The Ultimate Women’s Mountain Bike Retreat

Big Bear Lake, CA, May 22, 2012, noon - The ultimate women’s mountain bike retreat is coming to Big Bear Lake this weekend (May 25-28, 2012).  Leading the retreat is mountain bike racer and mountaineer, Karen Lundgren. The retreat is designed to create a safe learning environment for women who may be new to the sport, or want to increase their skill set on a mountain bike in a supportive atmosphere. Participants will enjoy yoga, alignment/stretch clinics and more. Clinics will include bike fit and nutrition workshops along with a complete video analysis of skills. The retreat offers an optional body composition evaluation and blood analysis. Retreat participants will find themselves pushing the limits of their own physical expectations during the day and relaxing afterwards with accommodations, meals and wine tasting to round out the day. For more information or to register, go to www.4seasonscoaching.com and click on retreats.

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Trails Foundations Presents 12 Trails Of Big Bear Challenge

Big Bear Lake, CA, May 21, 2012, noon – Big Bear Valley is completely surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest and offers a network of trails for hikers and bikers. That’s why The Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation is promoting the 12 Trails of Big Bear 2012 Challenge. The Trails Foundation has crafted a list that includes 12 of Big Bear’s finest trail adventures. Complete with online trail guides, the list will get you outside to both familiar and new places. Don’t think you know what to expect. While the 12 Trails of Big Bear has several popular trails, more of them are off the beaten track, and will get you out on new adventures. Their website trailsfoundation.org has maps, directions, and guides to each of the 12 Trails of Big Bear. The list has been designed so anyone can do some, if not all of them. And if you finish off all 12 Trails in 2012, that doesn’t mean you’re finished. The Trails Foundation says they’ve planned it out so there will be at least 3 full years of 12 Trails. And adding things up, that’s a lot of ground to explore in Big Bear.

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Safety Tips To Prevent Pool Accidents And Liability

Big Bear Lake, CA, May 14, 2012, noon - No one wants to see anyone injured in their swimming pool, and with warmer weather, now is the time for pool owners to take active steps to reduce the possibility of drowning or injuries to children in their pools. If you own a pool, you know how popular they are with kids. Legally speaking, swimming pools are considered an “attractive nuisance,” which means that the law recognizes that kids love pools and often use them uninvited. If you own a pool, you could be held liable for negligence if a guest is injured in your pool, or for injuries to children you didn’t even know were there. To prevent tragedy and liability claims, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers these pool safety tips.

1. Install a fence between the water and the living area of your home.

It’s not enough to put a fence around your back yard — you need to keep unsupervised kids from entering the pool from inside your home. Climb-resistant fences are available that are and have self-closing, self-latching gates with the latch out of a child’s reach.

2. Keep kids and pets from falling into the swimming pool:

• When it’s not in use, keep your pool covered with a pool safety net or a permanent pool cover. Choose your pool cover carefully — kids are often tempted to walk on them and can be trapped beneath if the cover should collapse.
• Install an audible splash alarm as a backup, but not primary, safety feature.
• Don’t leave toys in a swimming pool. Kids often fall into pools when trying to reach for toys.
• Remove the ladder to an above-ground pool during winter.

3. Make sure you have good safety equipment close at hand.

At the very least, you need a rescue-grade floatation device and a fully stocked first aid kit. Post the address of the pool near the pool for reference if someone needs to call 911. If you don’t have an outdoor phone, always bring your cell phone with you to the pool.

4. Bring your pool drains up to date on safety.

Kids can be trapped by drain suction, so be sure to install anti-entrapment drain covers. Even safer are safety vacuum release systems, which shut off the pump if blockage is detected.

5. Remember that swallowing pool water can make you and your kids sick.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, gastrointestinal illness from swallowing pool water has been rising dramatically in recent years. Some types of parasites can live in chlorinated water for days.

6. Keep a sharp eye out, and learn CPR.

77 percent of submersion injuries to children occur in five minutes or less. Unfortunately, drowning also takes mere minutes and can be completely silent. Even if your kids know how to swim or are using floatation devices, don’t just assume they’re safe — a swimming pool is not a good place for unsupervised kids.

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The Amgen Tour of California returns to Big Bear

Big Bear Lake,  CA. May 9, 2012 - The Amgen Tour of California returns to Big Bear after a one year hiatus on Friday May 18th, 2012.  The race will feature 16 of the world’s best teams battling it out over more than 750 miles of picturesque California highways, roadways and coastline.  In addition, the Amgen Tour of California will be the last race on U.S. soil before the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.  This year’s climb to Big Bear will be no less monumental and, in fact, it will be even greater because the following day will be another extreme climb from Ontario to Mount Baldy.  What makes the Big Bear climb on May 18th the hardest or “Queens Stage” of the race is that it will cover 115 miles and will rise and fall 12,000 feet in the mountains in the thin air. The entire tour may be won or lost during Stage 6 on the climb to Big Bear.   The teams will need to strategize how to best use the long and steep day in the saddle.  If a rider fails to be smart they may not survive Stage 7’s shorter but, perhaps, more intense climb on the steep narrow roads to Mount Baldy, a destination with only one way in.  The best place to view Stage 6, the Big Bear Climb, is from the finish area at Snow Summit.  The race will get worldwide TV coverage on NBC Sports and it can be seen from start to finish on the jumbotron TV’s at Snow Summit’s finish area.  The Amgen Tour of California is the biggest professional cycling race in North America and because many of the American teams are headquartered in California this race is very important to every tour rider as well as their sponsors.  The Amgen Tour of California Stage 6, the Big Bear Climb, leaves Palmdale at 10:50 am on May 18th and arrives in Big Bear about 4 and a half hours later.  Rolling closures may affect certain locations around Big Bear Lake as the race finishes at Snow Summit.  Volunteers are needed to help for many aspects of the race.  If you have interest in journalism and public relations and would like to work in the Press Room call Dan McKernan at the Big Bear Lake Resort Association at 909 866 6190 extension 235 or email him at DMCKERNAN@bigbear.com

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Cycling Fans Get Opportunity To Ride Portion Of Amgen Tour In Big Bear

Big Bear Lake, CA, May 7, 2012, 8:00am - On May 18 cycling enthusiasts will get an opportunity to ride a portion of  The Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 Finish in Big Bear Lake. The ride, called The King of the Mountain Experience, is open to all levels of cyclists who want to ride through the official finish line two hours before the actual professionals cross the finish line. The King of the Mountain Experience is a 35-mile trek that starts at Snow Summit, goes down highway 18 to Snow Valley, and then returns up the mountain to Snow Summit, crossing through the official Amgen Tour of California finish line. The course includes a full-support crew. A self-timed section on the course gives participants a read-out of their times which they can compare with the professional race leaders. In addition to riding 35 miles of the Stage 6 course, all King of the Mountain Experience participants get certain privileges others do not.  Race day perks include V.I.P. finish line area seating, free bike valet, a commemorative event T-shirt, raffle drawings, a finisher’s medal, and limited edition number plate. There is also a V.I.P. reception after the race at Black Diamond Tavern that includes appetizers, a no-host bar and cycling celebrities. Other benefits include pre-event bike check, lube & tune, discount food and lodging, and Thursday night party. The King of the Mountain Experience is Friday, May 18 at the Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 Finish Line at Snow Summit. The entry fee is $150 per person, and limited to the first 250 registrants. For more information or to register log onto www.bigbearclimb.com or www.openairbigbear.com

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Public Comments Sought For Proposed Land Management Plan Amendment

San Bernardino, CA, May 1, 2012, 8:00am  - Forest Service officials are seeking public comments on a Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California national Forests, incuding the San Bernardino Forest. The Proposed Amendment would modify the existing land use allocations in selected roadless areas to include more back country non-motorized and recommended wilderness areas. An alternate monitoring framework is also proposed. This Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plan is part of the Settlement Agreement approved January 3, 2011, in two cases brought against the United States Department of Agriculture. The San Bernardino National Forest will host an open house to present specific information about what the Proposed Amendment means locally.  Forest Service staff officers will be available to answer questions, and maps of the proposed changes will be available for viewing. The meeting for the San Bernardino National Forest is scheduled for May 31, 2012, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at San Bernardino National Forest Headquarters, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408. The public is encouraged to get involved in the process. The comment period closes on Monday June 11, 2012.

For further information, or to send comments, contact Project Manager Bob Hawkins via e-mail:
socal_nf_lmp_amendment@fs.fed.us

Send written comments to:

Cleveland National Forest
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92127-2107

ATTN: LMP Amendment

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Ryan Hall The Olympic Race Of His Life And The 41st Day

Big Bear Lake, CA April 26, 2012, 8:00am - The 41st day is a documentary about Olympic marathon runner Ryan Hall and his incredible journey.  It is currently being filmed and will continue through the London Summer Olympics beginning the last week of July. With less than 100 days to go the excitement for these games is beginning to grow along with the momentum to complete this documentary.  But additional support is needed to fund this effort and that is where his friends, family and running fans are lending a hand by pledging money to the effort.  The 41str day and it’s maker Tim Jeffreys from Halls training location of Flagstaff has a self described passion for running.  Both Tim and Ryan believe this film will not only entertain runners but will also draw in non-runners to the power struggle and triumph.

In the words of Jefferys; “Ryan Hall is the fastest marathon runner in American history. His consistency is only matched by legends of the sport. In order to go down as the best, however, Ryan needs to do something that has eluded him his whole career – win an international marathon. This August, Ryan will try to do that in the biggest race of his life, the 2012 Olympic Marathon. He will take on the dominant east Africans and the rest of the world in a race that is being billed as the toughest and fastest in Olympic history. Ryan isn’t the ordinary runner, though. While competitors prepare in training groups under the systematic care of coaches and advisors, Ryan runs alone.  Practicing what he calls faith-based coaching, he relies exclusively on the direction of his faith to dictate his training, an unprecedented and often scrutinized approach in the world of distance running”. “For me, running is an art more than a science,” says Ryan. “One can’t argue with his results up to this point, but will his faith be enough to take him to the top?” says Jefferys.

The funding method is no less remarkable as it’s being done through a website called kick-starter and is linkable through Big Bear News where a short movie tease can be seen.  To date nearly 700 people have pledged nearly $50,000.00 but according to the movie maker, Tim Jefferys, $75,000.00 is needed in order to secure the actual Olympic film rights to this summer’s marathon.  As part of the websites fund raising efforts Ryan thanks everyone who has contributed and welcomes other pledges.

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Cycling Fans Get Red-Carpet Treatment At The Finish Line

Big Bear Lake, CA, April 23, 2012, 3:00pm - The Big Bear Lake Resort Association is rolling out the red carpet for cycling fans at this year’s Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 Finish with V.I.P. Finish Line Experience Packages. The packages come with overnight accommodations at a Big Bear lodge, hotel or cabin bundled together with V.I.P. tent access right next to the finish line that includes complimentary appetizers and refreshments, a cash bar, commemorative cow bells and free bike valet service. According to Big Bear Lake Resort Association President and CEO Rick Shoup the “V.I.P. packages make it all worthwhile for spectators who want to live it up next to the finish line. The shaded tent area gives them an opportunity to relax and enjoy refreshments, and access to a full cash bar. … they get to see cyclists make a mad dash to the finish line where all the action is.” To learn more about V.I.P. Finish Line Experience Packages including discounted lodging visit www.bigbear.com.

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Recreational Boaters Encouraged To Boat Clean And Green

Big Bear Lake, CA, April 23, 2012, noon - Earth Day this past weekend serves as a reminder to Big Bear’s recreational boating community to continue protecting the state’s waterways and marine environment from invasive species and pollution. According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW), California has more than four million motorized and non-motorized recreational boaters. The negative impact that this can have on the marine environment and boating facilities can be significant. The good news is, a number of services are available for boaters to minimize their impact on the environment. The DBW offers a Boat Cleaning Guide Book that has general guidelines and a basic checklist for inspecting and cleaning boats and recreational equipment. Sewage Pumpout Stations are provided for the proper disposal of raw sewage, and shore-side facilities are available for the proper disposal of trash, and recycling of old fishing line. There are several options available so you can properly dispose of an unwanted vessel, and information is available to help you avoid having an oil spill, or how to report one. For more detailed information on the services available visit www.BoatResponsibly.com.

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Annual Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic Offers Chance To Win $10,000

Big Bear Lake, CA, April 20, 2012, noon - Organizers of the 30^th Annual Jim Hall Memorial May Trout Classic are pulling out all the stops for anglers to win big money. The top nine largest trout caught at the May Trout Classic share or split $8,000 in prize money based on 500 entrants, and new this year is an opportunity to catch a tagged trout worth $10,000. Tournament Director Jason Hall says the May Trout Classic is known as ‘The Grand Daddy of Them All’ because they stock the lake with enormous trophy-sized trout, and this year, one lucky angler could catch a trophy-size beauty with a tag on its dorsal fin worth $10,000. In addition to the tagged trout and $8,000 in cash prizes for the top nine largest trout, are trophies and drawings with thousands of dollars worth of fishing gear, bait and tackle from national manufacturers. The May Trout Classic is the longest running fishing tournament at Big Bear Lake, and has become a family tradition with multiple generations participating in the annual event. The May Trout Classic is a non-profit event with all of its proceeds going to Big BearLake’s fishery programs and fish habitat. Money from the tournament enables officials to plant trophy-size trout and provide a memorable angling experience for current and future generations. The event will take place on May 19 and 20. Entry forms are available at The Big Bear Visitor Center, Holloways Marina, Big Bear Marina and The Big Bear Municipal Water District. Photo Credit: Lucky Bear Fishing Charters

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