Happy Holidays Sliders,

Take a break from all that shopping and work off all the stress with a few turns on the Southern California slopes. The weather is going to cooperate and bring us white gold!! It's still not too late to pick up some great presents all you last minute shoppers. I've found some great deals and here they are....

Mammoth Mountain - January Midweek Madness
Again this year, Mammoth will have January Midweek Madness!! On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1/6-29/04, you save on adult tickets - only $45 (regular price is $57). In addition, you can get $45 Demo packages, $35 Demo Skis, $20 Standard Ski packages, $25 Standard Snowboard packages and all day early bird pricing on private lessons. You must order 3 days in advance by calling (800) Mammoth and mention the January Midweek Madness special.

Cap off your midweek trip at the Mideweek Madness parties - Tuesdays the party is at Yodler from 3-6pm, on Wednesdays it's at Grizzly from 3-5pm and on Thursdays it's at Talons from 3-5pm. While you're there, enter to win a free season pass for next year at the Limbo Contest on 1/7, at the 50th Anniversary Costume Party on 1/14, at the Mystery Madness Contest on 1/21 or the Madness Raffle Drawing on 1/29.

Mammoth has a 4-6' base and they expect snow all week - yahoo!!!!

If you need a great lodging deal, try:

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.

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 - 20 Minutes North of Mammoth
June has a 2-3' base and snow is headed there all week! June caters to boarders and it's usually less crowded than big sister Mammoth. All day passes are $50 for adults (24-64), $45 for young adults (19-23), $38 for teens (13-18) and $25 for ages 7-12/65-79. You get better deals with the multi-day passes - 2 day adult tickets are $88, 3 of 4 day passes are $130 - visit the website for other combinations - the more days you buy, the better the deal. If you plan to ride frequently, get the June Only Season Pass for $500 (call 800.mammoth). www.junemountain.com

Free Tickets for Subcribers
When you subscribe to any of our Sliding on the Cheap newsletters, you are automatically entered in our weekly ticket drawings - like these lucky winners:

aslocum1 [at] msn.com svp528 [at] yahoo.com

Winners - email us at slidecheap [at] aol.com to claim your prize.

Mt. High - Possible Heavy Snow this Week
Mt. High has a 12-24" base, they're making snow and there's a chance of a big storm this week - MERRY CHRISTMAS!! No holiday price increases and no Express Card discounts through 1/4/04. Daily ticket rates - $44 for adults, $17 ages 7-12. Reserve your tickets by calling (888) 754-7878 because Mt. High limits tickets and crowds will be heavy during the holidays.

The 6 Pack for $169 is only available until 1/4/04 - you get 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. These tickets 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.

The $99 3-Peat is for beginners - you get 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 (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 gets you 4 night tickets (only $14.75 a ticket!!) - 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.

Police/Fire discount - with valid work i.d you get $7 off, non-holidays.

Get a free ticket on your birthday - bring your I.D.

During non-holiday periods use 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.

1/26/04 is the USASA Friday Night BoarderCross Series #4. 1/27/04 they'll have a Coors Promo. Visit the website to signup for a chance to win a Toyota Forerunner! www.mthigh.com

Weather.com
Visit www.weather.com for weather information, a link to all the Sliding on the Cheap regional newsletters and so much more. Snow expected all week at all Southern California resorts. www.weather.com

Big Bear Mountain Resorts - More Terrain Opening
Snow Summit and Bear Mountain have a 12-24" base. They're making snow when they can and storms are expected this week - a foot is likely!! During this holiday season, reservations are strongly recommended as they limit ticket sales - call (909) 866-5841. Only riding a half day? Turn in your ticket by 1pm and get a voucher good toward a $15-17 discount on another day.

These mountains 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 from 12/25/03 to 1/3/04.

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. www.bigbearmountainresorts.com

Sports Basement!
Do all your Christmas shopping while relaxing at home - and do it cheap! Sports Basement offers a vast selection of snowboard, ski gear and clothing, athletic shoes, backpacks, sleeping bags, fitness and triathlon apparel, cycling gear and more. Major name-brands up to 70% off retail price every day., (Before the SOTC discount.) Sliders always receive an ADDITIONAL 10% off online at www.sportsbasement.com when you enter coupon code SLIDING3 at checkout.

Snow Valley - Open Friday to Sunday
Snow Valley is only open on weekends but the upcoming storms may allow them to open during the week - check the website before heading up. Try the Anytime Season Pass - $125 for ages (6-12), $450 for ages (13-22) and $495 for ages (13-64).

The Family 4 Pack gets you 2 adult and 2 kid tickets for $83 - only available online and you must order 24 hours in advance. It's good Monday through Friday and it saves you 20%.

They have a 2 for 1 Tuesday Deal - order online 24 hrs. in advance.

Snowplay park - $18 for adults with a sled and $13 without a sled. Kids go for $12 and $10 respectivley with a paid adult. www.snow-valley.com

Mt. Baldy - Not Open...Yet
Baldy is making snow and they expect the fresh stuff during this weeks storms - maybe they will open this week? Check the website for information. If you plan on skiing/riding here, try the $199 season pass. www.mtbaldy.com

A slippery holiday to you,

Yvette
Southern California Editor - SOTC