Big Bear Youth Drayden Gardner and Dusty Henricksen Score on Skating Circuit, While Toby Miller Trains in Snowboarding’s Project Gold

Big Bear Valley, CA — The Big Bear Valley is home to a number of young superstars. While 13-year-old Jordan Romero was making his way to the peak of Mt. Everest, 10-year-old Drayden Gardner and seven-year-old Dustin Henricksen segued from snowboarding competitions to making their mark on the skateboarding circuit, competing in California Amateur Skateboard League events. Earlier this month, Gardner received a trophy for his fourth place finish in the Vans Skate Park CASL Street Competition, earning him a place in July’s California State Games, a statewide sports festival that is a grass roots program of the United States Olympic Committee, per his mom Holly (McDonald) Gardner, who notes that Drayden will compete in streetstyle, mini-ramp and pool riding disciplines. Henricksen, a first grader at Baldwin Lane, also earned a fourth place ranking in the Vans Skate Park Bowl Competition and will join Gardner at the next CASL competition on June 19 at the Fontana Skate Park prior to the State Games festival in July. The two had competed in the USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain, Colorado in April, where 10-year-old Toby Miller, a fourth-generation Big Bear local, won a national snowboarding title for his age group. Given this impressive finish, Miller, who has recently been training in Tahoe, has been invited to train with the U.S. snowboarding coaches (including Olympian Shaun White’s coach) on Mammoth Mountain this week in the exclusive Project Gold program; this invitational opportunity trains the country’s top juniors in preparation for snowboarding competition in the Olympics.

Big Bear Mountain Resorts Wrap an Epic Ski Season–Unless This Week’s Storm Brings More Snow

Big Bear Lake, CA — Our season on the slopes has come to a close—unless we get more snowfall. After nearly six months and over 12 feet of snow, Big Bear Mountain Resorts have wrapped this ski and snowboarding season as of yesterday’s final session at Snow Summit. However, given the possibility of additional snowfall later this week, Snow Summit may re-open for the weekend should we get another substantial snow. Though, should this be the end, Big Bear Mountain Resorts say that this winter season is going down as one of the best in Big Bear’s history. Season passes for next winter are on sale, and “screamin’ deal” discounts are in effect through the end of May; visit BigBearMountainResorts.com for more information.
Update as of April 28: It’s official, Snow Summit Resort is closed for the season and will not re-open for the weekend. The scenic sky chair at Summit will be open for the summer season, starting Friday, May 21 for the Amgen Tour of California which finishes at Snow Summit, and will remain open on weekends leading into the summer months. The Bear Mountain Golf Course is expected to open May 21 as well.

Open Since October, Bear Mountain Resort Closes for the Season; Skiing and Snowboarding Continue at Snow Summit Through April 25

Big Bear Lake, CA — As of today (Monday, April 19), Bear Mountain Resort is closed for the ski and snowboarding season, which began back in October. Snow Summit will continue to be open today and every day through Sunday, April 25; Bear Mountain-only passes will be honored at Summit, which is in operation each day from 8:30am to 4pm. Season passes for both mountains are currently on sale for the 2010/2011 season, with “screamin’ deal” discounts offered through May 31. For more information, visit SnowSummit.com, or call 909/866-5766. (For background on the incredible powder we received this season, and in years past, check out our story titled ‘Pow! Longtime Local Dick Kun Compares Our Recent Snowstorms to the Legendary Winter of 1969.’ All told, we have received 119 inches of snow in the Big Bear Valley since November 13, though totals are easily over 10 feet for the resorts, which are at a higher elevation.)

Golden Group: Local USASA Team of Skiers and Snowboarders Brings Home 23 Medals from National Championships

Like Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, who started his snowboarding career in USASA competitions on the slopes at Snow Summit at age seven, local seven-year-old Dustin Henricksen has also scored a gold in snowboarding competition. Henricksen and 30some other snowboarders and skiers from the Big Bear Valley competed in the National Championships of the United States of America Snowboard Association, which took place on Copper Mountain, Colorado last week. The USASA SoCal team, which participated in seven events at Big Bear Mountain Resorts this season, traveled to Colorado for the April 4-9 championships and, all told, brought home 23 medals, as well as many special distinctions, such as a 12th place national ranking for 10-year-old rider Drayden Gardner. Those who made a podium finish and brought home medals include an overall gold for Val Stepanchuk in the men’s open class snowboard championship, and a silver for Tim Mack; Aubrianna Dunn also brought home gold for the women’s overall snowboard in the senior bracket (for females ages 23 to 29), in addition to four golds and a silver in specific disciplines; in the master women’s competition (ages 30 to 39), Melissa Spillman took silver in the overall, in addition to a gold in the slopestyle, a silver and two bronze medals, while master Lemee Nakamura took bronze in half-pipe and slopestyle. Skier Kim Walker placed second overall in the women’s over-19 competition, and Michael Shea took third overall in the adaptive men’s bracket, as well as two more medals in specific disciplines. Our younger USASA competitors also did Big Bear proud, given Dustin Henricksen’s gold in the half-pipe for “ruggie” boys ages seven and under, plus a silver in the slopestyle. Nine-year-old Hailey Langland earned a silver in the grommet girls half-pipe, and a silver in the slopestyle. Local organizers tell KBHR that many of the other young riders did really well, even if they didn’t bring home a medal from nationals; in the meantime, the USASA SoCal team is cheering on 11-year-old Sammy Swanson while he heals from a clavicle fracture, and 17-year-old Evan Hickman, who had to drop out of the national championships after injuring his knee. Local USASA competitions return to Big Bear Mountain Resorts next season, and are open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages.

Spring Skiing on the Slopes of Big Bear Mountain Resorts to Continue Until at Least April 18

Big Bear Lake, CA — With sunny skies and snow depths on the slopes up to 3.5 feet, spring skiing is on and, per the latest from Big Bear Mountain Resorts, will extend for at least another two weekends. Bear Mountain will continue to be open on weekends, and Snow Summit will be available to skiers and snowboarders every day through April 18 and possibly longer; beginning Monday, April 12, Bear Mountain season passes will be honored at Snow Summit. Screamin’ Deal season passes for next season are available and, if purchased now, are also valid for the remainder of this season. Prices on passes are discounted through May 31, and choices include midweek, midweek plus Sundays, night and anytime; additional discounts are also available for young adults and seniors. For more information on screamin’ deals on the slopes, call 909/866-5766 or visit BigBearMountainResorts.com.

Easter Weekend in the Big Bear Valley Brings Special Services, and Easter Egg Hunts–Both on the Slopes and Lakeside

Big Bear Valley, CA — After a dose of winter weather, bringing an additional two to three inches of snow to the resorts this week, and sunny spring days expected into the weekend, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit Resorts are the places to be for spring break. In celebration of Easter Sunday, Snow Summit will offer an Easter egg hunt on the slopes on April 4; the event is free and open to skiers and snowboarders up to age 21. For the younger children, no lift ticket is required to participate as the egg hunts will take place at the base of the mountain; for ages eight to 12, the Easter egg hunt begins at 10am, children under seven get their opportunity to hunt for eggs containing prizes at 10:30am. Young adults, ages 13 to 21, will need a lift ticket or season pass for the 8am Easter egg hunt on the slopes in hopes of finding the golden egg containing a four-pack of lift tickets good for the 2010/2011 ski season. Parents are reminded to bring a camera to get a photo with the Easter Bunny.
Community Church at the Lake also offers their annual Spring Egg Hunt event this weekend, with free face painting, games, arts and crafts, and the Easter egg hunt taking place from 10am to noon on Saturday, April 3. The Easter Bunny will also be on hand for this community event at the church located on Big Bear Boulevard at Knickerbocker, next to Veterans Park, in Big Bear Lake.
Additional special offerings in celebration of Easter Sunday include the Easter Sunrise Service presented by the Bear Valley Ministerial Association and including scripture readings from a number of pastors from the Big Bear Valley. This community event, to be held at Pine Summit Camp and Conference Center at the south end of Wren off Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear Lake, is open to all ages, and begins at 6:30am Easter morning.
There will also be a sunrise service on the North Shore at 8am. The April 4 Easter service and guided meditation in the great outdoors takes place lakeside at Captain John’s Fawn Harbor Marina in Fawnskin. For more information, call Reverend E.T. Russell at 744-0470.

Nine Feet of Snow Later, Big Bear Valley’s Winter Melts Into Spring on Saturday

Big Bear Valley, CA — It was just eight Fridays ago, when we were buried under five feet of snow—roads were under an R3 requirement, all highways were closed, school was canceled, and power was out—and it seemed this day would never come, but spring arrives this weekend! Since the first of the winter season’s storms began on Friday, November 13, we have received about 113 inches of snow here in the Big Bear Valley, which totals nearly nine-and-a-half-feet altogether, and nearly double the winter snowfall average of 62 inches. In the month of March, however, we have received about eight inches of snow (so far), when an average March tends to bring about 14 inches. Though the weather has tapered off, KBHR’s weatherman Ben Brissey reminds that, in Big Bear, Mother’s Day in May tends to bring us the final snowfall of the year—and, in fact, he says, in the late ’90s we even had a few inches of snow on a Father’s Day in June. You may also recall, in 2008, when we received a cold storm, bringing snow on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. As for the resorts, officials at Big Bear Mountain Resorts tell us that the El Niño winter has set up both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit for a good, long spring with excellent snow conditions—at present, the ski resorts plan to stay open into April, with plans to host another Easter egg hunt on the slopes on Sunday, April 4th. Those who enjoy the view from atop the resorts can also see that the ice is melting on Big Bear Lake and, since that first snowfall in November, lake levels have risen from about 64’ to, now, over 67’ and rising as those nine feet of snow accumulation continue to melt with the arrival of spring on Saturday.

Big Bear Mountain Resorts “Screamin’ Deal Season Passes” Go On Sale Monday

Tomorrow night is the last Saturday night session of the season for night skiing and boarding at Snow Summit which runs from 3pm to 9:30pm for a full session.  Big Bear Mountain Resorts “Screamin’ Deal” Season Passes” go on sale Monday, March 15th.  Passes can be used through the end of this season and for all of the next winter season.  And, remember, season passes are valid at both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.  The season pass sale ends May 31st.  Visit either resort to purchase or go on-line to www.snowsummit.com for more information.

Search and Rescue Teams Search for Three Snowboarders; Found, Nine Hours Later, and Cited for Out-of-Bounds Riding

Big Bear Lake, CA — Three snowboarders were lost and then found yesterday (Sunday, February 21). The three, two men and one woman, all in their 20s and from areas outside of the Big Bear Valley, had been snowboarding at Bear Mountain Resort yesterday afternoon and, given bad weather and poor visibility, the three ended up out of bounds, beyond the ski area. The Big Bear Sheriff’s Department received the call around 3pm on Sunday, and deployed Sheriff’s personnel, who searched for the three snowboarders, with the assistance of Bear Valley Search and Rescue volunteers, and staff from Bear Mountain Resort, including ski patrol. The three snowboarders were found on the backside of the mountain, near Rattlesnake Creek just after midnight this morning. According to the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station, the three adults were OK upon being recovered—just cold after being out in the elements for over nine hours. They were attended to by fire department paramedics, though did not need to go to the hospital for treatment. The snowboarders did receive citations, however, for snowboarding out of bounds.

Since Learning to Ride in Big Bear, Olympian Shaun White Goes Gold

If you didn’t catch yesterday’s Olympic highlights from Vancouver, Shaun White took gold again in the snowboarding half-pipe and, what you might enjoy knowing is that the gold medalist from San Diego started his snowboarding adventure right here in Big Bear when he was just six years old, though he started on skis at age four. Big Bear Mountain Resorts tell us that once White, now 23, began competing at age seven, he advanced so quickly that USASA placed him with riders almost twice his age in his earliest competitions. By age 13, White was riding professionally. For more on his story, and ties to Big Bear, NBC television is scheduled to air a segment on White during this evening’s 6pm newscast on channel 4.

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