboarders are invited to the upper mountain Ford Recreational Raceway for the Spring Blast Bikini & Boxers Race. Competitors are encouraged to race in their finest swimwear on the dual race course for fabulous prizes. The racing begins at 10am and the cost to participate is $5 for 2 runs. The top combined times win.
To celebrate the end of North Tahoe’s spring festival SpringBlast, High Camp hosts a giant pool party and BBQ starting at noon. Party-goers can enjoy DJ music as they swim, soak, eat, drink and socialize the afternoon away at Squaw Valley’s mountaintop paradise.
Additional events coming up at Squaw Valley this spring include Tait’s Rail Wars on April 16, another 180 Sundays in the Park mountaintop concert on April 17 featuring Frank Hannon of Tesla hard-rock fame, the annual Lake Cushing Classic on April 30, the Earth Day Festival and Eco Parade on April 30, Mother’s Day on May 8, the annual season passholder party on May 29, the Lake Tahoe Smooth Jazz Festival presented by JazzTrax over the Memorial Day weekend May 29-30, and the last day for skiing and snowboarding for the 2004-2005 winter season scheduled for Monday May 30, 2005.
For all the details on Squaw Valley’s spring calendar of events please visit www.squaw.com or call 530-583-6985.