Bikinis, Sunglasses and Snowboards - 'The Party Starts in the Spring at Intrawest Resorts

The sun beats down warming your face, you lather on sun block, straighten your sunglasses, adjust your bikini top and WOOSH! down the mountain you go. This is spring and summer skiing in the West, where some of the finest ski conditions, mildest temperatures and most fun times are found in April (one of the snowiest months) and beyond.

(PRWEB) March 2, 2005 -- There is a long-standing tradition of 'the party starts in the spring", says Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association in Lakewood, Colorado. The seriousness of the sport is passed, competitions are over and the fun and silly events have begun. Throw in great ski conditions, bright sunlight and thinning crowds and youve got some of the best skiing and riding of the year."

One such party, the eagerly anticipated Sunsation 2005, Copper Mountains free, end-of-season blowout bash in Copper, Colorado, returns for its fifth year with three weekends of live bands, entertainment and on-hill events April 2-3, 9-10, 16-17. Activities include the infamous Eenie Weenie Bikini Contest, barbecues, music, beer gardens and more.

This year, the excellent snow conditions in the mountains of Colorado have created solid snow bases allowing for top to bottom ski runs well into the spring months. The spring seasons mixture of warmer days and cooler nights sets into motion a recurring process of freezing, thawing, then refreezing which generates corn snow", small kernels of smooth, granular snow. This ego surface" is what spring skiing fanatics wait for all year. The powder is softer, easier to maneuver and more fun!

Most ski resorts shut down by mid/late-April. Two Intrawest resorts, Whistler Blackcomb, located in British Columbia, Canada, and Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, California, keep skiers and riders on the slopes practically year-round. Whistler Mountain will remain open until June 5, 2005. Blackcomb reopens from June 6 to July 31 for glacier skiing and boarding after an initial closing on April 17. Mammoth Mountain expects to continue operating until at least mid-June and quite possibly right up to the 4th of July.

For more information on spring/summer skiing and snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb, Copper Mountain or Mammoth Mountain, visit www.intrawest.com or call Suzan French, MSCO, 914-251-1500, ext. 14. For more information on Intrawest, call Tim McNulty at 604-623-6620.

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