STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Sun Valley Resort managed to get its outdoor ice rink open for the holiday crowd this past week. And it will keep it open this winter despite looming renovations to its mechanical cooling system.
The rink will be open from noon to 4 p.m. daily as long as the temperature permits since the resort doesn’t have the cooling coils it normally enlists during warmer weather.
General sessions will be offered from noon to 1:45 p.m., 2:10 to 3:40 p.m. and 5:10 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Also, from 11 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. and 2:15 to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Freestyle opportunities will be offered from 4 to 4:50 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to 1:50 p.m. Sundays.
Cost is $17 for adults, $14 for children under 12 and free for children under 5 who are accompanied by a paid adult. Skate rentals for either figure or hockey skates is $8.
The Sun Valley Outdoor Ice Rink is one of the few year-round outdoor ice rinks in the country.
The resort is replacing its mechanical cooling system and infrastructure that create and maintains the ice in both its indoor and outdoor rinks in the coming months. But ice rinks are anticipated to reopen in Summer 2023.
BALDY BANKED SLALOM IS BACK
The 11th annual Baldy Banked Slalom snowboarding race will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the top of Warm Springs. All contestants will get two runs.
The fastest 50 percent of riders will compete again on Sunday, Jan. 8, to qualify for the Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom in February. That event is regarded as the predecessor to boardercross and has been won by some of the biggest names in snowboarding history. Winners of the Mt. Baker event receive a Duct Tape trophy and an embroidered Carhartt jacket.
The entry fee for Sun Valley’s banked slalom includes an event T-shirt. Registration is between 8 and 9 a.m. Saturday with practice from 9 to 10 a.m. Learn more at https://baldybankedslalom.com.