The Utah Winter Games opened Wednesday at Snowbasin with the state's first Super G. A second race in the Nor-Am series was scheduled Thursday.
The Games will continue on Friday with the first Super G for skiers in the Masters series, along with the beginning of the University of Utah invitational.Top collegiate teams from the Western U.S. will compete in two giant slaloms at Solitude and a freestyle and classic cross country at the White Pine Touring Center.
On Sunday, the six-day FIS series of ski races will begin. Racing locations will be Snowbird, Park City, Deer Valley and ParkWest.
On Saturday, Jan. 12, snowmobile racing will be introduced to the Winter Games. Other events include alpine races for juniors, adults and high school skiers in the Knudsen Cup.
During the second week of the Games, sponsored by KTVX, events will include figure skating, speed skiing and hockey.
SNOWBOARD JAM SET - The 4th annual snowboard get-together will happen Friday and Saturday at Snowbasin Ski Resort.
Called the Good 'n Fruity Snowboard Jam, the event is intended to introduce people to the sport and to offer those already involved the opportunity to try new equipment.
Cost is $10 and a Snowbasin lift ticket ($21). Also required will be a major credit card or a $400 check, a driver's license and a $10 cash time deposit. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration is limited and will open at 8 a.m.
Several makes of snowboards - Barfoot, Burton, Heavy Tools, Kemper, MBoo, Marrow, Mistral, PowderStick and Sims - will be available to try. Also, there will be snowboard boots by Airwalk, Alpine and Sorel.
For information call 399-1135.
TRAVEL GUIDE AVAILABLE - The 1991 edition of the Utah Travel Guide is available and free to the public. The guide is put out by the Utah Travel Council.
The guide gives detailed information on state and national parks, as well as the nine travel regions within the state. Information includes such activities as hiking, off-highway vehicle use, fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting and houseboating.
It also contains a state highway map, a calendar of events, a list of tour operators, private and public campground listings, and accommodations information.
The guides are free and available at the UTC offices at Council Hall on Capitol Hill and at travel region offices around the state.
GATE KEEPERS NEEDED - The Snowbird Ski Foundation is looking for gate keepers for ski races on Jan. 10 and 11.
Those working the race will receive two all-area ski passes to Snowbird (value $70) and lunch on the day of the race.
The event is an FIS men's and women's slalom. The race will be held on the Wilbere Ridge Race Course.
Anyone interested can call 571-0733 or 572-1508.
FLINT KNAPPING CLASS OFFERED - The Utah Museum of Natural History is offering a half-day workshop in the ancient art of flint knapping. An advanced section will also be held for those who have taken the basic workshop.
The workshop will be Saturday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the museum. The advanced section will be Jan. 12 during the same hours. Cost is $15. Preregistration is required through the museum education department, 581-4887.
Archaeologist Dennis Weder will guide participants in knocking sharp flakes from an obsidian core and then pressure-flaking it into arrowheads, knives and other stone tools, much like the stone-age people once did.
All materials are provided for the beginning class. Those in the advanced section must bring about 10 pounds of obsidian rock. The rock is available at rock shops.