BOGUS BASIN

News from Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area will have skiers and snowboarders jumping.

The area, located 16 miles north of Boise, is putting in a first-ever, top-to-bottom terrain park on the front side of the mountain accessed by the Showcase Chairlift.

“There’s an extreme demand for it,” said J.J. McLeod, Bogus Basin director of mountain events.

The 50-acre terrain park will be located on skier’s right off Shaker Ridge and will be spread through the Cascade, Mambo Meadows and Sunset runs. It will have 1,300 vertical feet of drop and be accessible from the Deer Point Quad and Showcase Chairlift.

A terrain park base area and yurt are being built about 50 yards up the mountain from the base area of the Showcase Chairlift.

The park is named the Mountain Dew Terrain Park because it is being sponsored by Mountain Dew and Pepsi Bottling Ventures.

“We plan to have it up and running the second week of the season,” said McLeod. There was no excavation done during the off season, so the park will be built by moving snow.

“We want to get the kids riding on something,” said McLeod.

Skiers and snowboarders will find the park starting at the top of Shaker Ridge. It will be moved from its previous location to avoid congestion with skier and boarder traffic getting off the Deer Point Quad and heading to the back side of the mountain.

At the top of Shaker, skiers and boarders will have smaller jumps and features to warm up on as they make their way down to the bigger jumps off the other runs.

The park and its snow-built features will extend all the way to Peanut Hill above the Bogus Creek Trail.

Bogus Creek Trail will also feature easy rollers for beginners.

Mambo Meadows will have most of the advanced features with a skier and rider cross course and a large jump, possibly 25 feet.

Stashes — hidden gems of rails to ride — will be scattered among the trees near the main runs.

Bogus’ crew will also be innovative off trail in the trees by creating bonks on stumps and slides on logs.

“The stash stuff will be moved around as snow calls for it,” McLeod said.

The Cascade Run will have a mogul field in addition to jump lines.

“We are going to utilize every part of the mountain that has been given to us for the terrain park,” said McLeod.

Mambo Meadows is a natural area for a terrain park because the area gets a good amount of snow.

Terrain park features in Mambo Meadows will be rotated to keep them fresh.

The park will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.

Other improvements at Bogus:

• A huge brush-cutting device has opened terrain on the run served by the Bitterroot Chairlift, Inspiration Run going into the bottom of Morning Star Chairlift, Lower Paradise and Goodenough and Marys Ridge off of Upper Nugget. It was also clearing areas at the bottom of Superior Chairlift.

• The Simplot Lodge base area has gotten spruced up with a new paint job.

• Potholes were filled in the parking lot.

• The beginner area was reshaped with a new berm to get new skiers their first taste of sliding on snow.[0x0b]

SUN VALLEY RESORT is all about new adventures for both young and old.

Dollar Mountain is quickly evolving into “Park Central” with an expanded 22-foot super pipe, (now the standard Olympic size), 76 rails, two cross courses and three parks — progression, medium and large.

The Family Cross Course also has been increased in length on Half Dollar, while the new Competitive Cross Course will be located on Otto’s Run.

Baldy’s new Adventure Trail System was so popular last winter it will be expanded, including the “Pine Martin Plunge,” (below Seattle Ridge Lodge) and “Deer Hollow,” (just off Gun Tower Lane).

Also new on Baldy and geared toward the younger skier and boarder, is the “So You Want To Be A Ski Patroller?” Program.

Safety is the message and the experience is presented in two sessions, the “Early Up — Open The Mountain,” or “End of the Day — Sweep The Mountain” sessions.

If you want to spend two hours in the trenches, experiencing the life of a ski patroller, this is the program for you.

For special rates and packages for the upcoming season, please call (800) 786-8259.

BRUNDAGE

After improving its slopes for beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders in recent years, Brundage has turned its attention indoors during the offseason and expanded its lodge.

It added 1,000 square feet to the third floor to relieve crowding in the cafeteria, but it will still have those famous picture windows that let you see the slopes while having lunch or warming up with a hot beverage. By the way, that drink will be even tastier with the addition of an espresso bar, Brundage spokesperson April Russell said.

The third-floor cafeteria expansion comes a year after a major remodel of the second floor that created 100 additional seats and transformed Smoky’s Bar and Grill into a full-service restaurant.

Another improvement may seem small, but it’s not insignificant. If you’ve wondered if the snow report matches what’s actually on the ground, log onto Brundage’s website and check out its two snow cams at the summit and a new one at the base.

“We’re trying to be transparent about our snowfall,” Russell said.

Skiers love demo days because they can try new skis, and Brundage is making demo day last all season with the inclusion of the top powder skis from Ski Magazine’s 2013 Ski Test and two of the top-three skis in the mixed-snow/all-mountain category.

If you’re in the market for new skis, or just want to rip on some big boards during a powder day, you can rent any model for $49 a day, or get unlimited switch outs for $59 and try multiple sets of skis throughout the day.

Deal shoppers have until Dec. 5 to take advantage of Brundage’s “Select Card” sale, which offers multi-day lift tickets at a discount.

The card is good for one ticket per day, and the card is transferable. Cards range in price from $126 for a three-day card to $180 for a five-day card if bought by Dec. 5.

The resort is also tweaking its ski school programs to include the 50/50 Club for older skiers and boarders who want to improve their skills in group lessons.

Another program for young, intermediate skiers and boarders ages 7-14 is a $45, two-hour group lesson where youth get to freeride the mountain with an instructor and pick up tips along the way.

TAMARACK

Tamarack will again host skiers and boarders this season thanks to the Tamarack Homeowners Association, which has kept the lifts running and skiers on the slopes during the resort’s bankruptcy proceedings.

Tamarack will resume operations of the Buttercup Chairlift this season, which will give guests who stay at the resort ski-in, ski-out lodging.

Families and groups can get a deal with a lodging and lift ticket package. Stay a minimum of four nights in any of the three-bedroom chalets or townhomes at Tamarack and get a card good for five lift tickets.

Stay four nights in a four bedroom chalet or rental house and get 10 free lift tickets.

Tamarack will also expand its Nordic ski trails this season by adding about four more miles of trails on the golf course.