Texas Ski Council TSC Final Showdown Sun Valley, Idaho March 10-17, 2012 VP – Marsha Lutz

The Texas Ski Council will be winding down the 2011-2012 season at Sun Valley and I hope you will be there to experience “The American Original”. Sun Valley can boast many “firsts”. It is a fabulous ski resort and has been since 1936 when it opened as the first destination ski resort in the United States. Sun Valley was born out of an Austrian Count’s desire to bring the magic and elegance of European ski resorts to America. America’s first Olympic gold medalist trained here – using the first chairlift in the world. While this is not the first time Sun Valley has hosted a TSC trip, it is the first time in a long while and it may be the first visit for many of you that do participate. And I promise you it will be a first -rate trip!!

Putting all the colorful history aside, today’s visitor will see that Sun Valley is continually redefining its own elegance and excellence. The resort has two mountains – not connected but very near each other. Dollar Mountain is smaller - good for novice skiers and snowboarders and many of you may want to have fun on the tubing hill. While Bald Mountain (Baldy) boasts that it was/is the “playground” of Hollywood stars and Olympian Picabo Street, there are runs for all skier levels.

Basic Mountain facts include:

	Bald Mtn	Dollar Mtn	Combined Stats
Skiable Terrain			2,050
Easier			36%
More Difficult			42%
Most Difficult			22%
Base Elevation (ft)	5,750	6,000
Peak Elevation (ft)	9,150	6,638
Lifts	13 (incl 1 gondola, 9 quads)	6	19
Runs	66	14	80
Mountain Lodges	5	1	6

 

And true to its name, there is sun in Sun Valley – averaging 150 sunny days out of 180 ski days a year – 80% sunny! There are abundant breathtaking views including the picturesque Sawtooth mountains.

This is Spring Break week for all Texas schools and what a great place to bring the family since kids under 15 staying in their parents room ski free (one child per paying adult). Other winter sports include snowshoeing, ice skating and hockey on the village indoor and outdoor rinks, tubing, cross country skiing and heli skiing.

In addition to wonderful skiing and winter sports, Sun Valley is known for its great dining experiences. Of the five mountain restaurants on Baldy, you can get to/from two wonderful day lodges at the top of the mountain via green and blue runs. The Roundhouse located mid mountain offers a unique mountain dining experience not to be missed – at breakfast, lunch or dinner. The resort property has wonderful variety in six full serve restaurants, two bars and two snack type or breakfast only venues. Ketchum is a quaint town just two miles away and it offers additional unique dining options. And there is the sleigh ride dinner to Trail Creek Cabin where Ernest Hemingway enjoyed many meals – not your usual sleigh ride by any means!

Resort entertainment includes comedy shows, bowling, games, movies, and music and dancing at the resort or in Ketchum via a complimentary shuttle. Or just relax – taking in a spa treatment or soaking in one of two very large outdoor hot tubs. Sun Valley offers a unique lift ticket exchange - so if you decide not to ski one day, you can exchange it for a meal, spa, ice skating and more!

We are planning plenty of activities so the clubs can mix and mingle. The proposed ski week schedule includes:

→SUNDAY NITE WELCOME PARTY →MONDAY NITE KETCHUM PUB CRAWL →TUESDAY RIVER RUN APRES PARTY →WEDNESDAY ICE SKATING NIGHT →THURSDAY NASTAR STYLE RACES →FRIDAY BANQUET

So have I convinced you that Sun Valley has something for everyone? Beginner skiers, big dog skiers, and social skiers and nonskiers looking for a glitzy resort will all have Fun in the Sun!

Contact your local ski club to sign up!