FEATURE/Bikinis, Sunglasses And...Snowboards?! Great Spring and Summer

FEATURE/Bikinis, Sunglasses And...Snowboards?! Great Spring and Summer Ski Spots at Intrawest Resorts

To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG images, click on the thumbnail image above. WARNING: these images are very large (800K+) Click here for caption

To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG images, click on the thumbnail image above. WARNING: these images are very large (800K+) Click here for caption

To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG images, click on the thumbnail image above. WARNING: these images are very large (800K+) Click here for caption

To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG images, click on the thumbnail image above. WARNING: these images are very large (800K+) Click here for caption

To download high-resolution, print-ready JPEG images, click on the thumbnail image above. WARNING: these images are very large (800K+) Click here for caption

    Business Editors/Feature Editors/Photo Editors
    FEATURE...
    MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:
    http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=4829847

    PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2005--...The sun beats down warming your face, you lather on sun block, straighten your sunglasses, adjust your bikini top and WOOSH! down the mountain you go. This is spring and summer skiing in the West, where some of the finest ski conditions, mildest temperatures and most fun times are found in April (one of the snowiest months) and beyond.
    "There is a long-standing tradition of 'the party starts in the spring'", says Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association in Lakewood, Colorado. "The seriousness of the sport is passed, competitions are over and the fun and silly events have begun. Throw in great ski conditions, bright sunlight and thinning crowds and you've got some of the best skiing and riding of the year."
    One such party, the eagerly anticipated Sunsation 2005, Copper Mountain's free, end-of-season blowout bash in Copper, Colorado, returns for its fifth year with three weekends of live bands, entertainment and on-hill events April 2-3, 9-10, 16-17. Activities include the infamous Eenie Weenie Bikini Contest, barbecues, music, beer gardens and more.
    This year, the excellent snow conditions in the mountains of Colorado have created solid snow bases allowing for top to bottom ski runs well into the spring months. The spring season's mixture of warmer days and cooler nights sets into motion a recurring process of freezing, thawing, then refreezing which generates "corn snow", small kernels of smooth, granular snow. This "ego surface" is what spring skiing fanatics wait for all year. The powder is softer, easier to maneuver and more fun!
    Most ski resorts shut down by mid/late-April. Two Intrawest resorts, Whistler Blackcomb, located in British Columbia, Canada, and Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, California, keep skiers and riders on the slopes practically year-round. Whistler Mountain will remain open until June 5, 2005. Blackcomb reopens from June 6 to July 31 for glacier skiing and boarding after an initial closing on April 17. Mammoth Mountain expects to continue operating until at least mid-June and quite possibly right up to the 4th of July.
    For more information on spring/summer skiing and snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb, Copper Mountain or Mammoth Mountain, visit www.intrawest.com or call Suzan French, MSCO, 914-251-1500, ext. 14. For more information on Intrawest, call Tim McNulty at 604-623-6620.

    About Intrawest

    Intrawest Corporation (IDR:NYSE; ITW:TSX) is one of the world's leading destination resort and adventure-travel companies. Intrawest has interests in 10 mountain resorts in North America's most popular mountain destinations, including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company owns Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, and a 67% interest in Abercrombie & Kent, the world leader in luxury adventure travel. The Intrawest network also includes Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest - a private resort club with nine locations throughout North America. Intrawest is developing five additional resort villages at locations in North America and Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit www.intrawest.com.

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=4829847

--30--AD/ny*

CONTACT: Intrawest Corporation Suzan French, 914-251-1500 ext. 14

KEYWORD: COLORADO NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TRAVEL SPORTS PHOTO PHOTOWIRE SOURCE: Intrawest Corporation PHOTO: 40316

Copyright Business Wire 2005