NATURE VALLEY NASTAR CHAMPIONSHIPS TO AIR ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS, WINNERS GOING TO CHILE WITH U.S. SKI TEAM

What NASTAR racer doesn't have dreams of racing on the big screen and being shipped abroad with the U.S. Ski Team? Answer: they all do. And BMG is making it a reality.

While everyday ski racers watched the action in Vancouver from home, they’ll have their own chance to appear on Universal Sports and train with the U.S. Ski Team through the annual Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships.

NASTAR, a part of Bonnier’s Mountain Group (BMG), has worked with partners Nature Valley and Universal Sports to produce a documentary-style show covering the racers and events of the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships. Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic-related and lifestyle sports programming available on television and online, reaching 57 million homes. The show will air during the Audi Birds of Prey race week in Beaver Creek, CO, December 4-6, 2010.

“We’re very excited to air the NASTAR Championships on Universal Sports. This gives our most-dedicated skiing fans the chance to see themselves on television,” said Carlos Silva, President and Chief Operating Officer of Universal Sports. “An inside-look at NASTAR racers competing in the Championships at Winter Park will make for great television during the 2010 Birds of Prey events."

On top of the national exposure, the overall male and female Nature Valley NASTAR champions will also win the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with the U.S. Ski Team in Chile at their summer camp.

"The Nature Valley NASTAR program provides a great entry into ski racing and helps to grow the sport throughout the country," said U.S. Ski Team President and CEO Bill Marolt, himself an Olympian. "Every racer wants to test themselves against the best - NASTAR offers that opportunity throughout the year, and the two national champions will get to experience it first-hand in Chile at our summer training camp."

Developed by SKI Magazine in 1968, Nature Valley NASTAR is the largest recreational ski and snowboard race program in the world. NASTAR provides a fun, competitive racing program that, through the development of a handicap system, allows racers of all ages and abilities across the country to compare their race results regardless of when and where they race. NASTAR is a key feeder program for the U.S. Ski Team.

The annual Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships draws up to 1,400 racers each year in all age categories, with approximately 5,000 total individuals attending from all over the country. The four-day event features the races, free outdoor concerts, meet-and-greets with the NASTAR Pacesetters and VIP events. This year’s Championships will take place at Winter Park Resort, CO, from March 25-28.

“With U.S. Ski Team icon Daron Rahlves as the zero pacesetter, skiers get excited about seeing how they match up,” said BMG President Mike Federle. “And especially in this Olympic year, adding recent U.S. team successes, the nation’s focus on ski and snowboard racing is increasing. Thanks to our partners Nature Valley, Universal Sports and the U.S. Ski Team, and all our participants throughout the country, we’re looking forward to a great National Championships event.”

Racers qualify if they are ranked in the top three in their division at any Nature Valley NASTAR resort as of Tuesday, February 16, 2010. Racers can track their progress throughout the year and for the finals at NASTAR.com, where each racer’s run from Winter Park will also be shown in embedded video.

Warren Miller Films in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

If you were one of the millions who watched the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, the first action you saw was from Bonnier Corp.’s Warren Miller Entertainment. The three-minute video that kicked off the ceremonies was produced by Bonnier’s acclaimed film division. The high-energy action footage featured Johnny Lyall hitting the slopes to set up the 23-year-old snowboarder’s live stadium stunt, welcoming the crowd to the 2010 Games. Nearly 68 million U.S. viewers tuned in to the most-watched opening ceremony ever for a non-U.S. Winter Olympics.

The yearlong Olympic project began in February 2009, when David Atkins of David Atkins Enterprises (DEA) — the executive producer of the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games — contacted Warren Miller to discuss the video concept.

“David loved our idea of using a mix of 35 mm film footage and HD to capture both the beauty of the location and the beauty of riding,” said Jeffery Moore, senior executive producer (TV Group) of Warren Miller. “DEA also liked our approach of capturing the maple leaf section, which was definitely the most challenging part of the entire shoot.”

Warren Miller began filming the Olympic video in April at Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing in Blue River, B.C. Chris Patterson, longtime Warren Miller director/cameraman, was at the helm. In May, Warren Miller shot the final jump and the maple leaf section at Whistler Mountain. It took a crew of more than 100 people, including 50 extras, to get the money shots that close out the video. The snowboarding footage was edited at Warren Miller’s Boulder, Colorado, headquarters during June and July. Final color correction, sound design and CGI work were done in Vancouver by DEA production partner Barbershop Productions. Barbershop also shot many of the Vancouver scenics and helped with the edit.

The featured athlete in the video praised the filmmakers in an ESPN interview. “The people filming the snowboard footage knew how to film good shredding,” Lyall said. “The pow shredding, the natural terrain, the good filming and the style made the video legit.”

2010 Warren Miller Film: Sneak Peak

Warren Miller Entertainment is fast at work wrapping up filming their 61st annual production. Check out Arne Backstrom filming with cinematographer Tom Day at Heavenly this past January. Tough job, but somebody has to do it.

Langely McNeal's Ski Cross Challenge

Inspired by Olympians, developed by BMG. Take a break and see how you stack up to Ralves, Vonn, Mancuso, Miller. Enjoy the game!

Bonnier Mountain Group Returns To SIA With Gold Medal Ski Shop Awards And Live Photography Studio

Returning to SIA to engage the industry with a live photo studio and the Gold Medial Ski Shop Awards, Bonnier’s Mountain Group including SKI and Skiing magazines, Warren Miller Entertainment and NASTAR, took on a larger presence at the 2010 SnowSports Industry America (SIA) Snow Show this past weekend, January 28-31, 2010.

SKI Magazine reinstated their Gold Medal Ski Shop Award program with the SIA show’s move to Denver, CO. The Gold Medal Ski Shop Awards are given to ski retailers and are determined by a panel of manufacturers and suppliers. The awards party hosted 200 industry leaders Thursday night at the Peaks Lounge on the top floor of the SIA host hotel, Denver’s Hyatt Regency. It was an inspired night for local shops as SKI Magazine Senior Editor Joe Cutts awarded over 60 plaques to dozens of retailers.

The National and Regional Shop Award Winners include:

National Shop of the Year: Sturtevant's Sports, Bellevue, WA

National E-tailer of the Year: Evo Gear, Seattle

Regional Shop of the Year, Rockies: Cole Sport, Park City, UT

Regional Shop of the Year, Far West: Sturtevant's Sports, Bellevue, WA

Regional Shop of the Year, Midwest: Pierce Skate &Ski Shop, Bloomington, MN

Regional Shop of the Year, New England: Aspen East Ski Shop, Killington, VT

Regional Shop of the Year, East: Ski Center, Washington, DC

BMG also hosted a live photo and video studio for SKI and Skiing Magazines to capture the industry’s latest gear and fashions during the show. “What’s New” features appeared on SkiMag.com and SkiingMag.com, and the shoot helped the magazines and partners get ahead of the curve for the annual Gear Tests.

To find more about Bonnier's Mountain Group and the individual brands visit bonniermountaingroup.com.

“Tracking Down James Bond,” Ski Magazine story Recognized In Prominent Travel Anthology

For the third time in six years, a SKI Magazine story has been included in the prestigious The Best American Travel Writing 2009 anthology. Written by longtime SKI contributor Jay Cowan, “Tracking Down James Bond” retraces the adventures of the world’s most celebrated secret agent across some of the world’s most glamorous ski resorts and mountain peaks.

“This is a nice honor,” Said SKI Magazine Editor-in-Chief Greg Ditrinco. “SKI Magazine is both a travel book for skiers and a ski book for travelers. “Tracking Down James Bond” is a great example of the kind of story readers will find in our pages – insightful, fun, exotic.”

The piece appeared in the November 2008 issue of SKI and includes interviews with stuntmen involved in several of the Bond films’ famous cinematic skiing sequences. Other publications represented in the 2009 anthology include The New Yorker, Harpers and National Geographic. The 2009 anthology is edited by acclaimed writer Simon Winchester.

Feature stories from SKI also appeared in the 2005 and 2006 anthologies of the Best American Travel Writing series. Additionally, SKI has received numerous awards in recent years that honor excellence in design, writing, service, and photography.

For more information go to www.SkiMag.com.

Warren Miller Entertainment 60th Anniversary World Tour

Warren Miller Entertainment (WME), celebrated it’s 60th anniversary Film Tour this fall and early winter, concluding to positive reviews, near-record numbers and the most ski community participation the company’s history.

Warren Miller’s Dynasty saw a U.S. attendance of approximately 300,000 and a total audience of over 500,000 including international distribution during the ten-week run. Beginning October 16, the US Tour spanned over 81 cities and 190 shows, with an additional 140 cities and 280 shows independently promoted, many in support of local ski programs. Professional skiers featured within the film attended over 70 screenings.

WME’s success as the winter action sports leader over the years comes hand-in-hand with long running industry partnerships and support, including more than 45 retail outlets, 35 resorts, dozens of ski clubs, and several equipment manufactures on this year’s tour. The goal of WME is to excite skiers’ passion, generate interest in the sport, champion the industry and offer partners a chance to speak directly to their public.

The Tour launched with a multimedia “60 Days of Warren Miller” promotion. Partners SKI and Skiing Magazines brought together over 60 industry partners to celebrate the 60-year legacy of our film. The 60 Days of Warren Miller promotion was hosted on warrenmiller.com, skiingmag.com, and skimag.com, and included daily prizes from the likes of Vail, K2, Helly Hansen, and a grand prize of a five-day, five-night trip to Snowbird, UT. Approximately 80,000 users participated in the contest.

Addition promotional partnerships include WME’s longstanding relationship with resorts, specialty retail outlets, and ski clubs that create opportunities for both skiers and businesses while attending the film. “Sharing our love of the mountains, and the passion for the sport of skiing & snowboarding with our audience with what this is all about.” said Max Bervy, Managing Director of WME. “It’s how we help grow this industry and fuel the interest of skiing and riding in the ski community.”

Along with the many sponsors and partners, WME works with a number of cause-related programs both in and outside the ski community. Most notably, Warren Miller’s Dynasty teamed with Disabled Sports, USA, across the entire National Tour, also premiering at Craig Hospital in Denver with former patients and now Winter X Games mono-skier athletes Sam Ferguson and Felix Snow. Dynasty was given to the U.S. military in Iraq, where more than 17,000 soldiers saw the film this fall. Copies were also donated in support of the Vertical Express for MS and many individual fundraisers.

Gearing up for film #61, crews have all ready been to Antarctica, New Zealand, Europe and North America, and are currently working in British Columbia.

To find out more about Warren Miller Entertainment or sponsorship opportunities for the Warren Miller Film Tour, please contact Johnny Alamo at 303-253-6413 or Johnny.Alamo@BonnierCorp.com for more information.

Skiing Magazine and Warren Miller Entertainment travel to Antarctica to Pioneer New Terrain

“The voice of our Scottish expedition leader roused us through our in-room loudspeakers, calling us to the decks. A 30-knot wind blew straight over the bow, slowing our progress but calming the ship’s movements. And then the peaks of a brand new continent, Antarctica – legend made real in an instant.”

From November 1 through November 18, Skiing Magazine's Senior Editor Sam Bass, a camera crew and athletes from Warren Miller Entertainment, lived aboard a ship off the coast of Antarctica. Traversing Drake Passage, 80 skiers challenged themselves to explore the most unapproachable terrain imaginable.

Explorer and entrepreneur Doug Stoup, owner and operator of Ice Axe Expeditions, had a vision to pack the 300-foot Clipper Adventurer with the most influential skiers in the industry. Goal: to open this terrain to any skier with a sense of adventure. Editors like Sam, cinematography legend Tom Day of Warren Miller Entertainment, and ski-mountaineering pioneers including Andrew Mclean crossed miles of ocean to ski the most unexpected thing of all – spring-like conditions, perfect corn, bluebird skies.

“It’s the first trip of its kind.” said Bass. “A group of about 80 skiers with various levels of backcountry experience took a small cruise ship designed for penguin and iceberg tourists to the Antarctic Peninsula, with an itinerary based around skiing. It was unreal.”

Beginning and ending in Ushuaia, Argentina, the adventurers set sail down the Beagle Channel, through the rugged Drake Passage, arriving at Deception Island. Then onto ski and trekking objectives via Zodiac boats at Neko Harbour, Anvers and Wienke Islands, Port Lockroy, Paradise Bay, Mt. Demaria and Crystal Sound, to name a few stops.

Sam’s inspired journey illustrates the adventure-minded, go-anywhere spirit of Skiing Magazine and was followed by thousands online, including a group of 6th graders who had a chance to interview the editor. “There were so many stories,” Bass reminisced, “Cinematographers were hard at work documenting two kinds of life – the kind that lives aboard the ship and the kind following the ship’s stern. The latter includes several species of petrel and albatross.”

To read more from Sam’s expedition to Antarctica go to skiingmag.com/Antarctica

Opportunities for sponsorship and advertising are available for the Warren Miller Film Tour. Please contact Johnny Alamo at 303-253-6413 or Johnny.Alamo@BonnierCorp.com for more information.