The well-known Sun Valley ice rink has welcomed skaters of all abilities for decades. It first opened in 1936 with the rest of the resort. It has appeared in movies, hosted the world’s most famous figure skaters and is a place many Idahoans have taken a lap (or a tumble).

But this winter, the ice is gone – both on the outdoor rink, as well as the indoor rink next door where the Sun Valley Suns usually play.  No triple axels. No sow cows. No nervous kids learning to skate. But, the rinks will return.

Cooling down

“We are replacing the entire mechanical refrigeration system that services both rinks as well as the floors beneath each ice surface,” Scott Irvine, Ice Operations Manager for Sun Valley Resort, said. “The scope of the project is extensive and we’re thrilled to have it underway.”

The resort closed the rinks in September, according to the Idaho Mountain Express, which forced the cancellation of the final planned outdoor ice show of the summer season. But the paper said the upgrade was already planned to start the next month. The rink reopened for a time in January when the outdoor temperatures were cool.

The work, as viewed late last month by BoiseDev, appeared extensive – with the concrete surface of the outdoor rink entirely removed and work crews preparing the surface for new equipment.

Irvine said the refrigeration and piping system for the outdoor rink date to 1956. The indoor rink opened in 1975. The upgrades should make the year-round outdoor rink, as well as its indoor sister, more energy efficient.

“Modern refrigeration systems are much more energy efficient and reliable than their predecessors,” Irvine said. “Our new system is also capable of providing more refrigeration capacity, which will help us maintain more consistent ice in the warmer months.”

Central Idaho recorded $18.9 million dollars in air transportation from visitors.

KETCHUM, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Idaho Tourism Economic Impact Committee gathered Wednesday in Ketchum, to discuss the upcoming fiscal year budget.

“What they do is they look at our marketing programs and they look at what we’re projecting FY-23 year. More importantly it also gives an opportunity for us to reflect on our successes and what direction we’re going for 2024,” said Tourism Manager – Diane Norton.

In Central Idaho, which includes Blaine County, travel spending generated just shy of $408 million dollars, up $78 million dollars from 2020. And 39 million of that went to state and local tax revenue.

“We also try and support our other regions, and sister communities, whether it’s Shoshone, Twin, Jerome or heading north. We get a lot of traffic going through Hailey and we have a welcome center in downtown Hailey. That’s going up to Stanley – going up to Salmon – going up to Middle Fork, we not only like to help promote our community, but give advice to those people coming and going about the cool things going on in Twin or Stanley,” said Mike McKenna – The Chamber of Hailey and the Wood River Valley.

Central Idaho recorded $18.9 million dollars in air transportation from visitors.

The Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey provides flights to six different cities during peak summer and winter seasons.

“We are one stop to the world because you can fly from Sun Valley to another city to another international destination, we like to say we’re nonstop to six different cities and one stop to the world,” said Carol Waller from the Fly Sun Valley Alliance.

PARK CITY, UTAH (October 10, 2022) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard confirms a two-year deal with resorts in Sun Valley, Idaho, and Waterville Valley, New Hampshire to host the Toyota U.S. Alpine National Championships and the Toyota U.S. Freestyle National Championships through the 2024 season.

“Sun Valley and Waterville have a proven track record of hosting competitions and we could not be more excited to have them on board for the next two years,” says Eric Webster, Director of Events at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “U.S. Ski & Snowboard is excited to support the organizing committees and look forward to cheering on the athletes, many of whom are currently on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team rosters.”

From April 2-5, Sun Valley Resort will host the 2023 Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships with both men and women competing in slalom, giant slalom and super-G events. The course in Sun Valley has a storied history of alpine racing, along with technical and challenging terrain, and will feature local U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes such as Ryder Sarchett, Jack Smith and Dasha Romanov.

“As the first destination ski resort in North America, we are proud to be a location where history and memories are made. We last hosted the U.S. Alpine Championships in 2018, and we are looking forward to welcoming back athletes to our beautiful community, where people have come to enjoy the incredible terrain and experience since 1936,” said Sun Valley Resort Director of Marketing & PR Bridget Higgins. “Sun Valley’s history is steeped in unifying competition and team camaraderie, and we’re looking forward to seeing friendly and healthy competition foster incredible performances. We are so proud that three Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation members are on the team.”

FULL STORY HERE

How to Make the Most of Your Labor Day Weekend in Sun Valley

Labor Day weekend often marks the end of summer. Here at Sun Valley, that’s something to reflect on and celebrate, because here there’s something to do in every season, and the closing of one opens doors for another… might be the time to start thinking about a ski tune.

Friday

8:50pm: Sun Valley on Ice. Featuring 2x United States Gold Medalist, World Bronze Medalist and Olympic Team Member, Alysa Liu and United States Gold Medalist and Olympic Bronze Medalist, Jason Brown. Grandstand and Terrace seating are still available so be sure to buy your tickets while they last!

Saturday

9am: Yoga at River Run. Classes are free and open to all skill levels. Participants are asked to bring their own mat, sunscreen, water bottle and sunglasses.

11am-6pm: Silver Car Auction. Classic vintage cars including sports, exotics, luxury, and muscle cars will all be on display for auction. You won’t want to miss it!

4pm-7pm : Sip ’n Shop. Browse through Pete Lanes, Brass Ranch, Panache, Signatures Gift Shop and more while sipping on complimentary beverages from each village location and listening to live music.

7pm: Movie on the Pavilion Lawn. Grab the family for a screening of “The Goonies” on the Pavilion lawn. Admission is free, but be sure to bring your own chairs, blankets and movie snacks!

Sunday

Pickleball Tournament. Open to all ages and skill levels, this is the perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy.

11am-6pm: Silver Car Auction. Classic vintage cars including sports, exotics, luxury, and muscle cars will all be on display for auction. You won’t want to miss it!

5:30pm: Marshall Tucker Band. See The Marshall Tucker Band with special guest Jeremy McComb performing live at the Sun Valley Pavilion. Jam out to country rock n’ roll and blues to celebrate the holiday weekend with friends and family.

Monday

Relax and recharge from the busy weekend with a scenic ride on the gondola or a spa day at Sun Valley Spa.

Fly fishing certainly provides its challenges. But Idaho Basecamp is offering yet another challenge—a unique fly-fishing competition titled the Sun Valley Single Fly.

The event will be kick off with a Fly Crawl the evening of Friday, July 29. The actual fishing will be done Saturday, July 30, on the Big Wood River, one of Idaho’s famous Blue Ribbon trout streams.

The rules are simple: Pick a single fly to fish with for two hours. Once your fly is gone, you’re done. Scoring is based on the number of fish you’ve caught with that fly with bonus points for length.

Funds raised by the event will benefit outdoor education at Idaho Basecamp, a non-profit based in Bellevue and near Mackay that offers outdoor education to youth in order to cultivate the leaders of today and tomorrow. The funds from this event will benefit 450 students taking part in The Sahm 5^th Grade Outdoor Adventure Program, which offers a free three-day, two-night outdoor adventures for fifth-graders in public schools in Blaine, Custer, Lemhi, Butte and Ada counties.

“The Big Wood River is a touchstone for our community’s connection to nature,” said Mat Gershater, executive director and founder of Idaho Basecamp. “Its pristine beauty has inspired generations of land stewards. Fishing the Wood is always an amazing experience. Fly fishing for a cause makes a day on the river event sweeter.”

A Fly Crawl will kick off the event. Sort of like a gallery walk for anglers, fishermen may walk a route of local outfitters, guides and shops that will offer refreshments and local expertise on what fish are biting on.

Following registration and the Fly Crawl, participants are invited to join veteran angers and tune up their knot-tying skills at a Nosh and Knots table that will be set up in Ketchum Town Square.

Fishing will begin the morning of Saturday, July 30, and the event will wrap up with lunch, a silent auction and raffle and an awards ceremony.

Awards will be bestowed to first-place winners in several categories: Flights, Solo Flights, Sun Valley Open for all anglers, Senior Flights for those over 60, Junior Flights for those 18 and under, Duo Flights for an adult/child tea, Duo Open Flight for any two anglers over 18, Team Flights, Corporate Flights for business-sponsored teams with four anglers and Family Open for any four anglers with one under 19 or over 60.

Since 1977, the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands has stewarded the iconic open space

It’s hard to imagine a gift of land that might be more meaningful and significant in Ketchum/Sun Valley, Idaho. The iconic Reinheimer Ranch, with more than 110 acres of open space and pasture lands, greets visitors as they approach Ketchum on both sides of state Highway 75. The pastures are often occupied by draft horses and wildlife—foxes, coyotes and elk in particular.

The late Eleanor Reinheimer gifted the property to the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands in 1977. Eleanor and her husband, Howard, who hailed from New York, began visiting the Wood River Valley in the late 1930s, when Union Pacific Railroad and its Chairman Averell Harriman were just beginning to promote the area to Hollywood celebrities and New Yorkers.

The Reinheimers purchased the ranch in 1941; they often spent the entire summers in the quiet haven, especially after World War II, says Doug Bradshaw, the trustee designated by the Reinheimer Family to oversee the original 6-acre ranch house and barn property.

“They loved the Western culture,” Bradshaw says. “It became a unique and wonderful experience for them.” When Eleanor Reinheimer donated the property to the Foundation following her death in 1976, she specified in her will that she wanted the 110-acre property to be maintained in the same “natural state” that her family had enjoyed. The Foundation made sure that her wishes were fulfilled.

The scenic, pastoral property lies adjacent to the Big Wood River and the Wood River Trail, a paved bike path. The open space area owned by the Sun Valley Company on the River Run side of Bald Mountain adds to the natural setting as people drive into town.

Full Article Here

Nonprofit Serves 39 Countries

Hailey-based POWER Engineers has entered into a formal partnership with Engineers Without Borders, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides pro-bono engineering services to underserved communities in 39 countries around the world, including in the United States.

The partnership ensures that POWER Engineers will dedicate $25,000 per year in support and serve on the EWB corporate advisory board and work to help Power employees find volunteer opportunities in the U.S. and around the world.

“This is an incredible opportunity to use our skills for good,” said Nathan Bingham, who is POWER’s director of strategy and technology as well as Engineers Without Borders’ mountain region steering committee president. “And it’s more than our engineers—EWB is looking for a wide range of skill sets from project management to event coordination and fundraising. It’s a chance for all of our employees to help communities build success.”

Several POWER Engineers employees have volunteered for both domestic and international projects with EWB, and the POWER Engineers Foundation has previously provided funding to various university EWB chapters. Bingham said he expects both of those efforts will expand thanks to the formal partnership.

Plan calls for ARCH Community Housing Trust to Build Homes in Southern County

Blaine County commissioners have approved three resolutions to potentially provide affordable-housing units in conjunction with the Blaine County Housing Authority and ARCH Community Housing Trust.

ARCH’s plans call for building a total of six three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath homes with two-car garages. ARCH already owns three parcels of land—one that was purchased using private donations and two in Bellevue that were donated by the city—and will add the three parcels being conveyed by the county.

The federal funds will be matched by an anonymous donor at 50% and ARCH plans to secure the balance of the funding needed through donations. The homes would be rented to qualifying households at no more than 30% of adjusted gross income.

Full Story Here