The official blog for Vail Valley Foundation free concerts including Bud Light Street Beat, Bud Light Hot Summer Nights, Mountains of Music and ShowDown Town.
Nothing like a powder day Friday to kick off the weekend, right? With 11 inches of snow on the mountain, things are looking better than promising, they're looking GREAT!
If you're anything like me, you're looking at the schedule and saying, Hey, the slalom bike race down a snow-packed mountain is cool and all, as well as seeing Tele skiers attempt jumps the size of the Empire State Building (I exaggerate), but what can I actually do at this event?
My dear friends, I have answers for you. Gear up Saturday for the afternoon Eddie Bauer Boot Run at 4:30pm, where you will hurdle hay bails, ice, and tires. Costumes are encouraged, in fact if we could enforce them we would. Carry on with your snowshoes (and your dog) and head to the 5k or 10k x-country snowshoe race with a headlamp, because this baby is taking place at TWILIGHT! You'll finish in Golden Peak just in time to watch those tele and bike pros huck their meat best trick style.
Wake up Sunday and get your cardio fix on slaying some pow. See if you can ski Vail's 7 Wonders . Most public events have beginner or intermediate divisions which let you test your strength on the same course as the pros!
And, if you're a night owl like myself, you're going to want to hit up the parties and concerts here at the Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer. Here's what you need:
80's gear - dig out your headbands, sweats, spandex, crimper (I mean who doesn't have one of those?) for the Spazmatics free concert Friday night, and the Teva Totally 80's After Party following at Vendetta's
White threads - we're not in LA going to JayZ's White Party, but we are in Vail going to Teva's White Out Party following Theophilus London's free concert, also at Vendetta's
It's Friday, I'm excited, you should be excited, here's to the countdown - 14 days 'till the best weekend of your life!
With something like the Teva Mountain Games we like to share as much video and photography as we can. We hate telling you why something like the Teva Mountain Games is cool. We'd much rather show you and allow you to make your own decisions. With any luck you like what you see and get excited.
After a successful Summer 2011 Teva Mountain Games we immediately started looking at ways to show you how cool we thought the Winter event was going to be. Instantly we realized a problem... we have never done this event before and had nothing to work with. No video... no photos... nothing. All we had was a slate of rad events and a website that was pretty lame without photos and videos. To complicate things even further many of the events we are doing are by no means mainstream. Compelling video and photos for things like big-air snow biking or a ski mountaineering race is already hard to come by.
In the end we hired a great production company out of Boulder called Louder Than 11 to help us put together a four part pre-event web series showcasing select sports at the Winter event. It was really L11's creative direction and vision that made what you see below possible. They have spent countless hours sifting through whatever video we could get our hands on in addition to shooting on location in Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Park and Loveland Pass.
I was fortunate to lead this project from the Vail Valley Foundation side of things and still cannot believe I got paid to belay Josh Wharton (one of the world's best alpine climbers), make a couple turns with Pete Swenson (race director for the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup) and kick it with Jeff Lenosky and Adam Hauk in Boulder (both Teva athletes and Summer TMG winners).
As we worked through each spot and had the chance chat with Josh, Pete, Jeff and Adam it was fun to see how excited each of them are to bring this event to Vail in the Winter. We hope you get excited also. Enjoy the first three web shorts below and be on the lookout for one more piece specific to Mixed Climbing with Josh to be released soon!
PART 1: 2012 WINTER TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES PREVIEW
PART 2: 2012 WINTER TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES PREVIEW - SKIMO
PART 3: 2012 WINTER TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES PREVIEW - TEVA BIKE
We have to thank a lot of people for helping us out with photos and videos. Thanks a ton guys... see you February 10-12 when hopefully we can collect some amazing photos and videos of our own!
Special Thanks:
Ian Anderson/ Backbone Media
Rock & Ice Magazine
Daniel Dunn/ CBST Adventures
Red Bull Media House/ Austria's White Style Event
Rich Crowder/Jon Glassberg/Jordan Shipman - Louder Than 11
The First Notes program has been getting a lot of show time this year around the holiday season, and we're excited to share some of those experiences with you!
Last week, First Notes performed with The Dallas Brass, who later played at the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) on Tuesday, December 15. Kim Hannold, who helps coordinate events at the VPAC, wrote this below:
Good morning, I just wanted to share with you all what a great day for arts education we had yesterday at the Vilar. The First Notes brass musicians had some one-on-one with the Dallas Brass yesterday afternoon which the director, Michael Levine, said was his favorite part of the day! Later in the afternoon we had Eagle Valley High School and Battle Mountain High School musicians participate in a clinic, followed by a rehearsal with Dallas Brass. In the evening, the First Notes musicians performed in the lobby before the show, then Eagle Valley High School joined them on stage for one number. Michael announced First Notes to the audience, saying it’s amazing that there were 3rd and 4th graders playing in the lobby! Thank you Lindsey and Jean for your help in making it happen for First Notes. As Lindsey put it, opportunities like this will have a long-term impact on their lives. Enjoy the photo below and the cover of today’s Daily!
And then, just this weekend, 6 young ladies from First Notes performed live on TV8. Watch the interview and performance below!
"Hurry
up buddy, time is money." That was my friend Spook (think his real name
is Kevin) shouting, while holding the cat tracked truck
so I could catch a ride to the Birds finish.
Bob
Condron always said, get to know the guy who has the biggest key chain.
He's right, but in the world of winter sport, it's the guy
wearing the most radios. Spook has at least five.
"Hi,
I'm Jeb. Just wanted to tell you how much fun it's been volunteering
this week. The U.S. Ski Team is making all of us incredibly
proud to be fans." There were five other guys sitting in the truck bed
with me for the five minute ride. The conversation went like that. I
handed out a batch of pins, slapped some high fives and went on my way.
Funny,
but the world seems to be taking notice too. My colleague Matt
Futterman put together an amazing story that's running in today's
Wall Street Journal entitled Is American the New Austria - As U.S. Skiers Win Races and Ink Deals, the Sport's Royal Power Frets; 'All
the Kids Love Bode'. It's totally worth a read - http://goo.gl/XMGGo.
In Vail, all the kids love Lindsey and today is her first World Cup race at home. Here's the notes:
Beaver Creek, CO – Audi Birds of Prey 'the sequel' – women's super G
-Toss
aside
that Lindsey has won four of the five races she's entered this year (in
three different disciplines). Ditch the fact that last weekend she
produced the first clean sweep in Lake Louise since 1997 for victories
43-45. Journalists have been asking her about
all of these things. Lindsey's answer – "Lake Louise is Lake Louise, and
I have to really just focus on this course and the tactics that are
going to help me win this race," she said to Lauren Glendenning at the
Vail Daily after the Tuesday free ski on Birds
(Full story: http://goo.gl/y6flC)
-They'll
go from just above the men's GS start in Pete's Arena (Map: http://goo.gl/PK8j4).
"It's
going to be a fun ride," said women's Speed Head Coach Chip White.
"It's pretty turny, but nothing these girls can't handle. The snow is
perfect and totally edgeable. They'll have to lay it down in a few
spots, but this is our kind of hill. They'll probably
be pissed that can't run it again." Only they can, we're training here
after tomorrow's slalom. 2015 baby.
-The
racers,
wide-eyed with their cheeks pinned to their ears, said the same thing
after the free ski. Turny, tons of terrain…um, Julia Mancuso. You can
fill in the details here. She was in the finish for Ted's win yesterday.
She's a keen study that one.
-Stacey
Cook
has bib No. 1, but she won't be the first gal to do a super G race run
on this hill. Resi Stiegler foreran the men's SG in 2007…and Mikaela
Shiffrin wore F1 yesterday for both runs of GS. Beyond that, this is
brand spanking new to the entire women's World
Cup field. I've said it before, Birds of Prey has a mystique. That
hasn't changed one bit with regards to women.
-Watch
Alice – another CO gal from right down the road in Glenwood Springs – she was 8th
in the season opening downhill after missing most of last season with a
busted knee.
She has free skied this hill a bunch and was telling the other girls
about it on the drive to the hill this morning. Leanne, Kiley, J. Ford
and Brooke Wales were all ears. The energy level in the truck warmed up
my hour-old coffee.
While
I can't say for sure, my guess is there will be a lot of 'sick'
kids…and parents in the Vail Valley today. History is in the making
my friends and Universal Sports is running the entire deal LIVE. You
might want to check it out.
Our goal is to reach new donors with new platforms at grassroots levels. For us to reach our goal we are asking anyone with a little time to simply tell your friends on Facebook/Twitter or via email a little bit about what makes the VVF great and how they can easily help.
At the Vail Valley Foundation we do many things. Many things that most people do not realize they can support.
EDUCATION:
Serving more than 20,000 children in Eagle County annually VVF Education programs give kids the necessary learning skills to succeed in school.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:Without donors supporting the General Fund our ability to bring events, media, spectators and guests to the Vail Valley would be drastically impacted. If you are a Vail Valley local or business owner you would be impacted.
We are racing additional World Cup Ski Races in Beaver Creek as we type and bringing Lindsey Vonn to town to compete on one of her home mountains largely because of the generous support from our donors.
Without the VVF's general fund we would not have the ability to do many of the great things we do everyday that often go unnoticed.
Send a Personal Email. If you are not on Facebook or Twitter but still want to help simply send an email with a link to this post.
Donate now. Simply click here to make a one-time charitable donation today. Include "General Fund" in the comments field so we can properly allocate funds (include "Vail International Dance Festival," "Vilar Performing Arts Center," or "Education" to support those VVF efforts). All donations received on December 6 will be increased by the FirstBank Incentive Fund or perhaps matched with Bonus Bucks or cash prizes for select VVF projects. 100% of your donation will impact the VVF when received on Colorado Gives Day.
Sheryl Crow at the VPAC, Summer 2011 Photo (C) Zach Mahone Supporting the VPAC on Colorado Gives Day helps us bring artists likeSheryl Crow to Beaver Creek.
Being a non-profit we need the support from arts lovers like yourself to continue to bring world-class culture to the Vail Valley. Every dollar raised today helps! Click here to show your support and please include "Vilar Performing Arts Center" in the comments field so we can properly allocate your gift.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Just post. Repost one of the messages we will be posting today to the Vilar Performing Arts Center Facebook or Twitter pages. Many of your friends, like many of our friends don't know how or where to help.
Send a Personal Email. If you are not on Facebook or Twitter but still want to help simply send an email with a link to this post.
Donate now. Simply click here to make a one-time charitable donation on December 6. Include "Vilar Performing Arts Center" in the comments field so we can properly allocate funds. All donations received on December 6 will be increased by the First Bank Incentive Fund or perhaps matched with Bonus Bucks or cash prizes for select VVF projects. 100% of your donation will impact the VVF when received on Colorado Gives Day.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP:
Did you know that ticket sales only cover 35% of the VPAC’s annual operating costs? The remaining 65% must be raised from individual donations.
Each year, more than 5,000 Eagle County students are given FREE tickets to daytime performances at the VPAC, through the STARS (Supporting the Arts Reaching Students) education program.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:“That VPAC is a really great venue…a tight little room, really cool” – Blues music artist Keb’ Mo’
Charles "Lil Buck" Riley performing for International Evenings of Dance II at the 2011 Vail International Dance Festival. Photo (C) Erin Baiano
The Vail Valley Foundation'sVail International Dance Festival is participating in Colorado Gives Day today.
Being a non-profit we need the support from dance lovers like yourself to continue to bring world-class dance to the Vail Valley. Every dollar raised today helps! Click here to show your support and please include "Vail International Dance Festival" in the comments field so we can properly allocate your gift.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Just post. Repost one of the messages we will be posting today to the Vail International Dance Festival Facebook or Twitter pages. Many of your friends, like many of our friends don't know how or where to help. Send a Personal Email. If you are not on Facebook or Twitter but still want to help simply send an email with a link to this post.
Donate now. Simply click here to make a one-time charitable donation on December 6. Include "Vail International Dance Festival" in the comments field so we can properly allocate funds. All donations received on December 6 will be increased by the First Bank Incentive Fund or perhaps matched with Bonus Bucks or cash prizes for select VVF projects. 100% of your donation will impact the VVF when received on Colorado Gives Day.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP: The 2011 VIDF By The Numbers
It costs $10,000 to feed the dancers and musicians during the Vail International Dance Festival.
It costs $70,000 for lodging for the dancers and musicians during the Vail International Dance Festival.
It costs $85,000 for transportation that includes, airfare, airport transfers and local ground transportation.
Free Community events in Vail Village and Beaver Creek cost $20,000 and expose 2,000 to the art of dance in public spaces.
It costs $9,000 to rent three pianos for the 14 day festival and an additional $1,000 to tune each piano.
WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE VAIL INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL:
“Vail…a summer destination for dance lovers.” The New York Times
“This year the diversity in dance and people, and the excitement of seeing people we all watch on tv live made me want to come! We had a great time and I hope that the VVF will continue to bring young, fresh, new dancers, and celebrate all styles of dance.” Rachel Nelson, Vail local
“This year was our favorite year at the dance festival. The variety of artists were amazing….I have been attending the dance festival for more than 13 years and this year the new Dace TV night was one of my favorites. I am hopeful you will continue this new performance and make it a tradition.” Dr. Susan Vickerman, local Vail Valley Resident
