The Sawtooth Regional Gelande Quaffing Championships will be touching down in downtown Ketchum, Idaho Friday April 18th and are a qualifier for the prestigious Gelande Quaffing World Championships held in conjunction with Powder Week in Jackson Hole, WY each winter. Gelande Quaffing is a sport in which a mug of beer is slid down the bar and leaps off the end to be caught and then immediately consumed.  The jargon is derived from the world "Gelandesprung" which is ski jumping on skis with alpine-style bindings.  "Quaffing" comes from the actual drinking rapidly of the beer which has just landed in one's hands.   In head to head competition "athletes" compete for a period of time sliding and catching then drinking mugs of beer back and forth on a bar, with points scored for number of succesful slides, catches, quaffs, and stunts performed whilst sliding, catching and quaffing. To get boned up on beta for this spectacular start to the end of the ski season go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/419596614850387/  Confused?  No worries go here to learn more: https://vimeo.com/41180884

PARK CITY, Utah – Leading eastern resort Sugarloaf, Maine and historic Sun Valley, Idaho will host the 2015-2018 United States Alpine Championships on alternating years beginning next winter with Sugarloaf. The announcement continues the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s long-term plan to move the annual celebration of American ski racing to top resorts around the United States. “Moving the U.S. Alpine Championships around the United States is vital to directly engaging with strong ski racing communities that are instrumental in growing and maintaining a strong developmental pipeline. It allows us to showcase the excitement of high level alpine skiing to new generations of young athletes and fans,” said U.S. Ski Team Alpine Director Patrick Riml. The dynamic Narrow Gauge run last hosted the U.S. Championships at Sugarloaf in 2008. Sun Valley last hosted the event in 1951. “Both Sugarloaf and Sun Valley have a strong tradition in building and showcasing events that celebrate the excitement and culture of ski racing,” noted USSA VP of Events Calum Clark. “The Narrow Gauge race hill is [renowned in the East] for testing and training the best in the world like Bode Miller. Sun Valley has helped produce its share of legends like Picabo …

Registration for the Sun Valley Super Enduro and the Enduro Cup presented by GoPro is now open with a new presenting sponsor, GoPro. To Register go to:  endurocupmtb.com/register-to-race/ With a two and a half day enduro on the docket covering over 24 miles and 9,000’ vertical feet of descending over four stages and a prologue TT, the Sun Valley Super Enduro is proud to now be a part of one of the best series in the sport, the Enduro Cup.  The Sun Valley stop is also a part of the North American Enduro Tour a 10 race series on the North American continent which names an overall champion. The Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival runs June 26-July 5th and includes: June 26:  Sheeptown Drag Races  Head to head bicycle drag racing on bikes towing flaming logs in a single elimination bracket race format.  Free to enter but slots are limited.  Men’s and women’s categories. June 27-29:  Sun Valley Super Enduro Four stages plus a prologue covering 24 miles and 9,000’+ of vertical descending. June 29:  Idaho Pumptrack State Championships Timed laps on a designated course at the Ketchum Bike Park. Boys and girls, men and women all ages welcome. June …

In the words of Smithsonian Magazine, small towns "beckon from nearly every corner of the country, from grand rivers and awesome mountains, from the Great Plains and a misty farm valley and a venerable whaling harbor, and what never fails to charm us is that each one follows its own, unhurried clock, saving up stories to tell and making time to talk. They are America's Best Small Towns to visit, and for this, our third annual search-and-enjoy mission, we've singled out communities for particular strengths in history, music, visual arts, learning, food, theater and science. It's not solitude we're seeking—the fruits of human creativity are best shared—but, rather, enrichments unbothered by the growl of our increasingly urban lives…" And with this they went on to name Ketchum, Idaho one of their favorite Top 20 Towns in the US.  For more read the story here: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/20-best-small-towns-to-visit-in-2014-180950173/?utm_source=facebook.com&no-ist  

Home town hero and homegrown, all American ranch girl, Kaitlyn Farrington from Sun Valley, Idaho (actually Bellevue!) has done something only a few before her have done from Sun Valley, win an Olympic Gold Medal!  With a ride which has been on a steep trajectory the past three years Farrington went from shining prospect, to respected competitor to down right formidable threat to win any halfpipe competition she entered. In one of the best stories of the Olympics thus far Farrington has shined on the mountain, on the podium, and in front of the media representing the best of what the Olympic ideal should embody. For more stories about Farrington: NBC Farrington's Road to the Olympics Different Than Most NBC Farrington Wins Olympic Gold ESPN W Story About Last Minute Inspriational Video Sent From Friends in Sun Valley Farrington began her snowboard career as a grom on the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation's Freestyle Snowboard Team and never looked back.  Congratulations Kaitlyn!  We are all so very proud of you! photo credit: USA Today Sports      

We are excited to announce that air access into Sun Valley continues to grow with the addition of new nonstop service added from Denver, Colorado into Sun Valley for the 2014 summer season.  United Airlines will offer the new seasonal summer service between its Denver (DEN) hub and Sun Valley (SUN) from July 2 through September 23, 2014.  The United Express flights will be operated by SkyWest Airlines using CRJ 700 regional jet aircraft. The flight schedule has been structured to take full advantage of connections from all major eastern markets: ·         Departs DEN at 7:15pm, arrives SUN at 9:03pm ·         Departs SUN at 7:30am, arrives DEN at 9:11am The new summer flight will run daily from July 2 – August 25 and 5 times per week from August 26 – Sept 23.  To book these flights go to www.united.com

Sun Valley, ID (For Immediate Release)  USA Today has named Sun Valley in its 10Best Awards as the #2 Best Ski Destination in the United States.  An expert panel of ski and snowboard enthusiasts and travel writers selected what they felt represented the “Top 10” ski destinations in the country.  The destinations were then put to a vote by the public with Sun Valley emerging as the second best behind the region of South Lake Tahoe in a very tight race. Joining Sun Valley were North Tahoe (3rd), Park City (4th), Salt Lake City (5th), Bend (6th), Whistler (7th), Crested Butte (8th), Jackson Hole (9th), and Aspen (10th).   “Being named to a top 10 list of major resort destinations in this way was a victory in itself for us, but to have been the recipient of so many votes is really a big honor.  We have something that is not found many other places and as people look for a more authentic and real ski town experience, Sun Valley is rising to the top,” said Visit Sun Valley director of PR and Social Media, Greg Randolph. More information on the award can be found here: http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-ski-destination/ This award comes …

The world’s leading travel media company, Lonely Planet, has named Sun Valley in the top 10 in its fourth annual Top US Destinations List.  Sun Valley has been recognized along with destinations like Yosemite National Park, the Central Coast of California and the island of Lana’i in Hawaii.  Appreciating the pristine environment, lack of crowds, robust adventure and diverse arts and culture offerings, the bellwether of travel information gave Sun Valley a big nod this year with a 9th place ranking. Lonely Planet’s editor-at-large, Emily Wolman says, “Sun Valley is the perfect alternative to Colorado’s ritzy resort areas, especially in summer when costs and visitor numbers are smaller. Camping, hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, cultural events, and great food abound. In winter, world-class skiing can be had at the first purpose-built ski resort in the US, and you can ride the lifts with swanky Hollywoodsters in a refined and pretty place, sans fast-food joints and condo sprawl. Also absent: crowds and lift lines! The stunning location is as impressive as the snow. Sun Valley retains its authenticity and rustic beauty despite the seasonal deluges.” The Top US Destinations list was compiled by a collection of expert authors who cover the US …

The mountains surrounding Sun Valley have been blessed with a thick blanket of white while the valleys below are teeming with fall colors. It's a magical time of year and the magic has just gotten a little sweeter.  Sugar Bowl and Sun Valley have teemed up with each other to offer free skiing with each other's season passes at one another's resorts.  Now skiers from Sugar Bowl with qualifying season passes can ski at Sun Valley for free with booked lodging at the Sun Valley Resort.  Likewise Sun Valley skiers with either a full season pass or a Sun Pass can ski Sugar Bowl for free, no questions asked.  For more information this deal check it out here: http://www.sunvalley.com/tickets/passes/  

One way to get a spectacular view of Sun Valley and the surrounding mountains is to hike or ride the lifts to the top of Baldy. But an even better way, as we found out, is to run off the top of the mountain with another person strapped to your back as a big beautiful glider rises over your head and takes you soaring out over the valley. Click here for the rest of the story on our blog, Searching for Sun Valley.