ALBANY, New York ??” With plenty of packed powder, sunshine and perfect winter weather, you’ll find great skiing at the nearly 50 downhill ski areas across New York State this weekend. In addition to optimum skiing, you’ll also have a wide variety of fun and exciting winter activities to enjoy.

In the Adirondacks, Titus Mountain, in Malone, holds children’s and adults’ challenge races on Feb. 5 and a Children’s Craft Day on Feb. 6. Children are invited to come and create their own Adirondack walking stick and to listen to stories by a great story-teller of wonderfully tall tales. Call (518) 483-3740 or visit www.titusmountain.com for more information. In North Creek, Gore Mountain is holding two two-day clinics this weekend, Feb. 5 and 6; one for Nastar racing and one for women only. Each clinic is $199 (season pass holders receive a discount price of $149). The clinics include breakfast and lunch. For more information, call (800) 342-1234 or (518) 251-2411 or visit www.goremountain.com. McCauley Mountain Ski Area in Old Forge holds its 2005 Winter Carnival Feb. 11, 12 and 13. A weekend of fun for the entire family, the carnival features hockey and broomball, a snowshoe walk, cardboard sled race, coronation of the king and queen and fireworks. For more information call the Old Forge Visitor Center at (315) 369-6983 or visit www.oldforgeny.com.

At Whiteface Mountain, Feb. 4-6 is the USSA Men’s Development FIS Giant Slalom, featuring athletes from the U.S. Ski Association developmental men’s team in competition. Feb. 5 is the Whiteface Up & Comers Series Competition #3, the third event in a season-long series for age 14 and under skiers and riders competing for the title of Up & Coming champ. Participants earn points toward the championship at season’s end. Entries are limited, and prizes awarded in ski and snowboard divisions. Feb. 6 is Super Sunday at Whiteface, with $25 adult lift tickets, live entertainment, great prize giveaways, drink specials and more. For more information on these events, call (800) 462-6236 or (518) 946-2223, or visit www.whiteface.com.

In the Catskills, Belleayre Mountain, in Highmount, is offering special $25 lift tickets for teachers on Feb. 6. For more information, call (845) 254-5600 or visit www.belleayre.com.

This week at Windham Mountain in Windham, the Annual Ski-A-Thon will be held Feb. 4-5. For skiers and riders, the event is great way to get outside enjoy the mountain air for a great cause. Participants gather sponsors for the day or per number of runs, with $150 in pledges the minimum to enter. In addition to great skiing and snowboarding, the day also includes a lift ticket, prizes and apr??s ski party, with all proceeds benefiting the Adaptive Sports Foundation. Fireworks postponed from the mountain’s Winter Carnival have been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5 at 9 p.m. Also this weekend at Windham: the Catskill Mountain Series Halfpipe and the J4 Rip Van Winkle Giant Slalom (both on Feb. 5) and the Windham Mountain Jib Jam on Feb. 6. For more information on any of these events, call (800) 754-9463 or (518) 734-4300, or visit www.windhammountain.com.

On Feb. 2, the first 100 skiers to enter Ski Plattekill in Roxbury get $10 all day lift tickets. February 6th at Ski Plattekill is the USASA Catskill Mountain Snowboard Series slalom races ??“ two slalom events open to all snowboarders. For more information and additional special deals, visit www.plattekill.com and sign up for snow alerts by email, or call (607) 326-3500 or the Snow Phone at (800) NEED-2-SKI. Also in the region, at Hunter Mountain, in Hunter, will be holding events as part of the USASA-sanctioned Catskill Mountain Series, a competition series open to all USASA-member skiers and snowboarders (USASA memberships are available at all events). In addition to Hunter, the Catskill Mountain Series is held at Windham, Belleayre, Plattekill and Catamount. There will be a Halfpipe competition on Saturday, Feb. 5, and two separate Slalom race events on Sunday, Feb. 6. For more information, call (888) 486-8376 or (518) 263-4223, or visit www.huntermtn.com.

In the Hudson Valley, Catamount Ski Area is holding a rail jam on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. Prizes include snowboards, skis and other great equipment. Catamount will also be holding a USASA Halfpipe Event on Feb. 12 and a USASA Slopestyle Event on Feb. 13. For more information on any of these events, call (800) 342-1840 or (518) 325-3200 or visit www.catamountski.com.

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, Holiday Valley in Ellicottville presents Cabin Fever Fest I, Thursday, Feb. 3 (Cabin Fever Fest II follows on March 15). The resort is offering special all-day vouchers for Canadians at $19.99 Canadian or $15 American. Holiday Valley is holding a Bump Clinic on Feb. 5 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Become a better mogul skier with help from the resort’s experienced coaches and instructors. The $90 fee includes lunch (lift ticket must be purchased separately). On Feb. 6, Holiday Valley presents the Mogul X Series, a series of three fun mogul competitions for younger kids, at 10 a.m. There is a $5 entry fee per race. For participating Cabin Fever Fest ski shops (where vouchers can be purchased), or for more information on any of the resort’s events and programs, call (800) 323-0020 or (716) 699-2345, or visit www.holidayvalley.com.

Peek ‘n Peak in Findley Lake presents the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge on Feb. 12. The day features free ski and snowboard races open to all ages and abilities, and also live music, games, contests and more. The ski area is also holding a half-pipe contest for snowboarders on Feb. 27. The contest, at 1 p.m., is open to all ages. Registration, which is free, will be at the resort’s Retreat Lodge from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Prizes include Mountain Dew and Rossignol snowboards. For more information call (716) 355-4141 or visit www.pknpk.com.

At Cockaigne Ski Area in Cherry Creek on Feb. 13, join the fun at the Pepsi Olympic Downhill Race, a timed medal event open to all ages ??“ with no charge for race spectators ??“ at 11 a.m. Call (716) 287-3223 for more information.

In the Finger Lakes region, Labrador Mountain in Truxton has College Nights on Monday and Tuesday. Ski and ride for only $12 after 4:30 p.m. with a valid college I.D. For more information, call (800) 446-9559 or (607) 835-6111, or visit www.labradormtn.com for more information. Also in the region, the Greater Rochester area is celebrating winter with Coldrush 2005, a wide variety of hundreds of great indoor and outdoor events. For more information, call (585) 546-3070 or (800) 677-7282, or visit www.goforthecold.com.

A number of other winter celebrations are taking place across the state this week and next, in communities including Saranac Lake (Feb. 4-13), Brantingham (Feb. 11-13), Lake George (Feb. 5-27), Saratoga Springs (Feb. 4-6), Cooperstown (Feb. 11-13), Cazenovia (Feb. 3-6), Salamanca (Feb. 4-6), Homer (Feb. 11-12) and Canton (Feb. 10-17). For more information on these, call (800) CALL-NYS or visit www.iloveny.com.

For the sixth year, Empire State Development’s I LOVE NEW YORK campaign is partnering with Ski Areas of New York for the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, which introduces fourth-grade students to winter mountain recreation in New York State.

With the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, any fourth grade student ??“ from any state ??“ can take advantage of unmatched and unprecedented skiing and snowboarding values from the New York State mountain resort industry for the 2004-05 winter season. Eligible students will receive a ???Passport??? book containing three coupons for free skiing and/or snowboarding at each of the participating ski areas in New York State. The only cost is a $15 processing fee.

This ski season, I LOVE NEW YORK is giving away a free pair of Rossignol skis. To enter for the giveaway, visit www.iloveny.com.

For more information on the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, up-to-the-minute cross-country and downhill ski reports, a free 2004-05 I LOVE NEW YORK Winter Travel and Ski Guide, and New York State events, attractions and lodging information, dial (800) CALL-NYS or visit the I LOVE NEW YORK website at www.iloveny.com.