| About
the Bear Valley Telemark Festival |
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The Bear Valley Telemark Festival (BVTF) is the largest and most celebrated freeheel event in the West. Come experience the thrills of telemark skiing over 3 days with education, festivities, good food and community. Tucked high in the Central Sierra Nevada, the small alpine ski town of Bear Valley is the ideal location to host this unique and inspiring event. Skiing ability doesn't matter, so come experience what the freeheelers have been raving about for years, check out the 12th Annual Bear Valley Telemark Festival on February 8-10, 2007!
HISTORY:
The first BVTF was held in 1997 out
of a rented house in Bear Valley when fourteen people attended and three
MAS telemark instructors were on hand to teach, clinic, cook, clean and
entertain. The groups camaraderie fueled an energy that made the weekend
seem to pass seamlessly and effortlessly. At the end of the weekend we
were exhausted but inspired, so we decided to host another festival the
following year.
Well the Bear Valley Telemark Festival hasn't slowed
down and now is one of the premier telemark ski events in
the country. For many people the festival serves as a centerpiece
of the winter season. We view the festival as a time to gather
and celebrate in the spirit of freeheel skiing.
Today the Bear Valley Telemark Festival welcomes nearly
300 freeheel skiers over three days. This event is truly the highlight of
the MAS winter season and we look forward to seeing many old and new
friends each year. We hope you can join us during the Bear Valley Telemark Festival.
Cheers to The Freeheelers,
MAS
THE BVTF GREEN COMMITMENT:
As the Bear Valley Telemark Festival grows each year, so does its dedication to being a low impact event.
For example:
- the event t-shirt is made from organic cotton
- event name tags are recycled each year
- compost-able cups are our only disposable drinking vessels
- all meals are served on porcelain plates and real silverware
- napkins are predominantly cloth and reusable
- the food menus are primarily created from organic food items
- banquet beer and wine come from sustainable oriented providers (New Belgium Brewery)
- we compost the food waste from the festival banquet. In 2007 we only threw 1.5 bags of trash into the dumpster after feeding 250 people!
- we encourage all festival registrations to be preformed online to reduce paper use
- Clif Bar sells "Cool Tags" to help reduce our carbon impact from driving to the mountains
In addition:
Partnerships with eco friendly vendors have helped us expand this positive effect. In 2004 and 2005 we donated a percentage of profits from the festival to Snowlands Network, a winter wilderness conservation group. In 2005, Clif Bar introduced their Cool Tags program at the festival through which wind energy credits offset 100% of participants’ carbon emissions from air and vehicle travel. We additionally give prizes for the biggest car pool and for alternative fuel users. In 2006, Patagonia promoted their “Common Threads Garment Recycling” program, and invited skiers to give up their old long underwear to be remade into new clothing. Sustainability at its finest! In 2007, we donated 100% of banquet profits to the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center, and in 2008 we will be donating the proceeds to the Sierra Avalalnche Center.
As always we rely the feedback we get from participants, vendors and staff on our environmental efforts. Your awareness inspires our action, and we are dedicated to improvement. Please feel free to send ideas! Thank You.
February 8-10, 2008 -
Join MAS for the 12th Annual Bear Valley Telemark Festival for three days of technical clinics, live music, banquets, demos, backcountry
skiing, free drawings, and of course lots of fun. Always best to pre-register
as many events sell out.
Festival Events:
Friday - All-Day Telemark Workshops - $85
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Beginning-Expert.):
Spend a full day learning from
the best instructors in the business! These all day telemark workshops
begin with a few warm-up runs before splitting into groups of similar skiing ability. Each group will have no more than 8 participants per instructor. The instructors will teach skills appropriate for the groups skiing ability. After
lunch groups will switch instructors and lessons will continue until
3:30 PM. Pre registration
required and discount tickets are available for $40.
Friday Apres-Ski & "All-You-Can-Stuff Burrito Bar"
$15 ($18 guest)
Relax and unwind with other festival participants in front of the fire in the Cathedral Lodge at the Bear Valley Lodge. The bar opens at 4 PM with drink specials and dinner will be served between 6-8 PM. After dinner we will view several showing from the Wild & Scenic Film Festival Tour roughly between 8-9 PM.
Saturday Events: $60
Saturday is the big day which includes event beanie, two 2-hour
telemark ski clinics, ski and boot demos, costume contest & prizes, and
"All-Terrain
Tele-Race". Clinic topics and schedules are listed below in the downloads section.
Saturday Demo Pass: $20
For those not interested in taking any lessons or participating in the other events, we are offering a demo pass only option. Come check out the latest gear from K2, Black Diamond, Rossignol, G3, Karhu, Garmont, and Scarpa.
Saturday "Home Run" 4 PM
Strong intermediate
skiers and above are welcome to join festival instructors at the top of the mountain (aka - "Bear Top") for a group / guided ski run
back to the Bear Valley Village (conditions permitting).
Saturday Evening Banquet: $40 ($50 guest)
This is the biggest telemark ski party of the year and not to be missed. Join
festival goers for a memorable evening of good food, entertainment, prize and live music & dancing from "Blue Turtel Seduction". Space is limited so don't lag on this one.
Sunday Backcountry Tour: $75
Spend a day in the backcountry with professional ski guides finding the best snow. Beginning - advanced skiers welcome. Beacon, probe & shovel required. All particpants need to be at the festival site at the ski area by 9 AM. Trailhead shuttle buses leave the ski area shortly thereafter. You can expect to return between 3:30 - 4 PM.
Sunday Telemark Clinics: $45 (2 hours) / $75 (4 hours)
2 hour group lessons
at the ski resort starting at 10 AM and 1 PM. Groups will
be divided into similar skiing abilities and limited to 8 students
per 1 instructor. Don't
miss this golden opportunity to keep improving your telemark skills. Discount lift tickets not included ($40).
Premium Festival Package: $250
Includes Friday Workshop, Friday Burrito Bar, Saturday Events & Banquet, t-shirt and your choice
of either a Sunday Backcountry Tour or 4-hour Telemark Workshop
at the ski resort (save $25). Discount lift tickets not included ($40).
Festival Package: $160
Include Saturday Events & Banquet, t-shirt and your choice
of either a Sunday Backcountry Tour or two 2-hour Telemark Clinics
at the ski resort (save $15).
| Festival
PDF Downloads |
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| Festival
Registration |
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Festival registrations should be sent to MAS via mail, fax or through our secure
ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM. Due to the size of the festival
we are unable to take reservations over the phone or else we would
never get a chance to go skiing.
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