Calaveras News - Breaking News for Calaveras County & Beyond!- The Pine Tree .net

Coming Soon...
Friday, May 24
05:00 PM	The 7th Annual Competition Bret Harte Powderpuff Game
Saturday, May 25
All Day	Greenhorn Creek Annual Community Garage Sale
07:30 AM	The Arnold Summer Pancake Breakfasts Return for Memorial Day, July 4th & Labor Day Weekends!!
Sunday, May 26
All Day	Our Sunday Edition with Local Features, Local Specials & More Every Sunday All Day Long!
Until 11:30 AM	The Arnold Summer Pancake Breakfasts Return for Memorial Day, July 4th & Labor Day Weekends!!

Log In

Posted by: thepinetree on 03/28/2014 04:19 PM Updated by: thepinetree on 03/28/2014 04:32 PM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM

:

The Bear Valley Freeheel Festival This Weekend At Bear Valley

Bear Valley, CA...The Bear Valley Freeheel Festival is here!! All weekend long the fine folks at Mountain Adventure Seminairs will be putting on a great show and event. The 2013/14 Ski season may have been a bit tardy in getting up to full speed but Mother Nature and great grooming are providing the best conditions of the year. Head on up to Bear Valley and play!!

2014 Bear Valley Freeheel Festival March 28-30, 2014
The Bear Valley Freeheel Festival is coming to town on March 28-30, 2014 to celebrate the thrills of telemark, randonee and splitboard adventures. Participants can join educational clinics, guided adventures, and evening banquets during this fun filled weekend. Plus for those looking for some additional challenge, check out the Adventure Race on Saturday, March 29th.

Festival Overview

top

FRIDAY (March 28, 2014)

All-Day Telemark, Randonee & Splitboard Workshops (Beg-Exp)
Apres Ski Dinner & Open-Mic

SATURDAY (March 29, 2014)

Adventure Race (telemark, randonee & splitboard)
Telemark, Randonee & Splitboard Clinics (Beg-Exp)
KEEN RIPPIN CHIX - SINGLE BLACK Steeps Camp with Champion Alison Gannett
Freeheel Adventures (Int-Exp)
Home Run to the Village (Int-Exp)
Banquet & Live Music

SUNDAY (March 30, 2014)

Backcountry Ski & Splitboard Tours (Int-Exp)
Backcountry Avalanche Workshops
Resort Telemark Clinics (Beg-Exp)
Resort Freeheel Adventures (Int-Exp)

Friday - March 28, 2014

top

Friday signals the beginning of the festival with full day lessons at the ski resort followed an evening of pizza, brew and music in the village.

Full Day Telemark, Randonee & Splitboard Workshops - $75
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Beginning-Expert)
Spend the day learning from the best instructors in the business and raise your skiing skills to the next level! After a morning warm-up run, groups are formed into similar abilities. Instructors focus on skill development and personal feedback.

Apres Ski & Dinner & Open Mic - $25
Doesn't matter if you are just pulling into town or have been on the slopes all day, festival goers are encouraged to join the evening festivities at the Sky High Pizza & Pub in Bear Valley. Relax, refuel and unwind with other festival goers with some tasty pizza, salad, New Belgium brew and local wine. This year we are serving a classic "All-You-Can-Stuff Pizza & Salad Bar" with fresh ingredients supplied by Outer Aisle Foods.

Saturday - March 29, 2014

top

Saturday is the big day with the Adventure Race, lessons, and adventures followed by the grooviest freeheel party of year.

Adventure Race - $50
The Bear Valley Adventure Race follows a traditional randonee (ski mountaineering) format with "... a timed event that follows an established trail through challenging winter alpine terrain while passing through a series of checkpoints. Racers climb and descend under their own power using backcountry skiing equipment and techniques"(USSMA).

KEEN RIPPIN CHIX - BLUE/BLACK Steeps Camp with Champion Alison Gannett - $95 (Int/Adv)
This women's session is for strong intermediate and advanced skiers wanting to have fun, learn tools and gain confidence in order to advance into more challenging terrain. Must be able to ski ten turns on a single black GROOMED run and have maybe attempted unsuccessfully to ski moguls, trees, and ungroomed stuff. Alison's unconventional steep skiing teaching methods will enable skiers expand their confidence and comfort zones. Learn special baby step techniques and tricks to tame and remove fear from moguls, trees, powder, roots and rocks. Named one of the top women's camps in North America, KEEN Rippin Chix uses baby steps to tackle your fears and improve your confidence. More info: AlisonGannett.com

Saturday Event Pass - $50 Sample a variety of offerings for a fun-filled day of learning and meeting new freeheeling friends.

CLINICS
Throughout the day a variety of 2 hour Telemark, Alpine Touring and BackCountry Skill clinics are happening. Each clinic is specific to skier ability and topic. Participants sign-up for clinics on Saturday morning at the registration desk.

ADVENTURES
Casual groups guided around the resort by local skiers in search of the best snow. Include a joke or two and these adventures will give you a better understanding of the Bear Valley vibe.

HOME RUN
Strong intermediate skiers and above are welcome to join festival instructors at the top of the mountain at the end of the day for a group / guided ski run back to the Bear Valley Village (conditions permitting).

Banquet - $50
This is the most celebrated freeheel party of the year and not to be missed. Appetizers, drinks, dinner, slide show, prizes, live music and dancing generate an infectious vibe that make it hard to stay seated.

MAS strives to serve the best food with swift service and a eye to sustainability by providing fresh local food, durable plates, silverware, cloth napkins, and recycling. After dinner settle into an entertaining presentation before we launch into our monstrous prize giveaway.

Just when you thought the evening couldn't get better, it does! Live music from The Hot Dark for weary legs and we know the dancing floor is going to be hopping!

Sunday - March 30, 2014

top

Even though Sunday is the last day the good times are far from over. Events are happening both in the backcountry and ski resort. Backcountry enthusiasts can choose between "Backcountry Adventure" or "Avalanche Awareness Clinic". Resort folks can continue both "Clinics" and "Adventures"

Backcountry Adventure Tours (Beg-Exp)
Backcountry Avalanche Clinic (Int-Exp)
Lift-served Clinics (Beg-Exp)
Lift-served Freeheel Adventures (Int-Exp)

Backcountry Adventures (Int - Exp) - $50
Spend a memorable day in the Bear Valley backcountry finding the best snow with professional guides. Participants need to be ready to go at the ski resort by 9AM with skins and backcountry packs and return between 3:30 - 4 PM.

KEEN RIPPIN CHIX - Backcountry Freeskiing Camp with Champion Alison Gannett - $95
This backcountry session is for women that are used to skiing some steeps, but may not find themselves doing things as gracefully or confidently as they might want. Gals should want to expand their tool boxes and comfort zone in powder, crud, roots, rocks, trees and cornices, and dabble with some backcountry tips, tricks and etiquette. The emphasis on this camp is adventuring in backcountry terrain and LOTS of skiing. Those wanting a more skills-focused camp should look firstly into signing up for either the Friday or Saturday camp. Named one of the top women's camps in North America, KEEN Rippin Chix uses baby steps to tackle your fears and improve your confidence.

Avalanche Awareness Clinic (Int - Exp) - $50
This new program blends avalanche education and a few turns along the way. Experienced backcountry travelers and those new to the scene are welcome to refresh and learn valuable avalanche awareness skills with professional guides. Participants need to be ready to go at the ski resort by 9AM with skins and backcountry packs. Return time is between 3:30 - 4 PM.

Sunday Clinics and Freeheel Adventures - $50
2 hour group lessons starting at 10 AM and 1 PM.
Interested in simply skiing with fellow freeheelers and exploring the goods of Bear Valley Mountain? Well that's what this offering is all about. Join local skiers and hit the slopes in search of primo snow.

2014 Festival Pricing & Packages	top
Friday
Full Day Telemark, Randonee, & Splitboard Workshops*	$75
Apres Ski Dinner & Open Mic	$25
Saturday
Adventure Ski Race	$50
RIPPIN CHIX - BLUE/BLACK Steeps Camp with Alison Gannett*	$95
Festival Events*	$50
Home Run	Free
Banquet	$50
Sunday
RIPPIN CHIX - Backcountry Freeskiing Camp with Alison Gannett	$95
Backcountry Adventure	$50
Backcountry Avalanche Clinic	$50
Lift-Served Clinics and Tours*	$50

* - All events at the ski resort require a lift ticket	$45 (regularly $64)

Packages

Friday-Sunday Festival Package

Friday - All Day Workshops + Apres Ski, Dinner, and Open Mic
Saturday - Race or Lift-Served Events + Banquet
Sunday - All Day Backcountry Tour or Lift-Served Clinics & Freeheel Adventure

Mar 28-30, 2014

$235.00 (Does not include lift tickets)

Friday-Saturday Festival Package

Friday - All Day Workshops + Apres Ski, Dinner, and Open Mic
Saturday - Race or Lift-Served Events + Banquet

Mar 28-29, 2014

$185.00 (Does not include lift tickets)

Saturday-Sunday Festival Package

Saturday -Race or Lift-Served Events + Banquet
Sunday - All Day Backcountry Tour or Lift-Served Clinics & Freeheel Adventure

March 29-30, 2014

$135.00 (Does not include lift tickets)

* - $45 festival lift tickets available (regularly $64)

2014 Festival Registration

top

All registrations should go through either our Online Registration Form. We discourage taking reservations over the phone or else we would never get a chance to go skiing. But of course if you have any questions please feel free to contact us. Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the snow this winter!

Lodging Options

Parent Packages

top

Families are welcome. If both parents want to participate in festival events please contact us to customize a package. We can mix and match events so that you can alternate skiing. We can't provide childcare, but we can offer an easy way for both of you to get some turns and take advantage of the festival offerings.

Volunteers

top

Each year a special group of people help us run the festival in exchange for food, lodging, events and goodwill. From serving food to sitting at the registration desk these volunteers know how to hustle with a smile. While most staff return year after year we typically have a few spots for enthusiastic and motivated volunteers. If you are interested in becoming part of the team please contact us.