Rocky P.

Dear Sarah,

It's been one month to the day. I'm sure you are all settled in up there. I can't imagine it would be too hard. I unfortunately can't say the same here. Loosing you has reminded me that everyone I have in my life is borrowed. I try to appreciate every second I can with the ones I love... because I know someday I'm going to have to give them back. I hope you have been sending Dania some extra comfort at night, she's in a heck of a lot of pain. I wish I could comfort her more, but all she wants is you. From what I know Rory is doing alright. Him and Trennon took an airplane aerobatics lesson together. Still crazy as usual. I pray for him every night. The moving articles of you continue to flood the web. It has been very obvious how many people are so deeply saddened by your death. I think you will be satisfied to know that in every competition every girl has been skiing for you, so you're still winning them all (as usual). I laugh when I think about that... You were a winner, and even your death won't stop you from that! It comforts me to know that you have skied all over the globe since you left... Your spirit is in the hearts of us all. From skiers riding pow in Europe, to park and pipe here in Breck, to tree lines in Japan... You've done it all in the past month.

I traced your signature and me and Dania had them made as small diecuts for goggles, cellphones, etc for all your close friends. I put one on my rear view mirror. This is going to be a tough road for us all... But now every time I look back, there you are to keep me looking forward.

We love you Sarah J. Burke. Now and forever.

Due to all the avalanche danger this year I know all the mountain dogs are working extra hard. I recently came across Rocky P's twitter account and was overwhelmed with cuteness. Rocky P is an Avy dog at Vail resort... And quite popular as well!! His twitter led me to his very own Epic Mix page and tons of Epic Mix photos with fans! Rocky P has logged 168,000ft this season, quite impressive if I do say so myself! (Check out his page here for loads of cuteness.)

(Not sure the story behind this photo, but that is most definitely a deer leg. LOL!)

Rocky P is just one of many avy dogs at resorts all over the globe. These guys aren't only man's best friend... They're heroes, just like the rest of ski patrol. So next time you see an avy dog (who isn't busy) at Vail Resorts, Copper, or anywhere, make sure to thank him with a big pet and smooch on the nose! It makes my day every time I see one on the mountain or chair lift... They just love their job! The happiest dogs are mountain dogs!

50 Years In Photos

The Denver Post made a really neat photo tribute of the last 50 years to celebrate Breckenridge Resort's 50th Birthday. You can go through all 59 photos (here). Below are a few of my favorites.

Sept. 24, 1961. Claude Martin, former Wichita builder now serving as vice president and resident general manager of the Summit County Development Corp., inspects one of five new ski trails being built at Breckenridge, Colo. as part of a project to turn the old mining town into a major resort.

Oct. 14, 1962. The new 6,200-foot double chair lift at Breckenridge ski area starts above timbeline on Peak 8, where ski investment is $2,250,000.

October 14, 1962. Mount Baldy is framed by turn equipment atop Peak 8 in the new Breckenridge ski area. A new double chair lift and a new T-bar have been added at the ski area.

1960's Breckenridge Ski Area.

Nov 27, 1977. Skiers at Breckenridge Ski Area crowd into lift lines in a scene typical of the long Thanksgiving weekend at Colo. ski resorts. Those near Denver reported several thousand skiers and lift waits of up to a half hour were common over the weekend.

Carol Rich, a Breckenridge lift attendant soon to be featured in Playboy Magazine, gives everyone a lift at the Colorado area, including these tots with a special request.

Dec 12, 1971. The Summit County Courthouse and other old relics of bygone gold mining days form the foreground for more than 200 acres of new trails (at left) at Breckenridge ski area. The trail network of the older area is at right beneath peaks of Tenmile Range.

Feb 17, 1976. High winds kick up the snow to create a blustery winter scene at Breckenridge ski area Monday, the last day of the three-day Washington's birthday weekend, traditionally one of the state's biggest ski weekends. This view is of Peak 9 looking toward Peak 10.

Breckenridge's first snowboarding world championship in 1986.

An Eventful Month

Dear Sarah,

It's been two weeks since you've been gone. I told myself this would get easier; I was wrong. I find myself thinking "I just can't believe" all the time, I just can't seem to understand why. I can no longer look at photos of you without any emotion, and I can no longer read the articles or watch the videos in motion. I think I'm trying to push away the reality we all have to face. I read through your tweets last night, almost all of them. It was comforting to read things you wrote, I laughed so hard at some of them I remember from months ago:

"Oh girls we are about to get serious! Not only does this floaty have iPod dock & speakers it also has a motor and a cooler! Look out lake!"
"My phone was just commandeered by a 6 yr old for an hour. Well that's what I get for having Wheres Waldo on it."
"Hey @bushywayne, really great to see you last night between the hours of 2:30am-5:30am. Shall we do it again next month?"

X Games had the most beautiful ceremony for you. Rory, the family, everyone was there. I don't know why I'm telling you that though, because I know you were there too. Lil Wayne even recorded his respect to you and condolences to your friends and family. That blew my mind... Well, kind of. It's not completely surprising Sarah, you were so amazing. Life just seems really messed up sometimes without you here. Just knowing you're not doing your thing, always smiling from ear to ear. I'm trying hard to be strong... I just really, really, really don't want you to be gone. I have so much more to say, but I'll leave it at that... Until next time.

We love you Sarah, and we miss you so much.

Forever,

Ali

 January was a busy month for the state of Colorado. XGames in Aspen and SIA in Denver were in the same week. SIA is the largest Snow Sports Trade Show all year where companies show off some of their next-year products to potential buyers and other sports industry members. The first two days are indoors followed by a 3rd on-snow demo day. One of these years I'm going to make it down for SIA.
*All images from SIA are courteous of www.newschoolers.com.

This past week was also the annual Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge that I look forward to every year. Unfortunately my favorite one broke due to the warm weather so I didn't even get a picture of it, but here are most of the other ones.