Patch 4.3 – Die epischen Edelsteine (UPDATE)

IRISH OLYMPICS ARE ON TAP AT BRODIE.(SPORTS)

Albany Times Union (Albany, NY) March 16, 1995 Byline: Buzz Gray What would St. Patrick’s Day be without the annual Irish Olympics over at Brodie Mountain in the Berkshires? Not as much fun, that’s for sure. web site smith goggles

For the 30th consecutive winter, the folks at Brodie are leaving no stone unturned to provide that special atmosphere. As usual, there’ll be green snow, roving bagpipers and other special events.

The weeklong observation ends Sunday. Anyone wearing green gets a discount off lift tickets throughout the week. And anyone who can verify that his or her last name is Kelly may ski free all day Friday.

“Everything’s green. The decorations. The snow. Even the food and beverages,” said Matt Kelly, general manager of Brodie. “We’ve been very careful to retain the family atmosphere.” Besides the tube races, obstacle courses and torchlight parade, the popular Brodie Slush Jump is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Specialty foods and the Casterbridge Union Band from Dublin, Ireland, are big parts of the weeklong entertainment. For more details, call Brodie at 1-413-443-4752.

Series back at Hunter:The seventh annual Lyons/Sambora charity ski series will be staged at Hunter Mountain in the Catskills on Saturday. The race is the only ski event that features competition between able-bodied skiers and disabled ones. Able-bodied skiers are encouraged to use handicapped adaptive equipment.

Over the past six years, the charity has raised more than $90,000, which has been donated to national learn-to-ski programs for handicapped children.

Former New York Islander Bobby Nystrom will be one of the featured celebrity skiers. The event will feature a prerace party Friday, a clinic for racers, a silent auction and an award ceremony. For more information, call 1-908-671-7995. in our site smith goggles

Novelty event:Stratton Mountain in Vermont will conduct its World Snowmeister Championships this weekend. It’s an imaginative new Alpine combined competition that rewards the fastest individual through the gates on both a pair of skis and a snowboard.

Bring the family:West Mountain in Glens Falls will stage its annual Family Fun Day this Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Although the main event will be the giant slush-cup jumping contest, there will be plenty of other activities to keep the less adventurous busy. Lift tickets will cost just $15, with half of the ticket price donated to the Double H Hole in the Woods Ranch. Non-skiing adults can participate in all off-slope activities for $5. Among the benefits are free ice cream cones, balloons and an outdoor barbecue.

Generation gap closer:Lapland Lake in Benson will stage its first Grandparent-Grandchild Day on Saturday. Free cross-country skiing will be offered to grandchildren (up to age 12) who are accompanied by a grandparent.

“We wanted to do something for all of our skiing grandparents and their grandchildren,” said Lapland owner Olavi Hirvonen. “Skiing on groomed trails is such a wonderful experience and a great way for relatives to share their recreational time together.” Also on Saturday, a discounted $10 beginner lesson will be available for adults (children free) at 1 p.m. In addition to lessons, horse-drawn sleigh rides will be staged from noon to 4 p.m. This weekend, Lapland is also giving any cross-country or Alpine season pass-holder a half-price discount, which means skiing for $4.50. More details are available by calling Lapland at 863-4974.

A challenge:Bromley Mountain in Vermont is staging its Spring Mogul Challenge on Saturday. Rossignol Skis, Marker Bindings and Smith Goggles are sponsoring the event, which means plenty of top prizes in four categories: three for men, one for women. The cost is $30, which includes a lift ticket. The elimination round begins on the East Meadow Trail at 10 a.m. The top scorers advance to the finals at 1 p.m.

Telemark Time:Sugarbush in Vermont is conducting the 20th annual Eastern Telemark Festival on Saturday and Sunday. A giant slalom race plus a bumpcontest is planned, as are clinics and demos. Activities will be staged on South Mountain. Call 1-802-583-2385 for more details.

Buzz Gray’s ski column runs every Thursday during the ski season. He can be reached at 454-5415.