JH Underground – news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Today’s chilly morning, with a temperature of -8 degrees at Jackson Hole Airport, made for lots of annoying “I’m glad I’m on spring break” Facebook posts, but it was not a record, according to meteorologist Jim Woodmencey.

The record for March 25 in Jackson is -27 degrees, set in 1965, he said.

The meteorologist noted colder temperatures in Bondurant (-18) and at Yellowstone Lake (-19) this morning. The lows may have been even a few degrees colder before dawn, he said.

The recent blast of winter has ensured that there will be a nordic leg for the 38th annual Pole Pedal Paddle on Saturday. The Jackson Hole Ski Club will set a course at the base of the mountain by the Teewinot and/or Eagle’s Rest lifts.

Today is the deadline to register for the PPP without paying an additional $15 registration fee. Sign up to participate individually or with a team here.

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Posted under Ski Resorts, Sports, Weather

Tags: cycling, jhmr, Nordic, ppp, ski racing, skiing

Although the news has been shared widely since last week’s announcement, let me add my congratulations to photographer Jonathan Selkowitz for being named the International Ski Federation’s Journalist of the Year.

The award recognizes journalists for their career contributions to the sport. For 20 years, Selkowitz has poured an astounding amount of passion into covering ski racing, which is far from lucrative and, aside from Olympic years, receives little attention.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jonathan at two Olympics and other skiing events. No one works harder on and off the slopes, as the story below attests. He also is one of the more thoughtful humans on the planet.

In winning the award, presented jointly by the FIS and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, Selko joins a select group that includes longtime TV announcers Bob Beattie and Tim Ryan and the late USSA correspondent Paul Robbins.

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Posted under Art, Media, Sports

Tags: photography, powder, ski racing, skiing

The spring-like weather that has pushed temperatures into the 50s this week has been welcome, aside from the rain and softening of the course on Snow King Mountain.

The Jackson Hole Ski Club has been preparing the slope for the 30th annual Town Downhill, aka the Mini-Hahnenkamm. Training runs Saturday may be a little soft, but the forecast is calling for colder weather and snow for Sunday’s racing.

“We’re doing everything we can to get it ready, and now we’re just hoping it freezes,” club director Carrie Boynton said.

The downhill is the centerpiece of a festive St. Patrick’s weekend at the King, with pond skimming on Saturday and the rock band Lazy Eyes performing Sunday. The rapid melt-off should make for excellent conditions for pond skimming. DJs Cut la Whut and Jeff Moran will spin tunes as skiers and riders — no doubt donning kelly green attire — point down the lower slope and try to skim across the water.

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Posted under Entertainment, Music, Ski Resorts, Sports, Weather

Tags: parties, ski racing, skiing, snow king, snowboarding

The spring-like weather in recent days has athletes already looking forward to the 37th annual Pole Pedal Paddle race on March 31.

Snake River Brewing Co. has stepped forward to put more fun into the fun class. The brewery is offering a $250 party at the pub to the winning fun class team, the costumed group judged to be having the most fun at the event. Second place gets a 15-gallon keg, and third place a 5-gallon barrel.

The Jackson Hole Ski Club also has lowered the entry fee for fun class to $80 per team. Looking to draw more p-p-participants from out of town, the club is offering a cash purse of $3,500, including $500 to the men’s and women’s racing class winners (individuals and teams).

Register before March 27 to avoid paying a $15 late fee, either online or at the ski club office in Snow King Center.

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Posted under Business, Entertainment, Sports

Tags: beer, jhmr, parties, ppp, restaurants, ski racing

In a remarkable turnaround, U.S. Ski Team racer Resi Stiegler of Jackson Hole placed second today in a World Cup slalom in Ofterschwang, Germany.

The podium finish was the first of her career in the World Cup and comes after a string of injuries caused her to miss most of the 2008-10 seasons.

“This is a huge breakthrough and I worked really hard for this,” Stiegler said. “Results are difficult to get even if you are skiing really fast. I almost don’t have words for how I feel.”

Stiegler finished only five-hundredths of a second behind winner Erin Mielzynski of Canada in the two-run race, held on a slushy course. Marlies Schild of Austria was third, locking up the World Cup slalom title.

Since returning from her injuries, Stiegler had been unable to achieve consistent results and considered retiring from the team. “This year was a crazy year,” she said. “Never in my life did I ever want to just throw it in, and I’ve had that feeling so many times this season. I think in the end I knew I worked so hard coming back from so many things I was just determined.”

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Posted under Sports

Tags: resi stiegler, ski racing, skiing