Hidden Valley inaugurated its winter festival season yesterday with Family SnowBlast, a 10-day celebration with a variety of outdoor and indoor activities.

There will be races for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities, snowtubing, a family fun obstacle course, ice-carvings and a winter fashion show.

SnowBlast is co-sponsored by KDKA-TV and its sister station, Pittsburgh CW, and TV personalities will be at Hidden Valley throughout the festivities.Bob Pompeani will be on site today Jon Burnett next Fridayand Sonni Abatta next Saturday.

Dennis Bowman will preside at an ice-carving demonstration at 11 a.m. today outside Glacier's. Ken Rice will be the host of a mock "The Price is Right" show at 3 p.m. in the Yukon Lounge.

A special Learn to Ski with KDKA will be at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow. For reservations, call the resort's Wintersports U at 1-814-443-8000, Ext. 308. Other events tomorrow include the Winter Sports Fashion Show with Trina Orlando at 1:30 p.m. in the Yukon Lounge, and the Lil' Rippers Ski Race with Dave Crawley at 3 p.m. in the Beginners Area.

Plans call for Pompeani or Jory Rand to tee off at 1 p.m. Thursday for a round of snow golf. To participate, register by noon at the guest services office.

"We are pleased to host this event to offer every family member an opportunity to get out and enjoy winter," said Scott Bender, vice president of resort operations.

Chris Pike, vice president and general manager of KDKA-TV and Pittsburgh CW, hopes the stations' partnership with the resort "will encourage people to get outside and shake off the winter blues."

The timing for Hidden Valley's first Family SnowBlast is ideal.

More than 2 feet of snow has blanketed the Laurel Highlands in the past two weeks. And the recent stretch of sub-zero temperatures has given the resort an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the capability of its impressive snowmaking system, the largest fully-automated installation of TechnoAlpin equipment in North America.

"We can rely on snowmaking and provide excellent snow conditions for all the winter sports we offer, but natural snow really gets people excited about winter," said resort spokesperson Robert Duppstadt.

"It's a winter wonderland up here," Duppstadt added. "Now is the perfect time to come up and enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, a scenic horse-drawn sleigh ride or dinner in the Clock Tower restaurant."

Wintersports U is offering its first Park & Pipe 101 this weekend, a here's-how-you-do-it introduction to terrain parks and halfpipes for skiers and snowboarders aged 10 and older. The cost is $100 and includes four hours of lessons and lunch. Participants must be able to link parallel turns on intermediate terrain.

Helmets are required. So are reservations. Call 1-814-443-8000, Ext. 308.

Family SnowBlast will conclude on Feb. 1 with an invitation to watch the Super Bowl on oversized TV sets at the Pub & Grill at the base of Outback Park or in the Yukon Lounge.

For more information, go to www.hiddenvalleyresort.com.

It will be a busy weekend for the Pennsylvania Cross Country Skiers' Association (PACCSA).

It will have its annual Nordic Winter Picnic today at the Laurel Ridge Cross Country Ski Center, and then offer free cross country ski lessons tomorrow.

The picnic will be held inside the warming hut. Participants are asked to bring a covered dish or dessert to share. Electric outlets will be available for hot dishes. The association also will have hoagies and candies for skiers to enjoy. Leave room to sample the entries in the association's annual "Kookie Contest."

For more information, go to www.paccsa.org.

"We are pleased to host this event to offer every family member an opportunity to get out and enjoy winter."

-- Scott Bender, Hidden Valley vice president of operations