This will be the final update for this year's Kng of the Mountain Open. If you are not plannng on competing in Vail, you may delete this message. If you are planning on playing in Vail this weekend, please take a look at these FYI's:
First off; online registration ends this coming Tuesday, tomorrow, at Midnite. Late registrations will be taken, on-site, space available.
The Eagle-Vail Community Fields will be utilized, this year only, for the FREE Juniors Beach Clinic and for all of the junior divisions and the Father/Son and Father/Daughter divisions (there may be some "spill-over" from the adult divisions at these fields as well; check out the web site to find out where you are playing). Ford Park is being re-done and will be a larger field new sod/grass. The Eagle-Vail site is only a few minutes down the road from Vail. IT IS NOT IN EAGLE, COLORADO as some people have assumed; but, rather in the community of Eagle-Vail (nee, the Eagle-Vail Golf Club) just east of Avon. There will be a food and beverage tent offering the basic fare of sodas, brauts, hot dogs, and burgers; along with snack foods, energy drinks, et al. However, for those who may want more of a restaurant atmosphere for lunch (or, even, an early dinner), there are a few good restaurants a short drive from the fields: the Rt. 6 Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at reasonable prices for a lot of food; the golf course clubhouse restaurant (Whiskey Hill Golf Grill) is right up the road from the playing fields and offers some breakfast items; but, is, mostly a lunch venue; and, last, but not least, is Ti Amo (basically, across the street from the Rt. 6 Cafe) is a great Italian restaurant with good food and prices -- a perfect place for an early dinner after playing.
There will be a few more vendors (there will, even, be a "coffee truck" on site all day long along with a swimsuit purveryor) at the Vail Athletic Field, this year to help create a more festive atmosphere. And, hey, the Eagle-Bahn Gondola will be running all day (until 6 pm), every day, over the weekend -- check out Adventure Ridge at the top of the mountain at Lionshead.
Along those lines, for all participants, our official radio station, KZYR-FM (97.7 on your dial) has great dining and shopping deals called True Local Deals (www.truelocaldeals.com). These deals can be upwards of 50% off some items from different restaurants/retailers in Vail. You might want to check them out, especially if you have a large group to entertain.
Lastly, for the Womens' Open competitors, there will be a shuttle to-and-from the Vail Athletic Field and the Red Sandstone courts. This shuttle will run from the Vail Athletic Field on the hour, beginning at 8am each morning Saturday and Sunday. We are providing this service to make it easier for us to accomodate the increased numbers of teams and to allow an easier access to the outlying court without having to drive there yourselves. It will take you to your matches and bring you back (and, your fans as well). We are hiring a professional group to provide this service; so, we know that it should be a good and consistent service for you. This way you don't have to "camp out" out there all day long and miss tthe "action" at the main courts :) You don't have to "tip" the driver; but, you may want to :)
And, remember, if you are driving up from the Front Range (especially Friday morning) to give yourself a little more time due to highway construction delays (can you say "TwinTunnels"?).
That's pretty much it. We're looking forward to having you up here.
Sincerely,
Leon Fell
Producer, King of the Mountain Open
Vail, Colorado
