Tubing fun, laughs and sing-a-longs in Vail Valley and ski joring in Leadville can be found this weekend

Snow tubing

Tubing is back in Eagle County. This season, the closest tubing hill was either at Copper Mountain or in Frisco as Vail Mountain did not open its snow tubing facility up for winter operations. But now, Sage Outdoor Adventures is keeping tubing alive and well in Wolcott.

It made sense for Sage Outdoor Adventures to provide tubing. Since they offer rafting tours in the summer, they already had rafts to transport the tubes and riders up to the top of the hill. Their snowmobiles pull the rafts and the riders to the top of the snowy terrain for a snow tubing extravaganza.

There are two tracks for snow tubing fun. The short track is about 150 yards long which Sage Outdoor Adventures is calling the “green” run or the beginner hill. The “blue” track is 300 yards long and is for those who want to elevate their thrill level a bit more. Riders can be as young as four years of age and you can basically get as many runs in as you can per hour. If there are people in your party who aren’t tubing, they can watch the action from a seating area below the hill while sipping on hot chocolate.

---

---

If you don’t have transportation, Sage Outdoor Adventures can pick you up in one of its shuttle vans. Bring your own helmet, or one will be provided for you. Tubing hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the tubing hill is only open until March 31. If you want a whole day of adventure, add a snowmobile trip. For more information, go to SageOutdoorAdventures.com.

Concerts and comedians at VPAC

There’s a show each night throughout the weekend at the Vilar Performing Arts Center and you could go all three nights and have a different experience at this gem of a theater in the heart of the Rockies.

---

---

Mat Kearney and Brett Dennen

On Friday, listen to the music of two of today’s pop-folk phenoms, Mat Kearney and Brett Dennen. The fact that these two musical powerhouses are playing on the same stage is reason enough to get tickets because it will be like getting two concerts in one.

Mat Kearney has five studio LPs to his name and has reached top spots on iTunes and Billboard charts. He’s also appeared on a ton of talk shows and has opened up for John Mayer.

Brett Dennen specifically tours in ski towns in the winter because he calls mountain people his favorite people. Dennen has more of a folksy voice and he was influenced by Van Morrison, Cat Stevens and Paul Simon. Tickets start at $49.50 and the show begins at 7 p.m.

Electric Avenue: the 80s MTV Experience

On Saturday, take a trip back to the 1980s with Electric Avenue: The 80s MTV Experience. This band plays everything from Simple Minds’ “Don’t You Forget About Me,” to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie and “Take on Me” by Ah-Ha. It will be a fun escape to the music from decades ago and the sounds are authentic. Some of the same instruments like the synthesizer are used by the band. Tickets start at $48 and the show begins at 7 p.m.

Nick Swardson

Actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and producer are all words to describe Nick Swardson. This talented guy has been on the late-night talk shows and Comedy Central with a recurring role on “Reno 911.” He’s toured with Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and David Spade and he’s bringing the laughter to the Vilar Performing Arts Center’s stage on Sunday night. Tickets start at $45 and the show begins at 7 p.m. For tickets and details on all three shows this weekend, go to VilarPAC.org.

Ski joring

Take a break from skiing and riding and view the exciting sport of ski joring. The historic town of Leadville will host this two-day event which has been going on in town for 76 years. If you are not familiar with this sport that’s been described as “where tradition meets adrenaline,” skilled horses pull talented and daring skiers through a course that contains gates, jumps and rings the riders need to put a baton through. The ski racer is timed and penalties are given for missing rings or dropping the baton. A lot is going on but it is so fun to watch.

Harrison Avenue, which is the main street in Leadville, will host this event. Saturday starts with a Calcutta and auction on Harrison Avenue and Sixth Street. The competitions will kick off at noon with the singing of the National Anthem followed by the Open, Sport and Snowmobile Divisions. Kids will also get a chance to experience the thrill of ski joring by being pulled by a snowmobile after the main races end, which are expected to end around 3 p.m. Head to the Elks Club in Leadville for the awards ceremony immediately after the race action.

On Sunday, the Calcutta and auction will continue at 9 a.m. until noon with ski joring returning for day two. Please note that the kids won’t get to try ski joring on Sunday.

Do you think you have what it takes to ski in this event? If so, you’ll need to register at the Elks Lodge in person on Friday for Saturday’s event and on Saturday for Sunday’s event. There is no on-site registration. Contact Duffy Counsell at 970-471-5535 or reach out on Facebook if you have questions.

“The Leadville Ski Joring event has become an iconic tradition that perfectly embodies the spirit of our vibrant community,” said Adam Ducharme, the tourism director of Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes, in a press release. “Drawing visitors from near and far, this thrilling spectacle showcases Leadville’s unique blend of history and adventure. Join us for a weekend filled with excitement, camaraderie and the breathtaking beauty of the Rocky Mountains,”

To learn more visit the official event website at LeadvilleSkiJoring.com or follow Leadville Ski Joring on Facebook for the latest updates.

Vail Mountain tours

Want to learn more about Vail Mountain or just looking for some people to ski with? You can find tours every day of the week except Saturdays. A mountain host with extensive knowledge of Vail Mountain, its trails, trail names, conditions and history will guide you over the vast terrain. The tours are complimentary.

Frontside mountain tours

• Sundays through Fridays
• Meet at 10:15 a.m. at top of Eagle Bahn Gondola (No. 19).
• Tours leave promptly at 10:30 a.m.
• Recommended for intermediate skiers and riders and above

Blue Sky Basin tours

• Sundays through Fridays
• Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the Legacy Hut near the top of Mountain Top Express (No. 4).
• Tours leave promptly at 10:30 a.m.
• Recommended for upper-level intermediate skiers and riders and above.

Legacy tours

• Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Meet at 12:45 p.m. at Legacy Hut at the top of Mountain Top Express (No. 4).
• Tours leave promptly at 1:00 p.m.
• Recommended for intermediate skiers and riders and above.

Women’s winter adventure tours

• Wednesdays
• Meet at 9:45 a.m. at Legacy Hut at the top of Mountain Top Express (No. 4).
• Tours leave promptly at 10 a.m.
• Recommended for ladies who are advanced intermediate skiers and riders and above.

For more information call (970) 754-8245 or go to Vail.com.