Greetings, Rocky Mountain and Wild, Wild West sliders!

We're just beginning the height of the Rocky Mountain season, and conditions are still looking good. Pockets of powder still lace the glades at almost all the resorts, and scattered squalls and flurries help keep the top layer fresh. Things should be quiet on most hills this Sunday while Super Bowl mania overtakes even the most dedicated of downhillers (except this one!). Slopes may continue on the quiet side from now until President's Day weekend, so enjoy all that vertical while the conditions are at their best!

Thought o' the Ski Week: Stretch pants - the garment that made skiing a spectator sport. Anonymous

Tip o' the Ski Week: The scoop on discount lift tickets is here from King Soopers, and if you don't see it on the list, it's not being offered. A-Basin $39/adult, Sunlight $28/adult, Winter Park $45/adult, Ski Cooper $25/adult, Monarch $33/adult, Sol Vista $31/adult, and Copper M-F $40/adult weekends $48/adult. Go to www.kingsoopers.com for store locations.

Weather outlook from our friends at Weather.com: Daily freshies in the mountains, continued cold temperatures. Doesn't get much better than that! Stay on top of the up-to-date weather conditions and snow report with our happy sponsors at www.weather.com.

Happy to report that the Tour de Bump, WINTER PARK/MARY JANE, has just joined in as a sponsor. What does that mean? MORE front-page news, MORE top-notch beta, and MORE first-hand info direct from the Continental Divide. It's all open - Janeside, Parkside, Parsenn Bowl, Vasquez Ridge, AND Vasquez Cirque. Why get fatigued driving? Hop on the Winter Park Ski Express, 20 bucks'll get you R/T, and they'll even offer discount rentals and discount lift tickets. Go right from the bus to the slope - more info at www.winterparkresort.com

Thanks to the generosity of the happy folks at WINTER PARK/MARY JANE, this week's winners of the Random Slide Pick each receive two FREE lift tickets to, you got it, Winter Park. Drum roll, please, and everybody's new friends are: andrew [at] discovercolorado.com hubbert [at] engr.colostate.edu Congratulations to our lucky riders! Claim your prize by replying to this email with your mailing address, and you'll be on the slopes in no time. And if you haven't already, sign up for all the weekly goods at www.slidingonthecheap.com and the chance to win FREE LIFT TICKETS every week!

AHHHH-BASIN:
Ski and stay mid-week at the Guesthouse International Arapahoe in Keystone for $59/pp/do, includes one night lodging and one adult lift tickie. OR, stay at Comfort Suites in Dillon for $55/pp/do and THAT includes a lift tickie as well. More hot deals at www.arapahoebasin.com.

ASPEN RESORTS:
Aspen/Snowmass Highlands/Buttermilks They're still at it. Affordable Aspen. Snowmass Inn standard room, includes continental breakfast and walking access to Snowmass, reduced to $90/pn. Innsbruck Inn, 6 blocks from the Aspen Gondola, includes full hot breakfast and run of the house, reduced to $95/pn. Hotel Durant Run of the House, walking distance to Aspen Lift 1-A, includes continental breakfast and apres-ski buffet, reduced to $115/pn. You'll believe it when you see it at www.aspensnowmass.com and hit the Virtual Hostel link.

COPPER MOUNTAIN:
Relax as only the Hill Metallica knows how - ride The Copper Cruiser. For only $20 R/T, catch the bus on the Front Range and it'll drop you off right at the Copper base. When your day's done, there's no lengthy drive or traffic jam. They'll also set you up with discount rentals and the Copper Cruise Four Pak. Call 1-888-4BREEZE or visit www.coppercolorado.com.

CRESTED BUTTE:
The Butte is still offering non-stop air service and ski packages from all those great cities like Boston, Chicago, and Dallas for $549, including 4 nights condo accommodations, R/T air, 3 days lift tickets, and ground transportation. Driving and staying maybe in Gunnison (www.reservationtoday.com and save big time) - order your lift tickets 14 days in advance and save up to $5/pd for adult tickets, and kids ages 6-15 still pay their ages per day for lift tickets. Go straight for the Big Guns at www.skicb.com

DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT/PURGATORY:
Thinking about getting a Brain Bucket? No thinking necessary on this one - Boeri helmets are demo-ing their product this weekend and they're based in the Plaza. Best place to test them is on the Half Pipe, and there's Terrain Park coaching sessions for Intermediate and Advanced knuckle-draggers and two-stickers Saturday and Sunday as well. More info by calling 970-385-2149. Do what you Do so well at www.durangomountainresort.com

LOVELAND:
Ongoing reason #707 to skip the Ice-enhower Tunnel: Saturday's Mountain Miser telemark demo day. Here's the deal - pre-register at Mountain Miser in Englewood (or by calling 866-424-8433), pay $75, you get a lift ticket, access to the Land of Love tele clinic, FREE demo skis from the Miser, and a FREE brewski from New Belgium Brewery. Season Pass holders pay only $62 for the same goods. If you're just looking to try the gear, it's only $5 (with your own lift ticket). Feel the Love at www.skiloveland.com.

SILVERTON MOUNTAIN:
Still going strong with one of the most unique programs in Colorado skiing, book an all-day guided backcountry experience in the finest snow in the state for $99, and you'll share the mountain with exactly 39 other people. Sa-weeeeet! Steepest run 55 degrees - be prepared to whimper! www.silvertonmountain.com

SOL VISTA:
It's mellow, it's small, it's a great place to learn to ride. Especially now that the ski school is offering first-timers this incredible deal - pay $89 2 days lessons, 2 days lift tickets, and 2 days rentals. When you're done, you get a SEASON PASS to the hill so you can work that carving technique. www.solvista.com

STEAMBOAT:
Remember the Last Second Club at www.skitown.com? Find some of the best deals at Das Boat here, 'frinstance, stay at the Holiday Inn Steamboat Springs, room and breakfast included, $129/pn, book three nights and get the fourth free! More destination resort packages online at www.steamboat.com

SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN:
Besides the stellar snow on the Sun-lit mountain, save on their snowmobile tours as well - stop by the Sunlight Ski and Bike Shop to pick up your coupon for $20 off your next snowmo tour! Learn to shine also for first-timers, a 3-day package that includes 2-hour lessons, lift tickets, rentals, AND a five-day pass to practice your schussing, all for only $190! Get all the scoop at www.sunlightmtn.com

TELL-U-RIDE:
Still have your Tell-U-Ride Card? Good, 'cause now through 2/14/03, you and three of your buds will ride for $39/day! Did you happen to purchase either a 5-day or 10-day pass? Good, 'cause now through 2/4/03, you can load EXTRA days on your passes for as little as $29/day! AND you can get three of your buds single or multi-day passes for as little as $35/day! They'll Tell-U-More at www.tellurideskiresort.com

VAIL RESORTS:
Beaver Creek, Brecken-fridge, Keystone, Vail West Vail Lodge, for this weekend only, $79/pn, call 1-800-543-2814 for reservations. The First Time series at Beaver Creek is unbeatable - get three consecutive days of lessons and three days of beginner lifts for the price of one! Remember, the Perfect 10 pass goes away 1/31, and there's no news of discount lift tix anywhere thereafter, so save while you can! www.snow.com

WOLF CREEK:
For those who aren't big on watching grown men fight on a field over a piece of inflated pig skin, aka Super Bowl, this Sunday is Local's Appreciation Day, adult lift tickets $21, kids and seniors $12! www.wolfcreekski.com

WYOMING:
JACKSON HOLE:
Go Big or Go Home on the foot of new freshies at the JH summit, totaling 225 inches this season! Packages are still the way to go here, and they're still offering the $79/pp/pn/do deal, lodging and lift included, at the ski-in, ski-out Village Center Inn. Stay in the town of JH only 12 miles away and accessible by shuttle bus - the Cache Creek Motel will give you an economy room for $65/pn, two night minimum, and they'll sell you discount lift tickets, too! Flat Creek Inn will do you one better at $56/pn, discount lift tickets available as well. www.jacksonhole.com

GRAND TARGHEE:
Teewinot Lodge seems to be the hot ticket - stay 2 nights, get 2 days lift tickets for only $149/pp/do, mid-week. Stay two more nights for the same price! More lodging and package choices at www.grandtarghee.com

NEW MEXICO:
ANGEL FIRE:
Jumpin' fuego de los angeles, they're having an online LIFT TICKET sale! For January only, purchase $30 adult, $25 teen, or $15 junior lift tickets. They're also celebrating all that great snow with a White Sale - 2 nights lodging at the Angel Fire Resort Hotel, 2 days lift tickets, $75/pp/pn/do, or get four together and it's only $52.50/pp/pn! Let the angels light a fire under you at www.angelfireresort.com!

TAOS:
Their class act just got classier - the 17th Annual Taos Winter Wine Festival is underway, and this weekend is the first Grand Tasting, among other things! Events too numerous to mention here, go to the home page and hit the wine glass. Last minute lodging is still available at the Adobe & Pines Inn - in fact, call the day you plan to ARRIVE, and they'll mark your room down to $120! They support spontaneity! Ski, eat, drink wine, sleep, ski, repeat when necessary at www.skitaos.org

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