Greetings, Rocky Mountain Sliders!

You remember in our last issue we looked at all the great discounts on lift tickets available, and next week there will be information on last-minute Valentine's and President's days specials. This week, check out the Olympic-sized deals out there!

The Olympic Opening Ceremony is only hours away, and once again America the Beautiful is worthy host of the games. Not since the 1960 games at Squaw Valley has the pride of this nation been at such a fever pitch. And the pride of Colorado shows as well: of the 22 members on the US Ski Team, five are from Colorado. Did you also know this will be the most expensive Olympics, with almost $800,000 invested in EACH athlete? We here at Sliding on the Cheap don't believe you need to spend quite that much to have a good time in the snow, and you can run your own Olympic GS on resort NASTAR courses. Just in case you want to kick back and learn by watching the pros, check out the schedule of events at www.olympics.com.

Thought for the week: Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today, 'cause if you like it well enough today, you can do it again tomorrow!

Tip o' the Ski Week: With too many Gold Medal deals to mention, check out the www.ski.com. website. Their ski deals include lodging, lift tickets, AND air (rates are based on Chicago departure), and the values will make you feel like a winner! If you haven't looked at the www.coloradoski.com. website recently, make a fast track there and hit the Gems link. With your Gems card in your hot little ski glove, you'll get unparalleled discounts on lift tickets to A-Basin, Loveland, Monarch, the Horn of Powder (that's Powderhorn), Ski Cooper, SolVista, and Sunlight.

Congratulations to our winners of the Random Sliding Pick: chris [at] investordd.com t_felter [at] yahoo.com You can claim your prizes by contacting slidecheap [at] aol.com, and if you haven't subscribed at www.slidingonthecheap.com, your chances of winning are zippo! Sign up now, get the latest info, and get to the hills while your pals are doing the Olympic couch-potato thing!

Co' Sno' Repo': High and dry, in a phrase, on the plains through Tuesday. Snow showers in the mountains (gee, what a surprise) beginning Thursday evening through Tuesday, windy on Saturday, cold temperatures to keep the snow in good condition throughout. For more updated weather info, visit our happy sponsors at www.weather.com.

This week's featured resort is WINTER PARK: Where and What in the World is Winter Park? Some facts: -It's 67 miles west of Denver and the closest major ski resort to the Greater Denver region. -It was voted one of the top 15 ski resorts in the US by Ski Magazine. -It has 3,000 acres of skiable terrain for all levels covering three mountains, and is consistently voted the best bumps in the US by Ski Magazine. -The mountain receives the most annual snow of any Colorado resort (it's like Kirkwood that rests on the Sierra Crest, only Winter Park's front yard is the Continental Divide, so the storms butt up against the peaks and stall, releasing their diamond dust on the 11,000+ foot resort summit). -Winter Park just entered joint venture contract negotiations with Intrawest (www.intrawest.com, and if the negotiations prove fruitful, Winter Park will take its rightful place in the company of other Gold Medal resorts, including Whistler Blackcomb, Mammoth, Copper, Stratton, and Mont Tremblant in North America. Winter Park could also become step-sister to ten French Alps resorts including Chamonix and Le Grand Massif. So what does all this mean? Put all the facts together, add a large helping of unique mountain charm and prices on EVERYTHING (lodging, lifts, lessons, grub and brew) that are less than any of the majors in Colorado, and you've got an award-winning sliding holiday, all for a toll-free phone call. www.skiwinterpark.com.

ASPEN/SNOWMASS: Stay at the St. Moritz in Aspen for only $89/night, no
minimum stay required, and be there for Colorado's own Budweiser Freestyle competition this Friday. Hang out in Snowmass on Saturday night for the Mad River Concert Series featuring Tha Liks and special guest Defari. Check out the 2-for-1 happy hour mondo margaritas and special appetizers at La Cocina, 308 East Hopkins. www.aspen4u.com. for last minute lodging deals, www.aspensnowmass.com. for mountain info.

BRECKENRIDGE: If you think Brunhilde had a rack, check out King Ullr at
the Ullrfest through 2/12. The Norse Snow God may be old, but he loves to party, and because he answered the call of all the snow dancers, Breck is honoring Ullr with the Ullympics, the Ullr Bar Series, the Ullr Skating party, and mustn't forget the Mardi Gras festivities. For a great lodging deal, stay at the Hunt Placer Inn B&B for $112/night, including full homemade breakfast and afternoon snack, 1-800-472-1430, two night minimum stay. With all that's going on, you're going to need it! www.breckenridge.snow.com.

CRESTED BUTTE: Offering a truly competitive deal, CBMR has teamed up
with United Airlines to offer the first daily Denver/Gunnison air, stay and ski package. Stayed glued to your luge as you read this: two nights lodging at the Sheraton, one day of skiing, ground transportation, and R/T airfare. It must be $399, at least, you say. Hah! Gotcha! $199, and not a penny more! Crested Butte was buried in pow-pow last week, so now's the time for all good riders to come to the aid of their country. www.cbmr.com.

KEYSTONE: Think it's too late to book anything? WRONG! Make a
reservation at Keystone Resort (www.keystoneresort.com) within 21 days of your arrival, and save 50%! Talk about rewards for procrastination! Get your Mountain Passport as well, and you're dialed in to ice-skating and cross-country skiing for FREE! Ski Key's Threes with discounted lift tickets either through the PEAKS Discount Card (3 days for $147) or at Denver Metro King Soopers (3 days for $135 or $45/day). www.keystone.snow.com.

STEAMBOAT: Ski Town USA has produced more Olympic team members than any
other town in the US, capped in 1998 when Shannon Dunn became the first woman to win a medal in boarding. To celebrate, get a package, including 4 nights at The Lodge at Steamboat (2 hockey field lengths from the Silver Bullet gondola), 3 days of lift tickets, and R/T air (rate quoted is Chicago/Hayden) for as low as $764/pp/quad occupancy. Now figure a 3-day pass alone is $171, so someone's getting the short end of that US Women's Hockey Team stick! www.steamboat.com.

VAIL: The Colorado Adventure Mobile is making its way to Vail this
weekend, www.coloradoadventuremobile.com, and for $15 R/T, skip the hassles, bring your Walkman, and listen to the US Teams rake in the medals. Food and beverages are included in the trip. If the bus is sold out, carpool to Vail with at least four in the vehicle and receive a $20 coupon for on-mountain dining. Go to vail.snow.com/pb.gh.parking.asp for the entire scoop.

WOLF CREEK: Don't have to be a local for this one - Sunday is College
Day and all lift tix are half-price (that's $21) when you show your valid ID. It's a good chance to make a run for the 2006 games. www.wolfcreek.com.

Avalanche/Backcountry: Wind. It can make or break your ski day, and there are some signs you can look for that will tell you if the wind is rider-friendly or not. First, look along mountain ridges for snow plumes. When the wind is gusting, the surface layer of powder will be blown over ridges and create anything from diamond dust clouds to larger, well-formed clouds over and around the peaks. When the winds are howling, look for space-ship shaped clouds called lenticulars. Even pilots won't chance a trip over mountain ranges when they see lenticulars, because it usually means gusts from 70-100 mph. Though these winds create cornices great for jumping, they also build up wind slabs, which are unstable snow masses just ready to avalanche when an untrained rider opens a pressure fracture with his gear. If you do head for the hills when it's gusting, go well-prepared with goggles, hat, face mask, and plenty of liquid for hydration, but leave your wind wings at home!

Till next week, stay low, stay smart, and stay luz,
Your Robin Hood of the Rockies,
Martha
skibabeage [at] hotmail.com