J. Rayne, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort Kiezo Miura, left in chair in foreground, celebrating his 100th birthday skiing at Snowbird, Utah,on Feb. 28. The event included more than 120 of his friends and family members, four generations of the Miura family. Click photo for larger image.

Japanese ski and mountain cinematography pioneer Keizo Miura could have celebrated his special birthday at any ski resort in the world. He chose Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah because he and four generations of his family have been there before and he knows its owner, Dick Bass.

Miura, who turned 100 on Feb. 15, is recognized as the oldest active skier in the world. He started skiing when he was 21 and skis more than 100 days a season.

Among the more than 120 persons who joined him at Snowbird were his son, Yuichiro, 71, who skied down Mount Everest in 1970 and last year became the oldest person to climb the world's highest mountain; and his grandson Gota, 34, a freestyle Olympic mogul skier at the 1994 and 1998 Winter Games who climbed Mount Everest with his father last year.

Also on hand -- and on skis -- for the celebration was his great-granddaughter, Rio, 4.

After warming up on Chickadee, a beginner slope, the group skied to the tram and squeezed together for a group photo. Photographers, some standing on garbage cans, clicked away. The group skied down to Gadzoom, one of the resort's three high-speed quads, and rode it up to find more than 6 inches of fresh powder.

Miura then led family and friends down Bassackwards to Big Emma, one of the resort's most popular areas.

Although the resort considers Big Emma to be a green run for novices and low intermediates, it would be a solid intermediate run at many ski areas. It is about one mile long, about 100 yards wide at the top and then narrows in the middle. That's where the group, with Miura leading, formed what became a 1/4 mile train of single-file skiers.

"It was the single most inspirational thing I've ever seen on skis," said resort spokesman Dave Fields. "It was honestly hard to believe the guy I was skiing next to was 100 years old. I've never met anyone that old, much less skied powder with them.

"He was slow and steady. [He] later said he could have skied faster but was holding up for his great-granddaughter. Having a son of my own, it almost brought tears to my eyes thinking how special it was for his family to celebrate such a momentous event in such a fun way.

"The family has centered their lives on skiing, so it's only fitting that they celebrated [his] 100th birthday by skiing. We were really fortunate that they chose to do it here."

Although the group had planned to take a trail known as the Dick Bass Highway back to the Snowbird Center, Fields said they were enjoying themselves so much that they stayed on Big Emma all the way to the base of Gad Valley and the Gadzoom lift.

"When they all got to the bottom, everyone raised their ski poles and let out a cheer," Fields said. After more photos, Miura headed for the Cliff Lodge where he gave interviews with the help of Emili Miura, his granddaughter and translator.

Emili Miura told the Deseret News that her 4 foot, 11 inch grandfather, who weighs 85 pounds, rises at 5 each morning. After some breathing and stretching exercises, he takes a 40 minute walk. He eats a lot of rice and fish. Seaweed and soya also are part of his diet. He goes to bed about 9:30 p.m.

Too old to ski?

Keizo Miura doesn't want to hear it.

Corporate Cup results

The Scottdale Bank and Trust team of Mike Andras, Michael Clarke and T. J. Greenier won the 20th annual Corporate Cup competition on the Avalanche race course last Sunday at Seven Springs.

GAI Consulting's team of Jamie Joyce, Kailey Joyce and Robb Alarcon was second. The Bobby Rahal Automotive Group team of Eric Hessinger, Todd Nolan and Sonya Hessinger came in third. Robert Zaharski of Timken Latrobe Steel won the Individual Racer Category and Andy Gildersleeve of The Elmhurst Group was second.

Clarke was the fastest overall racer with a time of 28.32. Lisa Willig of Rycon Construction Co. was the fastest woman racer with a time of 33:20.

"We had wonderful weather, [Olympic champion] Picabo Street was a terrific keynote speaker at the awards banquet and we raised more than $75,000," said Connie Schwartz-Bedo, development director for Pittsburgh Vision Services.

Congratulations to all.

Great Media Race

WTAE-TV finished first and third in the Great Media Race last Saturday at Seven Springs during the resort's annual Winterfest. Steel City Media was second.

WTAE's team of Jerry Martz, Susan Koeppan and Mike Brookins ran the red and blue course on the lower part of Wagner in 57.20 seconds. Close behind was Steel City's team of Lisa Cohen, Shane Schwirian and Jeremy Witherall with 1:04.19. WTAE's Kelly Frey, Sheldon Ingram and Bob Longo finished with a 1:07.28.

Brookins was the fastest male racer with a combined time of 17.15 seconds, barely a blink ahead of Martz's 18.85 seconds. Linda Ritzer of the Washington Observer Reporter was the fastest female racer with a time of 19.95 seconds.

The overall winner, once again, was WTAE's Project Bundle-Up. It will use the proceeds from the race to buy winter clothing for needy children.

Even dummies can ski

The Ski Dummy Race is one of the most popular Winterfest events at Seven Springs. The object is to build a dummy at least 4 feet tall that weighs no more than 150 pounds, has at least four limbs and can make it to the finish line.

Mon Valley Ski Club, whose members pride themselves on their racing ability, had the fastest dummy. It was mounted in a fire truck and dedicated to John Mates, the resort's director of interior operations and assistant fire chief.

The Johnstown Ski Club's entry won the Most Creative award. It was modeled after an Ent, also known as a "Walking Tree," from the Lord of the Rings movies.

Oswald, fashioned after the resort's former mascot, won the Best Crash award for Steve Stremp and his friends. Stremp works at the guest information desk in the ski lodge.

Other entries featured Pamela Anderson on a motorcycle (Seven Springs Snowboarding School), "Spring Breaker" (Washington & Jefferson Ski Club) and "Snowman" (Allegheny Ski & Sports Club.

The event, which was open to all ski clubs and the public, was sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Ski Council and Winterfest sponsors.

So how's the snow?

For current snow conditions, go to www.post-gazette.com/weather/ski.asp. To find Web sites and phone numbers for local and regional ski areas, visit www.post-gazette.com/sports/outdoors/.