BY JEFFREY WEIDEL
Mammoth Mountain can boast proudly that it will be the last California ski resort to shut down for the 2014-15 season.
Mammoth Mountain announced recently that its final day of skiing and snowboarding will be Sunday (May 10). And the resort will go out with a healthy batch of new snow. Mammoth Mountain received a foot of fresh snow on Friday.
People planning on heading to Mammoth Mountain for Mother’s Day weekend can take advantage of several deals, including lift and lodging starting at $109.
The ski season will conclude, but the summer season will begin. Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is set to open May 22. A number of improvements and events are on tap for the Mammoth Bike Park in 2015, including the USA Cycling Mountain Biking National Championships, which moves to Mammoth this July.
“From the world’s best riders to those just getting started, we’ve got something new for everyone this summer,” said Gabe Taylor, Bike Park Marketing Manager. “As the host of the National Championships and the Kamikaze Bike Games, we’ll welcome the mountain biking elite to Mammoth. But we’re just as excited to be welcoming total beginners to the sport. Discovery Zone has been a massive hit, it’s such a comfortable learning experience, and we’re working hard to make it even better.”
Improvements: Several trail extensions aimed at increasing the connectivity of Mammoth’s trail network are scheduled for completion this summer. Trail Home, an intermediate trail from McCoy Station back to the gondola will provide riders with fantastic views and a clear arc of progression from beginner to intermediate.
The completion of Recoil, a flowy jump line weaving down Broadway and the new Twilight Connector trail, linking two of Mammoth’s iconic downhill rides, Upper Recoil and Twilight Zone, round out the planned trail improvements.
Also new this year, the Bike Park Basecamp adjacent to the Gondola at Main Lodge will provide the perfect setting to gather after a ride. With outdoor seating, bike tuning stands, snacks and locally brewed beer available for purchase, it’s an ideal post-ride venue.
A shiny new fleet of Trek demo bikes will also be ready for opening day. With offerings including Trek’s top-of-the-line downhill and enduro bikes, the demo team will have riders of all levels outfitted and ready to hit the park.
Events: At several points throughout the summer, the mountain biking world will converge on Mammoth. July 15-19 the mountain will welcome the USA Cycling Mountain Biking National Championships. Spectators can expect a full weekend of entertainment and competition as gravity, enduro and cross country champions are crowned.
The Kamikaze Bike Games will return Sept. 24-27 in what has become one of the can’t miss events on the mountain biking calendar. Fusing mountain biking’s past with its present, the weekend long celebration features legends of the sport competing alongside current stars.
Season Passes: For the first time this year Mammoth Mountain Bike Park season pass holders also have the option of adding season-long access to the bike park at Snow Summit.
For more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit www.MammothMountain.com or call 800.MAMMOTH.
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting his winter website at www.tahoeskiworld.com
