Alpine skiers, telemarkers and snowboarders can all hit Vail Mountain big time at today's bump, big-air and rail competition -- part of the 2003 Mogul Mania Series. Open to all ages and skill levels, Mogul Mania's amateur and professional head-to-head dual mogul competitions and the two-hour Mogul Mania Rail Jam will both begin at 11 a.m. The high-flying Liberty Skis Air Show takes off at 1 p.m.
"The moguls are fast and furious, and the rail jam is really exciting to watch, but I think that the big-air competition is the most dynamic," says Amy Hornyak, spokeswoman for Vail's Highline Sports & Entertainment, producers of the event. "To see these competitors fly through the air doing all these crazy tricks is really cool."
The contests will take place on Vail's Cookshack run. Registration fees are $20 for Rail Jam entries, $25 per event for amateur competitors and $50 for professionals and Air Show participants. The afternoon's festivities will conclude with an awards ceremony and party, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at Vail's George Restaurant & Pub.
This is the third installment of the four-part Mogul Mania series; the final competition takes place on March 27.
"We had remarkable talent come out to the first two events, and we're looking forward to another big day," says Hornyak.
Athletes can register in advance at www.active.com or at the Ski Base in Lionshead; discounted lift tickets are available to competitors for $35. For details, call 1-970-476-6797 or log on to www.mogulmania.com or www.vail.snow.com. -- Julie Dunn
Alley Cats
Punk Rock Bowling returns
THURS, 3/4
This ain't your grandma's bowling league -- so bust out the Ramones, the Clash and the Dead Kennedys for the return of Punk Rock Bowling to the AMF Sonesta Lanes in Thornton. "This is bowling for people with blue hair and nose rings," says Phil Stough, general manager of the lanes. "We're encouraging people to bring their own music. I promise that we'll try to play it all."
Scheduling conflicts caused a six-month-plus hiatus for the offbeat activity, but now spike-haired bowlers can once again roll for strikes tonight and every Thursday from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. for only $5, shoe rental included. Shooters, the bowling alley's bar, will offer discounted drink specials.
"This crowd usually drinks quite a bit and likes to have a good time," says Stough. "We used to get fifteen or sixteen lanes of punk bowlers going at a time. It was a real fun night, so we're hoping that people will come back out."
Sonesta Lanes is at 8800 Grant Street in Thornton. For more information, call 303-430-8017. -- Julie Dunn