January 29, 2009 Issue
Ski Beech’s Winterfest Brings Big Fun To The Slopes
Participants in the Bathing Beauty Competition braved frigid temperatures, donned swimwear and strutted their stuff slopeside for cash and prizes last Saturday at Ski Beech's Winterfest Celebration. Lots of locals and tourists turned out to participate in the day's events.
After a long hiatus, Ski Beech resurrected its popular Winterfest last weekend with lots of fun events taking place on its snow-covered slopes. From the scantily clad participants in the Bathing Beauties Competition and the downhill racers taking aim for the finish line in the Cardboard Box Derby, to the high-flying rail jam riders and folks boogieing to live music at the Beech Tree, participants and spectators alike enjoyed an exciting weekend on the mountain.
“Overall we had a great turnout and a lot of support from the community, as well as the tourists,” said Ski Beech’s Talia Freeman. “It really felt like Beech Mountain was alive again.”
In addition to the participating locals and tourists, members of the Ski Beech staff also got in on the action as waiters and waitresses competed in a race, where participants had to ski or snowboard while carrying trays full of drinks. According to Freeman, winning staff members donated their prize money to ski patrol member Todd Rice who was injured in a skiing accident earlier this season. The Ski Beech ski patrol also took donations at the cookout and raised $160.
Local businesses donated more than $700 in cash and prizes for winners of the weekend’s contests. Sponsors included Beech Mountain Tourism Development Association, High Country Press, Sledgehammer Charlie’s, Char, Alpine Ski Center, Jackalope’s View, Scream Time Zipline, Banner Elk Café, Erick’s Cheese and Wine, Bella’s, Los Arcoiris, Perfect Nails, Foxxy Tanning, Tokyo Express, Brick Oven Pizza, Zuzda, Beech Alpen Restaurant, Fred’s General Mercantile, The Mountain Times, Mountain Television Network, Alpine Ski Center, Extreme Sports, Ski Beech Sports, The Corner Palate, Mountain Grounds Coffee, MIX 1023 WECR and Sorrento’s.
Ski Beech Winterfest Winners
If you thought you saw women in bikinis and people flying down the slopes on colorful cardboard creations last weekend at Ski Beech, your eyes weren’t deceiving you. Lots of folks gathered slopeside to watch the Bathing Beauty Competition and Cardboard Box Derby at last weekend’s Winterfest. Below are the folks that went home with the bragging rights, as well as cash and prizes.
Members of the Ski Beech ski patrol took home top honors in the Bathing Beauties Competition, donating their winnings to Todd Rice, a fellow member of the ski patrol who was injured earlier in the season.
Bathing Beauty Competition
1st Place Ski Patrol Girls
Brie Young
Amanda Holson
Lindsay Strohschein
Jason Powell
2nd Place
Liz Lotts
3rd Place
Robin Adams
Cardboard Box Derby Winners
Shaken, not stirred: Banner Elk eatery Sorrento's took second place in the Most Original category during the Cardboard Box Derby for their martini design.
Most Original
1st Place
Shawn Stricklen (View Haus Restaurant)
Red Baron
2nd Place
Nicole Palazzo (Sorrento’s)
Martini glass
Mike Cole and John Taylor's cardboard space ship rocketed to the finish line first, winning the competition, as well as taking second place in the Best Looking category.
Best Looking
1st Place
Shawn Stricklen (View Haus Restaurant)
Red Baron
2nd Place
Mike Cole and John Taylor (Cole’s Lawn Care)
Space Ship
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