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Foreign Traditions

 By Jacob Walke

     Have you ever pondered the celebrations in far away countries? Well, now is your chance to experience an Austrian Christmas. But can you imagine a Christmas without a single sighting of Santa Claus?
     Although ol’ St. Nick is nowhere to be found, Austrians have a whole different figure to look up to in the holiday season. He’s a small, blonde angel-boy. This young angel represents Jesus and is also the toy deliverer. Thankfully, he is not alone and has many minions of mass distribution.
     After the kids get out of school they have two weeks, starting on Dec. 23rd, to enjoy the soft snow and best of all unwrap presents (which you get to personally write a shopping list for). After making a wish list they put the list out the window for the young angel, kind of like waiting for the Tooth Fairy. Instead of waking up as early as possible, they sleep in and dig into the presents after a meal of duck or chicken depending on family recipes. According to foreign exchange student Anna Zauchner, “ The Christmas dinner always has a large bird involved.”
     So whether it’s a fat, bearded man in a red suit or a young, blonde angel, Christmas always has the same ingredients… big birds and big presents!

Aglow in the Snow

By Kayli Vallely

     As winter approaches, many people enjoy participating in sports in the snow, such as skiing, snowboarding, and sledding. However, to maximize one’s winter fun he or she must choose the ideal location.
     Northstar, which is a resort located near Truckee, CA is only a thirty-minute drive from Reno, NV. According to their website, www.northstarattahoe.com, it has been voted the seventh best park in North America in 2006 by Transworld Snowboarding Magazine. The park opened this year on November 19, 2005.

     Northstar features 16 lifts, including seven express lifts, five surface lifts, two double chair lifts, and one triple chair lift. While visiting Northstar, one can also partake in one of the many on-mountain dining facilities. Northstar has 73 trails, which are comprised of approximately 50% intermediate trails, 25% advanced trails, and 25% beginning trails.
     Also, Sugar Bowl is located near Truckee, CA. According to their website, www.sugarbowl.com, the lifts at Sugar Bowl are open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM. Sugar Bowl has three parks, which are the Superpipe, the Coldstream Terrain Park, and the Golden Gate Terrain Park. “Sugar Bowl’s Superpipe is one of the best in the country,” according to AST (American Snowboard Tour) executive producer Craig Elledge. There are hills designed for both beginners and advanced skiers and snowboarders.
     Alpine Meadows is located in Tahoe City, CA. According to their website, www.skialpine.com, it offers 14 lifts, including one high-speed six-passenger chair, five double chairs, and four triple chairs. Alpine Meadows features over 100 designated runs, which are comprised of approximately 25% beginner trails, 40% intermediate trails, and 35% expert runs. Another feature of Alpine Meadows is the special interest clinics they host, with subjects ranging from mogul to freestyle. It also has dining facilities on site.
     According to Cailin Johnson- Smart, a member of the QHS Ski Team, lift tickets cost from $40 to $60 per day. She says that quality of service, speediness of the lift lines, and numerous lifts are what make a resort good for skiing and snowboarding. Johnson- Smart advises that one goes to a bigger resort if he or she is more experienced, but that a beginner may be more comfortable starting out in a smaller resort, such as Donner Tahoe. If one is interested in sledding, Johnson- Smart recommends visiting Northstar or Soda Springs.
     As the temperature cools off, one must adjust to the activities that the new weather provides. Snow sports are perfect for keeping one active in the winter, as well as for providing a fun hobby. One can make the most of one’s trip to a resort by using the above information to decide which resort is best for his or her individual preferences and needs.

April 19,1988----October 15,2005