Lots going on in local snowboarding

Looks like a fine weekend for snowsporting, lots going on.

Alpine Meadows will host the K2's Women's Alliance in a program of ski selection and demonstration on Jan. 15 of K2's T-Nine skis with the Alliance women. Times are 10 a.m. on the slope and 3 p.m. apres ski party.

The five women skiers of the Alliance have spent 18 months building skis for all levels. Call (800) 441-4423.

The Meadows also is starting a four-week snowboard- skicross series Jan. 15, Jan. 29., Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 for four-person teams. Entry fee is $200 for a team of four for the series, $20 per individual per event. Practice is 10-11:30 a.m., events start at 11:45 a.m. Format is four-person heats, repechrage after the first round only. Same goes for a Superpipe series starting Jan. 22 and continuing Feb. 5 and 19 and March 5. Same fees apply. Format is two runs, best run counts, two judges. Details, call Shaydar Edelman at (530) 581-8234.

Sierra-at-Tahoe is offering reduced lift tickets today at $30 or $25 for two or more. All proceeds go to charity. Tickets will be on sale at the Carson Valley Medical Center in Gardnerville, Shell stations in South Y Center and Meyers, Rainbow Mountain ski shop in South Lake Tahoe, Bank of the West, Tahoe Family Services and Lake Tahoe Community College bookstore.

------

Spooner Lake Cross Country Ski Area is open daily at Highway 50 and Spooner Summit. Lessons are offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. midweek, weekend and holidays 10 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Thursdays ski with Nina from 9:30 a.m. to noon to improve skills. Call (775) 749-5349.

Kirkwood is staging junior team races this season, and to be on the team you must tryout Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. at Kirkwood. Ages are 7-14. Call (209) 258-5733 for details.

------

Kirkwood is offering $35 locals day Jan. 12. Pick up lift tickets at Joyce's Antiques in Gardnerville, Sporting Rage in Carson City, Cutting Edge Sports LTD stores in South Lake Tahoe.

------

Diamond Peak will be offering their guests a unique experience that can only be enjoyed at the resort. Wine, food and sunset lovers will all be able to take part in a program called Last Tracks.

Diamond Peak will offer guests wine tasting and appetizers from the Snowflake Lodge while they enjoy the setting sun over Lake Tahoe. After the sun sets guests of Last Tracks will ski or board a freshly groomed corduroy run to the base. Each week local wineries and restaurants will provide wine and appetizers to be served at Last Tracks. Last Tracks will take place every Saturday through March 29. Tickets for Last Tracks can be purchased from the guest service window at Diamond Peak. Cost is $20 and must be reserved two days prior to the event. Space is limited and start time and finish times vary as the season gets later. Call (775) 832-1253.

Also Diamond Peak will host its annual Community Day on Thursday, Jan. 16 rewarding any residents from the Tahoe Basin, Reno, and Carson City with $10 lift tickets good for all day.

Individuals must show their local ID at any ticket window to access the slopes for the discount. Call Diamond Peak at 775-832-1177, or visit www.diamondpeak.com.

------

Take a free ride at the Salomon Oasis Project, offering free Salomon ski and snowboard demos at Squaw Valley this weekend Friday through Sunday all day.

This is the first visit to Squaw for the fourth annual Salomon Oasis tour. New and improved for the 2003 tour is the PP3 Snow Skate Park; the Snowboard Halfpipe Jam Session on Saturday; and the Corona Freeride Happy Hour, along with tons of giveaways and chances to win hot equipment and gear from Salomon and partners Saab, Sony and Excedrin. The Salomon Oasis is free.

------

The Ford Championships of Snowboarding hit Mammoth Mountain Jan. 23-26 as the $375,000 Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding comes to the Eastern Sierra resort for the first time.

The preeminent series in snowboarding attracts the biggest names in the sport as the world's best riders, including America's Olympic medalists Ross Powers, Danny Kass, J.J. Thomas and Kelly Clark plus Todd Richards, Shaun White, Gretchen Bleiler and Tommy Czeschin, are all expected to attend.

To win the overall title, an athlete must earn points tabulated from the three Vans Triple Crown Series events. The overall men's winner will take home a Ford Ranger FX4, while the women's champion will win a trip for two to Hawaii.

Meanwhile, Mammoth Mountain introduces January Midweek Madness Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through January with incredible deals and hot parties. Call 800-MAMMOTH

------

This weekend Kirkwood is hosting a media event, showing off its new village, ice skating facility and gret snow. We'll be there, trying out the new brace the Ms. Mercedes of Dr. Michael Edmunds office ordered for me after the knee operation. One good day so far, a bit of discomfort for the first run or two but then feeling no pain. One nasty fall (I was surprised by a boarder coming from behind) but the helmet saved the bean and the knee was unhurt.

Sam Bauman is the Nevada Appeal Diversions Editor.