'Hard slab' avalanche killed Hiland skier

Troopers have identified the skier killed in an avalanche Saturday along Hiland Road as 60-year-old William Brasher Schorr of Eagle River.

Photos: Hiland Road avalanche

Bowles snowmachine got stuck before avalanche buried him

Fantasy costumes at ski event combat all-too-real abuse

The combination race-costume party Ski for Women has raised roughly $800,000 for Abused Women's Aid in Crisis and other charities over the past 14 years. Sunday's 1,529 registered skiers fell just short of the 2004 record.

Video: Meet the skiers

Photos: Ski for Women

Hilltop Ski Area short on vertical, now big on air

Anchorage's in-town ski area is aiming to make a mark among snowboarders and skiers by offering some two dozen features -- with more on the way -- at its Ptarmigan Terrain Park.

Photos: Hilltop terrain park

Pick up a heliski trip in with that dozen rolls of paper towel

Next time you're at Costco picking up a 48-roll pack of toilet paper and a couple 50-pound bags of dog food, what happens if a sudden urge to carve S-turns in pristine thigh-deep powder suddenly overpowers you?

Stoked for the pipe

Snowboarders and skiers turned out en masse Saturday, some responding to fresh powder and others to check out the new Alyeska Pipeline Super Pipe.

Arctic Valley opens, also has new terrain: a beer and wine bar

Photos: Alyeska's halfpipe

Arctic Valley to open Saturday; Alyeska to unveil halfpipe

As overdue snow fluttered down Thursday morning, two Anchorage ski areas were busy making final preparations for significant weekend openings: Arctic Valley Ski Area plans to open Saturday for the first time this season, and Alyeska Ski Resort is unveiling its new 300-foot-long halfpipe.

Nordic skiing priority proposed for Hatcher Pass

A long-discussed ski area in Hatcher Pass might involve only nordic ski trails in the near future, with alpine development on hold until more money is available.

Electricians work to get Kincaid lights back in action

City electricians were at Kincaid Park on Tuesday, trying to ensure that Christmas this year is both white and bright for nighttime skiers.

Doctor seeks to debunk skiing myths

The "Wide World of Sports" image of a fallen skier tumbling out of control down a mountain is indelibly etched in the memory of every older alpinist who's stepped into a binding. And today's blizzard of videos of skiers and boarders tackling sick terrain -- and sometimes injuring themselves in the effort -- only amplifies the image.

ALPINE SKIING

More of Alyeska opens as runs load up on new weekend snow

Heavy snowfall over the Thanksgiving weekend has significantly added to snow depths on the mountain, which range from 23 inches at the base to 70 inches at the summit.

Eaglecrest ski area set to open a week early

The Eaglecrest Ski Area is scheduled to open a week early -- if the weather cooperates.

Alyeska opening a few lifts on schedule Wednesday

Alaska's biggest ski resort plans to open four of its nine lifts to skiers -- Chair 3, Chair 4 as well as both magic carpets -- at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Skiing circuit courts masters

In an effort to nurture aging cross-country skiers with a little swag, the U.S. Ski Association on Saturday will kick off a new series of races aimed at master skiers more than 40 years old.

Skiers will carve turns at Arctic Valley soon

The board of directors of the Anchorage Ski Club, which runs the area 15 miles from downtown, unanimously voted Wednesday night to keep the 320-acre area open this winter.

Building for big air

Come December, Alyeska Resort expects to open the Alyeska Pipeline Superpipe midway up Chair 7. At 300 feet long, 55 feet wide, with 18-foot walls, it is essentially what casual fans see on television during the Winter X Games or the Olympics.

Arctic Valley may not open this winter

Arctic Valley's long, tortured history of teetering on the brink of closure inched closer to the edge this week.

Palmer man featured in film named pro skier of year

Just 20 years old, Dane Tudor, the Palmer freeskier and motocross marvel, is doing what he loves, collecting fat sponsorships, seeing the world and earning acclaim for his talent.

Trailer: A four-minute trailer for "Everyday is a Saturday

Video: Dane Tudor skiing at the International Freeskiing Film Festival

MySpace: Dane Tudor's page

Struggling Alaska Railroad cancels popular Ski Train

On the same day this week that it announced 127 layoffs, the Alaska Railroad Corp. told the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage it has canceled next spring's Ski Train.

PDF: Nordic Skiing Association letter on Ski Train cancellation

Winter gear swap coming

Despite the sputtering economy, burrowing indoors for five months isn't an option for committed skiers, snowmobilers and snowboarders.

Girdwood skier takes gold medal

Growing up within walking distance of Mount Alyeska and carving its wickedly steep slopes nearly every day after school prepared Chanc' Deschamps-Prescott for some of the craziest ski races of his life Wednesday.

COLLEGE SKIING

UAA's Parker is MVP

Freshman Alex Parker, a two-time All-America alpine skier who won six races this season and helped UAA finish fourth among teams nationally, was named the Seawolves ski team's Most Valuable Player at its recent awards banquet.