SneakPEAK - January 16, 2014

FREE, WEEKLY, LOCAL... Only the good stuff!

Thursday, January 16 January 22, 2014

sneakpeakvail.com

The mathematicians of ballet

Alonzo King LINES Ballet brings Bach, Colum McCann and deceptively simple dance with a scientific slant to Beaver Creek

The lucky one Kevin Pearce comes to Vilar with the sobering, heavy-hitting doc “The Crash Reel”

Eric, Todd, Graham and Tony In a close-knit ski town, the loss of another young local brings bittersweet reunions

Powder business Open Snow founder and forecaster Joel Gratz explains Colorado’s (white) gold rush

Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

FREE, WEEKLY, LOCAL... Only the good stuff!

COVER STORIES

When the quality of service matters...

cover, uncut Dancer: Jeffrey Van Sciver of LINES Ballet Photo: Margo Moritz inside 4 | Letter from the publisher

P10 |

Artistic director Alonzo King of LINES Ballet talk about the art, science and metaphysics of dance

5 | The Brewer’s Journal 8 | Naive Melodies at Agave 9 | Open Snow Q&A 14 | Top 5 Vail runs 15 | Minturn Comm. Fund 16 | Black Diamond Bistro 18 | SneakSPORTS 19 | 52 Weeks 20 | Calendar of events

P6 |

Talking “The Crash Reel” with former pro Kevin Pearce

tribute P12 | Atofriend’s Tony Seibert

22 | Dining guide (Vail)

SneakPEAK Vail is a locally owned arts, entertainment and lifestyle magazine, published weekly throughout the year for the Colorado mountain communities of Eagle County.

{ the boss }

{ the words }

{ the glue }

{ the look }

Erinn Hoban publisher

phil lindeman editor

Shana larsen office manager

kristina johnson marketing & design

THE CREW Contributors Writers John O’Neill | Laura Lieff | Michael Suleiman | Patrick Whitehurst Felicia Kalaluhi | Andy Jessen | Chris McDonnell | Elizabeth Escobar Photographers Kent Pettit | Katie Fiedler-Anderson | Ryan McCombs Charles Townsend Bessent | Björn Bauer

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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TApping out A letter from the publisher, Erinn Hoban.

It is hard to understand that any business can “work” but not work out. As SneakPEAK enters its third year, we have made a difficult decision: We will cease publication of SneakPEAK after next week’s issue.

I believe we have succeeded in telling a story about the Vail Valley that no one else has, in a way no one else was able.

SneakPEAK has, to the best of my staff’s ability, told and retold those stories, digging deep into a community we all know and love in our own special way.

Phil Lindeman, our editor, Erinn Hoban has found and explained those { the boss } exceptional stories in a readable and enjoyable manner with the help of a great writing staff, including longtime journalist Laura Lieff and Vail native John O’Neill.

Our designer, Kristina Johnson, took a basic weekly publication and turned it into an eye-catching resource to show off the amazing assets in this community. Our photographers have done an incredible job showing how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place with such amazing people.

Between Kristina and our photographers, the magazine found a way to showcase the majesty of Eagle County in a way I don’t believe can be replicated.

Even lifelong locals found images they’d never seen before.

Shana Larsen, our office manager, changed our traditional billing system and formed a program that gave clients an inexpensive advertising outlet.

Through it all, we created jobs in the valley. SneakPEAK has employed more then 30 people from across the valley and now close the print publication with a roster of four full-time, four part-time and 12 freelance employees.

It was not enough for the community to understand that “buy local” and “live local” are not just sayings, but actions. Anyone going into this business does it as a labor of love, and we all loved the paper and the opportunity.

So, with heavy hearts, we are tapping out of the newspaper/magazine business. We will support anyone who in the future puts together the kind of publication that is so badly needed in this valley. I’ll

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recognize a piece of them in us.

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy and we didn’t pick an easy business. We may be moving on without the paper, but we are all proud of the opportunity to be a part of this community and share stories that otherwise would’ve gone untouched.

When the Mountaineer closed and I went through unemployment claims with my employees, I kept hearing the same sentiment from our readers and advertisers: “We need another paper in the Valley.” “Competition is a good thing.” “I am sorry, we enjoyed your reporters and their writing.”

I took it all seriously. I really believed that the community was interested in and could support another publication. We hired back the majority of our staff. We started over, fixed things and changed the concept to be unique, all while listening to the community and what our friends, neighbors and associates suggested.

But we aren’t disappearing completely. Even though we’ll no longer be on newsstands and in restaurants, our website will continue to publish original and well-written articles on arts, entertainment and cultural news in the valley. Our Facebook will also stay active to give our talented photographers a way to spread their work. Instead of posting an article or photo on the fridge, you’ll just have to share it around the Internet.

I am proud to have created jobs for outstanding locals who I hope can stay in the valley that they love. I am also proud to have gotten to be a part of so many of your local stories and events. I will hold my head up knowing that SneakPEAK, our employees and who we became – a magazine for the community, by people who are woven into the fabric of the community – are going to be missed.

“Success is not what you have, but who you are.”

– Bo Bennett Thanks to all of the clients who have supported the paper and our readership. Thursday, Jan. 23 will be our last publication. Please email me if you have anything that you would love to see in our last publication at erinn@sneakpeakvail.com.

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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Perspectives on how to survive one of those days

When it hits the fan

Andy Jessen pursued a career in law for 15 percent of his life before delving into a business he’d spent 50 percent of it supporting: beer. Now coowner of Eagle’s Bonfire Brewing with partner Matt Wirtz, Andy pairs personal and small business insights with a hefty dose of humor.

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Something, probably an expensive piece of machinery, isn’t running.

Walking to the next room, you find an inch and a half of standing water.

Now with wet socks and still no cup of coffee, your phone rings -- one of your employees can’t make it today. In bare feet and moving to your computer, hoping for some positive news in your e-mail, you find that the delivery you were expecting today won’t make it until next week. Quickly deciding it is just “one of those days,” you grab a case of product to make one simple delivery, hit the post office and, theoretically, return to tackle these mounting issues in a better frame of mind.

Unfortunately, you slip on your way out the door, destroying that one case in the process and ensuring that people seeing you the rest of the day will wonder about your bladder control. It’s now about 10a.m., and at this point, you would have been better off hitting the snooze button indefinitely.

This type of start to the day of a business owner comes in many shapes and sizes. Challenges might present themselves over the course of one day, one week, or one hour. And because the buck stops with you, you must learn to overcome them; i.e. you must learn to deal with adversity. While we may often think of conquering adversity as rising above one or a series of traumatic events, the experienced business owner recognizes that one of their most regular battles is finding ways to problem-solve on the fly. Often, during a bad day, or a bad week, decision-making paralysis can set in.

Learning how to face both day-to-day adversity, and also adversity that is more systemic in nature, is one of the most valuable tools a business owner can add to their repertoire.

Whether you’re just starting out, or have years of experience behind you, making your days more satisfyingly predictable, and less frustratingly chaotic, is accomplished via a variety of methods. For me, it has come down to finding a way to take at least one step forward, every single day. To do this, some of the best advice I can offer is to find a mentor, lean on your team, and engage in advance planning.

There is very little that we do in business that someone before us hasn’t already done, or at least attempted to do. Someone out there has run into the same issues, hit their heads against the same walls, and wished to crawl back under the same covers. Why then, do

Learn more.

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we so often insist on trying to figure it all out on our own? A business mentor is a good start to guard against this human tendency. My personal vision of a good mentor is someone that’s in a comparable but different field, has at least a few more years of experience, and has no vested interest in your business. This makes for useful and objective discussion. Utilize alumni networks, LinkedIn or bar hopping to find a match. Lunch, coffee or beer on occasion can quickly develop a mutually beneficial relationship once you find the right fit. My personal preference, of course, is beer. A good mentor can serve as a sounding board for general venting, brainstorming, or to help nudge you off the fence on a decision that’s nagging you. To help, they don’t need to give you all the answers -- they just need to offer a perspective outside of your own. Eventually, you’ll find yourself in a position to return the favor for someone.

Perhaps your biggest asset on days where nothing goes right is your team.

While all of the various issues of the business may be weighing heavily on your brain, there’s a good chance that not all of those affect them directly. If your day is clearly getting consumed by jumping from fire to fire, or from addressing one big fire, delegate tasks accordingly to ensure that the overall mission of the business continues.

Just because one delivery didn’t show up doesn’t mean everyone should go home for the day. How do you get continued productivity from your staff on days when things don’t go as planned?

Develop lists of tasks that can be done at any time by anyone, but that generally fall lower on the priority list. Create standard operating procedures for your crucial tasks so that staff can fill in for you by simply following directions. In addition, work to create an environment where your staff can take initiative. This is a bigger overall topic, but one quick way to describe it is as eliminating roadblocks. In the simplest sense, if the Windex and PineSol aren’t available, the windows and floors aren’t getting cleaned.

Finally, on days that you feel spontaneous combustion is imminent, you might have found yourself getting a pat on the back because you took the time – or made the sacrifice – for some advance planning. Is there one single thing/item/person crucial to the success of your day-to-day business? Do you have an idea of what things would look like if the power went out for an extended period of time? What if one of your suppliers goes under? You can’t think of every possible issue, or have a backup for every situation.

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A long, hard road

Former halfpipe phenom Kevin Pearce is the heart of “The Crash Reel,” a sobering look at family, snowboarding and traumatic brain injuries.

Interview by Phil Lindeman.

By his own admission, Kevin Pearce is one of the lucky ones.

In late 2009, with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver just a few months away, the Vermont-born snowboarder was at the height of his career. He and childhood friend-turned-rival Shaun White were frontrunners for halfpipe gold, trading top podium spots at the X Games, Dew Tour and Burton U.S. Open. Few people could touch the two.

With unbridled support from a swath of bigname sponsors like Nike and Oakley, Pearce traveled throughout the Rocky Mountains for earlyseason training, finally landing at Park City, Utah.

The 22-year-old’s goal: the double underflip, considered the Holy Grail of halfpipe tricks at the time.

Then the inevitable happened. After several close calls, Pearce over-rotated and fell from nearly 35 feet to land on his head. Even for friends like fellow pros Danny Davis and Scotty Lago – the guys watching from the top of the pipe – the crash seemed devastating.

For Pearce, the next year was a blur of hospital stays, physical therapy and visits from fellow traumatic brain injury survivors, most also in their early 20s. A few were on his same level, struggling with double vision and balance issues, but most were far worse. One teenager was admitted to Denver’s Craig Hospital around the same time as Pearce, only to pass away within a few days. Without exception, everyone racked up massive medical bills: The pro claims his expenses reached $20,000 per day while in recovery.

These snippets from Pearce’s life – along with the effect his recovery had on family, friends and the action sports world as a whole – form the heart of “The Crash Reel,” a just-released HBO documentary by two-time Oscar nominee Lucy Walker (“Waste Land,” “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”). As with most pro skiers and riders, cameras caught nearly every moment of the ordeal, from the heated Olympic race to

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

Pearce’s gut-wrenching crash to the long, slow realization that the tiniest second injury could kill him. It gives the film an immediate yet quilt-like feel, without the dry reportage and staged reenactments of a talking-head doc. (Walker estimates she went through nearly 18 terabytes of archival footage from 232 separate sources, what she dubs “some kind of world record.”)

That dedication also leads to small, almost stunningly raw moments between Pearce and his tight-knit family, including older brother David, who was born with Down syndrome and admits to hating his condition. Even Shaun White gives a brief glimpse at the insecurities that both drive and isolate him.

Shortly after leaving the powder fields of Utah for a showing of “The Crash Reel” at the Vilar Center, Pearce spoke with SneakPEAK about life after his injury, the catharsis of the documentary and his newfound love of the backcountry.

SneakPEAK: How was the riding this weekend?

Kevin Pearce: Oh my god, dude, we just hit up Powder Mountain in Utah and it was off. That place is pretty undercover – nobody goes there, and there are no lines at all. It’s kind of old and the lifts are slow, with something like one high-speed quad. The mountain was actually closed yesterday, but we were hanging with the owners and they got us a few snowcats. We spent the whole day tracking untouched snow with some friends.

You know Luke Mitrani? It was him and a few others.

SP: Have you found a way to enjoy snowboarding in the same way as before?

KP: Yeah, but it’s a lot different, a whole lot different. There’s no way to really explain how it’s different than the X Games, but it’s really not about comparing it to what I used to be doing.

I’m just thankful to be riding. A lot of people who have brain injuries aren’t able to bounce back.

SP: On to the film. “The Crash Reel” is both magnetic and tough to watch, usually at the same time. I imagine you’ve seen it at this point – what’s the hardest part to take in?

KP: It’s seeing what my family and friends had to deal with. It’s everyone else. Sure, it sucked and was hard as all hell for me, but those guys were outside looking in, you know? I put so many people through extra hassle and extra work. That’s not who I am – I don’t like putting an extra burden on the people close to me.

SP: I think that really comes across. The film is brutally honest – you and everyone involved pull no punches. Did you have second thoughts about documenting your recovery, even when things looked bleak?

KP: For me, it was more like a great opportunity. I have an amazing family and this chance to let them show the world what happened, just tell this story, and I think it has been really helpful for other people. There are a lot of people out

OPPOSITE PAGE Kevin Pearce during a pre-injury photo shoot in Breckenridge.

Photo: Adam Moran.

THIS PAGE The Pearce family, with Kevin across the middle.

Photo special to SneakPEAK.

there who aren’t as fortunate as me and don’t have the kind of support I did. That’s beyond head injuries – whatever people have, I hope they see this and realize they can come back with the right attitude.

SP: Oddly enough, the film doesn’t feature any sit-down interviews with you, just your family and friends. Was that the director’s choice?

KP: That was totally her. I actually did countless hours of interviews with her, just sitting in front of a camera going through questions, but the fact none of that is in there is kind of weird. It was surprising when I saw it. Then again, I’m happy with the movie.

I let her do her job, so stepping back and not being involved worked out for the best.

SP: For me, many of the film’s most intense moments involve David. During one of several family dinners, he says he doesn’t want you to die by falling again. How many of those talks do we never even see in the film?

KP: It’s funny – everyone says, “Oh my god, those family dinners are amazing,” but that’s just how we do it. When I’m home in Vermont, we do that just about every night. It’s foreign to think that a family dinner is a special thing – we do that regularly, and I think Lucy did a good job of showing what we do on a regular basis. Nothing was staged. She actually only came out to our house two times, and I remem-

ber she was freaking out about finding an ending for the movie.

The final scene that ends up in the move, that’s just a one-shot thing – she didn’t return over and over to get the right moment.

SP: Along with vision and balance problems, the crash affected your mood and personality. Are those issues still around today?

KP: They really haven’t been too bad. It’s not that I really changed who I was – I’m the same Kevin, but they said there was the possibility I wouldn’t be.

For how bad the injury is, I haven’t been affected too much. I’m still here, living this amazing life that I love, just in a new way.

Want more?

To read an extended version of the exclusive interview with Kevin Pearce, go to SneakPeakVail.com.

IF YOU GO What: A showing of the HBO documentary “The Crash Reel,” followed by a Q&A session with film subject and former pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce When: Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Vilar Center, Beaver Creek Cost: $10 The film showing is a joint project of Vail Valley Medical Center and Beaver Creek Resort. For tickets, see vilarpac.org.

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Naive Melodies at Agave in Avon 1.18.2014

TUNES This is the Place

The Talking Heads tribute band Naive Melodies returns to the Agave in Avon for all of your new-wave music-loving hearts.

By Elizabeth Escobar.

In 1983, the American new-wave band Talking Heads released “This Must Be the Place” on their fifth album “Speaking in Tongues.”

And over the past thirty-some years, it is this song above all of the band’s others that has slowly incorporated itself into the country’s musical identity – drifting in and out of popularity with each passing generation. Like the group’s music as a whole, “This Must Be the Place” has proven itself to be timeless.

Enter Naive Melodies: a three-man tribute band out of Arcata, California that is dedicated to the continued influence of Talking Heads’ music upon both new and veteran listeners alike. As steadfast fans will pick up on, the trio snagged their name from the beloved “This Must Be the Place,” whose parenthetical title is “Naive Melody.” The story goes that this part of the title came California-based Naive Melodies will play the best of the Talking Heads this Saturday in from the fact that while composing the song, the band members Avon. switched instruments. So too do the guys in Naive Melodies, who Photo special to SneakPEAK. between the three of them (Matt Engel, Harry Hulsizer, and John Tortorici), alternate instruments and fill in parts as need be in order to pull off the dance-party-like show that they do.

ME: We all do have bands and original projects that we play in and On Jan. 18, Naive Melodies returns to the Agave in Avon as part work on separately. of their yearly Colorado touring fix. The crowd will of course be in for a night of Talking Heads’ favorites, but what isn’t always a given SP: What kind of music do you play in those outside ventures? with tribute bands is the incredibly accurate sound that Naive Melodies ME: We all play in a variety of projects that range from funk to jazz brings to the table. They stay so true to the originals that you might for to original music which is almost electro-soul-ish you might say. a moment believe it’s 1984 and that David Byrne himself is on stage.

Despite their authenticity, the band always makes sure to leave their SP: What’s something that you enjoy about playing in a tribute band own mark on the night –something that SneakPEAK chatted with lead that you don’t get from playing separately or on your own? vocalist Matt Engel about (along with other things) prior to the group’s ME: When executed really well, it’s satisfying to see the crowd get Saturday night show. going and loving all of the songs that everyone already knows. And it’s also really nice because Talking SneakPEAK: It’s back in 2011 Heads had such a wide and well– what makes you guys decide to known catalogue full of awesome start a tribute band, let alone one hits so there are many songs that What: Talking Heads tribute band Naive Melodies for the Talking Heads? people don’t even realize are When: Jan. 18, 9:30 p.m.

Matt Engel: It was kind of a Talking Heads. So that’s always Where: Agave in Avon piece-by-piece thing. I had a difa real treat.

Cost: $8 to $10 ferent project that I was playing with at the time and we would do SP: Can you name any of the Listen to Naive Melodies’ songs beforehand at Talking Heads songs just for the songs that tend to elicit that surnaivemelodies.com, and then buy tickets for the fun of it. People really seemed prise from the crowd? show at agaveavon.com. to enjoy it though, and then that ME: The early more punk-ish original band I was with stopped ones from the first and second touring for a little while and so we albums – we tend to do a lot of just started this band for fun. But then it took a mind of its own and those. So songs like “With Our Love” – people never really recognize continued growing from there. that one. Well, maybe the diehards do.

IF YOU GO

SP: Being a tribute band, it seems like it might be harder to find a way to put your own twist on the music. How do you guys manage to do it?

ME: A lot of infusing our own flavor comes in between songs – almost like if a DJ was segueing songs nonstop. And sometimes there are grooves in the middle that we just kind of stay on for a little and enjoy before coming back to the actual song. We try to keep the songs themselves pretty authentic, but in between – call them jams if you will – it’s like a nonstop party.

SP: Are there any Talking Heads songs that you won’t cover because you feel like they get overplayed?

ME: Not particularly. It just depends on the arrangement, but I wouldn’t say that anything is off limits in our shows.

SP: Do you guys ever consider branching out and playing your own original music?

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

SP: What’s one of your personal favorites to play?

ME: I really enjoy playing “Clean Break” – that’s a fun one. It kind of just depends on how the audience is doing. We tend to feed off of them. So if it’s more mellow then we might do a slower song like “The Big Country,” or if it’s an excited, rambunctious audience, we might do a few songs in a row and go full-out dance party. We have to see...

SneakPEAK writer Elizabeth Escobar can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

How Joel Gratz of Open Snow took the web by storm

PROGRESS The powder prophet

In just three years, Joel Gratz has turned OpenSnow into the web’s most trusted – and funky – powder forecasting website.

Interview by Phil Lindeman.

Open Snow founder Joel Gratz.

Photo: Liam Doran.

Gratz doing his best Scrooge McDuck and slashing through his company’s gold: chest-deep powder.

Photo: Megan Gilman.

into the game. As much as I do enjoy traveling, it’s not really a requirement anymore – I really only need a laptop and an Internet connection at this point.

There are still plenty of surprises – there always will be – but knowing the area Near the end of an interview with Gratz, the founder of OpenSnow, I ask if will tell you how to predict the snowfall. we’ve missed anything. His exact words: “I love powder.” And he’s dead serious, although you’d never know by the funny, lighthearted powder forecasts SP: Still, OpenSnow has carved a sizeable niche in a market dominated by he posts weekly to his insanely popular website. As chief forecaster for Colo- outfits like The Weather Channel and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Asrado, he watched – and correctly predicted – the three-plus feet of snow that sociation. Why do you think the website has done so well? blanketed the Central Rockies since the beginning of January. Fellow powder JG: I think people like to feel they have a local forecaster who cares about hounds listened in droves: Last season, the weather website drew nearly a what they care about. That’s the big difference. I’m here in Colorado covering million unique visitors and is currently ranked in the top 100,000 sites in the snow, but we have people in Utah and Tahoe and a few spots on the East Coast, world. and that’s the key. We aren’t trying to overreach.

Not bad for an East Coast transplant who manPeople who live across the state recognize there aged to turn his love of powder into a career, alare major differences between each mountain beit in an unorthodox way. While others chased range and each ski town, and that’s how I focus pipe dreams like becoming pro skiers or snowmy forecasts. We also like to have fun with the One of the semi-secrets to OpenSnow’s boarders, Gratz turned a degree in meteorology weather. This isn’t about bad news, like a winter success is a massive and entertaining from Penn State into a the sort of trendy, reliable storm warning where driving will be treacherous. online presence. Between an on-site blog, virtual hangout that high-brow marketing firms Skiing is fun, so the forecasts should be fun.

Twitter chatter and new smartphone spend millions trying to replicate. apps, founder Joel Gratz has taken the virtual world by storm (pun slightly inBut the OpenSnow phenomenon isn’t quite SP: From a forecasting perspective, what’s the tended). Here’s how to connect with the that simple. Gratz grew up as a ski racer – a bad biggest indicator for a good snow day at Vail? best powder experts in the industry, no one, he admits – then moved to Colorado about JG: Winds from the northwest. We need moismatter the medium: 10 years back for an environmental studies proture to get snow – that’s a given – but the largest - Opensnow.com gram at University of Colorado-Boulder. He was determining factor for snow and who will get the - Twitter: @FindOpenSnow with an insurance company at the time and began most is the wind direction, usually taken from - iPhone app: Search “OpenSnow” forecasting Colorado as a hobby. What began as the top of a mountain. For Vail, those northwest - Android app: Coming in early Februan email list with a few friends blossomed into a winds are the best indicator. There are really two ary blog, which officially became OpenSnow during reasons: The terrain immediately to the northwest the dismal 2011-2012 ski season. is a bit lower than Vail itself, so when it hits Vail, This year, OpenSnow has expanded to cover Utah, California, Alaska, New it rises and creates precipitation. When the wind changes just a little, Vail can England – just about anywhere in the U.S. with snow and ski hills, really. get three or four times more snow. The second – and this is just a hunch – is Although the site has grown, Gratz still holds true to his original model: en- because the wind hits the Gore Range and adds extra energy, like a firehouse. tertaining forecasts from in-the-know meteorologists who live – and play – in When you force that water through a firehouse, it goes faster. When the wind the ski towns they cover. hits the Gore Range and funnels toward Vail, it does the same thing. Beaver Before Gratz journeyed out to enjoy the fruits of his labor, he spoke with Creek actually does better with a wind from the west because it doesn’t have SneakPEAK about OpenSnow’s growth, the art of forecasting snowstorms and that. A lot of these microclimates aren’t well-understood, and that’s part of the why a northwest wind means white gold for Vail. fun and the challenge.

Joel Gratz loves few things more than powder.

#FindOpenSnow

SneakPEAK: I was talking with a friend about the best online snow reports, and he said, “OpenSnow doesn’t predict the weather. They say what happens and the weather listens.” How’d you get a direct line to Mother Nature?

Joel Gratz: (Laughs) It’s experience and focus. Now, to be very good at weather forecasting in the mountains, you need to travel to all the different ski areas to know the local terrain. In the last decade I’ve traveled the state extensively, just finding out how the terrain is oriented. That’s necessary to get

SP: How much of weather forecasting is simply having a hunch or making an educated guess?

JG: Well, none of it is. It’s about pattern recognition, like anything else in your daily life – traffic, the best snow, anything. It relies on doing something multiple times and tweaking your pattern. The computer models we use to forecast weather aren’t very accurate for predicting snow on their own. We use [See OPEN SNOW, page 19] Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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The science of dance A talk with Alonzo King of San Francisco’s LINES Ballet before the company’s metaphysically layered show comes to Beaver Creek.

Interview by Phil Lindeman.

For choreographer Alonzo King, pyramids have as much to say about ballet as the works of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.

And King doesn’t simply hone in on the iconic Egyptian pyramids at Giza, with their geometric lines and majestic simplicity. As he talks about the allure of dance and his acclaimed company, Alonzo King LINES Ballet of San Francisco, he mentions the pyramid-shaped structures of ancient cultures in Asia, Mesoamerica and portions of the Roman Empire. The shape, he believes, transcends race and class and geography. It’s universal, just like human experience, movement and, finally weaving back to his chosen art form, ballet.

Like the most elegant mathematical equations – think Einstein’s Theory of Relativity – King’s approach to ballet is deceptively simple. His productions balance just about every science and artistic discipline, from music and choreography to geometry and architecture, but the end result doesn’t feel academic or stodgy. After all, King simply loves dance: In 31 years, his company has toured the globe to perform dozens of commissioned shows, often stopping for weeks at a time to hold workshops for up-and-coming dancers. LINES also supports a slew of BFA programs and summer intensives, including the incredibly affordable multi-day Discovery Project, led

by LINES faculty for $50 per student.

King’s belief in the universality of art and science doesn’t end with pyramids and ballet. Over the years, he’s built a reputation for working with top minds in otherwise disparate fields. The upcoming Vilar Center performance is a prime example: It combines three profound yet approachable pieces from Bach (“Concerto for Two Violins”) with a 2010 commissioned piece from Jordi Savall. The two-act show is tied together by King’s choreography and poetry from Irish novelist Colum McCann, the National Book Award winner behind “Let the Great World Spin.” All the works and artists are separated by time, place and form, but through King’s devotion to collaboration, they meld together almost seamlessly.

King says it’s difficult to put art into words, and yet he still tries – after a little prodding. SneakPEAK spoke with the choreographer before the Vilar Center performance to find out more about his company, his approach to ballet and how art is a bit like archaeology.

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OPPOSITE PAGE LINES ballet founder and artistic director Alonzo King.

Photo special to SneakPEAK. THIS PAGE A scene with LINES dancer Meredith Webster from “Writing Ground,” one of two performances the company brings to Beaver Creek.

Photo: Margo Moritz.

Want more?

SneakPEAK: When your company has you aren’t being serious about quick stops like Beaver Creek, do you join life. That brilliant man, Bach, To read an extended version of the the dancers, or is your schedule too tight to said that through his music he exclusive interview with Alonzo King, flit off for a bit? You seem like a wildly busy wanted to prove there’s a god. go to SneakPeakVail.com. guy.

What a statement, what an aim.

Alonzo King: For this tour, I won’t be When you’re creating works, joining the company. The reason they can be you want to dispel the idea that AK: We spent a lot of time communicatdifficult is when you go to a community, you we’re weak, whiney mortals – you want to ing, figuring out where we might want to go, like to be involved more than just the show. show that there is something deeper inside all then he wrote words. It didn’t exactly work I like to see who the young artists are in the of us. You hear this music or read a novel or at first – he wanted to come at it as a novelcommunity, teach classes and bring lectures see a structure and recognize something that ist, but that was a bit too literal for a choand that. Then again, we can also educate you always felt was true, something that may reographer. He ended up writing poetry that through our production, but it’s difficult with have been lying dormant. That’s the point be- will be in the program, and from there I was the economy to stay for a long time. It’s not hind art. able to take flight. He wrote beautiful poetry, feasible. We just got done with a six-week with power and sensitivity. Those poems are tour of Europe and Israel, when we evocative and inspiring, and I were spending a week in each space, able to work well with what “We’re all reaching for transcendence, something that churns the heart was and that got to be expensive. I’m not he gave me. complaining – it was incredible to and the mind.” - Alonzo King, LINES Ballet artistic director engage with people in Tel Aviv and SP: Along with McCann, Paris and Lyon, to see and interact you’re known for a wide variety with so many different cultures.

SP: When putting together a production, of collaborations. Why go out of your way to what’s the first step? Do you begin with the bring so many different people into the ballet SP: Does your take on ballet require a music or the choreography or something world? specific kind of dancer, or can just about any else?

AK: I think what happens, if you are a professional learn your aesthetic?

AK: There’s no formula. People have an cook, you want to best damn produce availAK: It’s not my aesthetic at all. What idea there is one, but there isn’t. It’s like be- able. If you’re building a house, you want people misunderstand about classical train- ing a parent with many different children – the best materials available. I’m interested in ing is that it’s not a “style” per se. What they you don’t treat them the same. You can’t. You the most brilliant minds, whether it’s music imagine is because they’ve seen those mas- take all you’re doing, what you’re thinking or science or anything. I’ve worked with arterful works they think that’s what ballet is, and feeling and breathing, and build off that. chitects – just a huge range of people. Even when they’re really the product of this sci- And because you have craft, you can make a though it appears to be a different discipline, ence known as ballet, this form that’s greater statement. That’s where the hard work comes we’re all reaching for transcendence, somethan any style or person. When you trace it in, because it is a lot of hard work. For some- thing that churns the heart and the mind. You back, the etymology of the word (ballet) just one like you, you might write and read over find out who’s stellar and who’s interesting means to dance – it’s this infinite thing and some passages and say, “Wow, was that re- and who has artistic generosity. blah blah blah. It’s absolutely absurd to think ally me?” If something is sublime, you can’t ballet is a cultural style. It’s based on the line quite take credit. Composers talk about it all and the circle, these scientific principles that the time, that they were given a gift. It’s like make it such an incredible form, loaded with excavating to find that golden thread, where What: Alonzo King LINES Ballet, metaphysical truth. the work leads to the thing that was always a contemporary company led by there. In those ancient cultures, they realized artistic director Alonzo King SP: You make that universality apparent authorship was a joke. The entire concept of When: Sunday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. with very distinct, almost counterintuitive authorship is relatively new. My approach is Where: Vilar Center, Beaver Creek selections. The show you’re bringing to Vi- to search for those truths, and if I can’t quite Cost: $38 to $50 lar begins with Bach, then moves to a 2010 readily find them, I fall back on my intelliPricing depends on seating. To piece. How do you know when something gence. purchase tickets, see vilarpac.org. new and old will play well together?

AK: Who really does anything new? Art SP: Talk about Colum McCann’s contriis about the same questions, asking, “Where bution to the second act, “Writing Ground.” do I go from here,” and “What’s the meaning How did you two meld written fiction with of life?” If you aren’t asking those questions, ballet?

IF YOU GO

Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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A friend of a friend‌

of a thousand more

In our small community, togetherness prevails when friends, family and even strangers come together to celebrate life.

By John O’Neill. “Did you hear the news?�

You, Only Better

Those words have led to some of the darkest messages in my life. “Eric Spry died this afternoon. We don’t know why.� “Todd was shot and killed in Boulder last night.� “Graham fell on his longboard and hit his head. He’s dead.� “Tony was killed in an avalanche in East Vail today.�

Died, shot, dead and killed. Those four words could be used to describe four of my friends. It was David Shearon, my sister Allison, Ryan Hedrick and Rohn Robbins who told me. I was the one who told many others. From there, everyone hears it from everyone – the Vail Valley is a small place in times of tragedy.

There is sadness.

There is anger.

Worse than all, there is no understanding. Too many young people have lost too many young friends in the Vail Valley.

There is sorrow, mourning, tears and that heavy, terrible feeling you get in the back of your throat when you recognize your same pain in the eyes of someone else. “How are you?� “I’m all right.�

It gets asked at every one of the memorials. Too many memorials. I’ve stopped asking. We could gather under better

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circumstances. At best, someone might be doing “all right� at a memorial for a friend. “It’s good to see you,� is what I’ve started saying. It’s the most honest thing I can say. Choking back that lump in my throat and holding back the tears in my eyes. To be in good company, to be with your friends, to see someone you haven’t seen since yesterday or since grade school.

It’s good to see one another, and it’s good to recognize it honestly.

Vail, perhaps more than any other place, is incredible like that. The amount of support in this community transcends a “support network.� A friend, Oliver Ristow, wrote after Tony Seibert’s death: “It will never cease to amaze me how quickly and comprehensively people from Vail mobilize and respond to one another in times of tragedy. We are a remarkable bunch, and to some degree we have Pete Seibert to thank for that.�

Maybe no one will understand this better than the Battle Mountain High School class of 2008, along with their families and the friends this class has made nationwide. Three from our class, one from the classes below. Eric, Todd, Graham, Tony.

Four names that deserve to be recognized as so much more than died, shot, dead, killed.

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OPPOSITE PAGE Tony Seibert.

THIS PAGE Left: The crowd of more than 2,000 family, friends and supporters at Eagle’s Nest for Tony Seibert’s memorial service, held on Jan. 13.

Below: Good beer and a good friend, found on the bottom of an Oskar Blues Brewery can.

Photos: John O’Neill.

Tony’s death on the tenth of January recognized something unbelievable in this valley.

I’ve always had an inordinate amount of pride when I introduce myself as being from Vail. The mountains are incredible – beautiful and demonstrably powerful. Pete Seibert, one of the founders of Vail, recognized this valley as the most spectacular place to begin something special. He began, and so he succeeded in building something extraordinary.

As more than 2,000 people gathered up in Eagle’s Nest at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola for Tony’s service, the closeness and remarkable nature of this valley’s people was demonstrated to the highest degree. In a time when so many people needed somebody to lean on, shoulders were readily available.

Friends who hadn’t seen each other in years embraced and cried. Friends of friends who had never met one another came together on top of Vail Mountain, all to celebrate Tony’s life. They cracked beers and laughed over ridiculous stories.

The village, thousands of feet below, was built on relationships like this.

Although cut short and all too soon, the lives of Eric, Todd, Graham and Tony were built on the beautiful relationships they had with the community.

This is the fourth time that such a similar group has been brought together under such similar circumstances, and the fourth time I have witnessed the awesome outpouring of support.

No words on any page could be loud enough to illustrate the applause that Tony’s life deserves.

The same could be said for Eric, Todd and Graham.

I miss them so much. But, again, no words on any page could be loud enough to illustrate the applause this community deserves for coming together the way we do, here, in Vail.

SneakPEAK writer John O’Neill can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com

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www.Pazzospizza.com Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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Where to find the best moguls, trees and open powder

TOP 5 Must-ski areas at Vail

The ins and outs of Riva Ridge, Siberia Bowl, Blue Sky’s glades and the best runs 5,289 acres has to offer.

By Michael Suleiman.

Left: Making tele turns in Siberia Bowl.

Above: The precipitous drop into Log Chute, the last half of Vail’s infamous Prima-Pronto-Log Chute run on the Front Side.

Photos: Charles Townsend Bessent.

Where to next?

Beneath the soft pitter-patter of snowflakes on your helmet, your brain grasps at memories of the last time you skied Vail. ‘Where was that one mogul run,’ you mumble to yourself.

The magnitude of Vail’s slopes can be overwhelming, local or not. You may say to yourself ‘I know every run’ or ‘I’m the best skier on this mountain’.

Whether you have been skiing Vail for four decades or four days, here is our guide on the top five slopes to help steer you in the right direction.

Best mogul run This category is quite possibly the most difficult, or at least most tiring, of the five. Moguls are a fleeting art form. It used to be the case that some of the best skiers were judged based on their mogul skiing ability. Nowadays, you’re hard pressed to see many “hot-doggers” on the slopes. Regardless, some of the best runs are those that push your limits, many of which are chock full of moguls.

Run name: Prima-Pronto-Log Chute (PPL) Claim to fame: 1,500 vertical feet of nonstop bumps.

Local’s tip: Eat your Wheaties and wear your knee brace.

Find it: To get to PPL head up either Northwoods Express Lift (#11) or Mountaintop Express Lift (#4). Casually cruise down Swingsville to give your legs a warm up before getting to Prima on skier’s right.

hard to, well … choose. This past weekend, Vail had the most people on the mountain in recorded history. The mountain is clearly popular. Our pick will take you farther than other bowls, giving you a sense of serenity without going backcountry.

Run name: Siberia Bowl Claim to fame: Siberia Bowl is one of the steeper bowls at Vail.

Local’s tip: Seclusion is an added bonus as fewer people make their way this far back. Head to adjacent Mongolia Bowl and ski the boundary line for a feeling of ultimate escape.

Find it: To get to Siberia Bowl, ride up Northwoods Express Lift (#11) or Mountaintop Express Lift (#4). Ski down Sleepy Time Road to the Orient Express Lift. From the top of the lift, ski down skier’s left to Siberia Bowl.

Best tree run Vail has a lot of named and unnamed tree runs. We won’t give away any secret stashes here … Even if it is a powder day, and you are true to the cardinal rule (no friends on a powder day), grab a friend if you are heading into the trees.

Run name: Steep and Deep Claim to fame: One of the steeper runs at Vail.

Local’s tip: As the name implies, this is a fantastic run if you like it steep.

Getting to Blue Sky Basin is a bit of a trek, so expect to spend some time getting there – especially on a powder day.

Best family area Find it: To get to Steep and Deep head out to Blue Sky Basin. The run will Finding the perfect run for groups with varied abilities can be difficult. be to the skier’s right off of Skyline Express Lift.

Game Creek Bowl is a great area for families and groups who are looking for a bit of everything. “The area offers a variety of terrain from beginner to expert Best groomer runs, suitable for any and every skier or rider. Families can ride the lift together Everyone likes a good groomed run to cruise down. One of the best groomto the top, choose their own way down, and find the whole group back at the ers on the mountain, and a must ski, is Riva Ridge. “Riva Ridge, Vail’s longest bottom of the same lift ready to do it all over again,” says Vail’s communica- trail is four miles from top to bottom. You can find fresh corduroy on one of tions coordinator Sara Lococo.

Vail’s most famous runs every Monday and Friday,” says Lococo.

Run name: Game Creek Bowl Run name: Riva Ridge Claim to fame: Game Creek Express was one of the first high speed quads Claim to fame: Longest run at Vail. at any resort.

Local’s tip: This run offers an exceptional top to bottom experience. Take Local’s tip: Easy access makes this bowl a great choice for a few fun last it all the way to the bottom or veer off course and go down one of the many runs of the day. offshoots along the way.

Find it: To get to Game Creek head up Gondola one to Wildwoods Express.

Find it: Head up either Northwoods Express Lift (#11) or Mountaintop ExThis will put you right on top of the bowl. press Lift (#4) and ski down Swingsville to Riva Ridge.

SneakPEAK writer Michael Suleiman can be reached at Best bowl info@sneakpeakvail.com When Vail’s founders, Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton, climbed seven hours through deep snow to the top of Vail, Seibert said, “My god Earl, we’ve climbed all the way to heaven.” The enormity of Vail’s back bowls can have that effect on people. With so much open terrain to choose from, it can be

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

An introduction to Minturn’s first and only community org

PROGRESS

A community to be proud of A glance at The Minturn Community Fund and everything it does to ensure Minturn remains a happy, healthy town.

By Nicholas Van Dyke.

“It’s all about the community,” says Kate Gazunis, executive director for the fund. “I really can’t stress that enough. It’s a homegrown, hometown effort that is for building memories for people that live here so that they can love their hometown.”

The fund deals with much more than just being a charity for the town’s population, however.

As the town grew, a community was created It is completely responsible for putting on althat resembled one big family – a feeling that most every free event in town, the sort that allow is still shared by Minturn’s Minturn’s residents to get residents today. In 2004, the together and enjoy the town Minturn Community Fund was in which they live. created to ensure that Minturn’s In the summer there is population (along with its sister free yoga at Little Beach town of Redcliff) would always Park. There’s no charge, be cared for and have help only a donation box that The Minturn Community whenever residents need it. participants can toss some Fund is supported solely The Minturn Community money into if they are able. through donations and Fund is a nonprofit community The fund also hosts a sevolunteer efforts. The development organization that ries of concerts in the park nonprofit can always use exists for one purpose: to make throughout the summer – any and all support from sure that Minturn will always again, free of charge. The the community, no matter remain a strong and happy concert series is designed to where supporters live. community. get the community together Visit the website: See The fund is funded solely so that everyone can have a minturncommunitythrough donations and staffed great time and dance their fund.org to make donaby volunteers. Throughout the worries away. tions, check out previous year, it acts as a charity for the A recent project the fund and upcoming events residents of Minturn and helps has focused on was creating and read the mission develop the community further. a community garden, a projstatement.

By partnering with other local ect that was a huge success nonprofits like the Salvation and brought joy to many of Contact: 970-306-6553 Army, the fund ensures that if Minturn’s residents.

Minturn or any of its residents Members of the fund need anything – anything at all – they will be seem to never stop searching for ways to improve taken care of. the community of Minturn. With all of the new If a member of Minturn’s community falls ill activities taking place around Maloit Park, such and needs help with expenses, the fund will hold as the construction of a new recreation center in a fundraiser and make sure that the person gets conjunction with the thriving Ski and Snowboard [See MINTURN FUND, page 19] the help that they need.

Long before Vail was ever founded and the ski resort was built, the quaint little town of Minturn had already planted its roots and established itself beneath Lionshead Rock.

GET INVOLVED

Top: Minturn Community Fund boardmember Maren Cerimele shows off the lush, slightly soaked fruits of the garden committee’s labor.

Bottom: Volunteers raise the sign last summer at the Minturn Community Garden.

Photos special to SneakPEAK.

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Where you bank matters! www.alpinebank.com

Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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Like Coming Home The Charter welcomes Black Diamond Bistro, a cozy, inviting restaurant with just enough flair to please foodies and families.

By Phil Lindeman.

Somewhere, somehow, comfort food got equated low-brow dining.

At Black Diamond Bistro, the new bar/lounge/restaurant at The Charter in Beaver Creek, comfort food has found a place to shine – and rewrite its reputation. Homespun dishes like pork chops, pan-roasted chicken and a New York strip with béarnaise sauce dominate the throw-back dinner menu, while variations on hot cocoa and Hot Toddys shine on the winter cocktail list.

Just about everything is approachable – no gastronomy foams, no $35 tapas bites – for just about everyone, from 6-year-olds to adventurous foodies. There’s a reason it’s called comfort food.

Then again, executive chef Dan Kent has been around long enough to know comfort food isn’t as simple as the phrase implies. Take his twist on a pork chop: The cut is brined for 24 hours, then finished with a scratch-made Asian barbecue sauce and served on a bed of stir-fried rice. Then there’s the pan-roasted chicken, made with poultry from Front Range farms and finished with the sort of pan jus even cultured folks are tempted to drink.

Maybe, then, Colorado comfort food is a better phrase – familiar, local and surprising enough to keep you coming back.

“Our focus is to be very Colorado driven,” says Kent, a veteran of the valley dining scene who helped open Larkspur Restaurant in Vail. “All our beers on tap are from Colorado, plus Breckenridge bourbon and CapRock gin. The menu follows that theme, too. There’s no cutting any corners – were trying to appeal to the fine dining crowd and the people who realize this is a family hotel. They’re all dedicated diners.”

A true lodge restaurant Beyond the menu, Black Diamond Bistro is inherently inviting for après or sit-down dining. Count Basie and classic rock play quietly in the background, while on particularly cold and blustery days, the scent from warm herbs like thyme, rosemary and ginger wafts from the kitchen, through the two off-set dining rooms and into the lounge, finally stopping near the hearth of the cozy, stone-lined fireplace at the restaurant’s heart. (Somewhere in the hotel’s back office is a photo of former President Gerald Ford on the same hearth, thawing out after a day on the slopes.)

Celebrity diners aside, the space is home to one of Beaver Creek’s most coveted views. 8100 at the Park Hyatt has the immediacy of skiers winding down the slopes, Beano’s Cabin near Larkspur Bowl has the serenity of a moonlit forest, and Black Diamond Bistro has a frame-worthy view of the entire resort, looking across snow-covered roofs toward the valley far below.

“This bar really has some of the best views in Beaver Creek,” says manager Bryan Cheskawich, who has been with several local restaurants, including The Golden Eagle Inn. “And the restaurant as a whole is just very inviting. In terms of that Colorado theme, people enjoy the craft beers and the local slant.”

And yet, The Charter has had a tough time attracting viable restaurants. For years it was home to Tramonti, a similarly cozy

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

Hiding from your smile?

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OPPOSITE PAGE The wide-open bar area at Black Diamond Bistro, found just inside the main lobby at The Charter in Beaver Creek.

THIS PAGE Top: Cocktails at Black Diamond Bistro, including the signature Ski Lift (right) with coconut rum, peach schnapps and hot cocoa.

Middle: The Maryland crab cakes starter.

Bottom: The pan-roasted Colorado half-chicken, with mashed potatoes and pan jus of herbs.

Photos: Kent Pettit.

SneakPICKS at BDB Maryland crab cakes – A shareable app featuring two cakes with a generous amount of shredded crab and a touch of jalapeno, all lightly fried and placed on a bed of bright, crisp apple slaw. ($12) Pan-roasted Colorado half chicken – This warm, homey dish showcases the kitchen’s flair for making the traditional modern. A half chicken from one of several Front Range farms is roasted with a house-made herb mix, finished in the oven, then served over mashed potatoes and an addicting pan jus. ($19)

that upper price point.”

As an old pro, Kent knows any new concept takes time. He hopes the restaurant will attract the same local crowd as Tramonti, along with Vilar Center faithful. The Charter is within walking distance of the theater, and there’s plenty of free (yes, free) parking at the hotel.

Asian BBQ pork chop – Dressing up a staple like pork chops with sweet-and-sour Asian tang is enlightened, particularly when the treatment includes a scratch-made barbecue sauce that’s delicious enough to drink. ($23)

Italian joint Kent says was a favorite of locals and hotel guests. It’s seen several concepts come and go since then, thanks to lengthy shoulder seasons and a somewhat tricky location. Although The Charter is wildly popular with second-homeowners, the various restaurants just haven’t found regular clientele.

To combat these unavoidable roadblocks, Kent and Cheskawich built a menu that’s both enticing and affordable. The entire dinner menu is $29 or cheaper, while the most expensive starter is just $12. Tap beers are $5 across the board, all day long.

“I like opening up a restaurant with menu items I want to eat at a price point I could afford,” Kent says. “This is a place I would go to – I think I’m actually a pretty average diner. There’s still creativity here, but you won’t find something that reaches into

Slightly off-kilter If Kent’s menu seems classic and comfortable, that’s exactly what he wanted. Still, the bistro’s fare stands out from uninspired peers with small yet welcome sparks of creativity. The potato cake, served with the strip steak and Pacific cod, is a near-perfect example of familiar done right. It takes the mouth-watering ingredients of a baked potato – green onions, sour cream and scrumptious bacon – and combines them in a savory cake that’s finished in the fry pan. In a lesser kitchen, the side could become a greasy, salty mess, but Kent has fine-tuned the creation to pair nicely with the $29 steak.

At the bar, the $9 specialty cocktail list is a musttry in wintertime. The Ski Lift is a standout, a twist on adult-minded hot cocoa with coconut rum, peach schnapps and whipped cream. Also try the Chai Toddy, with an alluring blend of light and dark rum, peppermint, chai tea and honey.

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Vail Valley 0056 Edwards Village Blvd. Suite 214 Edwards, CO 81632 • (970) 766-7355 Wilto@vail.net Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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Perspectives on the upcoming Manning vs. Brady match-up

SNEAKSPORTS The best against the best Depending on geography and personal preference, there are two schools of thought when most football fans talk about the greatest quarterbacks of this generation.

Patrick Whitehurst Minturn-based sports lover Patrick Whitehurst writes for fanrag.com.

Tune in weekly for his musings on the wild and complicated love affair between American fans and their most cherished pastimes.

He can be contacted through fanrag.com.

When the numbers are considered only, one quarterback reigns supreme: Peyton Manning is the best. Manning’s eye-popping statistics speak for themselves. Manning’s four (soon-to-be five) MVP trophies rank as the most in NFL history, while Tom Brady won the award twice. By the end of his career, Manning will hold every passing record (except for Favre’s interception mark) and be firmly entrenched on the Mount Rushmore of NFL QBs. Manning made Indianapolis a football town. If not for his heroics and persona, the Colts may very well have moved to Los Angeles over a decade ago.

Those who rank Peyton as a distant second or even third on the current list do so with one stat in mind: championship rings. Peyton Manning has lifted the Lombardi Trophy just once, while the Golden Boy Tom Brady has accomplished the feat on three different occasions. Brady’s Patriots have appeared in five Super Bowls and Peyton is 1-1 in the big game. Brady and his coach are the faces of the New England Patriots and two of the most intense competitors we will ever see. Brady is no slouch in the stats department, either – every year he produces gigantic numbers. While Peyton had Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne (two future Hall-of-Famers) to throw to, Brady made good with the likes of Troy Brown,

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Deion Branch and Reche Caldwell.

Statistics can say any number of things, while wins clearly state one single principle: Both quarterbacks are winners with varying degrees of success. Peyton has better commercials, but Tom married Gisele. Brady has more rings, but Manning seems more likeable.

As great as Peyton Manning has been over the course of his career, he doesn’t even has as many Super Bowl rings as little brother Eli, who accounted for both of Brady’s Super Bowl losses. Eli and Ben Roethlisberger have a combined four Super Bowl titles to their credit, but nobody mentions them in the same breath as the great No. 18.

With the win over San Diego in the AFC Divisional round last week, Peyton’s playoff record improved to 10-11. If the Broncos lose on Sunday, Manning will pass Brett Favre for most postseason losses (12) in NFL history. As Favre said several years ago, “When you play as long as I have, you can’t have all the good records.”

Brady has a sparkling postseason record of 18-7, besting the incredible Joe Montana by two victories. In those 25 postseason contests, Tom Terrific has thrown for 42 touchdowns – three short of Montana’s all-time record. Peyton Manning has thrown for 34 postseason touchdowns and went one-anddone (a.k.a. lost the first playoff game) an astonishing eight times.

Sunday will be the fifteenth time Brady and Manning have faced each other in their careers and the fourth such time in the postseason. The Patriots have beaten Peyton Manningled teams on ten of those occasions, including twice in the postseason. Brady’s first NFL start came against Peyton’s Colts in 2001, a game that New England won 44-13. The last time the two quarterbacks met in the postseason was following the 2006 season in the AFC Championship, a contest that to this day ranks on my list of top-five best games ever played. The Colts won 38-34 in dramatic fashion and went on to win the Super Bowl two weeks later.

Unlike such classic sports clashes as Ali vs.

Frazier and Magic vs. Bird, Brady and Manning don’t actually face each other. Peyton Manning [See SNEAKSPORTS, page 19]

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$

men’s hair cuts CAPTION It was deep, endless powder for local skier Mackenzie Hanna when Beaver Creek opened Stone Creek Chutes early on Jan. 9. The resort continued to be pounded by storms throughout the weekend, logging nearly three feet as of Jan. 14. Snorkels are highly recommended.

PHOTO Zach Mahone.

the barber’s den

52 Weeks Vail Valley

of the

JOURNAL mark the page or contact info of an alternate supplier, and maintain a relationship with them. Purchase backups for crucial equipment, or know where you can find a backup quickly. Whatever it is, seek out ways to anticipate major issues, and do what you can to make them less stressful when they eventually arise by doing some legwork ahead of time.

Considered in tandem, all of these efforts can make it easier to shrug off the dif-

edwards plaza bldg.

926-8091 [From page 5]

ficult day, and find a way to take one step forward, no matter how small. You can learn something new from your mentor. You can help develop a new skill for one of your staff, or tick off to-do list items years old. And perhaps eventually you can rest easier knowing that the next time your feet get wet walking in the door, you’ll know who to call, what backup piece of equipment to plug in, or how great the floors and windows are going to look at the end of the day.

OPEN SNOW those as a base, then augment them with our knowl- ies of Colorado – your home turf – what’s the most edge of the patterns and local terrain. Everyone, from challenging part about making a forecast? the local news to The Weather Channel, uses computer JG: The challenge in Colorado is the number of difdata. It’s how you adjust it that makes the difference. ferent mountain ranges across the state. They are all oriented in different directions. Every state and every SP: When it comes to a place like the Central Rock- area has that challenge, so I don’t like to say it’s the

[From page 9]

hardest, but due to those numerous ranges, learning those microclimates is a challenge. If you think about Utah, the Wasatch Range is a north-to-south mountain range. There are little tricks to forecasting there, but for the most part, there’s the one mountain range you look at.

MINTURN FUND

[From page 15]

Academy found nearby, members of the fund immediately began to wonder how An organization like the Minturn Community Fund makes a person proud to live they could help. They decided that the addition of a sidewalk or bike path at the in a small town. It also gives residents and visitors hope that there are still people south end of the town would provide a safe way for kids to travel into the area. The willing to do good, simply for the sake of making someone else feel better. fund is already in motion to get grants drawn up to make the path a reality.

The fund is always accepting donations. Anyone can donate by simply visiting The fund even goes so far as to pop popcorn and brew hot chocolate to hand out the fund’s website. at its Main Street office on cold days so that children returning from school don’t SneakPEAK writer Nicholas Van Dyke can be reached at info@sneakpeakvail.com freeze.

SNEAKSPORTS is concerned with diagnosing the Patriots’ blitz schemes, not applying pressure to Tom Brady’s receivers on the outside. The two transcendent quarterbacks will see each other before the game and offer congratulations at the final gun, but outside of that they’ll be consumed by doing what they can to help their teams win.

So which quarterback is better and which team will win? I’m a Peyton guy, not because I’m a die-hard Broncos fan or a Patriot hater (although that status has not been verified). I just like him more – always have, always will. If you’re a New England fan the answer is simple: Tom. If Denver wins and goes on to win the Super Bowl, those same fans can respond, “One more ring and he matches Brady.”

As great as these quarterbacks are, the team that runs the ball the best and makes the fewest mistakes will probably come out on top.

[From page 18]

The AFC Championship this week in Denver will be one for the ages. Enjoy watching the two greatest quarterbacks of this generation (and numbers three and four on my all-time list) battle it out for the right to play for another ring.

Remember, the best quarterback may not win, but then again, how can the best lose?

Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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Bay Area electronic DJ Ana Sia brings dancy, bass-heavy beats to Samana Lounge on Jan. 17.

Photo special to SneakPEAK.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Have an event for the SneakPEAK calendar? Email your blurb to info@sneakpeakvail.com

Tricia’s Top 8

Thursday, Jan. 16

Moonlit snowshoe hike at Vail Before heading to the adult-only holiday parties, visit It’s cold, dark and possibly snowy, but we guarantee you’ll love it. Once the sun sets, join guides from Walking Mountains Science Center for a onehour moonlight hike. Travel by snowshoe as you learn about the habits of nocturnal animals, all while reveling in the beauty of moonlit mountains. Please come prepared to spend a hour outside in the winter environment with snow pants, warm hats, gloves, and sturdy boots. Programs will meet at the Nature Discovery Center located in the all-seasons yurt adjacent to the Eagle’s Nest, found at the top of Eagle Bahn gondola at Vail. Free for ages 10 and older.

Told you we’d guarantee your love, or at least your momentary infatuation. For more info, see walkingmountains.org.

Thursday, Jan. 16

Jake Wolf and Friends at Vail Ale House Local drummer Jake Wolf has the sort of friends you want to know. Head to Vail Ale House in West Vail around 10 p.m. every Thursday for free live music from Wolf, plus a rotating selection of local and Colorado musicians. It’s a rollicking start to an early weekend or just the best end to an average day. Either way, it’s still free. For more info, see vailalehouse. com.

Friday, Jan. 17

Smart Training for Busy People workshop in Eagle For the ladies of the Women’s Empowerment Workshop, a local organization for female-focused activities and professional development, the winter is about to kick off with a bang. Mt. Everest climber and personal trainer Ellen Miller joins Susie Kincade, the organization founder, for a one-day workshop to reconnect mind, body and spirit, not to mention welcome 2014 in good health. The program includes a heart-healthy interval session and vision board workshop. For more info on pricing, registration and exact location, see womensempowerment.us.

Friday, Jan. 17

Après with Dave Tucker at Pepi’s Restaurant Head to historic Hotel Gastof-Gramshammer – one of Vail Village’s original lodges – for après entertainment by local acoustic musician Dave Tucker. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tucker plays a set of pop hits and crowd requests from the small stage at Pepi’s Res-

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

Tricia Swenson

1. Time to giggle, laugh, bust a gut and work those ab muscles while listening to the comedy of Wanda Sykes, one of the top comediennes coming to the Vilar this winter.

She takes the stage on Thursday, Jan. 16, and tickets will go fast. Choose your seat and purchase tickets through vilarpac.org.

2. If you know the Skier and Rider Responsibility Code, you could get rewarded by Vail Mountain. National Safety Month is upon us, and if you recite the seven points of the Responsibility Code to any Mountain Safety employee, you will be entered for your chance to win a GoPro Hero 3+ during the month-ending raffle.

3. Like to ski fast? Join a team or participate individually in the Vail Summit Orthopaedics Town Series in Vail, held most Thursdays throughout the ski season. Open to alpine skiers, telemark skiers and snowboarders, races run at 1 p.m., followed an après party at 5 p.m. with free drinks, free food and great prizes. No experience necessary. Go to skiclubvail.org for more information.

4. Kids, listen up: Fun times are ahead if you want to participate in the spring showcase of “Around the World”, a revue of songs from nations found across the globe. Hits include “Lion King,” “Moulin Rouge,” Aladdin and more. The shows take place on March 15 and 16, and are open to students ages 8 to 18. Auditions and rehearsals start Jan. 12 and are held Sundays at Homestake Peak School. The Vail Performing Arts Academy can be reached at vpaa.org.

5. On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Vail Valley Medical Center presents a film screening of “The Crash Reel,” a film about pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce. It tells the story of how a devastating crash squelched his dreams of heading to the Olympics in 2010. Pearce will be in attendance and answer questions after the showing. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and costs $10 through vilarpac.org.

6. Where should you go for après ski? Mix it up and try Cucina at the Lodge at Vail. Stay outside by their cozy fire-pits and warm up with a hot drink, live music and appetizer specials. The deck is open 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

7. Speaking of après ski, instead of having a beer, grab some OXYGEN! The new “SpApres” at the Sonnenalp Spa invites you to come on down and revive yourself with oxygen scented as lemongrass, spearmint or eucalyptus. It only costs $1 per minute, so it is worth a try! The oxygen bar is open 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.

8. Head to Back of the House at Flame restaurant in the Four Seasons and be treated to a specialty B.O.H. burger, plus a crash course on the hustle and bustle of a hotel restaurant led by chef Jason Harrison. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance, so call ahead at 970.477.8650.

taurant, named for Austrian ski legend and hotel Saturday, Jan. 18 namesake Pepi Gramshammer. Keep an eye out for Phil Long après at Shakedown Bar specials on European drafts and finger food. The resJoin Phil Long, one of Vail’s most iconic après taurant hosts après music throughout the holidays. musicians, for an afternoon set at his new home of For more info, see pepis.com.

Shakedown Bar in Vail Village. After more than 25 years entertaining locals and visitors alike, Long has Friday, Jan. 17 put together an impressive set-list that ranges from Ana Sia at Samana Bob Dylan and The Beatles to Journey and The White Love and electronica – that’s all Bay Area DJ Ana Stripes. Even when the music isn’t playing, Long is Sia has ever needed. The up-and-coming digital mae- known for quick wit and plenty of banter with the stro brings her bass-heavy, dance-ready beats to Sa- crowd. Shows often require reservations beforehand mana Lounge in Vail Village for a one-night stand by calling a reservation hotline at 303.415.0160. Give (the musical kind, not the other). Fellow club DJ Tk the dates you’d like to attend and your spot will be Kayembe opens. Doors open at 9 p.m., with music saved. Music begins at 5 p.m. most afternoons and soon after. Prepare to pay a cash cover of around $10. runs until 9 p.m. For more info or an online reservaDrink specials include half-off signature cocktails tion form, see shakedownbarvail.com. until 11 p.m., as well as $3 you-call-its with a receipt from Garfinkel’s in Lionshead. How’s that for broth- Sunday, Jan. 19 erly love. For more info, see samanalounge.com.

BC Behind the Scenes tour at Beaver Creek Sometimes, tired kids (and even bone-sore adults) need a vacation from their ski vacation. Join Beaver

Creek for a regular tour of the resort, one of several free and low-intensity activities hosted throughout the winter. The BC Behind the Scenes tour on Sunday runs from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and gives visitors a ground-level glance at the inner workings of a ski resort. Tour the backstage area at Vilar Center, learn how a snowcat operates, meet the folks who make skiing possible and more, all for free. Registration isn’t required – just arrive in the front lobby of the Vilar Center a few minutes before the tour is set to begin. The Vilar Center is found on the lower level of Beaver Creek village, just down the escalator from the ice rink. For more info on this and other recurring events, see beavercreek.com.

Since you’ll tackle all Blue Sky has to offer (plus the wax-testing cat tracks to Chair 37), the tour is recommended for skiers and riders in the upper-intermediate range. For more info, see vail.com.

Monday, Jan. 20

Open gym at the Vail Gymnastics Center In search of a foam pit but don’t want to make the trek to Copper? The Vail Gymnastics Center is home to one of just two public foam pits in the valley, perfect for practicing the tricky triple corks and double underflips. Along with the pit, open gym time every Monday at 8 p.m. offers athletes of all levels (ages 13 years and older) an opportunity to practice on all equipment, including a trampoline, tumbling mat and Monday, Jan. 20 more. Drop-in rate is $10 per session. The gymnastics Guided Blue Sky Basin tours at Vail center is located along the North Frontage Road next There’s a beast on the south end of Vail, and that to the Vail post office. For more info, see vailrec.com. beast has a name: Blue Sky Basin. The backcountry playground is one of the resort’s most reward yet in- Tuesday, Jan. 21 timidating areas, filled with trees, cliff drops and ac- Wood and Wire at Agave cess to out-of-bounds terrain. If you’ve never been Few things go better with the Avon restaurant’s to Blue Sky, Monday is your chance to make the trek weekly $1.50 taco night than free (as in completely with an in-the-know guide. The tour begins at 11:00 free) music. This week brings Wood and Wire, a foura.m. from Henry’s Hut, found across from Patrol piece acoustic act from that great hotbed of music, Headquarters (PHQ) at the top of Chair 4. Please ar- Austin. The band has a distinctly Americana vibe, rive at the hut by 10:45 a.m. to sign a release form.

- Available for private parties and group functions -

Open for Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner Breakfast served ALL DAY! Lunch 11am - 3pm Dinner 5pm - close Mon - Sat

but influences as disparate as Doc Watson and Led Zeppelin seep into original tunes and rollicking covers. Cheap hard-shell tacos are available throughout the day until 9 p.m. when the music starts. Watch for draft specials once the music starts, when entry is 21 and older only. For more info, see agaveavon.com.

Wednesday, Jan. 22

Jaimee Paul at Vilar Center With powerhouse pipes and a stellar backing band, Nashville-based jazz singer Jaimee Paul has fast built a following with fans of old-school soloists.

The graduate of Belmont University – an acclaimed school in the heart of Music City – brings her brand of Gospel-infused singing to Vilar Center for a single performance on Jan. 22. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to all ages. Tickets cost $25. To purchase tickets or find out more, see vilarpac.org.

Open nightly 5pm - close Breakfast: Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 8 - 11am

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NickysQuickie.com Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

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DINING GUIDE VAIL

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Gohan Ya West Vail Mall 970.476.7570 Asian cuisine L|D|$

Ludwig’s Sonnenalp Resort 970.479.5429 Contemporary American B|$

Red Lion Top of Bridge St. 970.476.7676 American L | D | $$

Up The Creek Bar & Grill 223 Gore Creek Dr. 970.476.8141 Contemporary Cuisine D | $$

Joe’s Famous Deli 288 Bridge St. 970.479.7580 Deli B|L|D|$

May Palace Next to City Market West Vail 970.476.1657 Chinese L|D|$

Russell’s By the Covered Bridge 970.476.6700 Steakhouse D | $$

Vendetta’s 291 Bridge St. 970.476.5070 Bar/Pizza/Pasta L| |$

Kelly Liken Gateway Building 12 Vail Rd. 970.479.0175 D | $$$

Matsuhisa Located in the Solaris 970.476.6682 Japanese/Peruvian L | D | $$

Subway West Vail 2161 N. Frontage Rd. Village Blvd.

970.926.2400 Sandwiches B|L|D|$

Vail Chophouse 675 West Lionshead Place 970.477.0555 Steak & Seafood L | D | $$

La Bottega 100 E. Meadow Dr. 970.476.0280 Northern Italian L | D | $$

Montauk Seafood Grill Lionshead Village 970.476.3601 Creative Seafood/Meat L | D | $$

Sushi Oka Hibachi 100 East Meadow Drive.

Suite #4 970.476.1588 Sushi/Japanese D | $$

Westside Cafe & Market 2211 N. Frontage Rd. 970.476.7890 American B|L|D|$

Lancelot Next to Children’s Fountain 970.476.5828 Prime Rib/Steak/Seafood D | $$

Nozawa Holiday Inn, WestVail 970.476.9355 Sushi L | D | $$

Sweet Basil 193 E. Gore Creek Dr. 970.476.0125 Contemporary American L | D | $$$

Yama Sushi 168 Gore Creek Dr. 970.476.7332 Sushi | D | $$

Larkspur Restaurant Golden Peak 970.754.8050 Creative American D | $$$

Ore House 232 Bridge St. 970.476.5100 Steaks/Seafood L | D | $$

Swiss Chalet 20 Vail Road 970.476.5429 Fondue D | $$$

Yeti’s Grind Located in the Solaris 970.476.1515 Coffee and snacks B|L|D|$

La Tour 122 E. Meadow Dr. 970.476.4403 French & American D | $$$

Osaki’s 100 E. Meadow Dr. 970.476.0977 Sushi D|$

The Tavern On The Square 675 Lionshead Place 970.754.7400 Bar, American L|D|$

The Little Diner West Lionshead Plaza 970.476.4279 Calssic Diner/Traditional Favorites B|L|$

Pazzo’s Pizzeria 122 E. Meadow Dr. 970.476.9026 Pizza/Pasta/Salads L|D|$

Terra Bistro| 352 Meadow Dr., Vail Mountain Lodge& Spa 970.476.6836 Contemporary American D | $$

Lord Gore & the Fitz Lounge Manor Vail at the base of Golden Peak 970.476.4959 Contemporary American D | $$

Pepi’s By the Covered Bridge 970.476.4671 German D | $$

The George 292 Meadow Dr. 970.476.2656 Bar/American D|$

Los Amigos Top of Bridge St. 970.476.5847 Mexican L|D|$

Qdoba 2161 N. Frontage Rd. 970.476.7539 Mexican L|D|$

Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

$ = $10-$20 $$ = $20-$40 $$$ = $40+ B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner

To see more dining options, please review next week’s issue, November 28

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FROM GONDOLA TO GOURMET Experience delectable dishes, alluring atmospheres, superlative service and vibrant views at Vail’s premier on-mountain dining restaurants. Access these truly unique restaurants via Gondola One (The 10th) or the Eagle Bahn Gondola (Bistro Fourteen and Game Creek Restaurant) for lunch, après or dinner.

THE 10TH

the10thvail.com | 970.754.1010

BISTRO FOURTEEN

vail.com | 970.SKI.VAIL (754.8245)

GAME CREEK RESTAURANT

gamecreekvail.com | 970.SKI.VAIL (754.8245)

HAVE YOU EVER FELT RUG LOVE? Come to Ruggs Benedict & fall in love with a rug.

Check out rugs like library books - Come to our store and choose some rugs you like. If needed we will deliver them to your home in the Vail Valley for free. See how they look in your home, then keep the ones you love.

1000 beautiful area rugs in stock - Our selection of imported, hand made rugs is unmatched. Over the past 25 years, we have built relationships with the best rug makers around the world. We buy direct and sell directly to you at wholesale prices.

200 choices under $200 - We have area rugs to fit any room and any budget. Stop by and check them out!

“The right rug can make the room.”

Mandy & Roger Benedict

Serving the Vail Valley since 1972 Ruggs Benedict - Voted 2009 Business of the Year

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Thursday, January 16 - January 22, 2013

810 Nottingham Road, Avon • 970-949-5390 • www.ruggsbenedict.com