Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Nineteen Elite Teams announced for 2011 Amgen Tour of California professional road cycling race

LOS ANGELES (March 17, 2011) - A world-class field of professional cycling teams, rivaling every other stage race in 2011, has once again been assembled for the upcoming Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America, which will travel nearly 800 miles throughout California from May 15 - 22, 2011. Announced today by AEG, presenter of the race, the lineup of teams includes 19 elite international and domestic squads, ensuring a spectacular racing competition for the sixth-annual event.

With the race's move on the calendar to May last year, the Amgen Tour of California has further solidified its position as one of the most important cycling races in the world by continuing to draw the strongest and most talented field of teams ever assembled for a U.S. cycling race. This year is no exception.

The 19-team field is comprised of a collection of the world's best professional cycling teams, including HTC-Highroad, the most successful team of the peloton with more than 400 wins since 2008, featuring sprint sensation Matthew Goss and promising young American Tejay Van Garderen; Team Garmin-Cervélo, one of the most powerful teams in the pro peloton with Americans David Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde on the roster; three-time Amgen Tour of California champion Levi Leipheimer's team, Team RadioShack; Sky ProCycling, which features last year's overall Amgen Tour of California winner Michael Rogers; Saxo Bank Sungard, whose prolific sprinter Juan Jose Haedo will be looking to add to his five Amgen Tour of California stage wins this year; Rabobank Cycling Team, which includes Australian U23 world champion Michael Matthews; and BMC Racing Team, with veteran racing pro George Hincapie at the helm.

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 19 teams:
UCI ProTeams

Sky ProCycling (GBR)
Rabobank Cycling Team (NED)
Team Garmin-Cervélo (USA)
HTC-Highroad (USA)
Team RadioShack ( USA)
Liquigas-Cannondale (ITA)
Saxo Bank Sungard (DEN)
Leopard Trek (LUX)
BMC Racing Team (USA)

UCI Professional Continental Teams

Team NetApp (GER)
Team Type 1-sanofi aventis (USA)
Team Spidertech Powered By C10 (CAN)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling (USA)

UCI Continental Teams

Movistar Team (COL)
Jamis-Sutter Home (USA)
Kelly Benefit Strategies - OptumHealth (USA)
Bissell Pro Cycling (USA)
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda (USA)
Kenda/5-Hour Energy Pro Cycling p/b Geargrinder (USA)

"The caliber of teams participating in the Amgen Tour of California seems to grow with each passing year, which is a great testament to the status of our race on the professional racing calendar," said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. "Beyond the incredible talent of Tour de France competitors, world champions, Olympic Champions and internationally known cyclists, is the amazing talent of up and coming American cyclists, like Peter Stetina of Team Garmin-Cervélo, Ben King of Team RadioShack and Tejay Van Garderen of HTC-Highroad. I am thrilled that our race gives them the opportunity to build their profile among cycling in the U.S."

There are a total of 14 teams returning to the Amgen Tour of California for 2011, including: Bissell Pro Cycling; BMC Racing Team; HTC-Highroad; Jamis-Sutter Home (formerly Colavita-Sutter Home); Jelly Belly p/b Kenda; Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth; Liquigas-Cannondale; Rabobank Cycling Team; Saxo Bank Sungard; Team Garmin-Cervélo, Team RadioShack; Team Spidertech Powered by C10; Team Type 1-sanofi aventis; and UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling.

"The Amgen Tour of California has become one of the world's great sporting events," said Bob Stapleton, owner of HTC-Highroad. "With its epic stages in Tahoe, the central coast and Mt Baldy, it's a spectacle only exceeded in cycling by the Tour de France. Our home state provides a stunning setting for athletes, spectators and a world-wide television audience." Teams new to the Amgen Tour of California roster include Kenda/5-Hour Energy Pro Cycling p/b Geargrinder; Leopard Trek; Movistar; Sky ProCycling; and Team NetApp.

"The Amgen Tour of California is one of world's greatest showcases for professional cycling full stop. The atmosphere, the fans and the race as such is something truly special and we are very happy to participate with a strong line-up for Leopard Trek," said Brian Nygaard, general manager of Leopard Trek. "It is without a doubt one of our big goals of the season, and we look forward to racing one of the most scenic and attractive races of the season with the highest ambitions."

For more information about the teams competing in the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the 2011 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race presented by AEG that challenges the world's top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 15-22, 2011.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures, and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe, effective medicines from lab to manufacturing plant to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone disease, and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

About AEG

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, Sprint Center, The O2, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE and Best Buy Theater Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers, the ING Bay to Breakers foot race, and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG Live, the organization's live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring, and a variety of programming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.

Amgen Tour of California

Amgen Tour of California starts at South Shore Lake Tahoe

The largest cycling event in America, the 2011 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 15-22.

Founded in 2005 by Amgen, Breakaway from Cancer® is a national initiative to increase awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer from prevention to survivorship. The initiative supports the valuable support, education and advocacy resources offered by Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community, Patient Advocate Foundation and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship..

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California’s overall start will begin on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, one of the most beautiful locations in all of the state. The race will roll-out through the Host City of South Lake Tahoe and head in a clockwise direction up the western shore of Lake Tahoe, where the riders will encounter the first of three KOMs (“King of [the] Mountain [climbs]”) on this stage at Emerald Bay (elev. 6,850’). The race will then continue north and descend into Tahoe City while working its way through the small towns on the north shore and past the casinos in Stateline, Nevada. The race will then continue to hug the shoreline on Lakeshore Blvd., ultimately connecting with Hwy. 28 to make the return trip to South Lake Tahoe. This will be the first time the Amgen Tour of California will venture outside of the Golden State. The 27 miles of race route in Nevada will provide compelling scenery, including Spooner Pass (elev. 7,000’), the second of the day’s KOMs, from which the beautiful blue waters of Lake Tahoe can be seen. Continuing south, the race will pass through South Lake Tahoe and head back north for another half lap around the lake. At King’s Beach on the north shore of the lake, the racers will make a left turn on Hwy. 267 and start the final 7.5 run to the finish, but waiting for them will be the 1,000’ climb to Brockway Summit that will take them to the highest point of the stage at 7,200’. After a quick descent and a left turn onto Northstar Dr., the racers will face the final 300’ of climbing up the 1.5-mile route to the finish in North Lake Tahoe at the spectacular Northstar at Tahoe Resort.

Kirkwood Snow Report

March 22, 2011 at 12:41 PM

Scattered Snow Showers

Current Temp

Wind

NNW

Today's Forecast

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. South southwest wind between 13 and 16 mph, with gusts up to 23 mph.

Snow Stats

Last 24 Hours	9-12"
Last 48 Hours	27-32"
Storm Total	83-98"
Last 7 Days	96-102"

Seasonal Total Range	632-648"
Base Depth	203- 247"

The data for this real-time snow and weather report is obtained directly from the snow weather plots at Kirkwood Mountain Resort and the surrounding areas. Snow totals and snow accumulation are consistently 15 to 20% more than reported as a result of wind, micro squalls and snow loading. Weather patterns at Kirkwood Mountain Resort are exceedingly difficult to predict – when venturing into the mountain, be prepared for rapid, dramatic weather changes.

Surface Conditions

Powder, skier packed powder with some grooming on selected trails. Deep powder conditions throughout the mountain. Bluebird

Road Conditions: Chains

Hwy. 88 via Tahoe:	Open. 4WD or Snows
Hwy. 88 via Jackson:	Open. 4WD or Snows

Lift Operations

Lift	Status	Groomed Runs
#1 SnowKirk	Open	Hay Flat, Hay Flat Alt., SnowKirk
#2 Caples Crest	Open	Flying Carpet, Flying Capet Alt., Bark Shanty
#3 Iron Horse	Open	Easy Rider, Herringbone
#4 Sunrise	Open
#5 Solitude	Open	Home Run, Mokelumne, Lower Zachary, Lower Monte Wolfe, Race Course, Lower Olympic, Lower Lookout Janek, Lost Cabin
#6 Cornice Express	Open	Zachary, Stump Run, Lookout Janek
#7 TC Express	Open	Home Run, Free N Easy, Hole N Wall, Up N Over, Up N Over Alt., Jane's Jaunt, Squirrel Ridge, Sentinel Cutback, Jambi's Jaunt
#8 Slide Mountain	Closed
#9 Bunny	Open	Graduation, Funny Bunny, School Run, Palisade's Runout
#10 Wagon Wheel	Open	Buckboard
#11 The Reut	Open	Wagon Trail, Conestoga, Shotgun
#14 Vista	Scheduled
#15 Covered Wagon	Scheduled

Lifts open from 9am-4pm.

*Lift operation is dependent on weather conditions and snow safety and therefore subject to change at any time.

High Angle Grooming

Open Bowls

Expedition: Kirkwood

Expedition:Kirkwood brings you Powder Cat Tours - Tahoe's only resort based cat skiing operation! Our Powder Cat Tours operate in two areas: Martin Point and Red Cliffs. Expedition Guides and Patrollers lead groups to the freshest turns on these four run sessions. Avalanche beacons, probes and backpacks are provided, however, guests are encouraged to bring own gear if they have it. Open to advanced to expert skiers and riders.

Parks & Pipes

K2 Stomping Grounds (Chair 5)	Scheduled
Burton Progression Park (Chair 7)	Scheduled
Burton Adventure Land (Chair 9)	Scheduled
Skier/Boarder X Course (Chair 5)	Scheduled
Halfpipe (Chair 7)	Scheduled

Slide Mountain Tubing Hill Closed

Open weekends from noon to 5:00pm. Tickets can be purchased from the High Alpine Adventure Center (across from the General Store - Red Cliffs)

Timber Creek Learning Center Open

Tahoe Learning Center at Timber Creek is open. All Learn to Ski and Burton Learn to Ride programs operate out of this location. All facilities at Timber Creek are available including rentals, retail, lessons and food and beverage.

Mountain Village Open

Monte Wolfes is open daily 8am - 4 pm. Bub’s is open from 3pm. Off The Wall Bar will be open for lunch and Dinner. Kirkwood Mountain Sports, K2 Demo Center, Village Center Rentals and Season Pass Office open daily.

Kirkwood Cross Country & Snowshoe Center Open

Kirkwood Cross Country is open with 60 kilometers of machine groom track. Lessons are at 10:30 and 1:30 daily. The XC Center's Mardi Gras sale is now on - come in for discounts on snowshoes, ski packages and clothing!

Special Events & Remarks

If you have a pass at another Tahoe resort you can check out Kirkwood for just $33 a day! Purchase the Tahoe Upgrade card for $99 and ski or ride for any 3 days this season. Must present valid pass from other resort to redeem ticket and all 3 tickets must be used by the passholder.