Vail Valley Foundation Blog

Two Weeks Out from Winter Mountain Games!

2012-01-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a powder day Friday to kick off the weekend, right? With 11 inches of snow on the mountain, things are looking better than promising, they're looking GREAT!

In two weeks, Vail will transform into what we like to call the RADDEST event of the season - the Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer.

If you're anything like me, you're looking at the schedule and saying, Hey, the slalom bike race down a snow-packed mountain is cool and all, as well as seeing Tele skiers attempt jumps the size of the Empire State Building (I exaggerate), but what can I actually do at this event?

My dear friends, I have answers for you. Gear up Saturday for the afternoon Eddie Bauer Boot Run at 4:30pm, where you will hurdle hay bails, ice, and tires. Costumes are encouraged, in fact if we could enforce them we would. Carry on with your snowshoes (and your dog) and head to the 5k or 10k x-country snowshoe race with a headlamp, because this baby is taking place at TWILIGHT! You'll finish in Golden Peak just in time to watch those tele and bike pros huck their meat best trick style.

Wake up Sunday and get your cardio fix on slaying some pow. See if you can ski Vail's 7 Wonders . Most public events have beginner or intermediate divisions which let you test your strength on the same course as the pros!

And, if you're a night owl like myself, you're going to want to hit up the parties and concerts here at the Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer. Here's what you need:

A big smile - because you're going to love the Kick Off Party with Eddie Bauer on Saturday at 3pm, featuring 40z of Freedom
80's gear - dig out your headbands, sweats, spandex, crimper (I mean who doesn't have one of those?) for the Spazmatics free concert Friday night, and the Teva Totally 80's After Party following at Vendetta's
White threads - we're not in LA going to JayZ's White Party, but we are in Vail going to Teva's White Out Party following Theophilus London's free concert, also at Vendetta's

It's Friday, I'm excited, you should be excited, here's to the countdown - 14 days 'till the best weekend of your life!

- Melissa

Winter Teva Mountain Games Web Series

2011-12-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Photo (C) Dennis Katinas

Creating a new event from scratch is always a daunting task. Especially when the new event is something as epic as the 2012 Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer.

With something like the Teva Mountain Games we like to share as much video and photography as we can. We hate telling you why something like the Teva Mountain Games is cool. We'd much rather show you and allow you to make your own decisions. With any luck you like what you see and get excited.

After a successful Summer 2011 Teva Mountain Games we immediately started looking at ways to show you how cool we thought the Winter event was going to be. Instantly we realized a problem... we have never done this event before and had nothing to work with. No video... no photos... nothing. All we had was a slate of rad events and a website that was pretty lame without photos and videos. To complicate things even further many of the events we are doing are by no means mainstream. Compelling video and photos for things like big-air snow biking or a ski mountaineering race is already hard to come by.

In the end we hired a great production company out of Boulder called Louder Than 11 to help us put together a four part pre-event web series showcasing select sports at the Winter event. It was really L11's creative direction and vision that made what you see below possible. They have spent countless hours sifting through whatever video we could get our hands on in addition to shooting on location in Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Park and Loveland Pass.

I was fortunate to lead this project from the Vail Valley Foundation side of things and still cannot believe I got paid to belay Josh Wharton (one of the world's best alpine climbers), make a couple turns with Pete Swenson (race director for the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup) and kick it with Jeff Lenosky and Adam Hauk in Boulder (both Teva athletes and Summer TMG winners).

As we worked through each spot and had the chance chat with Josh, Pete, Jeff and Adam it was fun to see how excited each of them are to bring this event to Vail in the Winter. We hope you get excited also. Enjoy the first three web shorts below and be on the lookout for one more piece specific to Mixed Climbing with Josh to be released soon!

PART 1: 2012 WINTER TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES PREVIEW

PART 2: 2012 WINTER TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES PREVIEW - SKIMO

PART 3: 2012 WINTER TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES PREVIEW - TEVA BIKE

We have to thank a lot of people for helping us out with photos and videos. Thanks a ton guys... see you February 10-12 when hopefully we can collect some amazing photos and videos of our own!

Special Thanks:
Ian Anderson/ Backbone Media
Rock & Ice Magazine
Daniel Dunn/ CBST Adventures
Red Bull Media House/ Austria's White Style Event
Rich Crowder/Jon Glassberg/Jordan Shipman - Louder Than 11

-- Paul

VVF's First Notes Program Holiday Appearances

2011-12-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

The First Notes program has been getting a lot of show time this year around the holiday season, and we're excited to share some of those experiences with you!

Last week, First Notes performed with The Dallas Brass, who later played at the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) on Tuesday, December 15. Kim Hannold, who helps coordinate events at the VPAC, wrote this below:

Good morning, I just wanted to share with you all what a great day for arts education we had yesterday at the Vilar. The First Notes brass musicians had some one-on-one with the Dallas Brass yesterday afternoon which the director, Michael Levine, said was his favorite part of the day! Later in the afternoon we had Eagle Valley High School and Battle Mountain High School musicians participate in a clinic, followed by a rehearsal with Dallas Brass. In the evening, the First Notes musicians performed in the lobby before the show, then Eagle Valley High School joined them on stage for one number. Michael announced First Notes to the audience, saying it’s amazing that there were 3rd and 4th graders playing in the lobby! Thank you Lindsey and Jean for your help in making it happen for First Notes. As Lindsey put it, opportunities like this will have a long-term impact on their lives. Enjoy the photo below and the cover of today’s Daily!

And then, just this weekend, 6 young ladies from First Notes performed live on TV8. Watch the interview and performance below!

US Ski Team Doug Haney's World Cup Notes

2011-12-07T09:48:00.001-07:00

"Hurry up buddy, time is money." That was my friend Spook (think his real name is Kevin) shouting, while holding the cat tracked truck so I could catch a ride to the Birds finish.

Bob Condron always said, get to know the guy who has the biggest key chain. He's right, but in the world of winter sport, it's the guy wearing the most radios. Spook has at least five.

"Hi, I'm Jeb. Just wanted to tell you how much fun it's been volunteering this week. The U.S. Ski Team is making all of us incredibly proud to be fans." There were five other guys sitting in the truck bed with me for the five minute ride. The conversation went like that. I handed out a batch of pins, slapped some high fives and went on my way.

Funny, but the world seems to be taking notice too. My colleague Matt Futterman put together an amazing story that's running in today's Wall Street Journal entitled Is American the New Austria - As U.S. Skiers Win Races and Ink Deals, the Sport's Royal Power Frets; 'All the Kids Love Bode'. It's totally worth a read - http://goo.gl/XMGGo.

In Vail, all the kids love Lindsey and today is her first World Cup race at home. Here's the notes:

Beaver Creek, CO – Audi Birds of Prey 'the sequel' – women's super G

- Toss aside that Lindsey has won four of the five races she's entered this year (in three different disciplines). Ditch the fact that last weekend she produced the first clean sweep in Lake Louise since 1997 for victories 43-45. Journalists have been asking her about all of these things. Lindsey's answer – "Lake Louise is Lake Louise, and I have to really just focus on this course and the tactics that are going to help me win this race," she said to Lauren Glendenning at the Vail Daily after the Tuesday free ski on Birds (Full story: http://goo.gl/y6flC)

- They'll go from just above the men's GS start in Pete's Arena (Map: http://goo.gl/PK8j4). "It's going to be a fun ride," said women's Speed Head Coach Chip White. "It's pretty turny, but nothing these girls can't handle. The snow is perfect and totally edgeable. They'll have to lay it down in a few spots, but this is our kind of hill. They'll probably be pissed that can't run it again." Only they can, we're training here after tomorrow's slalom. 2015 baby.

- The racers, wide-eyed with their cheeks pinned to their ears, said the same thing after the free ski. Turny, tons of terrain…um, Julia Mancuso. You can fill in the details here. She was in the finish for Ted's win yesterday. She's a keen study that one.

- Stacey Cook has bib No. 1, but she won't be the first gal to do a super G race run on this hill. Resi Stiegler foreran the men's SG in 2007…and Mikaela Shiffrin wore F1 yesterday for both runs of GS. Beyond that, this is brand spanking new to the entire women's World Cup field. I've said it before, Birds of Prey has a mystique. That hasn't changed one bit with regards to women.

- Watch Alice – another CO gal from right down the road in Glenwood Springs – she was 8^th in the season opening downhill after missing most of last season with a busted knee. She has free skied this hill a bunch and was telling the other girls about it on the drive to the hill this morning. Leanne, Kiley, J. Ford and Brooke Wales were all ears. The energy level in the truck warmed up my hour-old coffee.

While I can't say for sure, my guess is there will be a lot of 'sick' kids…and parents in the Vail Valley today. History is in the making my friends and Universal Sports is running the entire deal LIVE. You might want to check it out.

Onward,

Doug

Support the Vail Valley Foundation on Colorado Gives Day

2011-12-06T09:22:00.001-07:00

Bode Miller in his winning DH run at the 2011 Audi Birds of Prey
Photo (C) Jonathan Selkowitz

Today the Vail Valley Foundation is participating in Colorado Gives Day, a state-wide online initiative to promote grassroots online giving.

Our goal is to reach new donors with new platforms at grassroots levels. For us to reach our goal we are asking anyone with a little time to simply tell your friends on Facebook/Twitter or via email a little bit about what makes the VVF great and how they can easily help.

At the Vail Valley Foundation we do many things. Many things that most people do not realize they can support.

ATHLETICS:Things like the Teva Mountain Games, Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week, Vail Beaver Creek 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships and the Korbel American Ski Classic all require support from donors to the VVF's "General Fund."

ARTS:The Vilar Performing Arts Center, Vail International Dance Festival, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Bud Light Street Beat, Bud Light Hot Summer Nights and ShowDown Town all provide arts and culture to the Vail Valley and require support from donors to the VVF's "General Fund."

EDUCATION:
Serving more than 20,000 children in Eagle County annually VVF Education programs give kids the necessary learning skills to succeed in school.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:Without donors supporting the General Fund our ability to bring events, media, spectators and guests to the Vail Valley would be drastically impacted. If you are a Vail Valley local or business owner you would be impacted.

We are racing additional World Cup Ski Races in Beaver Creek as we type and bringing Lindsey Vonn to town to compete on one of her home mountains largely because of the generous support from our donors.

Without the VVF's general fund we would not have the ability to do many of the great things we do everyday that often go unnoticed.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Just post. Repost one of the messages we will be sending to any one of our Facebook/Twitter pages. This is an opportunity for anyone to support VVF programs they may not know they can support at ANY level. Messages will be posted from all VVF pages including The Vail Valley Foundation, Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC), Audi Birds of Prey, Free Concerts, Vail International Dance Festival, Teva Mountain Games and Vail Beaver Creek 2015. Share our post to your wall, or craft your own message and simply include a comment with the program or project you would like to support so we can allocate funds appropriately.

Send a Personal Email. If you are not on Facebook or Twitter but still want to help simply send an email with a link to this post.

Donate now. Simply click here to make a one-time charitable donation today. Include "General Fund" in the comments field so we can properly allocate funds (include "Vail International Dance Festival," "Vilar Performing Arts Center," or "Education" to support those VVF efforts). All donations received on December 6 will be increased by the FirstBank Incentive Fund or perhaps matched with Bonus Bucks or cash prizes for select VVF projects. 100% of your donation will impact the VVF when received on Colorado Gives Day.

Support the Vilar Performing Arts Center on Colorado Gives Day

2011-12-06T08:19:00.001-07:00

Sheryl Crow at the VPAC, Summer 2011
Photo (C) Zach Mahone
Supporting the VPAC on Colorado Gives Day helps us bring artists like Sheryl Crow to Beaver Creek.

The Vail Valley Foundation's Vilar Performing Arts Center is participating in Colorado Gives Day today.

Being a non-profit we need the support from arts lovers like yourself to continue to bring world-class culture to the Vail Valley. Every dollar raised today helps! Click here to show your support and please include "Vilar Performing Arts Center" in the comments field so we can properly allocate your gift.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Just post. Repost one of the messages we will be posting today to the Vilar Performing Arts Center Facebook or Twitter pages. Many of your friends, like many of our friends don't know how or where to help.

Send a Personal Email. If you are not on Facebook or Twitter but still want to help simply send an email with a link to this post.

Donate now. Simply click here to make a one-time charitable donation on December 6. Include "Vilar Performing Arts Center" in the comments field so we can properly allocate funds. All donations received on December 6 will be increased by the First Bank Incentive Fund or perhaps matched with Bonus Bucks or cash prizes for select VVF projects. 100% of your donation will impact the VVF when received on Colorado Gives Day.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:
Did you know that ticket sales only cover 35% of the VPAC’s annual operating costs? The remaining 65% must be raised from individual donations.

Each year, more than 5,000 Eagle County students are given FREE tickets to daytime performances at the VPAC, through the STARS (Supporting the Arts Reaching Students) education program.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:“That VPAC is a really great venue…a tight little room, really cool” – Blues music artist Keb’ Mo’

Support the Vail International Dance Festival on Colorado Gives Day

2011-12-05T14:13:00.001-07:00

Charles "Lil Buck" Riley performing for International Evenings of Dance II at the 2011 Vail International Dance Festival.
Photo (C) Erin Baiano

The Vail Valley Foundation's Vail International Dance Festival is participating in Colorado Gives Day today.
Being a non-profit we need the support from dance lovers like yourself to continue to bring world-class dance to the Vail Valley. Every dollar raised today helps! Click here to show your support and please include "Vail International Dance Festival" in the comments field so we can properly allocate your gift.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Just post. Repost one of the messages we will be posting today to the Vail International Dance Festival Facebook or Twitter pages. Many of your friends, like many of our friends don't know how or where to help.

Send a Personal Email. If you are not on Facebook or Twitter but still want to help simply send an email with a link to this post.

Donate now. Simply click here to make a one-time charitable donation on December 6. Include "Vail International Dance Festival" in the comments field so we can properly allocate funds. All donations received on December 6 will be increased by the First Bank Incentive Fund or perhaps matched with Bonus Bucks or cash prizes for select VVF projects. 100% of your donation will impact the VVF when received on Colorado Gives Day.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:
The 2011 VIDF By The Numbers
It costs $10,000 to feed the dancers and musicians during the Vail International Dance Festival.
It costs $70,000 for lodging for the dancers and musicians during the Vail International Dance Festival.
It costs $85,000 for transportation that includes, airfare, airport transfers and local ground transportation.

Free Community events in Vail Village and Beaver Creek cost $20,000 and expose 2,000 to the art of dance in public spaces.
It costs $9,000 to rent three pianos for the 14 day festival and an additional $1,000 to tune each piano.

WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE VAIL INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL:
“Vail…a summer destination for dance lovers.” The New York Times

“This year the diversity in dance and people, and the excitement of seeing people we all watch on tv live made me want to come! We had a great time and I hope that the VVF will continue to bring young, fresh, new dancers, and celebrate all styles of dance.” Rachel Nelson, Vail local

“This year was our favorite year at the dance festival. The variety of artists were amazing….I have been attending the dance festival for more than 13 years and this year the new Dace TV night was one of my favorites. I am hopeful you will continue this new performance and make it a tradition.” Dr. Susan Vickerman, local Vail Valley Resident

RELIVE THE FESTIVAL!

Beat Fuez, An Up-And-Coming Swiss Racer

2011-12-04T11:29:00.001-07:00

This blog post and opinion is written by Dak Steiert. Dak was born and raised in Vail, Colorado and ski raced at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail for much of his life. After racing FIS for several years, Dak is now building his own small business and trying to be a marginally productive member of society.

After a great day of racing at the Beaver Creek Birds of Prey  downhill, all the attention is focused on American Bode Miller pulling  together yet another fantastic win- and well it should be.

Bode said he felt apprehensive all morning while contemplating the degree of  risk he would need to take in order to beat the competition on one of the most difficult and intimidating tracks in the world.

Yet the  untold story of the day from the American press will be that of Beat  Feuz, a young Swiss racer who 10 months ago had barely scraped into  the top ten of a world cup race, but today managed a razor close  second place in the face of the same intimidation.

Coming from  seven-tenths behind Bode at the middle of the course, an often  insurmountable gap, Feuz managed to carry significantly more speed  than Miller from the steep upper section into the flatter final portion of the course in order to make it a near dead-heat at the  finish line, almost edging out Bode in the last few feet of the run.  Having traveled 1.7 miles at an average speed of 60 miles per hour,  only a meter would have separated the two at the line. A great race  delivered by the match up between Bode’s leave nothing on the hill approach that had him taking what he described as the fastest lin e he’s ever skied at Beaver Creek, and the come-from-behind tactics of  the emerging Swiss racer who made an advantage out of a portion of the  course where most racers assume there is little time to gain.

Feuz has  been on fire since last March, and a result like this on a very  challenging hill will certainly bring confidence to carry him forward  to a fantastic year. He’s already planning to work on his English so he can better accommodate the press conferences that come with his increased success.

- Dak

A Post by Elior, our Birds of Prey Young Ambassador

2011-12-01T10:43:00.001-07:00

Meet Elior, our youngest ambassador to the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week. Elior's dad is a photographer here and brought Elior along to learn about ski racing. We've given him some assignments in writing and math and he has been a great addition to the team!

From Elior:

I was born on October 20, 2000. I'm 11 years old and I like to play board games. I have a mom named Monica (51 years old), a sister named Naomi (8 years old), and a dad named Nathan (54 years old). I was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and moved to Crested Butte, CO when I was 10 months old and lived there ever since. I'm an enriched kid in my grade (5th) and some people call me the future Einstein (because I do 6th grade math) even though I am not the best speller with common words. I came to the world cup with my dad because I got a fifth grade pass for free. It allows you ski in 21 participating resorts 3 days in each one.

Here are my photos from yesterday.

This is how the board stands after each position that the racers got was announced on Tuesday, Nov., 29, 2011. (Photo/Elior Bilow)

Ciel Folz, president of the Vail Valley Foundation, announces that the European races are going back to Europe after the races here in the USA on Nov. 29, 2011. (Photo/Elior Bilow)

*Note: On Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, Ceil Folz announced the races will in fact take place here in Beaver Creek!

Guenther Hujara calls out names as people chose where they want to place it on the board before the next day's training on Nov. 29, 2011. (Photo/Elior Bilow)

Lindsey Vonn Excited to Race at Birds of Prey Next Week

2011-12-01T08:26:00.001-07:00

As you may have heard, we are excited to announce that we will be hosting the canceled Val d'Isere races here at Beaver Creek - we're calling them the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week Part Deaux. Most notable is the fact that this will be the first time EVER women have raced on the Birds of Prey course. Lindsey Vonn, who slipped the course in the 1999 World Alpine Ski Championships, is most excited about this race. We hope you all will be there, it is going to be quite the historical moment!

From the lady herself:

“I am so excited, it's going to be an awesome, awesome race. I've always been jealous of the men, they get to always race World Cups in Beaver Creek and this will be my first World Cup in my hometown, so I'm really excited. I hope to see all my friends and family out there and I'm excited to try to ski well for the home crowd.”

Beaver Creek to Host Men + Women's Canceled French Races

2011-11-30T14:54:00.001-07:00

The 2011 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week just became plural as snow conditions in Val d’Isere, France have not dramatically improved. Therefore, FIS officials have put together a Plan B, which stands for Beaver Creek.

FIS Race Director Guenter Hujara announced Wednesday afternoon that the resort will now play host to a trio of World Cup men’s and ladies’ competitions next week, December 6-8. The races will include Men’s Giant Slalom on Tuesday, December 6; Women’s Super-G on Wednesday, December 7; and Men’s Slalom on Thursday, December 8.

“While we don’t ever want to hope for another organizer to lose races,” explained Ceil Folz, President of the Vail Valley Foundation, “picking up these events is certainly an added bonus for our community. We have a long track record of hosting transplanted races and it is a pleasure to be able to step in once again and help the FIS in this regard.”

With the additional races, it would mark the first time that the World Cup women will have the opportunity to race on the Birds of Prey course. The last time the ladies raced in Vail or Beaver Creek was during the 1999 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

“We all thought that the first time we would see Lindsey Vonn racing in Beaver Creek would be in 2013 with the test event for our new ladies Downhill course,” offered Folz. “We couldn’t be more excited about the potential of not only seeing Lindsey compete here this year, but also on Birds of Prey.”

Designed by Swiss Olympian Bernhard Russi, Birds of Prey celebrated its coming out party in December of 1997. Since then, only Men’s World Cup races have been contested on the renowned racecourse.

- John Dakin

99 World Championships Medalist Joins Talon Crew as Audi Birds of Prey Course Volunteer

2011-11-30T09:13:00.001-07:00

Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey racecourse holds special significance for former World Cup ski racer Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein. After all, the 40-year-old started racing Super-G, and eventually Downhill, at Birds of Prey in 2000…on a bet.

“I can’t even remember what the bet was for,” Buechel reminisced several years ago. “It was probably for beer. However, I do remember that I won that bet. It was that I couldn’t finish in the top 30 and I was 23rd.”

Retired following the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Buechel has been filling his winter months still following the White Circus of the World Cup, this time around as a television field commentator for Germany’s ZDF.

However, for the upcoming Audi Birds of Prey World Cup races December 2-4, Buechel will watch the competition from a different vantage point, trading his race skis and microphone for a shovel as a member of the Talon Crew, the volunteer racecourse team for Birds of Prey.

It seems that Aaron Humphrey, the Chief Gate Judge for the Beaver Creek races, spends his spare time volunteering at other major international ski events around the globe. Through this “hobby”, he became friends with Buechel and invited him to join the Talon Crew this season.

“We’ll have BBQ going at the start, so bring your stomach,” wrote Humphrey in an email to Buechel.

“I wouldn’t mind to help you guys out at the Talon Turn on Wednesday (November 30),” Buechel wrote back, “with a shovel in the hand. Might be an interesting experience for me. BBQ at the start sounds very good.”

The Liechtensteiner, who was actually born in Switzerland, first burst onto the Vail Valley scene during the 1999 World Alpine Ski Championships when he captured the silver medal in Giant Slalom. The master of the moment, he would subsequently hang up on the Prince of Liechtenstein during a congratulatory cell phone call before telling the assembled media during his press conference that if he had been on the Austrian team and waited so long to win a medal, “he would have been renting beach chairs by now.”

But his local exploits would not end there. Just three years following his Beaver Creek bet, Buechel found himself at the bottom of the Birds of Prey racecourse with the lead in the World Cup Super-G. Out came the cell phone again and he provided play-by-play for his wife in Florida as skier after skier was unable to better his time. Finally, Switzerland’s Didier Cuche knocked Buechel into the runner-up position to the dismay of everyone in the stadium.

During the course of his 14-year World Cup career, Buechel participated in a record-tying six Olympic Winter Games and set the record as the oldest winner of a World Cup race in 2008 with a Super-G victory in Kitzbuhel, Austria at the age of 36 years, 75 days.

Ironically, Cuche would bump him from the top step of the podium once again, claiming a World Cup Downhill win in 2011, also in Kitzbuhel, at the age of 36 years, 159 days. He extended that record even further last weekend with his Downhill victory in Lake Louise.

Buechel retired from the World Cup following the Super-G competition at the World Cup Finals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in March of 2010, celebrating his final race by wearing a tuxedo jacket with black Bermuda shorts. As he made his final trip down a World Cup racecourse, he made numerous stops to high-five various coaches and trainers.

MARCO BUECHEL:
2008 BOP DH 2nd Place

Tuesday Downhill Training Canceled - Course Needs A Little Work

2011-11-29T14:26:00.001-07:00

This post is from ski racing guru and VP of Communications for the VVF, John Dakin.

There is an old saying in ski racing that “Downhill is a case of hurry up and wait”.

The world’s best men’s ski racers will have to wait one more day to tackle Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey racecourse as today’s opening day of Downhill training was cancelled by the race jury in order to rework an upper section of the track. Tuesday’s training run was an add-on to the original schedule in an effort to anticipate a potential storm system later in the week.

The section in question runs from the Super-G start to The Pump House in the upper one-third of the course. The concern was also voiced by U.S. Ski Team racer Bode Miller, who is serving as the athlete liaison to the jury for these races, along with other competitors.

The training session was initially pushed back by half an hour to see if course crews could shave enough of the rollers in the section by hand and the racers were given a second inspection pass on the hill.

Ultimately, the jury decided to rework the section with machines during the afternoon and evening, controlling the speed and helping to ensure the safety of the competitors.

The schedule remains unchanged for Wednesday, with a second Downhill training run on tap for 11 a.m.

- John Dakin

JTK's Top Picks in the VPAC Winter 11-12 Line Up

2011-11-28T09:09:00.001-07:00

This blog post is written by Julie Tomlinson-Kapala (JTK*), one of our talented marketing gurus. She handles everything for the VPAC and is looking forward to the Winter season!

1.    Brandi Carlile – Wed. Dec. 7 at 7pm
She’s on her first ever solo acoustic tour and selling out venues across the country. I’ve never seen her perform live, but this woman is on fire right now, I can’t wait to hear her on stage in Beaver Creek.

2.    Pilobolus – Thurs. Jan. 19 at 7:30pm
Tickets are going fast for this one! I saw Pilobolus perform on “America’s Best Talent” in August and I was in awe as I watched the dancers move their bodies from one intricate and shadow-like pose to the next.

3.    Diavolo Dance Theatre – Tues. Feb. 7 at 7:30pm
Their name was formed from two words, the Greek “dia” meaning from point to point and the Latin “volo” which means I fly. This is the perfect definition for this dance troupe that combines acrobatics and gymnastics, with large-scale sets and props.

4.    Henson Alternative “Stuffed & Unstrung” – Wed. Feb. 15 at 7:30pm
Brian Henson’s (son of the late Jim Henson) improv showwith 6 comedians and 80 puppets and plenty of opportunities for audience input.This show is 100% uncensored, not your ordinary puppet show, so leave the kids at home.

5.    Rock of Ages– Wed. Feb. 29 at 7:30pm
As a child of the ‘80s I grew up listening to all of the songs in this musical.
From Journey to White Snake to Night Ranger, all of the hairband greats are covered in this rock ‘n’ roll tale of a “small town girl livin’ in a lonely world…”

*JTK is not a professional theatre critic, but is a fan of the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek. Her only claim to fame (on stage) is playing Louisa von Trapp in the musical “The Sound of Music” in 10th grade.

To pick your top 5 VPAC season picks, visit vilarpac.org.

Sowing Seeds Snapshots and Upcoming Harvest Dinner with Kelly Liken!

2011-11-21T11:27:00.001-07:00

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it's the perfect time to update you on all of the produce our Sowing Seeds kids have been harvesting this fall! Sandy Story, director of Sowing Seeds, sent us these photos and captions to help paint a picture of what's happening in the world of our little gardeners.

This is Drew, a 2nd grader at BCES. Each week the 2nd grade class spends time harvesting the cherry tomatoes for the lunchroom salad bar.

Late October - the 4th grade class at Edwards Elementary cleaned out the vegetable debris in the newly planted raised beds. They are excited about composting and how the compost bin works.

Sutton Delong, 2nd grader at BCES harvest the pickling cucumber for the classroom lesson on pickles. Each student made a jar of refrigerator pickles to take home.

Sam has been visting the greenhouse for 2 years so he has become quite the expert on seed tray planting. It is his favorite activity in the greenhouse! And he is really very good at it.

These girls just finished harvesting one of the enormous pumpkins growing in the greenhouse and are enjoying a snack of strawberries while they carefully plant the next tomato crop.

Next week, Kelly Liken, executive chef and owner of Restaurant Kelly Liken, will be creating an exquisite four-course menu for the Sowing Seeds Harvest Dinner on Sunday, December 4. Your seat at the dinner will help us reach our goal of $50,000 to allow for new greenhouses and ensure that Sowing Seeds reaches every part of our Valley. Sue and Jim Liken along with Margie and Tom Gart will match donations up to $25,000, and kids from the program will be present to share their experiences and enthusiasm! RSVP is required by November 23, please email Lindsey Myers at lmyers@vvf.org to let us know if you plan to attend!

80s + Hip Hop + Dance Party + Winter Mountain Games = Yes Please

2011-11-19T12:07:00.001-07:00

When you think of the Teva Mountain Games, what comes to mind first? For me, it's a dog flying off the Eukanuba Dock Dogs deck in slow motion, slobber streaming from his mouth and eyes focused intently on the zooming ball ahead - followed by a giant splash into the water below. For you, it might be the elite bouldering crew at the IFSC World Championships or maybe just the endless line of free stuff in Expo Row (hey, we all love free stuff).

Now, with the Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer on the horizon, you can fill your brain with ice climbers, snowshoeing, big air bike tricks, hot chocolate, skiing the Back Bowls with a chance to win a thousand bones, and, as of this week - an amazing FREE CONCERT LINEUP!

The music component to the Games has been one of my favorite parts of the summer weekend and I am even more excited about the winter version. We booked two contrasting and awesome bands for February 10 and 11, 2012.

Introducing... THE SPAZMATICS!

I don't know if it's just me, but put people in spandex and some 80s jams on the microphone and it becomes an insta-party. And The Spazmatics are not just any 80s band, they really are the epitome of the era. You should just watch for yourself. And yes, costumes are encouraged. Do it.

Saturday night, clear your schedule for THEOPHILUS LONDON!

It's THEE-AH-FULL-US, by the way. I stumbled on that the first time too, it's okay. To be honest, I hadn't heard of him before. But then I found out this hip-hop genius had a ridiculous international following and his music has been in quite a few things. I am now obsessed. I love his style and the way he combines so many genres into one unique record. Plus, imagine him LIVE and amped up in Vail Village under the lights following the Teva Best Trick Bike presented by Thule... oh yes.

What are you most excited about? We'll have a video in a few days from Opening Day at Vail Mountain to show you just how excited people are about this event (shouting and dancing included). And, don't forget to check our Facebook page frequently, we're ALL about the giveaways!

Here's to the Winterized ATHLETES. ART. MUSIC. MOUNTAINS!

- Social and sometimes sassy Melissa

Birds of Prey Racecourse Ready to Rock!

2011-11-18T15:28:00.001-07:00

Thursday morning, Birds of Prey Chief of Race Greg Johnson skied top-to-bottom on Beaver Creek’s infamous Men’s Downhill racecourse. So what’s the big deal you may be asking yourself?

Well…that run may well have been the earliest such a ski down has ever taken place as ideal snowmaking temperatures and snowstorms, courtesy of Mother Nature, over the course of the past month has left Birds of Prey in such excellent condition that the International Ski Federation (FIS) today waived their normal snow control inspection, giving organizers two thumbs up for the December 2-4 races.

Johnson sent a message to FIS Men’s Chief Race Director GuenterHujara on Wednesday stating that “the resort is 99 percent complete with snowmaking for this year’s events. There is zero chance we will have issues with the event given the forecast we have currently. I believe this is the best we have ever done relative to so many years of snow control.”

Hujara responded on Friday with a message of his own that said, “Based on the excellent current snow conditions in Beaver Creek, everything is ready and the 2011 Audi FIS Ski World Cup races on the Birds of Prey are confirmed.The races could take place this weekend. We very much look forward to returning to Beaver Creek where this year's World Cup events will also serve as one of the important steps towards the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2015."

The 2011 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week gets underway Wednesday, November 30, with Downhill Training. Competition kicks off Friday, December 2, with the traditional Birds of Prey Downhill, followed by Super-G on Saturday, December 3. The weekend’s racing will conclude with Giant Slalom on Sunday, December 4.

We were also understandably excited with the news.

“Our valued partners at Vail Resorts have certainly made the most of what Mother Nature has provided,” explained Michael Imhof, our Vice President of Sales and Operations for the Foundation. “Thanks to the favorable snowmaking conditions and the natural snow we have received, everything is not only on track for a great weekend of racing at the Audi FIS Birds of Prey, but also for a great start to the ski season for everyone.”

Beaver Creek Resort is scheduled to open for the 2011-12 season next Wednesday, November 23.

- John Dakin

Last year's Best of Birds of Prey Photo Album

Vail Valley Foundation Fall Staff Retreat Recap

2011-10-20T09:40:00.000-06:00

Surrounded by hay bails full of pumpkins and a view of snow-capped mountains, the Vail Valley Foundation employees met yesterday for our annual Staff Retreat at 4 Eagle Ranch. The day was filled with exciting news (stay tuned!), brainstorming sessions, an evaluation of staff strengths (we have no weaknesses!), and a look into the future.

This was my first staff retreat, and marks my first full year at the VVF. I have had an incredible experience thus far and am thrilled to begin a second year with new and different challenges. On behalf of the Vail Valley Foundation staff, thank you for supporting us and being a part of this community. We're excited to provide another year of excellence through arts, athletics and education in the Vail Valley.

Now that's more like the team I know! :)

- Melissa

State Senator Johnston Shares Breakfast and Food for Thought on Education

2011-10-14T11:58:00.000-06:00

We had the privilege of bringing back Colorado State Senator Mike Johnston for a breakfast meeting at the Christiana in Vail on Thursday, October 13 in partnership with the Youth Foundation. Johnston discussed Colorado's education issues with a small local crowd and listed 10 things that are good for Colorado and Eagle County.

Some notable quotes:

"The best way to improve education is to recruit and retain effective teachers"
" The best way to recruit effective teachers is to create a pipeline, a feeder system. That pipeline does not necessarily need to run through college and university education systems, and the state certification process. Hiring should be done from a broader applicant pool."
“To attract top people and raise the status of the profession, it's necessary to increase pay and selectivity."

The full Vail Daily article can be read online here.

Thank you Mike Johnston for visiting us in the Valley and giving us your insight!

Lil Buck Breaks it Down with Celebrate the Beat Pop Hop Camp

2011-09-08T11:59:00.000-06:00

This blog post is written by Lauren Arnold, our Education Volunteer for the Vail Valley Foundation.

An echo of laughter and lively tunes still rings in the ears of 65 young artists as just a short time ago, rehearsal commenced for the Celebrate the Beat Pop Hop day camp. The energetic participants began by learning the basic dance moves for their performance at the Vail International Dance Festival. In addition to the camp teaching the kids a little rhythm, they also learn many other valuable lessons including patience, creativity and self-confidence. For five days, the students worked with Lil Buck, a Memphis New Ballet Ensemble member, perfecting their moves for their final performance on stage at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.

After the first day of dancing with Lil Buck one young performer said, “I had a blast and learned a lot, but I think he is a little better than me.” –Omar Gasper, 11

Omar (in blue) with Lil Buck

This successful event is one of many that the Vail Valley Foundation hosts throughout the year, providing ongoing education to the Valley's youth. Read more about the VVF's programs here.

Watch videos of Lil Buck with the Celebrate the Beat kids below:

And view photos here!

- Lauren

VVF's First Notes Program Receives 30 Refurbished Instruments

2011-09-02T13:54:00.000-06:00

The second annual Colorado Public Radio Instrument Drive has struck a definitive chord with the Vail Valley Foundation’s First Notes program at Avon Elementary School as the music education program is now 30 instruments richer following a recent distribution ceremony.

Vail Valley Foundation and First Notes representatives were on hand August 20 at Gates Hall in the Newman Center on the University of Denver campus to pick up the instruments that included ¾-sized cellos, ¼-sized violins, full-sized violins, trumpets, trombones, clarinets, flutes and oboes.

More than 30 schools throughout the state received refurbished instruments, courtesy of the Colorado Institute of Music Instrument Technology, headquartered in Castle Rock. Approximately 1,000 instruments were distributed in the collaborative effort between Colorado Public Radio and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation in California.

“This is a wonderful program that enables us to broaden the scope and scale of our First Notes program,” explained Jean McSpadden, Director of Education for VVF. “Through this generous donation, we are now able to serve the second, third and fourth graders at Avon Elementary.”

We're so excited about this wonderful gift!
- Lindsey

Read the Denver Post article here.

Learning from Finland and Bob Compton's View on Education Today

2011-08-26T15:03:00.001-06:00

On Wednesday, August 24 the Vilar Performing Arts Center packed the house with eager educators, parents, and community members all interested and engaged in education. The evening began with a report from the Colorado Children’s Campaign followed by cocktails and a presentation by documentary filmmaker and education activist, Bob Compton.

Each year the Colorado Children’s Campaign releases the KIDS COUNT report. This report provides information on factors that are impacting our children in Eagle County and throughout Colorado. A few facts from the report include:

The number of kids living in poverty has been growing faster in Colorado than anywhere else in the nation.
The gap between kids in Colorado who are proficient in math and reading is significant and growing, and consistently exists along racial, ethnic and economic lines. In fact, 30 percent fewer low-income and minority students are proficient in reading and math than their more affluent, white peers.
In the Eagle County, approximately 20 percent of kids don’t graduate from high school.

The report points out that these facts translate into great losses for and their community as well as for our economy.

High school graduates earn between $200,000 and $350,000 more than high school dropouts over the course of their lifetime.
If all of Colorado’s high school dropouts instead graduated from school, $4.2 billion would be added to the state’s economy every year.

Following the report by the Colorado Children’s Campaign, the Vail Valley Foundation was lucky to host and spend an evening discussing the state of education in Eagle County, Colorado, and the nation with Bob Compton. The night began with a review of the report and discussion of Colorado’s education status followed by an explanation of each of his films, 2 Million Minutes and The Finland Phenomenon.

The premise of Two Million Minutes is that regardless of nationality, as soon as a student completes the 8th grade, the clock starts ticking. From that very moment the child has approximately two million minutes to build their intellectual foundation until high school graduation.

How do most American high school students spend this time as opposed to students in the rest of the world? How do family, friends and society influence a student's choices for time allocation and what implications do their choices have on their future and on a country's economic future?

The film takes a deeper look at how the three superpowers of the 21st Century, China, India and the United States, are preparing their students for the future. It follows two students, a boy and a girl, from each of these countries, composing a global snapshot of education from the viewpoint of kids preparing for their future.

Finland's education system has consistently ranked among the best in the world for more than a decade. The question is, why Finland? Compton, along with Harvard researcher, Dr. Tony Wagner, decided to find out and the result of their research is captured in "The Finland Phenomenon.”

The film guides the viewer through an inside look at the world’s finest secondary education system. From within classrooms and through interviews with students, teachers, parents, administrators and government officials, Wagner reveals the surprising factors accounting for Finland's rank as the #1 education system in the world.

Below are a few testimonials from event attendees:

“Bob was able to adequately debunk that myth that US students are more well-rounded. It was amazing to see the foreign student activities.”

“Our system for developing the teachers is not working. Finland seems to get it right by promoting the teaching profession. Most teachers are MBAs and spend their early years with a mentor.”

“Wow. Bob’s vote for best school is in Tucson AZ? How can we use this charter school as a symbol of excellence and promote their methods in the broader school system.”

“Financial resources do not seem to be the issue. While most schools are adequately funded, the performance of the schools is not where it needs to be.”

The education team at the VVF strives to better our community by providing an assortment of programs that help enrich the lives of our children. For more information on our programs visit http://www.vvf.org/vvf/info/education.aspx. Also for more information on the films please visit http://www.2mminutes.com/.

VIDF Ambassador Katherine Sayre Reviews UpClose: Premieres

2011-08-09T10:33:00.004-06:00

KATHERINE SAYRE

Tonight’s performance showed how diverse the dance world really is. “UpClose: Premieres” at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek was incredible.

Opening the show was ‘Archetypes.’ Emery LeCrone’s new piece was unbelievable; I couldn’t take my eyes off of the stage. The formations were precise and the stage space was used to the best advantage. The lifts all looked effortless and beautiful. ‘Shoe Wither Revival’ was next. Richard Siegal’s choreography was very interesting. The piece had chain reaction and the dancers showed shapes in their movement. The sharp and sometimes soft movement went perfectly with the music. Then, ‘3 Movements and 4 Repeats’ premiered. Christopher Wheeldon’s choreography had everyone on their feel applauding once again. The piece started with all the dancers doing different movements in dark lighting. Each movement complimented each other in a different way. All the movements were soft but striking. ‘The Music Coming Through Me’ was fun yet meaningful. The lights and smoke made the stage look intense and the live music made a different energy for the piece. Lil Buck and his crew’s sharp isolation used every beat of the complex music. ‘Gravity Heroes’ closed the show. Trey Mclntyre’s choreography is very unique and abstract. I love how original and surprising it is. His choreography also tells a story so everyone can relate. His piece tonight had props; balloons, confetti, and piñatas. The level changes and jumping also made ‘Gravity Heroes’ thrilling.

Trey Mclntyre has another performance at the Ford Amphitheater Friday August 12th at 7:30pm. Tickets are selling fast for this breathtaking contemporary ballet so the sooner you get them the better! “Upclose: Premieres” was an astounding show and I can’t wait to see all of the last few shows for the 2011 Vail International Dance Festival.


Tyler Angle and Wendy Whelan of New York City Ballet rehearse Christopher Wheeldon's "3 Movements and 4 Repeats"

Lil Buck rehearsing his new piece, "The Music's Coming Through Me"

Flickr Photos from Erin Baiano:

Video of UpClose: Premieres by Nel Shelby Productions:

Back to Vail - Blog Post from the Winger

2011-08-06T21:44:00.000-06:00

Head over to The Winger for a blog post from Erica Sheftman, former dancer and current Harvard student and writer for the Vail International Dance Festival.

VIDF Ambassadors Review Mark Morris Dance Group

2011-08-04T19:28:00.001-06:00

Jamie Mei-Lin Barnett

As I watched Wednesday’s Vail International Dance Festival show begin with live piano music and two men jumping and turning on-stage, I was curious…just what would the Mark Morris Dance Group be all about?

The first piece, “Silhouettes,” shared lively modern choreography between two men. The dance was very carefree and I could not help but be intrigued by the duet. The suspensions they carried in their jumps were lively, and while their turns were not “regal” (classical ballet turns) the dancers performed two or more pirouettes with no problem.

The second piece (before intermission), “Going Away Party,” was different in that the dancers were dressed in western dress, not in traditional ballet or modern costumes. The piece was cleverly choreographed with several western-themed (and blues) songs as Morris reunited the dancers, using the theme of the music to set the tone. As the underlying theme kept reoccurring, separate dancers movements were reunited on different parts of the stage.

The final piece, "Grand Duo," started with movements from just the torso (upper body) making the dancers look like individual pieces of grass. During another part, two groups created movements that looked like casting spells (Harry Potter), or a fight from “West Side Story” (the Sharks vs. the Jets). The choreography and groupings made the stage almost like a mural with the scene unfolding right in front of my eyes.

Overall, last nights performance was moving as well as entertaining! Thank you Mark Morris!!

Anna Marshall

“Going Away Party” was one of my favorite presentations during the evening. I enjoyed the partner dancing, and the energy and excitement when the partners switched or they all danced as a group. The costumes were wonderful! They wore bright colors that really made them POP out. The music for “Going Away Party” included My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You, Milk Cow Blues, and When You Leave Amarillo, Turn Out The Lights. I really enjoyed it!

During “Grand Duo” the fourteen dancers were fabulous. In the beginning it seemed ghost-like, and by the end it brightened up – it was very high energy and exciting. I didn’t even notice that it was raining out because I was so focused on the great performance. The Mark Morris Dance Group was spectacular! I can’t wait to come back and see more!

Serena Kozusko

Today I saw the Mark Morris Dance Group perform. It was a very interesting and memorable performance.

The performance started with a piece with two men. I thought it was interesting that they each had half of pajamas on. The second piece had seven people in it. This piece was humorous at times and visually appealing when they did group poses. I thought this dance was entertaining. The third and final piece had everyone in it. I thought this one was thought provoking and energetic.

I thought the dancers were all very powerful. They commanded my attention and caused me to think a lot. The dancing was abstract and strong. I will definitely remember this performance.

More photos of Mark Morris from Erin Baiano, our Festival photographer, here: