Spring fever coming to local resorts

With the fresh snow falling over the last couple of days spring skiing and boarding should offer fine snowsporting.

And more may be on the way. Yeah, some rocks have peeked out and the cover can be thin, but as soon as the latest cold front slips by you can expect some great fun, if nothing else sitting on a deck at Mount Rose or Heavenly's East Peak Lodge and soaking up sun. Diamond Peak closed last weekend early, but the cover had been patchy for a couple of weeks so it was a smart move.

Meanwhile, seems every resort is offering special season lift passes.

Heavenly is once again offering the $299 pass for the 2003/2004 season. Most pass specials have a target number to sell and that's it. If you're interested, take advantage of it now.

The $299 UltraPass provides full mountain access to Heavenly, including the Gondola at Heavenly Village and five free days at Heavenly's sister resorts in Colorado -- Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone.

To purchase: Go on-line at www.heavenlypass.com, by phone at (877) 243-0109 or in-person at the season pass office inside the California Lodge through May 26. The usual holiday restrictions apply.

The upgraded UltraPass Plus provides unrestricted access to the mountain with no blackout dates and is available for an additional $199 for adults. Teen, child and senior passes are also available at significant savings.

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Squaw Valley reports that effective immediately all active duty military personnel can ski or snowboard for free for the rest of the 2002-2003 winter season.

To redeem the complimentary tickets military personnel simply need to visit the Special Tickets office and present their current military ID along with a second photo ID. This offer is available seven days a week through the end of the winter season, currently scheduled for May 26, 2003. Limit one ticket per person per day.

This season's Spring Jam 6, scheduled for April 12-13, is sure to entertain. Squaw Valley's sixth annual spring festival includes a huge superpipe competition, a big air extravaganza, fierce rail wars and a grueling uphill event.

The weekend kicks off on Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. in Squaw Valley's Mainline Superpipe. Skiers and snowboarders take to the 575-foot-long pipe trying to navigate the 17-foot walls and 18-degree pitch with flair while throwing their best tricks in an effort to wow the crowd and impress the judges. E

Then Rail Wars pit jibbers against each other as they hit two custom-made rails set on an 18-foot-high and 40-foot-long mountain of snow in the plaza.

Early Sunday morning competitors lace up their running shoes, snowshoes or skating skis and race 2,000 vertical feet and approximately 3.2 miles up the Mountain Run to High Camp in the 14th Annual Billy Dutton Uphill.

The Spring Jam Big Air events follow at 11 a.m. as skiers and snowboarders throw their best trick and try to stick the landing. Registration for the Superpipe and Big Air takes place each morning in the Cable Car lobby with registration for the Billy Dutton Uphill starting at 7 a.m. near Dave's Deli and at 4 p.m. in the event plaza for the Rail Wars.

All competitions are open to skiers and snowboarders, men and women. All entrants must provide proof of insurance, complete a liability release and a legal guardian must accompany competitors under 18 years of age. Helmets are mandatory for all competitors. The cost to enter the Big Air and Superpipe events is $40 each or $65 for both, participation in Tait's Rail Wars is free and the Billy Dutton Uphill is $15. Entry fees do not include a lift ticket.

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Alpine Meadows Ski Resort announces an unlimited $99 2003 Spring Pass. Valid every day until the end of the season, the Alpine Meadows Spring Pass gives skiers and riders full access to the best spring snow in Tahoe for less than the price of two lift tickets.

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Sugar Bowl is announcing some spring savings on day tickets and next year's season passes.

On the weekend of April 12-13, Sugar Bowl will host the Tiki Cup and Silver Belt weekend. The event kicks off Saturday with Polynesian dancers, flame-throwers, canoes filled with Mai Tai's, and great Polynesian food. The Silver Belt banquet will be held Saturday evening and the famous race on Sunday. Past winners include many of the legends of skiing. Sugar Bowl's Silver Belt race, Sun Valley's Harriman Cup and Aspen's Roach Cup were the previews of the modern day World Cup. Call 530-426-6701 for tickets.

The sales price for Sugar Bowl's hugely popular Slightly Restricted pass (valid Sunday through Friday, holidays restricted) is currently only $359 for adults for the 2003/2004 season. Young Adult (13-22) passes are $259.

Starting Monday, use your Visa card or cash and pay only $35 Monday through Friday.

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On Sunday April 13, Sierra-at-Tahoe will host Breast Cancer Awareness Day, a festival created to educate people on breast cancer prevention and detection while showing the talents of Lake Tahoe's local bands.

The event will kick off at 11 a.m. on the Cheeseburger in Paradise sundeck with the sounds of Lavish Green, Trey Stone, Cool Black Kettle, Bionic Gorilla Project and Uncle Funkle. The bands will play until 5 p.m.

A portion of the day's lift ticket sales will be donated to the Barton Health Resource Center Breast Cancer Fund.

Call (530) 659-7453.

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Alpine Meadows offers the following lineup of events:

April 5: Mad Cow Downhill; April 5: National Ski Patrol Games;

April 6: Community Benefit Day, lift tickets $20; April 6: National Longboard championships; April 10: Dummy Huck, spring blast, cash and prizes; April 12: Junior (8-16) freestyle event; April 12-13: Far West Masters races; April 13: Kodie's retirement party (Alpine's famous patrol dog); April 13: Apostle Slopestyle competition.

Alpine is also offering a $99 spring pass and will be running well into May. Call (530) 581-8328.

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And don't forget mighty Homewood where lift tickets are $34 Friday through Sunday (closed Wednesday-Thursday). There may well be powder stashes tucked away this weekend.

Sam Bauman is the Nevada Appeal Diversions Editor.