Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

It's a Sno-palooza Spring Carnival taking place at Indiana's Paoli Peaks Saturday, March 7, and it promises to be a lot of fun for the whole family, according to General Manager Val Dreusicke. "It's warmer with the longer days and people love to get out and play on the snow before the end of the season," she enthused.

You can ski or snowboard for free if you show up before noon in full costume. There will be a contest later that day for an individual costume prize - 2009-10 season pass - and a family/group prize a family season pass for the 2009-10 season.

There will be a cardboard sled race with prizes for the Best of Show Design and Decoration Award and, of course, prizes for the top three race finishers. Sleds must be constructed of only cardboard. Duct tape is allowed.

Other events include an old Hoosier tradition, Snow Golf, a snow sculpture contest (sculptures must be appropriate for public display), the obligatory - for a spring carnival - slosh pit, and bikini race. Wonder if they can combine the slosh pit and bikini race. That would be fun to watch.

A silent auction, with proceeds benefiting cancer research, will be taking place in the main lodge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lots of great items will be available to bid on and it's all for a worthy cause.