Winter fun is still not over!

*Click on image to enlarge*

Since this is in my neck of the woods, you better believe that we will be there with our dogs, skis and poles. Can't wait to give winter one last horrah!!

In case you haven't noticed, perhaps you haven't, but I took a brief break from blogging, but now I am back.  This valley is just too cool and my brain can't hold all of my thoughts, so I have to get them out somehow!!

Family time

The family that stays active together, stays together.

If you are looking for our family, or most local families, on the weekends, just head over to Dollar Mountain.  It is the winter social scene.  While our oldest son is partaking in the Spud Ski School (highly recommend it by the way for ages 5 and up), my husband and I ski with our two youngest on either the chairlift or the magic carpet ride.  

SV Company has taken Dollar to a whole new level with their terrain park (and sledding hill). It is still a great family mountain, but now adds more excitement and challenges for all ages.

Since hot chocolate breaks in the lodge are quite mandatory, I decided to sneak away from my family for a really quick snowshoe adventure on the White Cloud trail (awesome nordic skiing and snowshoeing trails). 

So, while I was doing this.... 

it was fun to watch the action on Dollar, where my family was.

Then, it was back to my skiing with the family.  

It's a good life!

Skiing and Tubing at Dollar

We took the three kids skiing today at Dollar and to say that Dollar Mountain was busy  would be a HUGE understatement. Holy Moly! I don't know if I have ever seen it that busy.  Even though the kids weren't able to get as much runs in, it made me excited to see people taking full advantage of Sun Valley's amenities.

With the big storm coming in tonight and tomorrow, I have a good feeling that Thursday may be  great powder day!

Be sure to also check out Sun Valley's new tubing hill at Dollar Mountain. You can experience the thrill for a small fee and it is definitely worth it.

Great ski program for kids

Growing up in in Arizona has made me fully appreciate and honor the fact that my kids are already better skiers than I am...and I'm perfectly OK with that. I will just be their biggest cheerleaders as they zoom past me on the hill.

I have also come to realize that I'm not the greatest ski instructor for our kids, so I consider this ski program  a huge blessing and my son had the greatest time last year with the experienced instructors.  He never wanted to stop skiing.

Definitely check it out!

(all information obtained from the Sun Valley website)

Spud Sessions (formerly known as Blaine County Kids Program)

 

The total cost is $150.00 , which includes both lesson and lift tickets.  All instruction is provided by Sun Valley SnowSports School instructors.

 Parents must register their children in person at River Run Lodge. 

(Children do not need to be present at registration)

 

Session 1:

January 8/9, January 15/16, and January 22/23*

(Registration begins November 25^th and closes January 6^th at 4pm.)

 

Session 2:

January 29/30, February 5/6, February 12/13*

(Registration begins November 25^th and closes January 27^th at 4pm.)

 

Session 3:

February 26/27, March 5/6, March 12/13*

(Registration begins November 25^th and closes February 24^th at 4pm.)

 

Clinic Sessions are held on 3 consecutive weekends

Morning Sessions: 9am-11:30am

Afternoon Sessions: 12:30pm-3pm

 

 

What a quick get-away to Sun Valley?

Check out this great article by the NY Times on what to in SV in 36 hours:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/travel/12hours.html?src=dayp

Get your skis on

Yesterday was our first day of taking the kids skiing this season.  We went to Dollar where the magic carpet and one of the lifts were open.  Still the mountain was packed with families trying out their ski legs once again.  It was fun seeing so many friends.  

A few things to remember about taking your kids skiing:

*It takes a LONG time to get the car loaded and the kids dressed for skiing

*Start slow and stress free at first.  Some of the younger kids get tired easily and aren't big fans of all the clothes and having their feet strapped down.  You want to make it an enjoyable experience, so if your child only last 15 minutes, then hopefully he/she will last 20 minutes next time.  

*Don't forget the hot chocolate inside after your day is over or if your child is needing a break.  A nice warm treat!

*HAVE FUN!  We have plenty of weekends of skiing and I can't wait.

Opening Day

Mother Nature granted Sun Valley the best birthday wish---lots and lots of early snow.  Happy 75th birthday Sun Valley!! It's going to be a fabulous year for you.  With all this new snow, everyone spirits seem to be uplifted and jolly.

The mountain opens tomorrow (hip hip hooray!) and it is time to get this ski season started.  After the Turkey Trot and a big Thanksgiving feast with my family from Arizona, we are headed to Dollar to reclaim our ski legs.  Can't wait!  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Snow sports time!

With a winter storm warning in effect until tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon and 8-30 inches (holy moly!) of snow expected to come in, I am thinking about what to do with my family this weekend.

Perhaps a little sledding...

Or snowshoeing around Galena...

Or some skiing at Dollar...

even ice skating at the Resort...

or snowmobiling.

The winter possibilities are endless. Let the real fun and hot chocolate drinking begin!

Sun Valley is the place for winter!

Only two more weeks until we get to do this....

Check out the Sun Valley Calendar (click HERE) to find out all the great things going on in town all winter long.  It's going to be a great season!

Kindercup

KINDERCUP 2010

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Dollar Mountain

Registration:  8:30 am to 9:30 am

Races begin at 10:15am

Awards after races

(no fee event)

You can also pre-register forms at

Formula, Sturtevants (Ketchum/Hailey) & PK's

between now and February 29th.

This annual event is organized by the local Papoose Club.

Our new playground

Now that ski school is back in session, we have spent the entire weekend at Dollar.  Our sunburned/windburned faces are proof!

Child #1 is signed up for ski school, so we take child #2 and child #3 up to the mountain to play as well. It was a chilly weekend, but with the sun out, we still had a great time.

For this family, and for many other families, Dollar is the new playground, or place to be seen!

Hope everyone had a grand weekend!

Ski Camp

One of the most popular winter "camps" for local kids is the Snowsports Camp for Kids (originally called Blaine County Kids Program)

For 3 straight weekends, ski instructors provide group lessons for kids in Kindergarten through 6th grade.  It's a great instructional and fun program.  There are kids everywhere!

$130 price includes lift ticket and lessons. If you do the math, it's a steal!  Plus, what a great chance to get some personal skiing time in while your child is learning to ski by a pro.

Morning session:  9am-11:30am

Afternoon Session:  12:30-3pm

This is the crucial part---parents must sign up in person at River Run by Friday, February 19th.

SV Nordic Festival

The 1st annual Sun Valley Nordic Festival is upon us.  Considering that Nordic Town, USA is Sun Valley, we have the perfect spot to host the festival.

This next week is loaded with fun ski activities that range from family friendly, to tough competition to just partying it up!  There is something for everyone.

Click here to check out all the awesome activities.

This morning is Ski the Rails from Ketchum to Hailey.  Grab the family and the dogs have fun while x-country skiing our amazing trails.  The view along the way is stellar, plus you can score some goodies!

Unfortunately, I will not be joining the masses in this event.  I am not the greatest x-country skier (yet!!) and don't want to show the town my lack of skills. Wimpy, I know!  I will think of all of you while I'm snowshoeing.

Vanity Fair likes us!

Click here to check out the great things Vanity Fair has to say about Sun Valley.

We're big time now!

blue skies, skiing and donuts

For our mini-adventure today, we joined the masses at Dollar and relished in the gorgeous blue skies and above average temperatures.  With a *new* sledding hill and a *new* terrain park,  Dollar is great for families and for all ages.  How lucky are we to have this in our town?

The kids practiced a little skiing, but enjoyed playing with all the Ski School "toys".  We could have lasted hours there!

Since it is Friday and because I felt like it, we made our next stop to The Donuts' Lodge in Ketchum.

Yummy donuts + cheap prices = happy families.  Plus, the store owner provides fun and lively conversation each and every time.  You can tell he loves this job and he loves this town.

FREE ski day---January 10

 FREE           FREE            FREE

This Sunday, ski FREE day on any of the BCRD trails (North Valley, Galena, Lake Creek and Quigley Nordic).

What a great way to spend your Sunday with friends, with your family or by yourself!

Lessons are provided as welll.  Just head over to Quigley Nordic between 1-3pm.  To sign up for your lesson and rentals, call Sturtos in Hailey  788-7847

For more info, call 788-2117