Happy New Year Sliders,

We're expecting big snow this week per weather.com. Soooooo, wax up the new skis/boards you received this holiday season and make some powder turns on the Southern California slopes. I've found some great deals and New Year's parties for this week. Slide for these deals....

Mammoth Mountain - Tons of Snow & A New Year's Party!!
Mammoth will have a New Year's Eve Concert (begins at 9pm) - tickets are $14 in advance and $18 at the door. Call (800) Mammoth or visit any lift ticket outlet for information.

There will also be a magic show at Mammoth Middle School from 6-10pm on New Year's Eve. Call (760) 934-8441.

Don't forget January Midweek Madness!! On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1/6-29/04, you save on adult tickets - only $45 (regular price is $57). You can also 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.

Midweek Madness Apres ski 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 is being dumped upon - they have a 6-8' base after last weeks storms and they expect several feet of snow all week except Wednesday.

Lodging deals:

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.

On Sunday, Vans Unbound Freestyle Series - BoarderCross is open to all. Register at Jill's Run at the Main Lodge from 9-10:30am. Events start at 11am. Fee is $10 and you must have a lift ticket/pass and a USASA membership (you can purchase this at registration if you don't have it). www.mammothmountain.com

June Mountain - SNOW, SNOW, SNOW
June has a 3-5' base and more snow is expected all week! During this holiday week, boarders can avoid the Mammoth crowds and visit this mountain that offers all over boarder terrain. 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.

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.

The June Only Season Pass is $500 (call 800.mammoth). www.junemountain.com

Free Tickets for Subscribers
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:

  florasinbuellton [at] msn.com
  kgriffit [at] hklaw.com

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

Mt. High - Bring Chains, Snow is Coming!!
Mt. High has been making snow and they have a 12-24" base. Two storms are expected this week.

Mt. High does not raise prices for the holidays so reserve your tickets by calling (888) 754-7878. Daily ticket rates - $44 for adults, $17 ages 7-12.

Purchase Adult, 8-hour lift tickets for only $34.00 (that's a $10 discount!) at any of over 300 Ralphs Supermarkets in Southern California. You must be a Ralphs Club Card Member. Ralphs tickets may not be used in conjunction with any other discount or promotion. Not available at Mountain High. OFFER AVAILABLE JANUARY 7 - March 19, 2004. Remember that the 6 Pack for $169 is only available until 1/4/04 - you get six 8 hour, fully transferable 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 handsfree 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. Storms expected all week at June and Mammoth. Two storms expected at all other Southern California resorts this week. www.weather.com

Big Bear Mountain Resorts - Parties and Freshies
There will be two New Year's Eve parties. Trapper's Bar at Bear - $25 and you get hor d'oeuvres, party favors and cage dancing, 9pm to 1am. Bullwheel at Summit - $10 cover after the torchlight parade, snacks available, 8pm-1am.

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain have a 12-24" base with more snow on the way and snowmaking all week. 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.

Holiday prices are in effect - $55 for ages 13 and up, $22 for ages 7-12.

Season pass options range from the 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 until 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!
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 - Not Charging Holiday Rates....Yet
Snow Valley is not yet charging holiday prices but that could change if they get big snow (and they're expecting some). Regular rates are $43 for adults and $15 for kids. Holiday rates are $53 and $19 for kids.

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 respectively with a paid adult. www.snow-valley.com

Mt. Baldy - Expect to Open This Week
Call before heading up as Mt. Baldy hopes to open Wednesday but it depends on the storm.

Learn to Ski Packages - you get a Beginner Area lift ticket, one beginner group lesson, rental equipment of skis, boots, and poles - full day (16yrs and up) $45.00, full day (10-15 yrs.) $35, full day (7-9 yrs.) $20, Half day (16 yrs and up) $35.00, Half day (10-15 yrs.) $25, Half day (7-9) $15 1pm to 4:30pm

Learn to Board Packages - you get a Beginner Area lift ticket, one beginner group lesson, rental equipment of board and boots - full day (16yrs and up) $55.00, full day (10-15 yrs.) $45, full day (7-9 yrs.) $30, Half day (16 yrs and up) $45.00, Half day (10-15 yrs.) $35, Half day (7-9) $25 1pm to 4:30pm

$199 will get you a season pass. www.mtbaldy.com

Happy sliding,

Yvette
Southern California Editor - SOTC