Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

Sierra-at-Tahoe is combining telemark skiing with bluegrass music for the sixth consecutive season to create its popular Telegrass Festival the weekend of April 4-5.

Free-heelers can check out the latest gear and partake in clinics and tours, and then kick back to enjoy some seasonal brews and listen to the bluegrass sounds of The String Slingers and The Big Skinny High Mountain String Band.

Telemark enthusiasts of every ability can tune up their free-heeling skills with a variety of morning and afternoon clinics. Sierra's staff of professional telemark instructors will offer tips to beginners through experts, mogul hoppers, steeps meisters, and backcountry prowlers of both genders.

Other on-hill free-heel activities include a race Saturday and a bump contest Sunday, a pro demonstration in the terrain park on Saturday and a relay race and a retro costume contest on Sunday.

Registration for any and all events takes place each morning from 8:30 until 10 at Sierra's Telemark Center.

Cost of the tele portion of the festival is $125 for two days (includes four clinics, a race, t-shirt, and drink coupons) and $75 for one day (two clinics, race, t-shirt, and drink coupons); Sierra also will offer $25 lift tickets to participants.

The music is free for everyone.