Hello Sliders,

Well Mother Nature has been very, very good to us!! Our Southern California resorts received from 10" to a whooping 50+" of fresh powder this past week!! What are you waiting for? The crowds are gone and all that fluffy stuff is calling. You have an eye infection and can't see going to work or tell the teacher your dog ran off with the homework and you have to find him - just get up to your favorite resort and slide for these deals......

Mammoth Mountain - Snowiest December on Record
And if having the snowiest December isn't enough, Mammoth is the resort that got that 50+" of snow this past week!! They now have a 10-12' base and they expect midweek snow - just in time for their January Midweek Madness!! The weekend should be partly cloudy.

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.

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.

>From 1/9-11/04, Mammoth will have the US Snowboard Grand Prix - a pre-2006 Olympic competition. Go watch our Olympic hopefuls! www.mammothmountain.com

June Mountain - Season Pass Only $500
June has a 3-5' base with more snow expected midweek. June has all the snowboard terrain you can ask for and it's less crowded than cousin Mammoth. For a 20 minute drive from Mammoth, all that terrain can be yours!! 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:

  lgw2 [at] pge.com
  hnagrodski [at] attbi.com

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

Mt. High - 2 for 1 Tix on Ditch Day!!
1/7/04 is the KROQ Ditch Day and you can get 2 for 1 tickets.

Mt. High has an 18-30" base, they're making snow and they may get a little fresh stuff midweek.

Mt. High limits ticket sales so reserve your tickets by calling (888) 754-7878. Daily ticket rates - $44 for adults, $17 ages 7-12.

Ralph's Deal - Starting on 1/7/04, you can 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.

The $169, 6 Pack deal has been extended until 1/9/04 - 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.

Beginners $99, 3-Peat - 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.

$29 Mountain Access Card (free with some of the ticket packages) - you get $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).

$59 Quad Deal - 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.

On 1/10/04, Mt. High will have the $25,000 Kawasaki Triple Air.

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. Mammoth and June will see some snow midweek and the rest of the Southern California resorts may get some midweek as well. www.weather.com

Big Bear Mountain Resorts - More Terrain Open This Week!!!

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain have a 12-24" base with a chance of midweek snow and snowmaking all week. Reservations are strongly recommended as they limit ticket sales - call (909) 866-5841.

Half day get away - buy a regular price ticket and turn it in by 1pm to get a voucher good toward a $15-17 discount on another day.

Regular ticket prices are $48 for ages 22+, $36 for ages 13-21 and $15 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. Also 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 - New Features at Schighridj Terrain Park
Snow Valley has a 12-24" base and they make snow when they can. They may get dusted midweek!

Regular rates are $43 for adults and $15 for kids.

$49 Learn to Do It (ages 12+) - you get a 1.5 hour group beginner lesson, rentals and lower mountain lift ticket.

Anytime Season Pass - $125 for ages (6-12), $450 for ages (13-22) and $495 for ages (13-64).

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%.

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 - Open with Limited Terrain

Mt. Baldy is only 45 minutes from L.A. and they offer some of the steepest terrain around. They are open with beginner and intermediate run access. They're making snow and may open more runs this week. Tickets are $40 for adults, $10 for ages 9 and below, $25 for ages 10-15, $30 for students (non-holiday) and $20 for ages 65 and over.

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

Season passes are on sale for $299 - regular price is $575 so now is time to get yours. If you bought a season pass last season and never used it, you can roll it over for $50. If you did you use it, you can roll it over for $100.

If you can ski midweek, they offer a midweek adult season pass for $425. And....families can get a season pass for $1,275 - this is for all immediate family members only.

You can get 10 Tickets for $275 - that's a $125 savings!! Or, get 20 tickets for $425 - a $375 savings!!!!!!

Scenic lift rides are available - $10 for adults and $5 for kids, 6 and under are free. www.mtbaldy.com

Adventure Ski & Snowboard School
Free Ski or Snowboard Lesson! Two people get their first beginner private lesson at the same time (on a revolving carpet) for the price on one. Valid weekdays until 3/30/04 when you mention Sliding on the Cheap when calling for an appointment. You must print and bring this offer when you go!! Call (760) 942-2188 to sign up. Know before you go! They offer a dynamic instruction program ideal for all ages and abilities. With it's warm, dry and wide revolving carpet, the Ski Machine simulates a day of continuous skiing/riding on the mountain without the distractions of cold, crowded slopes, chairlift lines or adverse weather conditions. The revolving carpet is perfect for developing efficient habits and skills and improving your physical strength and conditioning. A full-length mirror at the bottom of the slope lets you see while you learn and monitor your improvement. One lesson can accomplish as much or more than a full day of group lessons on the snow. Considering the cost of snow vacations, a lesson program on the revolving carpet is a wise investment! Adventure Ski and Snowboard School is located at 1105 S. Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA www.adventureski.com

Happy sliding,

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