Happy New Year Sliders,

Ok - who's up for for powder? Weather.com says we're in for some major storms this week!! So it will be a very Happy New Year, indeed. Here are your deals and events for the week.......

Mammoth Mountain - Powder Paradise Expected

Mammoth has a 4-6' base and they expect big storms all week - could get up to 30"!! Guess where you'll find me?

Ticket Prices - Adults (19-64) $63, Youth (13-18) $47, Child (7-12) $32, Seniors (65-79) $32.

Gold Pass - $1200 for adults, $900 for youth and $600 for children and seniors. This is an unrestricted season pass.

Lift and Lodging Deal - Mammoth is offering a 3 or more day package that starts at $113 per night per person, double occupancy. It includes multiday lift passes (number of days of lift tickets depends on number of nights booked) for each registered guest. Package is available starting 1/2/05 through 4/16/05.

January Midweek Madness - Head to Mammoth midweek (Tuesday thru Thursday) in January (1/4/05 to 1/27/05) and get some big savings, parties and contests. The only catch is you must order your lift tickets at least 3 days prior to arrival by calling (800) Mammoth. Adult lift tickets are $46, demo packages are $45, demo ski/board only is $35, standard board package is $25, standard ski package is $20 and you can get 25% off ski/board group lessons. There will be parties from 3-6pm where you can win season passes - Tuesdays at Yodler, Wednesdays at Lakanuki and Thursdays at Talons. Mammoth will also offer 30% off lodging at the Village, Juniper Springs and Mammoth Mountain Inn during January Midweek Madness.

Stay and Ski Free - Lodging prices start at $78 per person/night, double occupancy with some restrictions and you get free lift tickets. Call (800) Mammoth for reservations.

New Year's Eve Punk Fest Party - Mammoth will host a Punk Fest Party to ring in the New Year at Canyon Lodge on 12/31/04. Musical guests include "Death by Stereo" and "Love Equals Death." They'll have a dance floor, full bar and party favors at midnight. 16 and older are welcome but you must be 21 to partake in the bar selection! Get tickets at the Booky Joint, any Mammoth ticket window or call (800) Mammoth. Tickets are $15 advance purchase or $20 at the door.

www.mammothmountain.com

June Mountain - Mambo & Sunrise Terrain Parks Open

June has a 3-5' base and should get hit with big storms this week - just in time to ring in a white New Year!

Season Pass - Now $500. This is an unrestricted pass with no blackout dates. (800) Mammoth for information or to purchase.

Ticket prices - Adults (24-64) $50, young adult (19-23) $45, teens (13-18) $38 and children/seniors (7-12/65-79) $25.

Multi-day passes - they offer a variety of deals from 2 day adult passes for $88 and 3 of 4 day adult passes for $130. See the website for all the options. These are non-transferable and there are holiday restrictions.

www.junemountain.com

Bear Mountain Resorts - Opening Early for the Holiday Week

Bear Mountain and Snow Summit have an 18-36" base. They expect up to 2' of new snow this week. Reservations are a must as they limit ticket sales - call (909) 866-5841 or order tickets online! They will open lifts early each day - hours are 7:30am to 6pm and night riding starts at 3pm to 9:30pm.

Holiday Ticket Prices until 1/2/05 - $59 ages 22 and up, $49 ages 13-21 with i.d., $25 ages 7-12, and kids 6 and under are free with a paid adult.

New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade - Snow Summit will host a torchlight parade at 7pm on the Log Chute run.

Bear New Year's Eve Party - On 12/3104, head to Trapper's Bar for the music of "Club George," food, favors and cage dancing - all for only $25. You must be 21 to join the fun! Party starts at 9pm and ends at 1am.

Birthday Free Ticket - If you are celebrating a birthday, bring your I.D. to the mountain for a free lift ticket!

C.O.R.E. Program - This is the Customer One-time Reward Entry program where after completing a survey and signing a liability waiver form, you save $10 (ages 13 and up) on your next lift ticket. Parents must complete the information if you are 17 and younger. Parents can also get $5 off on kids 12 and younger. Get the forms from any Host or at a C.O.R.E. ticket window.

Half Day Get Away - Can you only ski or ride a few hours? Well, do it in the morning, quit by noon and turn in your lift ticket by 1pm for a $15 to $18 voucher (depends on original ticket price) good toward another ticket.

They have a variety of season passes for Bear and Snow Summit - visit the website for all the options and purchase on line at their website - here's a sam pling....

Dual Mountain, unrestricted Season Pass - Adults (22+) $749, Young adult/Seniors (13-21/70+) $629, Child (7-12) $299.

Midweek Dual Mountain Season Pass - $349 for ages 13 and older, $119 for ages 7-12.

Family Plans are available on some season passes - generally you get a discount on a season pass for 13-16 year olds if the parent buys the same type of pass - this can save you anywhere from $100-180!!

www.bigbearmountainresorts.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:

poolsidek [at] *******.com geraldot [at] *****.com

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

Mt. High - Big Snow Close to L.A.

Mt. High has an 18-36" base and could get 2' of freshies this week. The East resort is open and they are running shuttles between East and West resorts - your lift is good at both resorts!! Mt. High limits ticket sales so make reservations at (888) 754-7878. This is the last week to get 6-pack tickets!

Holiday Ticket prices - 4 hour is $50, 8 hour is $55, night (5-10pm) is $27 and child (7-12) is $17. If you saved your Express Pass from a previous visit, you can save $5!

On 1/1/05, Bullwheel will host a Budweiser promotion from 1pm to 8pm and they'll have live music from 12pm to 5pm.

Freedom Pass - this season pass is $499 (ages 13+) and $199 (ages 7-12). It's good anytime with handsfree access and you are guaranteed admitance during sellouts! You even get 10% off non-sale retail items and 10% off lessons (ages 13+).

6-Pack - $169 gets you six, 8 hour lift tickets. These are fully transferrable tickets good any day or night (non-holiday) all season - works out to only $28 per ticket!! You can even use them for family and friends!! These are  available now through 12/31/04. You'll also get a Mountain Access Card
($29 value) that gets you hands free access and the ability to purchase tickets on your credit card right at the lifts - it also gives you other discounts (see below).

Mountain Access Card - For $29, you get many discounts and hands free lift access - never wait in a ticket line again because you can have your tickets charged to your credit card!! You get $10 off 8 hour tickets, $5 off night tickets, a free 8 hour ticket after every 5 visits, guaranteed admittance during sell out periods, 10% off non-sale retail items and 10% off lessons.

Quad Ticket - $65 gets you four, fully transferrable night tickets (that's only $16.25 per ticket!). These tickets are also good for daytime riding late season starting March 28, 2005. You can only buy these online now or at select shops after January 1, 2005 (see website for shop list).

3 Peat - This is the learn to ski/board package for only $99. You get three adult beginner packages (ages 13+) including a 1 hour 45 minute lesson, rentals and an 8 hour lift ticket. With each day, the level of lesson increases and when you finish the 3rd day, they give you an 8 hour lift ticket and a free Mountain Access Card. This is good all season and you don't have to do consecutive days. You can only get this deal at selected shops - see website for list of shops.

Ski Free on your birthday with valid I.D.

Military/Police/Fire Discount - Save $7 when you show your work i.d. (except  holidays).

www.mthigh.com

Snow Valley - Costco Ticket Deal!

Snow Valley has a 12-36" base - should get more snow all week!

Costco Ticket Deal - Pre-purchase lift tickets at Costco and save up to $20 per ticket!

Wednesdays ride for only $15!!!!!!

Family Fun Pack - for $89 you get 2 adult and 2 kid tickets saving you $30!!  This is available online or at the mountain Monday through Friday only.

Midweek Ski/Board Deal - For $49 (ages 12+), you get a midweek beginner package that consists of a lift ticket, a 1 1/2 hour lesson and rentals. Lessons are at 9am, 11am or 2pm daily, Monday through Friday.

Holiday Ticket Prices - $53 ages 13-64 and $21 ages 6-12.

Regular Ticket Prices - $44 ages 13-64 all day, $17 ages 6-12 all day, locals ages 13-64 ride Fridays for $29, $38 ages 13-64 half-day and $14 ages 6-12 half-day.

Season Ticket - $479 gets you a season ticket but the deal ends 1/15/05.

Ski/ride free on your birthday with I.D.

www.snow-valley.com

Mt. Baldy - You Can See the Snow From L.A.!!

Mt. Baldy is open with a 12-18" base and they make snow every chance they get. They'll get a big dump this week - could see 2'!!

Ticket prices - $40 all day Adult, $10 ages 9 and younger all day, $25 ages 10-15, $30 non-holiday weekday Students, and $20 for seniors 65 and older.

Season Passes - Adult ages 16 and older is $575, Kids 15 and younger are $275, midweek Adult is $425, family pass is $1,275.

www.mtbaldy.com

Adventure Ski & Snowboard School
Free Ski or Snowboard Lesson! Two people get their first beginner private lesson at the same time for the price of one. Valid weekdays until 3/30/05 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. Get to know them---watch their streaming video [at] www.adventureski.com

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 92024

www.adventureski.com

Happy New Year sliding,

Yvette
SOTC - Southern California Editor