Topic: Sports

Alpine Bank's Game of the Week hones in on Battle Mountain Huskies Baseball on April 8, 2008. In a local throwdown against the Eagle Valley Devils, the Huskies went down, 10-0.

Although some of the sand pits are beginning to emerge on the Vail Golf Course, it would be a stretch to call it green … or anything other than covered in snow.

Not to worry, though, crews are working to clear the Vail course, which is scheduled to open some time in May and all the golfing your heart desires can be found in the banana belt of Eagle and Gypsum.

Yes, the 18-hole Cotton Ranch and Eagle Ranch courses are already open for business. You’ll be amazed at how much more tropical (and less snowy) it is downvalley.

Also, if you’re not up for the 30-mile drive, take your clubs to the driving range at the Eagle Vail Golf Club. The range and the tee shop open May 3. For details on all the valley’s public, private and semi-private golf courses, visit golfvailvalley.com.

With all the lingering snow on trails, mountain biking season in the Vail area could be a bit delayed this season. Luckily desert riding isn’t far away.

Ghost town that it is around these parts through the end of April and May, hundreds of area fat-tire enthusiasts head West for sun, sand and slickrock.

Moab, Utah, is about 3 and a half hours west of Vail and is recognized throughout the world as a mountain-biking mecca. It is also a haven for Jeeping and hiking, but everyone generally finds their way up and down the trails respectful of each others’ mode of travel. Moab’s bike trails range from wide dirt roads to the famed slickrock terrain – a type of sandstone that, unless wet, is really not very slippery. It’s mind-boggling, really, the way bike tires attach themselves to this magical surface. Riding up and down this stuff will make you feel like a superhero.

To reach Moab from Vail, simply take Interstate 70 West. The faster route is about 221 miles down the road, to exit 182, which is about 32 miles south to Moab on US 191. The more scenic route, which adds about a half-hour of travel time, involves exiting earlier off of I-70 at the second Cisco exit (204) and following signs to route 128, which takes you on a breathtaking, 45-mile drive along the Colorado River.

Moab is a rustic town sporting many restaurants and hotels, while paid camping can be found at Sand Flats, nearly on top of the Slickrock Trail, and free camping up Cane Creek Rd. See specifics on Moab bike trails.

A closer, less frequented option for spring mountain biking is Fruita, located about 2 and a half hours West of Vail (exit 19) just short of the Utah border. While boasting significantly less slickrock riding than Moab, Fruita’s trails at the Loma exit (15) consist of dozens of miles of both smooth and rock ledge-filled single track on top of a mesa skirting the Colorado River.

To get there, simply turn left off the exit ramp at Loma from I-70, cross over the highway and follow the dirt road to the Kokopelli trailhead. Alternately, hit the Book Cliffs trails (sandier and fewer trail options, but equally as fun) and free camping. Take the Fruita exit and turn right through town (Fruita isn’t much of a town, but has a couple of bars and a great coffee and bike shop). To get to Book Cliffs, continue straight through the roundabout in town, go two blocks and turn left on Maple Street. Go 4 miles north on Maple St. (17 1/2 Rd). Turn right at N. 3/10 Rd, .5-mile to 18 Rd. Go north on 18 Rd for 7.5 miles to a parking area on the left. Learn more about Fruita’s bike trails.

Don't forget your sunscreen, seatbelts, heavily padded shorts and lots of water.

If you’ve had your eye on a certain pair of skis, boots or parka, but felt your pocketbook couldn’t take the sting, now is a good time to revisit your winter wish list.

Sure, your days of using new winter gear may be numbered, but there is still snow falling, and the bargains are out.

With the ski season wrapping up, local shops are unloading their winter goods and you’re likely to find the outerwear you’ve been coveting all season for half-price.

Skis, boards, gloves, hats, boots, jackets, pants and “Vail” branded sweatshirts are all on sale as shops prepare to trade out their inventory for summer wear and warm-weather equipment. Many shops are also unloading their rental and demo gear on the cheap, so if you truly loved a board or a pair of skis you tried earlier this season, you just might be able to finish off the season on them and get them dialed in for next year.

Places to find deals in Vail include Buzz’s, Patagonia, Quicksilver, Roxy, Billabong and Vail Sports, to name just a few. For a comprehensive list of shops of every ilk throughout the valley, check out our shopping guide.

It wouldn’t be right to wrap up Vail’s 2007-08 season without one last snowboarding contest, and in the name of one of the valley’s most memorable riders, of course it’s going to happen.

Thursday, April 10 is Malay Day 2008, honoring the life of professional local snowboarder Josh Malay, who died in 2004 at the age of 23 while snowboarding in Spain.

Malay Day is an opportunity for riders of all ages and ability levels to compete in a jam format in halfpipe, slopestyle and on the rails course at Golden Peak.
The pipe jam kicks off at 11 a.m., followed by the rail jam at 12:30 p.m. and the jump jam at 1:30 p.m. The top overall male and female score a season pass for the 2008/09 season and prizes will be distributed throughout the day to anyone who impresses the judges.

Registration takes place between 9 and 10 a.m. at the Golden Peak Lodge for $10 and $40 lift tickets are available to participants. Registrants younger than 18 years old must bring a parent to sign a waiver. The event offers free food, live DJ and after party at Garfinkel’s in Lionshead. Not to mention one final opportunity to show off all the tricks you’ve dialed in this season.

For more information, call 970-476-9090.

Adventurers Phil and Sue Ershler discuss their history together, their travels up and down all of the world's Seven Summits, and the book they wrote about the experience. The couple were in Vail on March 20, 2008, for the Vail Symposium's Unlimited Adventure Series.

Alpine Bank brings you Game of the Week, featuring the Battle Mountain Lady Huskies' 4-0 victory over the Summit Tigers on March 13, 2008.

On your marks ... Blast off! It's the 2008 Sno Drag Races at 4 Eagle Ranch. That's dozens of motorheads hitting high speeds on snowmobiles. Plum was there to capture all the action from the Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Holy Cross Powder Hounds. Go!

The Vail Valley Foundation's Sarah Dixon stopped by Fresh Tracks on March 7, 2008, to give us a heads up on big events coming in the spring. The Young Dubliners and The Radiators are coming for FREE concerts, American Ski Classic and a number of huge Vilar Center performances cap the ski season in the next few weeks.

Celebrities and ski racing icons all took off their hats to the late Gerald Ford at the 2007 American Ski Classic in Vail. Check out Plum's compilation featuring Robert Kennedy Jr., Kjetil Andre Aamodt, Phil Mahre and more!