Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

The annual Bear Valley Telemark Festival has evolved into one of the most popular gatherings of its kind in the Sierra, with some 300 free-heelers expected to attend the event the weekend of Feb. 6-8.

The festival kicks off with an all-day workshops and/or a freeheel adventure outing Friday on the lift-serviced slopes of Mt. Reba, followed by an All-U-Can-Stuff pizza salad bar at Sky High Pizza and Pub in the Bear Valley Lodge.

Saturday is another full day of clinics, a costume parade and contest, gear demos, and more freeheel adventure, all of which is capped off by an upscale banquet dinner (no lasagna) with live music, dancing, and giveaways, at the Bear Valley Village.

Sunday's activities will center on back-country techniques, clinics and tours.

The premium festival package, which includes all on-hill events and the Friday and Saturday night dinners is $265 (excluding lift tickets). The standard package, which includes Saturday and Sunday on-hill activities, the Saturday banquet and a T-shirt, goes for $175 (excluding lift ticket).

Telemarkers can also sign up for individual activities, such as the all-day workshops on Friday for $85, the two 2-hour intensive clinics on Saturday for $75, the free-heel adventures on Friday and Sunday for $20, and the Saturday outing for $30 or the Sunday backcountry tour for $75. The Friday pizza party alone costs $15 and the Saturday banquet will set you back $40.