Show Me Snow Dreams of Colorado Never To Late To Learn Is this how you make a snow angel?
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Isn’t it about time rocking the vote rocked somebody’s world?
We think so. That’s why we want you to vote early and vote often for your favorite Snow At First Sight video.
Here’s how it works: Watch the videos. Pick your fave. Click where it says, “vote”.
It’s all good, right? Well, it gets better. Unlike other elections, you can vote more than once without fear of legal repercussion. In fact, you can vote all you want, as long as all you want is once every 24 hours.
And you can campaign! Tell your friends. Tell all those people that think they are your friends out there in social network land. Just get out there and spread the word. Help a deserving videographer win the dream assignment of a lifetime: three months in the spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountains surrounded by all that legendary snow.
What are you waiting for? Click here and start voting!
Following are the rules for the Colorado Snow at First Sight competition. For a complete list of terms and conditions, click here.
  • ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: To enter, you must be 21 years of age or older and a legal U.S. resident or an individual capable of obtaining legal authorization to be in the U.S. from December 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. International entrants will be responsible for obtaining permission (e.g. a visa) to reside in the U.S. for a minimum of three months. Proof of residence or legal authorization to be in the U.S. may be required prior to being named a finalist.
  • SNOW AT FIRST SIGHT REQUIREMENTS: To be considered eligible for the Colorado Snow at First Sight competition, you must have never been in significant snow conditions. Any Entrant chosen as a Colorado Snow at First Sight finalist may be subject to a thorough background check.
  • TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: The 10 chosen Colorado Snow at First Sight finalists must be able to travel to Colorado in December 2009 for an audition (with expenses paid for by Sponsor) and be able to reside in Colorado for a three-month period from January to March of 2010 (with expenses paid for by Sponsor). Finalists may be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and agree not to share any details of the competition with anyone until the final three Colorado Snow at First Sight winners are selected.
  • ELIGIBILITY: You must not be an employee, officer, director or agent of the Colorado Tourism Office or state of Colorado (“Sponsor”), any of its affiliates, subsidiaries or advertising or promotion agencies.
  • ENTRY CONTENT: Each Entry must not exceed 60 seconds in length and must (a) be in the English language; (b) be the original creation of entrant; (c) not violate or infringe any copyright, trademark, privacy or publicity right or other proprietary or intellectual property right of any person or entity; (d) not be defamatory, libelous, obscene, lewd, offensive, pornographic, sexually explicit, libelous, disparaging or other otherwise illegal, objectionable or inappropriate; and (e) not include the creator's name in the content.
  • MARKETING USES: By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees hereby irrevocably and perpetually grants and assigns to the sponsor complete ownership and marketing rights to the content, along with the right to use entrant’s name, likeness, image and biographical information in any manner and medium in connection with the Colorado Snow at First Sight competition. The Sponsor may: (a) edit and/or format the content, (b) create derivative works from the content or any portion thereof, and (c) reproduce, publish, display and distribute any of the content or derivative works in any medium now or hereafter existing, including without limitation, posting on Sponsor’s web site or any other web site or platform for purposes of the competition and for any general promotional purpose of Sponsor.
  • ADDITIONAL TERMS: By participating in the competition, each entrant agrees that all decisions of the Sponsor with respect to the competition are final and not subject to appeal. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change these rules or cancel the Competition at any time, or to modify, terminate or suspend the Competition should viruses, worms, bugs, unauthorized human intervention or other causes impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the competition.
For technical questions related to this website, please contact Robert Patterson at rpatterson@mmgworldwide.com. For any other questions related to Snow at First Sight, please read the official terms and conditions, rules and FAQ sections. If you still have a question that is not covered in those areas, contact David Heinzinger at dheinzinger@mmgmardiks.com, Roland Alonzi at ralonzi@mmgmardiks.com or Caitlin Sullivan at csullivan@mmgmardiks.com.
Colorado is known around the world for its legendary winter season and its top-ranked skiing and snowboarding. With more than 39,000 acres of skiing, 317 lifts and more than 2,300 trails, Colorado’s 26 exceptional ski areas allow just about anyone – skier, snowboarders, families, experts, intermediates and beginners – to find the perfect destination to match their skill level and budget.
Colorado has perfected the ultimate winter season experience, no matter where your passions lie. In addition to America's best skiing, visitors to Colorado in the winter can go cross-country skiing, ski joring, snowshoeing, ski biking, dog sledding, ice climbing, sleigh riding, and much more.
Check out some great winter deals on www.HotDealsColorado.com or get the latest news on Colorado’s snow with the Colorado Snow Report, which is viewable on COLORADO.com. The Colorado Snow Report allows visitors to download trail maps, read regular updates and view real-time webcams of various resorts and ski areas. Visitors will also find helpful articles on Colorado, see the latest ski season images, play an interactive ski game, download podcasts and download a desktop application for instant access.
Many skiers choose a resort according to its unique personality and Colorado offers 26 varied resorts and ski areas. Visit www.COLORADO.com to determine which areas are right for you.
Celebrities and jetsetters head to posh hideaways like Telluride, Aspen, and Beaver Creek. Like bumps and jumps? Head over to Winter Park. Families find kid-friendly resorts such as Breckenridge, Snowmass and Powderhorn their ideal escape.
Tree-skiers will love the Champagne Powder® at Steamboat while classic winter season towns like Durango and Crested Butte are great places to escape the crowds. Vail offers a distinct experience on its legendary Back Bowls, which spread across six miles of fantastic terrain.
Or, try the no-frills, experts-only skiing and snowboarding at Silverton Mountain or Wolf Creek. Aspen Highlands is also known for its advanced and expert terrain as well as the Deep Temerity chair lift—the fastest triple chair lift in the state.
Colorado is also home to several ski areas that are popular with locals. Copper Mountain Resort is located relatively close to most major Colorado cities, while Boulder’s Eldora Mountain is just 21 miles from Boulder and 45 miles from Denver. While boasting a mix of beginner/intermediate and advanced terrain, 70 percent of the mountain is best suited for intermediate and beginner skiers.
January is learn to ski month and ski areas that are perfect for beginners, such as Ski Cooper and Buttermilk, provide an ideal environment for learning how to ‘schuss.’ For a more intimate experience try some of the smaller ski areas such as Echo Mountain or Howelson Ski Area.
Sol Vista and Sunlight Mountain Resort both offer a good mix of beginner and advanced terrain, such as Sunlight’s “Heathen,” which boasts a 52-degree pitch making it one of the steepest trails in the state.
Several ski areas average well over 350 inches of annual snowfall and have ski seasons that last well into spring, including Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, and Monarch.
After an exhilarating day on the sunny slopes at one of Colorado’s 26 exceptional ski areas and resorts, there’s no better way to recap the day with family and friends than kicking back and enjoying après ski. Slope-side brewpubs and cantinas serve up tasty burgers, burritos and locally brewed beers. Stylish on-mountain hotels treat guests to hot toddies and tasty appetizers around cozy fire pits. Or, take in a cool Colorado concert or festival. Throughout the year, towns across the state host must see events from slope-side concerts, ESPN’s Winter X Games, ice sculpture competitions, skiing/snowboarding competitions and cardboard box car races. After all the excitement, relax in a hot spring pool or enjoy a pampering massage at one of the state’s many renowned spas.
Colorado resorts are easily accessible via Denver International Airport or through mountain airports with access to most resorts within 30 to 45 minutes after touchdown. Mountain airports also offer direct jet service from major cities across the United State including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Detroit, Atlanta, St. Louis, Washington D.C. and others. In many cases, you can board a jet in the morning and ski in the afternoon.
For more information or to find out more about Colorado in all four seasons, visit www.COLORADO.com.
Q: Who can submit a video for Snow at First Sight?
A: Anyone who has not had any experience in snow conditions.
Q: What happens if my video exceeds 60 seconds?
A: You must keep your video under 60 seconds or it will not be accepted.
Q: What are my chances of winning?
A: The odds of winning cannot be determined. All prizes will be awarded "AS IS" and without warranty of any kind, express or implied.
Q: How are the 10 finalists chosen for Snow at First Sight in Colorado?
A: Five are chosen based on popularity of the videos – i.e. the top five most popular videos. Another five are chosen by the sponsor based on creativity, personality, and other qualitative factors. Therefore it is important to share the video with friends and family to encourage them to vote. And it is equally important to submit a creative video that shows off the personality of the entrant.
Q: What happens if I am chosen as one of the 10 finalists?
A: The 10 finalists will be flown to Denver, Colorado, for the official “audition” which will entail an interview with a “finalist panel” in Colorado in early December 2009. The “audition” will also include some activities to showcase one’s writing abilities, knowledge of social networks, creativity, etc. All expenses will be paid for the 10 finalists with the exception of standard incidental costs (i.e. meals not included in the official itinerary, purchases, etc.)
Q: What happens if someone drops out of the final 10 audition or the final three Snow at First Sight winners?
A: The sponsor reserves the right to select an alternate entrant based on either 1) the next most popular video uploaded during the contesting period and/or 2) create an alternate pool based on the sponsor selected finalists.
Q: What video format works best for uploading a submission?
A: All standard video formats will work, as all videos are converted into Adobe flash format.
Q: My video was uploaded but I don’t see it on the list of video submissions.
A: If you have any technical issues, you should first review the submission guidelines. If you submitted video in an accepted format and all other guidelines were followed, your submission may have been removed due to inappropriate content. In this case, the entrant will not be notified. Please see terms and conditions for all rules and regulations.
Q: What if I cannot live in Colorado for all three months?
A: The three finalists are expected to reside in Colorado for the entire period as set forth in the terms and conditions. Those that cannot commit to staying the entire time should not enter the contest.
Q: What are the tax liabilities for winners of the three month Snow at First Sight experience in Colorado?
A: Each Finalist and Winner are solely responsible for any and all federal, state and local taxes, fees and assessments of any governmental authority (including, without limitation, income taxes) on the awarded prize and for obtaining his or her own tax or legal advisor in connection with such obligation.
Q: Do I need to secure medical insurance to participate?
A: Entrants are responsible for providing their own personal health insurance coverage. Following confirmation of the 10 semi-finalists, each must sign a waiver that releases and holds harmless sponsor from any and all liabilities, damages, losses, expenses, or injuries resulting from participation in the competition. For detailed information please see the terms and conditions.
Q: What if I am not a U.S. resident? Can I still enter to win the Snow at First Sight competition?
A: Yes, the competition is open internationally (except where prohibited by law). The winner is responsible for securing a visa or related document(s) that allow him/her to enter the U.S. legally and stay for at least three months. The winner must also be proficient in the English language, both orally and in reading/writing.
Q: Can people enter as a team?
A: Yes, but this may restrict your chances of winning, as the competition is based on selecting individual finalists. However, if you have a compelling story that can only be expressed by including an additional person in your entry, you may enter as a two-person team.
Q: Will I receive any monetary stipend if I am one of the final three participants?
A: In addition to participating in activities arranged for the winners, each winner will receive a monthly $800 stipend.
Q: Do I have to have a driver’s license?
A: It is preferred but not required that you have a U.S. government-issued driver’s license. For international finalists, you must have a license to drive in your home country and ensure that you have the right to operate a motor vehicle in the United States prior to arrival.
Q: What is required as a Snow at First Sight finalist?
A: All Finalists must reside in Colorado during the first three months of 2010 staying at accommodations arranged by Sponsor. During that period, each person must attend all activities arranged by Sponsor and timely submit content for blog, social network and photo/video postings in accordance with deadlines set by Sponsor, unless excused by Sponsor on an activity by activity basis. See official terms and conditions.
Q: Will I be subject to a background check?
A: Finalists may be subject to a background check to ensure that applicants were truthful in their entry responses/requirements based on the official terms and conditions.
Q: Will I be disqualified if I have visited Colorado but not when there was snow on the ground, i.e. summer?
A: No, that will not disqualify you from being a semi-finalist or finalist.
Q: Will the Snow at First Sight finalists be sequestered during any portion of the three month experience in Colorado?
A: No, the three Snow at First Sight finalists will be active in social networks and will have access to online, broadcast and print news. We encourage the finalists to be as visible as they can be during their time in Colorado.
Q: Will Snow at First Sight finalists have to drive all over Colorado or will a guide be provided?
A: From time to time, Snow at First Sight finalists may be required to drive from one area to another in Colorado. A vehicle will be provided for the duration. Other times, local partners will provide transportation. In each area, we will have a local expert to guide the finalists along each activity. Similarly, we will have a local-based contact for questions and emergencies. During certain trips, an escort may accompany the Snow at First Sight finalists.
Q: Where will the Snow at First Sight finalists stay while in Colorado?
A: Snow at First Sight finalists will be in three convenient and centrally located areas during the three month period. These areas are still TBD.
Q: In what kind of physical shape should the Snow at First Sight finalists be?
A: Snow at First Sight finalists should be reasonably fit and healthy as some of the activities will require at least average measures of strength, endurance, etc.
Q: Will Snow at First Sight finalists be required to participate in activities that are well beyond their skill set(s)?
A: No one will be asked to do anything in which they are not comfortable and which is not considered safe for beginners. Alternate snow-related activities may be substituted on a case by case basis.
Q: Will I need to bring my own laptop, camera, etc.?
A: No. The three Snow at First Sight finalists will be supplied with a laptop and video/still camera equipment. All equipment will be returned following the completion of the program.
Q: What kind of clothing should I pack?
A: Since it will be winter in Colorado, you should pack/prepare accordingly. Think: jackets, fleece pullovers, sweaters, jeans, sweatpants, sneakers, boots, etc.
Q: Can I post to other blogs while in Colorado?
A: No. Any content that you create in Colorado as part of Snow at First Sight shall be exclusive to our approved outlets and social networks.