Alles wichtige » co-founder and CEO of San Francisco-basedd Liftopia, an

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia -- Benjamin Raich has reached a World Cup podium for the 91st -- and probably last -- time in his career at the same resort where he earned his first top-three finish 15 years ago. The 36-year-old Austrian, who is considering retirement after the season, came runner-up to Olympic champion Ted Ligety in a giant slalom on the Podkoren course on Saturday. As a 21-year-old, Raich finished third in a slalom here on Jan. 6, 1999. Raich was only 17th after the opening leg but posted the fastest time in a blistering second run to get his first World Cup podium since winning a super-G in Crans Montana Switzerland, in February 2012. Raich said he never lost faith in his skiing despite failing to reach a podium for the last two years. Even his persistent back problems getting worse in January didnt hit his confidence. "I knew I still have a fast turn but, if youre not in good health, you cant race that good," Raich said. "Ive always had back problems in my career. Three, four days, then it was gone. This year it was more than a month." The injury hampered his buildup to the Sochi Olympics, and finally forced him to skip the super-combined race in Sochi. It wasnt Raichs first mishap in the Olympic season. He needed weeks to recover following an accident while riding his off-road motorbike in early August. The 80-kilogram bike rolled over on steep terrain and landed on his right leg, but Raich escaped with a torn muscle in his thigh. "I had a really tough season," Raich said. "It was not easy, it was not fun. But after preparing for the Olympics, I had a really good feeling. I was in good health. And now I am back on the podium -- as I believed." Raich won the overall title in 2006 and finished runner-up five times, including in the 2008-09 season when Aksel Lund Svindal edged him by two points. Raich also won 11 medals at major championships, including two golds at the 2006 Turin Olympics. Not having to prove anything to anybody, Raich can compete without pressure -- just like in the early days of his career. "My first podium in Kranjska Gora, I felt very free," Raich said. "Afterward you have big goals and you know everyone wants to see you on the podium. So there was more pressure then but I handled that always very well." Austria mens head coach Mathias Berthold said he wasnt taken aback by Raichs podium finish. "I was only surprised by the way he did it, coming from 17th with a sensational second run," Berthold said. "Since his back problems are gone, he has progressed extremely well." Berthold said he will speak with Raich about next season -- but not before the current campaign is over. "We let the World Cup finals go by," Berthold said. "Its not good to discuss long-term plans while your focus should be on a race the next day." Raich has said before that he will take his decision regardless of the career plans of longterm girlfriend Marlies Schild. The 32-year-old slalom specialist won a record 35th slalom race in December, and she is also yet to decide whether shell remain on the World Cup. Norways Henrik Kristoffersen, who trailed the 17-year-older Raich in third for his first career GS podium, said Raich was his idol when following ski racing as a kid. "I think today Benni was the most impressive skier," Kristoffersen said. "I watched him when I grew up and I remember my dad (Lars Kristoffersen) telling me that Benni had the cleanest turn and he was the best in GS." Raich smiled when hearing Kristoffersens words. "Its nice to be on the podium next to him," Raich said. "Because he is the future and I am the past." Custom Dolphins Jerseys . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. Cheap Miami Dolphins Gear . - Jordan Addesis shootout goal helped the Plymouth Whalers to a 3-2 win over the Sault Ste. http://www.cheapdolphins.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Wholesale Miami Dolphins Jerseys .com) - The fading Ottawa Senators have a chance to make up some ground in the playoff race on Tuesday night as they play host to the New York Rangers. Authentic Miami Dolphins Jerseys . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing.DENVER - In 2010, the price of walk-up, single-day lift ticket at Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts topped $100. Aspen quickly followed suit, and ticket prices at resorts across the country have consistently increased in the years since. The trend has raised a question that has dogged the ski industry for years: Is the sport becoming unaffordable for the middle class?Industry leaders say that even though last-minute lift tickets at some resorts now exceed $100, skiing has never been more affordable if youre savvy about discounts.But despite the availability of deals, a report commissioned in August by the National Ski Areas Association found that skiing in the U.S. has increasingly become a sport for the wealthy. The percentage of people who participate in snow sports with household incomes over $100,000 has risen over the past eight seasons from 45 per cent of ski area visitors in the 2006-07 season to 56 per cent of visitors in the 2013-14 season, according to the report.Meanwhile, those with household incomes under $50,000 dropped from 30 per cent of ski area visitors to 19 per cent over the same period. Visitors who make between $50,000 and $99,999 remained steady over the years at about 25 per cent.Snow sports participants continue to skew significantly more affluent than the general U.S. population, according to the report, which was based on surveys of skiers and snowboarders at 87 U.S. resorts. The resorts surveyed hosted 31.9 million of the nations 56.5 million skier and snowboarder visits last winter.David Becher, who helped write the report, said the drop in participation by people earning under $50,000 may have been due to the recession, but now that the economy is improving, we might see lower-income segments in the population having more confidence. He also cited other possible explanations for a lack of participation at lower-income levels, including interests in other sports and lack of exposure to the sport among those who grew up in non-skiing families.Michael Berry, president of the NSAA, said ski resorts are working to attract participants from all income brackets.The trend certainly over the past decade has been to make the price lower, in toto, he said. Ways to save money include half-day access, skiing at smaller resorts, and discounts for kids, seniors and groups.Evan Reece, co-founder and CEO of San Francisco-basedd Liftopia, an online marketplace for lift tickets, says buying early and booking multiple days also goes a long way in lowering the price of getting on the mountain.ddddddddddddIf customers buy in advance, they will be rewarded by doing so, he said. Its very easy to understand. You wouldnt wait until the last minute to buy an airline ticket.Reece, who helped start Liftopia in 2005, also recommends that skiers and snowboarders — especially beginners — look locally when choosing from one of the more than 450 resorts across the country.To give skiing a try, you dont need to book a weeklong vacation to Colorado from New York. There are a lot of local ski areas where you can learn, he said. People will be surprised to find what is in their backyard. Sometimes the trendy spots, theyre awesome for a great reason. But there are some areas that will surprise you.And while large resorts like Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone offer varied terrain and more amenities, smaller resorts can provide their own charm, shorter lift lines, less crowded slopes and cheaper lift tickets.CJ Hartland, sales manager for Monarch Mountain in southwest Colorado, says the resorts owners have kept lift ticket prices down by offering group rates and free skiing to kids age 6 and under and to seniors 69 and over.The owners want people to learn and fall in love with the sport and not have to be wealthy to do it, she said. Walk-up tickets at the 800-acre resort, which has 53 lift-served trails, are $69; advance tickets run $57.At larger resorts, keeping skiing affordable has come down to an intense battle over season pass prices.Until 2009, an unrestricted pass to Vail Resorts at Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone cost $1,900. Now with Vails Epic Pass, skiers and snowboarders have access to those four mountains, plus 18 more resorts for $769.People rushed out to buy it because they thought we had made a mistake, said Vail spokesman Russ Pecoraro. The pass could pay for itself in a week, depending on where and when you go.The debate over pricing will likely continue, but industry leaders contend that a day of skiing and snowboarding is, well, priceless.Theres really no better value for a family, said Pecoraro. To get your family out there. To participate together. Its the value you get from the experience and its not always about the price. 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