Street Beat Sneak Peak - Monday

On Monday morning we will be heading over to KZYR the Zephyr for a special instalment of Last D.J.

Tune in to 97.7 or www.kzyr.com between 7:30 and 8:30am to catch a sneak peak of the winter 2010 Bud Light Street Beat free concert series. We have not announced any of the bands slated to play yet, however, we have some sweet acts booked and ready to rock Vail Village free concert style.

We will give you the skinny on the VPAC winter concert season, talk ski racing for the Birds of Prey, announce for the first time parts of the 2010 Street Beat season and rock out with Steve Lee.

For those about to rock... we salute you.

Happy Halloween!

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New VPAC Shows Announced

We've announced three new concerts for the 2009-2010 VPAC winter season. Tickets for the entire season go on sale Monday, November 2 and 11am MT.

We are pleased today to announce the additions of Twist & Shout: The Ultimate Beatles' Experience (2.8.10) Kenny G (3.24.10) and Terri Clark (3.26.10). The three acts round out a full concert line up featuring acts like B.B. King, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Super Diamond, David Archuleta, Glen Campbell and many more.

For more information about the entire winter 2009-2010 VPAC winter season please CLICK HERE. Check back throughout the season as we continue to announce more shows!

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Snow for the Birds of Prey

Photo: Beaver Creek Resort

A winter storm delivered fresh snow overnight at Beaver Creek and the cold temperatures today (Wednesday) are perfect for snowmaking on the lower portion of the mountain.

Course preparations are fully underway for the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week scheduled for December 4-6. Check back in the coming weeks for more updates, lodging specials and a behind the scenes look at building North America's downhill.

Beaver Creek Resort is slated to open on November 25th. The Birds of Prey is a free event for spectators and you need not use a day on your ski pass to attend.

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Snowmaking Underway for Birds of Prey

Recent cold temperatures have allowed for Beaver Creek snowmaking crews to fire up the snowmaking system on the Birds of Prey. Beaver Creek’s opening day is set for Nov. 25 and the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week takes place Dec. 4-6, providing US fans with the best preview of the US men’s squad on their home turf.

In the photo above, Beaver Creek snowmaker Eric Borre checks the Flyway on the upper part of the Birds of Prey race course on Friday, October 23.

Check back soon for more photos! The forecast for the rest of the week calls for more snow for Beaver Creek and the Birds of Prey.

Mark your calendars for Beaver Creeks Opening Day (November 25) and the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup December 4-6. Complete Birds of Prey details can be found HERE.

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Flying Finn Captures Opening World Cup GS In Soelden--Vail's Vonn Ninth And Schleper 24th

Finland's Tanja Poutiainen snuck past Austria's Kathrin Zettel by a mere one-one-hundredth of a second to earn the victory in the opening World Cup Giant Slalom of the season Saturday in Soelden, Austria, while first run leader, Denise Karbon of Italy finished in third. The win marked the first time that the Finn has climbed to the top step of the podium in Soelden.

For the American contingent, Vail's Lindsey Vonn was the top finisher in ninth position, while Sarah Schleper also earned World Cup points for her 24th place showing. Julia Mancuso, the reigning Olympic Giant Slalom champion, was the only other U.S. Ski Team member to qualify for the second run, but she exited the course midway down the Rettenbach Glacier.

Representatives of the Beaver Creek/Vail 2015 FIS World Championships bid committee were in Soelden to lobby for the Vail Valley's effort to host a third World Championships as Ceil Folz, president of the Vail Valley Foundation; John Garnsey, co-president of Vail Resorts Mountain Division and Erik Borgen, VVF board member, watched the opening race of this Olympic season.

The men take their turn at Giant Slalom on the Rettenbach on Sunday, with 2006 Olympic Com bined champ Ted Ligety leading the U.S. charge. Ligety has had recent success in Soelden, finishing third last winter and second in the 2007 GS.

Although he has been in Europe training, Bode Miller, who rejoined the U.S. Ski Team earlier this month, will not be on the start list on Sunday.

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Vail's Lindsey Vonn Receives Golden Ski Award In Soelden

The hits, and the honors, just keep on rolling for two-time overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn of Vail as the golden girl of the U.S. Ski Team received the prestigious "Skieur d'Or" award Thursday evening in Soelden, Austria. Created in 1963, the award is given annually by the International Association of Ski Journalists.

Vonn became the first American skier to win the Golden Ski award since Phil Mahre captured the honor over 25 years ago. She also became only the tenth woman to win the award, which is also known as the Serge Lang Trophy, named for the long-time AIJS president and founder of the World Cup tour.

On hand for the award presentation were two key members of the Beaver Creek/Vail 2015 World Championships bid committee, Ceil Folz, president of the Vail Valley Foundation, and Erik Borgen, VVF board member and owner of Kvitfjell Ski Resort in Norway.

Folz and Borgen are in Soelden to lobby for the Vail Valley's World Championships bid at the opening World Cup races of the 2009-2010 season. They will be joined in this effort by John Garnsey, co-president of Vail Resorts Mountain Division; Bill Marolt, president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and former FIS council member Hank Tauber.

Vail and Beaver Creek are vying for the honor to host their third Championships with St. Moritz, Switzerland and Cortina, Italy. The World Championships vote will take place on June 3, 2010 at the FIS Congress in Antalya, Turkey.

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Key Beaver Creek/Vail 2015 World Championships Bid Committee Members In Soelden For Opening World Cups

A trio of key members of the Beaver Creek/Vail 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships Bid Committee members are taking their show on the road this weekend as Ceil Folz, President of the Vail Valley Foundation; John Garnsey, Co-President of Vail Resorts Mountain Division and Erik Borgen, Foundation board member and owner of Kvitfjell Ski Resort in Norway are in Soelden, Austria for the opening World Cup races of the 2009-2010 campaign.

Folz, Garnsey and Borgen will be meeting with key FIS officials and lobby for votes in their effort to return the Championships to the Vail Valley in 2015. The World Championships vote will take place at the FIS Congress in Antalya, Turkey on June 3 of 2010. Vail and Beaver Creek have played host to the 1989 and 1999 World Championships, and will be vying for the three-peat against a pair of formidable opponents in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Cortina, Italy.

In addition to this team, two other 2015 bid committee members, former FIS council member Hank Tauber and Bill Marolt, President and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, will also be in Soelden for the races.

Men's and Women's Giant Slalom competitions are on tap for Soelden, with the ladies race on Saturday and the men's race on Sunday. Many of the men's speed teams have also been training on the glaciers around Soelden in preparation for the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week in Beaver Creek, December 2-6.

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STARS Shows At The VPAC In Beaver Creek

The 2009-2010 winter season at the Vilar Performing Arts Center was announced last week, but the STARS (Support The Arts Reaching Students) series is already underway. Monday, October 5 marked the first performance of the daytime children’s series with Childsplay’s production of Peter and the Wolf. Nearly 1,000 Eagle County students attended one of the two shows produced at the Beaver Creek venue.

“The STARS series is one of our most popular community programs,” says theater executive director, Kris Sabel. “We’ve presented a handful of daytime shows each year we’ve been open, and thanks to support from public and private entities, we’re now able to offer the performances for free and reimburse the school district for the transportation costs.” The 2009-2010 STARS program is supported financially by Pat and Peter Frechette, Alpine Bank, Vail Resorts and the Vilar Center Guild, who purchased copies of the book A Year With Frog and Toad for students to read in conjunction with a performance scheduled for February 2010.

Monday’s show also marked the first time students from The Magic Bus pre-school program were in the audience. The Magic Bus is a joint effort between the Vail Valley Foundation and the Vail Youth Foundation to provide a quality pre-kindergarten curriculum to Eagle County students without access to pre-school facilities.

The Center’s 2009-2010 STARS series continues with Charlotte’s Web on December 16, Andrew Clements’ Frindle on January 8, A Year with Frog and Toad on February 11 and Nate the Great on April 15.

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Beyond Coastal Sun Care Partners with VVF

The Vail Valley Foundation announces a three-year partnership agreement with Beyond Coastal Sun Care as the Official Sunscreen for the Foundation’s athletic events. Attendees, athletes, VIPs, volunteers and media will be protected against the harsh rays of the mountain sun at athletic events. The sponsorship will include the Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week, American Ski Classic and the Teva Mountain Games.

“We are very pleased to welcome Beyond Coastal Sun Care to the Vail Valley Foundation and our stable of athletic events,” explained Michael Imhof, Vice President of Sales and Operations for the Vail Valley Foundation. “They are a tremendous company that will provided much needed benefits for our event participants and VIPS throughout the year.”

“We started as a brand that was born in the surf, but has really grown up in the mountains,” says Chuck Ferries of Beyond Coastal. “Our partnership with the VVF and supporting the community by providing sun protection is proof of this for our customer and our retailers.”

“Our formulas are proven every day in the water, on the snow and in the mountains by outdoor athletes, recommended by dermatologists, FDA approved, environmentally friendly, and as natural as can be,” says John Bercaw, director of Product Development and Marketing for Beyond Coastal. “Being oil free and striving for the most skin, earth, and sports friendly formulas, we see a strong synergy with the VVF and all participants at these events.”

Beyond Coastal Sun Care will debut their products at the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week, December 4-6, 2009.

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Gallery Row World Cup Wine Walk

A new Public Event has been added to the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup schedule.

Join us in Beaver Creek Village on Saturday, December 5, after the races between 6-8pm for the Gallery Row World Cup Wine Walk. This free event will include complimentary appetizers, wine and Beaver Creek art gallery tours.

Gallery Row is located adjacent to the ice rink in the heart of Beaver Creek Village.
Participating galleries include By Nature Gallery, C Anthony, J Cotter and Wilderness Wonders by Tony Newlin.

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Birds of Prey Schedule Change

Photo (C) 2008 Jonathan Selkowitz

A quick note about a schedule change for the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week.

The race order has been changed and will now run Super Combined on Friday, December 4, Downhill on Saturday, December 5, and Giant Slalom on Sunday, December 6.

Join us for the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week in Beaver Creek December 4-6, 2009.

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VPAC Winter Season Announced!

CATS - showing at the VPAC March, 2010

The Vilar Performing Arts Center is thrilled to announce the Winter 09-10 lineup! Highlights over the next several months include American Idol star David Archuleta performing “Christmas From The Heart”; Blues legend B.B. King; STOMP, international percussive sensations; CATS The Musical; country and pop superstar Glen Campbell; Russian National Orchestra; two full-company performances by the internationally renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and much, much more.

View the full season, read about artists, listen to music, watch videos and more at http://www.vilarpac.org/.

Underwriting opportunities for the season are still available, and are accompanied by a priority ticketing window. Support the mission of providing the best in performing arts in the Vail Valley, while also securing the best seats for your favorite shows. For more information about underwriting and priority ticketing contact Jason Denhart at 970.949.1999.

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 11am MST on Monday, November 2. Tickets will be available online, by calling 888.920.ARTS(2787) or in person at the box office in Beaver Creek. The box office is open from 8am-5pm Monday-Friday, with additional hours on show days.

Tickets are already on sale for select early season shows, as well as for the entire Classical and Dance series. Buy your tickets now! They’re selling fast.

LISTEN TO MUSIC FROM THE 2009-2010 SEASON:

VPAC Winter 09-10

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Employment Opportunity: Manager - Vail International Dance Festival

We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Manager for the Vail International Dance Festival, directed by Damian Woetzel.

CLICK HERE to view the job description and for more information.

For complete event details about the Vail International Dance Festival please CLICK HERE.

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2010 Vail International Dance Festival Dates

Photo (C) 2009 Erin Baiano

Save the date for the 2010 Vail International Dance Festival, July 26 - August 10, 2010!

Check the official website and continue reading the blog for additional details as we announce the 2010 season. Tickets will go on sale February of 2010.

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Birds of Prey Video Flashback: 2008 DH

Photo (C) 2008 Jonathan Selkowitz

Relive the 2008 Audi Birds of Prey Downhill action as Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal returned to Beaver Creek and tamed the course that almost ended his career in 2007. Liechtenstein’s Marco Buechel finished second, just six-one hundredths of a second off the pace, while Canada’s Eric Guay gave our neighbors to the north hope for this winter’s Olympics in Vancouver with a strong third place result.

The 2009 Audi Birds of Prey is a free spectator event and is slated for December 4-6 in Beaver Creek. The downhill will run on Saturday, December 5 at 11am.

AKSEL LUND SVINDAL - 1st Place 2008 DH:


MARCO BUECHEL - 2nd PLACE 2008 DH:


ERIC GUAY - 3rd PLACE 2008 DH:

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Birds of Prey Video Flashback: 2008 SG

Photo (C) 2008 Jonathan Selkowitz

Yet another 2008 Birds of Prey video flashback today! Enjoy the top three runs from the 2008 Audi Birds of Prey Super G below. The 2009 Audi Birds of Prey will not feature a Super G event. However, you can catch plenty of racing action with Downhill, Super Combined and Giant Slalom December 4-6 in Beaver Creek.

Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal made it two for two as he captured the Birds of Prey Super-G. Sentimental favorite Hermann Maier of Austria came within 45-hundredths of a second of his ninth victory on Birds of Prey, while teammate Michael Walchhofer took home the third place honors.

AKSEL LUND SVINDAL (NOR) - 1st PLACE 2008 SG:


HERMANN MAIER (AUT) - 2nd PLACE 2008 SG:


MICHAEL WALCHHOFER - 3rd PLACE 2008 SG:

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Free Ellis Paul Song Download

Ellis Paul, the recipient of thirteen Boston Music Awards, will be performing at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30pm.

Before you catch him at the VPAC, CLICK HERE to download a free song off his new album "The Day After Everything Changed." His new CD, slated for release on 1.12.10, will be available exclusively for purchase at the VPAC show.

Tickets for this performance are only $18 and can be found HERE.

LISTEN TO ELLIS PAUL:

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Birds of Prey Video Flashback: 2008 GS

Photo (C) 2008 Jonathan Selkowitz

Today we are posting the top three Giant Slalom runs from the 2008 Audi Birds of Prey.

Benjamin Raich claimed a measure of revenge for Austria as he recorded the Giant Slalom victory on Birds of Prey. America’s Ted Ligety came within one-hundredth of a second of the win to finish second, his third Birds of Prey Giant Slalom podium appearance. Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal just missed out on the hat trick with a third place showing, one-tenth of a second behind Raich.

Don't miss the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week December 4-6. The 2009 Giant Slalom is scheduled for Sunday, December 6 at 9:45am (second run 12:45pm).

The Audi Birds of Prey is a free event for spectators.

BENJAMIN RAICH (AUT) 1st PLACE 2008 GS:
2nd Run (click here to watch his 1st run)


TED LIGETY (USA) 2nd PLACE 2008 GS:
2nd Run (click here to watch his 1st run)


AKSEL LUND SVINDAL (NOR) 3rd PLACE 2008 GS:
2nd Run (click here to watch his 1st run)

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VPAC Gets a New Stage Floor

A 9am this morning construction began on a new stage floor at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.

Over the next 7 days VPAC crews will install the new stage floor made of material that is tough, durable, long lasting, and easy to maintain. A special thanks goes out to the Beaver Creek Metropolitan District for funding enabling these and other capital improvements.

This picture shows the bare stage without the theatrical flooring.

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Snow for the Birds of Prey

It's a gloomy snowy day here in the Vail Valley. Great news for the looming winter season and the 2009 Audi Birds of Prey World Cup scheduled for December 4-6.

Tune those skis and join us in Beaver Creek for the Birds of Prey!

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Matchstick Productions "IN DEEP" at the VPAC Tomorrow Night

More ski flicks tomorrow night at the VPAC with Matchstick Productions latest release "IN DEEP, The Skiing Experience."

For 2009, MSP Films takes an original look at the sport of skiing. All of the skiers in the film--park rat or big mountain charger--share a common bond: the overwhelming desires to ski. Each person finds stoke in his own unique way, whether it be a double cork 1260, a deep turn on a storm day or ripping a giant AK line. Skiing is an incredibly diverse sport that offers it all. With the progressive skiing and award-winning cinematography that has made MSP famous...

Catch IN DEEP at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek tomorrow night at 7pm or 9pm. Tickets are $15...

WATCH THE IN DEEP TRAILER:

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