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Telluride to host Snowboardcross World Cup

In Telluride, Mother Nature is cranking it up for ski season with 14 inches of new snow to top off a 34-inch base. With a total snowfall of 53 inches so far, this abundant fresh snow allows the ski resort to open more terrain on the mountain each day.

That certainly helps with preparations for the 2011 Snowboardcross World Cup event, being held Wednesday through Saturday. Telluride is the only U.S. stop for this action-packed snowboarding competition. The End of World Cup Party with The Great Funktier, starting at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Mountain Village Heritage Plaza, promises to be a blast.

In honor of the World Cup, Telluride Resort Lodging is offering 30 percent off lodging when booking three or more days during the event. Other ski and stay packages are available throughout the season. Check out the deals by visiting www.tellurideskiresort.com, or by calling 1-800-778-8581.

Nestled among the highest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in North America, Telluride offers some of Colorado’s most stunning scenery, along with historic buildings, great eateries, quaint local watering holes, free gondola transportation and no traffic. Winter, summer, spring or autumn, it’s a playground destination for the whole family that’s tough to beat.

Parks passes make great stocking stuffers

The Colorado State Parks Annual Pass is a gift that lasts all year. Avoid the holiday shopping frenzy and give the gift of outdoor recreation, natural beauty and a world of activities such as boating, camping, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and more.

Colorado State Parks manages more than 4,000 campsites and 57 cabins and yurts, and encompasses 246,000 land and water acres.

The parks annual pass is a great gift for family and friends because it provides admission to 42 state parks throughout Colorado. It costs $70 and is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Need more gift ideas? Gift certificates, which can be used for annual or daily passes, dog-off-leash area passes at Cherry Creek and Chatfield state parks, and overnight stays in cozy cabins and yurts, are popular gifts and stocking stuffers. They’re priced at $5, $10, $25, $35, $60 or $70, or buy in any amount. Gift certificates are also good for reservation fees — and they never expire.

For a complete list of retail outlets or to buy online, visit www.parks.state.co.us/parkspasses/ or call 1-303-866-3437. You can also buy it at all Colorado State Parks, the southeast region office here in Colorado Springs (4255 Sinton Road), King Soopers, Safeway, City Market, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Gander Mountain and REI stores.

JOY HARPER, THE GAZETTE