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Snow Blowers Retiring For the Season

20
Apr 2012

After a really great season, Snow Summit puts the snow blowers to rest.

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Plunge into Big Bear Lake

01
Feb 2012

Benefit Special Olympics

Big Bear Lake, Calif. February 1, 2012 – Big Bear Lake’s water gets rather frigid in the wintertime with lake temperatures dipping into the low 30s, sometimes into the 20s. So why would anyone deliberately take a dip in the lake during these freezing conditions? The only reason that makes rational sense is to raise funds for people in need. On Saturday, March 10, the most brazen will take the Polar Plunge into Big Bear Lake to raise money to benefit Special Olympics athletes.

Organizers are now seeking fearless men, women and children to sign-up for the inaugural Big Bear Lake Polar Plunge, which helps sponsor year-round sports training programs and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the Inland Empire Region of Special Olympics Southern California. All proceeds from the event give people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, accomplishments, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Individuals who take the Polar Plunge challenge are asked to raise at least $50 through pledges from family, friends and co-workers. Participants who reach this goal will get an official Polar Plunge t-shirt. Special Olympics supporters who prefer to stay out of the water can opt to register as a “Chicken.” They receive an “I’m too Chicken to Plunge” t-shirt, which helps raise money for the Special Olympics charity. Additional prizes are given to people who raise more than $50, and also for those with the most creative costumes. Sponsorship opportunities called EVENT FAN are available for businesses, organizations and individuals who want to pledge $500 or more.

“All it takes is a few seconds in the chilly water for plungers to discover why we refer to it as Freezin’ for a Reason,” said Special Olympics Southern California Regional Director Abbey Leffler. “They will immediately feel their hearts warm-up with joy because they know they are giving to a great cause. Nothing is too cold for a warm heart!”

Each plunger gets a moment in the spotlight with a public service announcement that briefly portrays each plunger and why he or she is taking the plunge. Plungers are encouraged to invite people who give a pledge to the event to prove that they really take the plunge, and to see first hand how bonkers the plungers really are. Spectators are encouraged to take photos and video. Costumes have become a staple with Polar Plunge events. Awards are given to participants with the best costumes, which are judged by creativity and all-around wackiest. Activities include a family fun area, guest emcee (TBA), DJ music, a souvenirs stand, vendors, and a raffle drawing with great prizes. There is a free BBQ lunch for participants. Spectators have the option to purchase BBQ lunch tickets.

The inaugural Big Bear Lake Polar Plunge is Saturday, March 10 at Meadow Park, 41220 Park Ave. in Big Bear Lake. Registration is from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Opening ceremonies, which includes a torchlight lighting ceremony and singing of the National Anthem begins at 12 noon. Plunges into frigid Big Bear Lake directly follow after opening ceremonies. Admission to watch the plunge is FREE, but donations are accepted. To register as a plunger for the Big Bear Lake Polar Plunge visit www.sosc.org/bigbearplunge or call 951-672-7707 or email aleffler@sosc.org. For lodging accommodations log onto www.bigbear.com or call 800-424-4232.

About Special Olympics Southern California:

Special Olympics Southern California has been changing lives through the power of sport for more than 40 years and offers opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and competition. For more information about how to compete, coach or contribute, visit www.sosc.org.

Southern California Special Olympics;

 

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STAGE 6 FINISH — BIG BEAR LAKE

03
Nov 2011

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif./ November 3, 2011– Today AEG, the official race presenter of the Amgen Tour of California, announced its 13 Host Cities for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California professional road cycling race. The seventh annual event will cover more than 750 miles in eight days from May 13-20, 2012. Big Bear Lake has been selected as the race’s Stage 6 Finish on Friday, May 18. The City of Palmdale will serve as the Host City and start location for Stage 6, which ultimately finishes with a demanding climb to Big Bear.

“While the detailed route of the race, including for Stage 6 from Palmdale to Big Bear, is not yet final, we can say that it will be one of our most challenging courses to date,” said AEG Sports Executive Director Kristin Bachochin.

This is the second time in three years Big Bear Lake has been selected as a Host City, which reaffirms the mountain resort as a world-class road cycling destination. Officials of Big Bear Lake are excited with the opportunity to present Big Bear’s mountainous terrain and natural assets to recreational outdoor enthusiasts throughout the world. The visibility includes 27 hours of total race coverage on VERSUS, broadcast exposure in 216 countries and territories worldwide. Last year there were 1.1 million visitors to the official tour website, more than 30,000 social media fans and more than 340,000 visitors to the online tour tracker.

Big Bear Lake

“Big Bear is honored to serve as a finish city for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California,” said City of Big Bear Lake Mayor Bill Jahn. “In 2010, we served as the first-ever mountaintop finish for the race, and it definitely put Big Bear on the international map for road cycling.”

The Amgen Tour of California is considered cycling’s most important and successful stage race in the United States. It is the largest annual spectator sporting event in California and largest cycling event in North America with more than 2 million spectators. The prestigious road cycling race features elite professional teams and athletes from around the world. Listed on the international professional cycling calendar (2. HC ranking), the Amgen Tour of California awards important, world-ranking points to the top finishers.

Next year will mark the seventh straight year Amgen Tour of California has brought the drama and excitement of professional cycling to California. The 2012 Amgen Tour of California will travel along a more than 750-mile course in eight days. The 13 host cities for the eight stages include: Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Livermore, Sonora (new city for 2012), Clovis, Bakersfield, Palmdale, Big Bear Lake, Ontario (new city for 2012) and Mount Baldy and Los Angeles.

For more information about the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. For more information pertaining to the Stage 6 finish, also known as “The Big Bear Climb” visit www.bigbear.com.

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Big Bear Lake Gets Tour of California

03
Nov 2011

Amgen Tour of California

LOS ANGELES (November 3, 2011) – After reviewing more than 100 submissions from cities throughout California hoping to be named official start or finish locations, AEG, presenter of the Amgen Tour of California, has announced the 13 official Host Cities for the 2012 race. Considered America’s largest and most prestigious professional road cycling stage race, the seventh consecutive edition of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California will travel more than 750 miles from May 13 – 20, 2012.

“Our goal for the Amgen Tour of California has always been to create a route that not only provides a challenging race for the world’s top cyclists, but one that highlights the beauty and diverse terrain that make up the great state of California as well,” said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the Amgen Tour of California. “Every year we challenge ourselves to raise the bar once again and create a route more challenging than the last, but that’s the great thing about planning a race in California, there is so much from which we can choose. From epic climbs to fast and flat stages to rolling hills and thrilling finishes by the sea, California has it all.”

As announced earlier this year, Stage 1 of the race will start in Santa Rosa, hometown of three-time Amgen Tour of California Champion Levi Leipheimer. The race will then take the riders from San Francisco to Santa Cruz for Stage 2, starting with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop and once again bringing the route back along the picturesque coast of the Pacific Ocean. Heading inland, Stage 3 of the race will begin in San Jose (the only city to be a Host City each of the previous six years of the event) and end in Livermore, traversing an entirely new part of the State not showcased in previous editions of the race. A new city for 2012, Stage 4 will start in Sonora and wind its way south, featuring several new climbs, before what’s sure to be a dramatic sprint finish in Clovis.

“I’m so proud to have the Amgen Tour of California coming back to Santa Rosa and Sonoma County in 2012,” said Levi Leipheimer, three-time race winner (2007, 2008, 2009) and Santa Rosa resident. “As host of the overall start on May 13, we’ll have a chance to show off our home town to the world, both on race day and in the days leading up to it as the teams and media gather here before the start. I’m looking forward to introducing some of the best cyclists in the world to some of the best cycling in the world – right here in my back yard. The 2012 Amgen Tour of California will be a hard fought battle as we march away from Santa Rosa towards the mighty Mt Baldy.”

The much-anticipated Individual Time Trial, Stage 5, will be held in Bakersfield, a city that has hosted the Amgen Tour of California before (although not the Time Trial specifically), likely proving to favor those who have more than just speed as part of their repertoire.

Stage 6 will start in Palmdale and head to Big Bear Lake, which was the site of a thrilling stage finish in 2010 when Michael Rogers (AUS) of HTC-Columbia secured his place as the race leader. For 2012, new challenges arise as a new climb is thrown into the mix.

Stage 7 of the race will start in Ontario, another new city for 2012, and once again include a grueling route to the top of Mt. Baldy. During the 2011 race, Mt. Baldy was the scene of an electric stage finish when American cyclists and RadioShack teammates Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer crossed the finish line first and second respectively. Tacking on an additional 10 miles to the route with the start in Ontario, Stage 7 will likely prove to be the penultimate stage once again.

The final stage of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, Stage 8 will take place in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, sending riders in and around L.A. LIVE, the sports and entertainment district which includes STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE within its footprint, for an epic overall finish to a thrilling race.

“This race is special because it takes place in one of the most beautiful places in the world – California,” said Chris Horner, 2011 Amgen Tour of California champion. “The Host Cities are always so welcoming and the crowds are always great, not to mention, they provide some of the toughest racing terrain around! I’m looking forward to racing in California again and defending my title in 2012.”

In celebration of today’s announcement, each Host City created a short video introducing their town and the Stage they will be hosting. The videos feature iconic images from each city, and have been combined to create one exciting overview of the Host Cities for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California.

“It goes without saying that our Host Cities play one of the most crucial roles in this race, so we are thrilled to have a group of extremely supportive cities as our partners,” continued Bachochin. “Each one of these cities is committed to not only promoting this race, but the sport of cycling overall.”

For 2012, Amgen will return as the title sponsor for the seventh consecutive year, continuing to leverage the race to raise awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer through its Breakaway from Cancer® initiative. A leading global biotechnology company with headquarters in California, Amgen’s invaluable support has helped to ensure the continued success of the race and impact beyond the sporting arena.

“Amgen stands ready to collaborate with this year’s Host City communities to spread awareness about our company, our mission to serve patients, and the incredible support services that are available at no cost to people affected by cancer through Amgen’s nonprofit Breakaway from Cancer partner organizations,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology.

Carrying an elite distinction, the Amgen Tour of California is listed on the international professional cycling calendar (2. HC, meaning “beyond category”), awarding important, world-ranking points to the top finishers.

The Amgen Tour of California continues to draw global attention as one of the most anticipated cycling events of the year – one that attracts Olympic medalists, World Champions and the top Tour de France competitors.

“Everyone always looks forward to the Amgen Tour of California because it has it all – a challenging route, fierce competition, incredible fans and a beautiful setting,” said Christian Vande Velde, who placed fourth overall in the 2011 Amgen Tour of California. “I feel proud to be an American cyclist right now, when events like this race not only showcase the great racing that takes place here, but the amazing talent as well.”

The 13 Host Cities for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California include:

• Stage 1: Sunday, May 13 – Santa Rosa

• Stage 2: Monday, May 14 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz

• Stage 3: Tuesday, May 15 – San Jose to Livermore

• Stage 4: Wednesday, May 16 – Sonora (new for 2012) to Clovis

• Stage 5: Thursday, May 17 – Bakersfield (Individual Time Trial)

• Stage 6: Friday, May 18 – Palmdale to Big Bear Lake

• Stage 7: Saturday, May 19 – Ontario (new for 2012) to Mt. Baldy

• Stage 8: Sunday, May 20 – Los Angeles/L.A. LIVE

Assuming her new position as executive director of the Amgen Tour of California, 2012 will mark the first full year that Bachochin will take complete leadership of the overall production and management of the event. Bachochin, who has been involved with the Amgen Tour of California since its inception, will have the responsibility of overseeing everything from operations to marketing.

For further information on the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, and to view the 2012 Amgen Tour of California Host Cities video, visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the 2012 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, created and presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 13-20, 2012.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures, and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe, effective medicines from lab to manufacturing plant to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone disease and other serious illnesses.

With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and vital medicines, visit http://www.amgen.com. Follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

About Breakaway from Cancer®

Founded in 2005 by Amgen, Breakaway from Cancer® is a national initiative to increase awareness of important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship. Breakaway from Cancer is a collaboration between Amgen and four nonprofit partner organizations: Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community (formerly known as The Wellness Community), Patient Advocate Foundation, and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. These organizations offer a broad range of support services complementing those provided by a patient’s team of healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com or follow us @BreakawayCancer on Twitter.

More about Amgen Tour of California;

 

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Explore Big Bear Lake

27
Oct 2011

Segway Tours of Big bear Lake Village

Action Segway Tours introduces a new and environmentally friendly approach to explore Big Bear Lake by means of electric two-wheeled Segway Personal Transporters (Segway PT). Guests can now enjoy a fun and educational tour of the mountain resort on a Segway x2 model, which has the ability to navigate varied terrain with minimal environmental impact.

The two-hour exploration tour traverses on sidewalks, paths and paved roads including some back roads where only Big Bear locals are familiar with. Each tour is guided by two or more certified Segway tour guides who identify iconic Big Bear landmarks along the way, and educate guests about Big Bear’s rich history and the surrounding flora and fauna. In spring 2012 Action Segway Tours plans to expand its tours onto forest trails for an off-road adventure experience.

“The Segways x2 models we provide are state-of-the-art,” said Action Segway Tours Owner and Operator Belinda Bain. “They have beefier tires with the ability to go off-road and they go a little faster than regular models, which give our riders a little extra spark.”

Each tour begins with an orientation that teaches riders how to start, stop and turn the Segway PT. The training includes a small obstacle course of cones to ensure every individual knows how to control the two-wheeled device. Each rider is equipped with a helmet and an electronic receiver with ear piece to conveniently hear instructions from the tour guide.

“The best part about Segways is they are so much fun and easy to operate.” added Bain.

Segway tours are offered all year round (weather permitting). Each tour starts in Big Bear Village at 652 Pine Knot Avenue Unit #5. The route spans about seven miles on Big Bear’s scenic back roads, which takes approximately two hours to complete. Tours are daily; call for times and availability. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour. The maximum amount of people per tour is nine. Minimum age requirement is 14, and maximum weight limit is 260 lbs. The cost is $85 per person. For reservations call 909-366-0890 or book online at http://www.actionsegwaytours.com/.

About Segway

Segway Inc. develops intelligent motion controlled technology known as Segway® Smart Motion™ that is embedded in the light electronic transportation devices it manufactures, such as the well-known Segway® Personal Transporter (PT). Segway Smart Motion provides intelligent motion control that enables a device to monitor its environment, controls its motion and make decisions about how it should move.

Segway markets a full line of zero-emissions Segway PTs for sidewalk and cross terrain use that develop impressive energy efficiency-equivalent to 450 miles per gallon/191 kilometers per liter of fuel. The company’s line of Segway Robotic Mobility Platforms (RMPs) offers reliable, durable mobility solutions for robotic applications.

Segway, Inc. based in Bedford, NH., U.S.A., has worldwide distribution network of more than 250 retail points in 61 countries. For additional information about Segway and to find locations, please visit www.segway.com or call 1/866-4SEGWAY. Media materials and digital images are available at the Segway Press Center.

More Segway Links;

  • Clean Break » Blog Archive » Segway in Toronto update – Just got word tonight that the Toronto Works Committee has voted unanimously to defer the issue of Segway use on city sidewalks to Toronto Legal Services. Robyn Reisler, who runs Segway of Ontario, asked the Works Committee to take this measure. We felt this would give the legal group ample time to investigate the Segway in depth, and with all the precedents world wide we would be able to live with their recommendations, Reisler told me in an e-mail.

  • OhGizmo! » Archive » Dareway, The Segway For Kids – You darn well know that if you drop 5 large on that new Segway, little Johnny’s gonna wanna get on it. And you’ll be damned if a five year old gets to ride your new baby around. So, just get him one of his own.

  • The DC Traveler » Tour DC in Style…Segway Style! – Tour DC in Style…Segway Style! Three years in the making, the Segway Personal Transporter is the world’s first two-wheeled, self-balancing, electric transport device.With no accelerator or brake, the Segway is propelled simply by the rider’s …

Category: Big Bear Lake, News, Outdoors  Leave a Comment
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