Mountain biking action at Northstar

Snow is melting rapidly but before I try Horsetail Falls and Aloha Lake I'll make one more trip to the Pacific area for a hiking warmup, this time with knee brace in place. Meanwhile, here's some local action:

-- Mountain bikers of all levels can get an adrenaline surge every Thursday night at Northstar when the competition heats up with the Evening Cross Country Mountain Bike Race Series happening weekly from June 12 through Aug. 14.

From extreme riders to beginners, Northstar has a challenging race course. Riders will climb and descend through Northstar's mountain bike park on one of three courses ranging from six to 14 miles. Courses will vary week to week and the number of laps will be determined by the racer's class. Helmets are required for all riders but there is no NORBA license required.

All races begin at 6 p.m. sharp at the upper plaza of Northstar's Village. Race categories are Men's Beginner, Men's Sport, Men's Expert, Women's Beginner, Women's Sport and Women's Expert. The entry fee is $8 per racer with registration in the Village from 5-5:45 p.m. the evening of the race.E

There will be a drawing held every week for all racers. Drawing prizes include mountain bike park passes, Smith sunglasses and FOX t-shirts and hats. Every Thursday beginning on July 3 Timbercreek Restaurant in the Northstar Village, will offer draft beers for $3.

Awards will be presented at the end of the season for overall winners based on cumulative points earned throughout the series. Racers must compete in six races to qualify for the end-of-season awards. Call 800-GO-NORTH or visit www.northstarattahoe.com.

-- The most convenient and exclusive pass in Lake Tahoe, the 2003/2004 Ski Lake Tahoe "Ultimate Ski Pass" is on sale now!E Processed on a first-come, first-served basis, only 60 passes will be sold.EE

The Ultimate Ski Pass, also known as the High Sierra Pass, is the only pass which gives the pass holder unlimited skiing and snowboarding, holidays and weekends included with one convenient pass at six resorts including Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Squaw Valley USA. That means no hidden black-out dates or restrictions whatsoever, just the ability to ski at any of the six resorts anytime during the winter season, affording convenience unmatched by any other pass.

The Ski Lake Tahoe resorts, all top-rated by the leading ski magazines, offer everything from family fun to world-class sophistication which provides Ultimate Ski Pass holders with more choices and variety than any individual resort pass.

To reserve your 2003/2004 Ultimate Ski Pass, please visit [http://www.skilaketahoe.com/]www.skilaketahoe.com for more information or call (530) 541-2462, ext. 201.

-- Squaw Valley USA was recently named one of eight winners of the National Ski Areas Association's 2002-2003 National Ski Area Safety Contest. The annual awards are given to ski areas that use innovative marketing programs to promote slope safety during National Safety Awareness Week in January.

This national recognition resulted from Squaw Valley's efforts to heighten slope safety awareness and education during National Safety Awareness Week.

Along with ongoing programs, Squaw Valley USA staff "took to the slopes" Jan. 18-24 to promote educational events and activities, including a backcountry awareness workshop, photo sessions with the Squaw avalanche rescue dogs, public service announcements related to slope safety on the Resort Sports Network, the distribution of Freeride Team Safety Trading Cards featuring the resort's high profile athletes, a children's safety poster contest, as well as daily postings of the Skier's Responsibility Code on the resort's Web site and snow report to heighten awareness.

As part of the safety week activities, members of the Squaw Valley Freeride Team, including high profile professional skiers and snowboarders like Jeff McKitterick, Aaron McGovern, Jeremy Jones, Jessica Sobolowski, Jen Berg, Tom Wayes and several others were on hand to promote their own personal safety messages and remind guests the importance of keeping safety top of mind.

Sam Bauman is the Nevada Appeal Diversions Editor.

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