Hello Sliders,

More bargains have been located for you and just in time for holiday gift giving or, heck, get out there yourself - the snow is great!! More Southern California resorts have opened and some resorts are offering deals before they open. This week should be glorious at Mammoth as they added more fluffy stuff to their base with this past weeks storms. Here are your deals......

Mammoth Mountain - 68" in December!!!!
Mammoth has a 4-6' base and should have clear skies this week. There is a chance of snow on Saturday. They are offering the Stay & Ski package - $77.50 per person/night with double occupancy, 2 night minimum stay with some blackout dates around the holidays - offer ends 1/29/04. This is the last week to take advantage of the Juniper Springs Lodge 30% off deal (ends on 12/18/03). The Tamarack Lodge deal also ends this week (on 12/18/03) - 25% off a mountain cabin or lodge room, 2 for 1 group cross country lessons and 20% off rentals and passes (call 760.934.5293 and request the internet special).

Planning to hit the slopes next year? Make your reservations for the 50th Anniversary deal - for stays of 2-7 days you get a lift ticket for each person registered and a gift pack. You must stay a minimum of three nights on weekends and there are some holiday restrictions - this offer is valid from 1/4/04 to 4/24/04 and prices start as low as $109 per night/per person double occupancy. www.mammothmountain.com

June Mountain - Boarder's Dream!
June is open and they offer some of the best snowboard terrain around! June has a 24-32" base and they received 2-3' of fresh powder from the last storms. They offer a $500 season pass for June Mountain only (call 800.mammoth). www.junemountain.com

Mt. High - Closest Resort to L.A.
Mt. High makes snow every chance they get and they currently have a 18-36" base. No holiday price increases on their daily ticket rates - $44 for adults, $17 ages 7-12.

Mt. High has so many ticket deals - the 6 Pack for $169 will get you six 8 hour, fully transferrable lift tickets good any day or night except holidays (ONLY $28 per ticket!) and you can use more than one per day - only available until 12/31/03. These tickets also give you hands-free access, you never have to stand in ticket lines and you get a Mountain Access Card. This is only available online or from selected stores - see the website for details and store locations.

Beginners should try the $99 3-Peat - it gets you a 2 hour lesson, rentals and a lower mountain lift ticket for three days (days don't have to be consecutive) and the level of lessons and rentals increase each day. After the three days, you get an 8 hour lift ticket and a Mountain Access Card - only available online or at selected stores.

The $29 Mountain Access Card (you get this free with some of the ticket packages) gets you $10 off 8 hour lift tickets, $5 off night tickets, a free 8 hour ticket after 5 visits, hands free access with your credit card automatically charged, guaranteed admission during sellouts, 10% off non-sale retail and 10% off lessons (ages 13 and up).

The $59 Quad will get you 4 night tickets (that's only $14.75 a ticket!!). And...you can use more than one a day. After 3/31/04, these can also be used as 8 hour day passes. They're hands free access - only available online or at selected stores.

Other deals:

• Police/Fire discount - with valid work i.d you get $7 off, non-holidays.
• Anyone can bring i.d on their birthday for a free ticket.
• You can save even more by getting the Express Pass - free with the first ticket you buy and it will get you hands free access and $5 off every ticket you buy after that - holidays excluded.

Weather.com
Visit www.weather.com for weather information, a link to all the Sliding on the Cheap regional newsletters and so much more. Clear days expected all week. Only Mammoth has a chance for snow on Saturday. Limited snowmaking opportuniites this week. www.weather.com

Bear Mountain Resorts - Two Mountains for the Price of One
These mountains have a 12-24" base. They'll make snow when they can this week. They limit ticket sales so reserve early to ensure you can ski/ride this holiday season.

Early season prices are in effect - adults are $43, ages 13-21 (with i.d.) are $32, ages 7-12 are $13 and kids 6 and younger ride free with a paid adult. If you turn in your ticket by 1pm, you get a voucher good toward a $15-17 discount on another day.

They offer a variety of season pass options ranging from Anytime Dual Mountain passes at $649 to Midweek Dual Mountain passes for $299 - see the website for all the options. Summit has night skiing/riding for $30, $26 and $10, respectively. See the website for other options like Half Day and Half Night rates. You can get a free ticket on your birthday with i.d. During the holiday season, it is strongly recommended that you make reservations - call (909) 866-5841. www.bigbearmountainresorts.com

Snow Valley - Open Friday to Sunday
Snow Valley is only open on weekends for now but they are making snow and hope to be open full time soon. Try the Anytime Season Pass - $125 for ages (6-12), $450 for ages (13-22) and $495 for ages (13-64). They have a great Family 4 Pack - 2 adults and 2 kids for $83 - this is only available online and you must order 24 hours in advance. It's good Monday through Friday and it saves you 20%.

If you can get up there on Tuesdays, try the 2 for 1 Tuesday Deal - order online 24 hrs. in advance. If you want another sort of fun, why not visit the Snowplay park - $18 for adults with a sled and $13 without a sled. Kids go for $12 and $10 respectively with a paid adult. www.snow-valley.com

Mt. Baldy - Not Open...Yet
Baldy is making snow when they can but they don't have enough yet. If you plan on skiing/riding here, try the $199 season pass. www.mtbaldy.com

Best sliding to you,

Yvette
Southern California Editor - SOTC
http://www.slidingonthecheap.com/socal/