HEAVENLY GOES “ALL IN FOR SAFETY” TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL SAFETY WEEK, JANUARY 19-26

Heavenly Mountain Resort, Calif./Nev. – Heavenly Mountain Resort has opened its doors and is giving a behind-the-scenes and up-close look at what each on-mountain department does to keep guests safe while on the slopes. Themed “All In for Safety,” Heavenly’s celebration of National Safety Week, which kicks off on Saturday, January 19, and will run until Saturday, January 26, is filled with interactive events, from tours of the Prinoth Beast grooming machines and a CALSTAR air ambulance to a Skier Responsibility Code poker run.

“Safety is our number one priority here at Heavenly. We believe that you can’t have fun if you’re not safe, and we’re all about having fun,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “We’ve got a strong track record of creating innovative, award-winning safety programs and initiatives designed to help our guests and employees take responsibility for safety while skiing and snowboarding, and this year’s Safety Week line-up definitely delivers on that mission.”

Heavenly was honored by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) with one of its annual National Ski Area Safety Awards for the best Social Media Campaign following Heavenly’s 2012 Safety Week. In 2011, Heavenly and Vail Mountain were co-winners of the Best Safety Week Program, given to the resort that did the best job of educating employees and guests about skiing and snowboarding responsibly. It marked
Heavenly’s fourth NSAA Safety Award.

Highlights of the 2013 Safety Week events include: sweep Mott Canyon with a ski patroller; avalanche beacon competitions in Milky Way Bowl; tours of the Gondola and Tram motor rooms; tours of the Prinoth Beasts, the most technologically-advanced grooming machines in the industry; tours of CALSTAR’s helicopter ambulance; photo opportunities and rescue demonstrations by the avalanche dogs; snowmaking demonstrations; and Safety Expos.

Kids will also have the chance to learn about safety through interactive activities with Ripperoo, Heavenly’s loveable mascot, like skiing down Sam’s Dream with Ripperoo, joining Ripperoo for a helmet decorating party and then wearing their helmets in the Ripperoo Parade. A children’s coloring contest will also be held through the Ski and Ride School locations.

The Safety Week Poker Run will also take place the entire week. Participants can pick up a Poker Run card from any base location and then earn an approval signature by reciting one of the seven responsibility codes at any Ski Patrol station. Prizes for each poker hand can be collected at Cal First Aid, Boulder First Aid, the Gondola Guest Services or Stagecoach Guest Services. All participants who submit a completed poker hand will be entered into the grand prize drawing for a brand new pair of skis or snowboard.

Free on-mountain concerts will take place outside Tamarack Lodge from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 19, with Polyeurhythmics, on Sunday, January 20, with Sophistic Funk and Saturday, January 26, with Shotgun Radio.

Specialty Sports Venture will also be participating in Safety Week by providing a complimentary buff wax on guests’ equipment at the California and Stagecoach Lodge Heavenly Repair Shops. SSV is also offering 20 percent off helmets and other safety related goods at all Heavenly Sports Stores.

Ski Patrol and the avalanche dogs will also be at Unbuckle at Tamarack, Tahoe’s ultimate après party, daily from 3:30- 5:30 p.m. for EpicMix photos with guests.

For specific times and events, visit www.skiheavenly.com.

About Heavenly
Heavenly Mountain Resort is a world-class destination offering guests a one-of-a-kind combination of scenic beauty and exhilarating on-snow experience. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the United States.  One of the largest resorts in North America, Heavenly spans 4800 acres, climbs to Lake Tahoe’s highest elevation at 10,067 feet and features than 94 trails for every level of skier or snowboarder. For more information on Heavenly Mountain Resort, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY.

About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.