Vail, Beav' close with plenty of powder, parties, positive vibrations

Vail Mountain’s 50th anniversary ski and snowboard season officially comes to an end today (Sunday, April 14) with a pile of fresh snow (more than a foot), free parties, the outrageous World Pond Skimming Championships and a free concert by Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.

The festivities get underway at 1:30 p.m. at Vail Mountain’s Golden Peak with sponsor expos and giveaways, and the Pond Skimming competition begins at 3 p.m. The free concert by Cliff and opening band, Eminence Ensemble begins at 4 p.m. in Solaris Plaza.

“Saying goodbye to this season is bitter sweet,” said Davy Ratchford, director of marketing and sales for Vail Mountain. “Vail Mountain is still in terrific shape for skiing and snowboarding, but we’re going to close out the 50th year by making sure everyone has a lot of fun at the final Spring Back to Vail events.”

Vail got 13 inches of new snow overnight and has seen 30 inches news in the past week. It closes with a respectable 283-inch for the season. Beaver Creek, which also closes today, got 15 inches new, 30 in the last week and 264 for the season.

At Vail, the closing day tradition of donning costumes and skimming across icy water holds strong as 75 participants will careen off a snow jump in the hopes of coming out on the other side in the 11th annual World Pond Skimming Championships.

The top male and female in the contest will each be awarded the grand prize of a 2013-14 Epic Pass donated by Vail Resorts and a pair of Liberty Skis. The spectacle defies the laws of physics and common sense as a panel of highly-skilled judges scores each competitor on distance, style, creativity and water resistance.

The contest gets underway at 3 p.m. and the Golden Peak venue opens at 1:30 p.m. for sponsor expos and giveaways.

Following the crowning of the Pond Skimming Champions, Solaris Plaza comes alive with the last free concert of the 2012-2013 season by Jimmy Cliff with opener Eminence Ensemble.

Reggae kingpin Jimmy Cliff’s songbook reads like Reggae history with hits “The Harder They Come,” “I Can See Clearly Now” and “Many Rivers to Cross” having performed on the world stage for more than 50 years. Cliff’s career is still going strong and his most recent release Rebirth won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in February 2013.

Boulder-based progressive rockers Eminence Ensemble open the concert with their unique brand of electronica that fuses rock, jazz, funk, classical and hip-hop to create a robust and groundbreaking sound. The group is known for their composition and improvisation which result in mesmerizing and energetic live shows. Eminence Ensemble opens the venue with music getting underway at 4 p.m.

Spring Back to Vail is presented by Vail Mountain, Bud Light, Pepsi, Rolling Stone Magazine, Sprint, Red Bull, GoPro and the Town of Vail. It is brought to you in part by Helly Hansen, Maui Jim, SmartWool, Pakems, CAO, Liberty Skis, Colorado Mountain Express, Lone Star Security Services, Weston Snowboards, Vail Daily and KZYR - The Zephyr. Spring Back to Vail is part of Vail’s 50th anniversary celebration.

For more information about Vail Mountain or Spring Back to Vail visit www.vail.com/springback or stop by the Mountain Information Center, open daily from 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

If You Go…

What: World Pond Skimming Championships
When: Sunday, April 14 at 3 p.m. (Venue opens at 1:30 p.m.)
Where: Golden Peak, Vail
Cost: Free for spectators
More: www.vail.com/springback

Also….

What: Jimmy Cliff with openers Eminence Ensemble
When: Sunday, April 14 at 4 p.m.
Where: Solaris Plaza, Vail
Cost: Free
More: www.vail.com/springback

Sked ....

Spring Back to Vail events Sunday, April 14
Spring Back to Vail Expo Village
Mountain Plaza Base Area
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

World Pond Skimming Championships
Free Spectator Event
Golden Peak
Venue opens at 1:30 p.m. with sponsor expos and giveaways
Competition at 3 p.m.

Free Concert
Jimmy Cliff
With opener Eminence Ensemble
Solaris Plaza
Music starts at 4 p.m.

	24hr snow	mid dpth	snow cond.
A-Basin	n/a	n/a
Aspen	n/a	n/a	closed
BC	n/a	n/a	closed
Breckenridge	n/a	n/a	closed
Buttermilk	n/a	n/a	closed
Copper	n/a	n/a	closed
Crest. Butte	n/a	n/a	closed
Eldora	n/a	n/a	closed
Heavenly	n/a	n/a	closed
Highlands	n/a	n/a
Howelsen	n/a	n/a	closed
Keystone	n/a	n/a	closed
Kirkwood	n/a	n/a	closed
Loveland	n/a	n/a
Monarch	n/a	n/a	closed
Northstar	n/a	n/a	closed
Powderhorn	n/a	n/a	closed
Purgatory	n/a	n/a	closed
Silverton	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Cooper	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Granby	n/a	n/a	closed
Snowmass	n/a	n/a	closed
Steamboat	n/a	n/a	closed
Sunlight	n/a	n/a	closed
Telluride	n/a	n/a	closed
Vail	n/a	n/a	closed
WinterPark	n/a	n/a	closed
Wolf Creek	n/a	n/a	closed
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