Another BlueBird Day in the Methow

Deb Thorlakson, Midge Cross, Karla Kephart-Segale, Colleen Ryan and Hannah Dewey skiing across the Rendezvous on Sunday, January 30, 2011. Photo by Kristen Smith.

U23 World Championships

Sadie Bjornsen finished 23rd today in the 10K women's freestyle event at the U23 World Championships in Otepaa, Estonia. She was the top American finisher, 3 minutes behind the winner Krista Lahteenmaki of Finland, who finished an entire minute ahead of the second place skier. Congratulations Sadie!

World Junior Results

In the first race at the World Junior Championships in Otepaa, Estonia, a 10 K freestyle, Eric Bjornsen finished 57th out of 101 racers. Good job! Stay tuned, his sister Sadie races tomorrow. Both are alumni of the Methow Valley Ski Education Foundation Junior Nordic Team.

Methow Racer Wins 2011 Apple Invite

Derek Alumbaugh, son of Sun Mountain Lodge Activities Director Bret Alumbaugh, captured the Apple Invite "King of the Hill" trophy at Mission Ridge this past weekend. Derek, racing in the boys J-4 class, finished first in Saturday's slalom race and followed that up on Sunday with another first in the giant slalom. Congratulations Derek!

Methow Valley skiers at World Junior Championships

Sadie and Eric Bjornsen will be competing this week in the World U23 and World Junior Championships respectively this week in Otepaa, Estonia. You can follow their races at http://www.tehvandi.ee/njwsc/. Good luck to both of them! In addition, Casey Smith will be competing in the World Junior Biathlon Championships beginning January 29 in Nove Mesto, Slovakia. You can follow his races at http://www3.biathlonworld.com/en/events/do/showevent.html?EventId=BT1011JWRLCH__. Good luck Casey!

"PERFECT" skiing

The MVSTA groomers say the trails are "PERFECT". All the lower trails, plus Meadowlark and Blue Jay were groomed last night. The skate skiing is fast and fun, so give it a try.

Huun Huur Tu

Don't forget, the Tuvan throat singing quartet, Huun Huur Tu, plays this Saturday night at the Winthrop Barn at 7PM. This is a rare opportunity to see these most unusual musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door. You can purchase them online at BrownPaperTickets.org or at the Daily Business stores in Winthrop and Twisp. Don't miss it!!

Sparklers of the World Dinner

Make your reservations now for an exciting event happening at Sun Mountain Lodge on Saturday night February 12. Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw and Wine Director Don Elsing have put together a wonderful 5 course menu paired with 5 unusual sparkling wines from around the world. First course is from Italy, featuring handmade tortelloni with shrimp, goat cheese and arugula pesto with a Maschio dei Cavalieri Prosecco NV. Course number two takes you to France with poached sea bream with asparagus in a Meyer lemon beurre blanc and a Champalou Sparkling Vouvray Petillant. Next up is Spain and an heirloom tomato gazpacho Bacalao and an Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut Rose by Freixenet. Your fourth course is from California, a foie gras stuffed breast of chicken and roasted onion tart with a Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir NV. And finally from Japan, cocoa mochi, with a Hana Awaka "Sparkling Flower" Sparkling Berry Sake NV. Price is $195 per couple plus gratuity and tax. Make your reservations by calling Don at 509 996 4770.

Lost River Wine Dinner

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Lost River Winery dinner at Sun Mountain Lodge on Saturday, January 29. Served in the Dining Room, the dinner will feature three fabulous courses by Executive Chef J. Russell Bradshaw and three wonderful wines from Lost River winemaker John Morgan. Starting off will be smoked scallops with Sunny Pine Farms goat cheese, toasted pinenuts and apricot vinaigrette paired with a 2008 Columbia Valley Pinot Gris. The main course will feature Big Valley Ranch ribeye steak with roasted cellared vegetables and a 2007 Cedarosa, which is a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cab Franc. To finish there is baked brie with drunken cherries and a 2007 Merlot. Cost is $65 per person plus gratuity and tax. To make your reservations, please call the Dining Room direct at 509 996 4707.

SNOW!!!!!

We received a foot of new snow last night!!! Really light, fluffy stuff. Roads are plowed and the sun is out now.

Awesome Music in the Methow, Sat. January 22

Coming to the Methow Valley at the Winthrop Barn on Saturday, January 22 is the incredible Tuvan throat singing quartet Huun Huur Tu. Mixing a blend of spa music and abstract electronica, this group makes a sound that is most unique. "They will ride into your brain and leave footprints up and down your spine." says the San Francisco Bay Guardian. A recent review in the New Yorker Magazine said the group "creates a deeply resonant buzz that is simultaneously human and unidentifiable." Tickets are $18 in advance and $22 at the door and are available through BrownPaperTickets.org or from the Daily Business stores in Winthrop and Twisp. You can visit their website at http://hhtmusic.com.

More National X-C Championship Results

On Thursday Brian Gregg of Mazama completed the 30 KM men's freestyle race in 6th place, an excellent result. On the last day of racing, Sat. Jan. 8, Methow Valley skiers again had a great day. Torrin Koos won the men's freestyle sprint, while Sam Naney, another Methow Valley Nordic Team alum, finished in the top ten at number 9. On the ladies side, Sadie Bjornsen had another great race, gaining her third podium finish of the Championships, by finishing in third place. Great job to all these fine racers!

Methow X-C Skiers Win at U.S. Nationals

It's been a big week so far for Methow Valley skiers at the U.S. National Cross Country Ski Championships in Rumford, ME. On Sunday Torin Koos, formerly of Leavenworth and now skiing for the Methow Olympic Development squad, won the men's classic sprint race. Finishing fourth was up and coming star Eric Bjornsen of Mazama, now skiing for the University of Alaska, Anchorage. On the women's side, his sister Sadie, skiing for Alaska Pacific University, also finished in fourth place, but was the third American finisher. And today, in the race of her life, Sadie won the women's 10K classic race, finishing 31 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor! Congratulations to all.