SKIING : Mammoth Drive Not Necessary

It may be hard to believe, because of the prevailing sunshine down in the flatland, but the best skiing in California--on snow, not water--is at Big Bear.

While rocks and tree stumps poke through the High Sierra’s dirty, threadbare white blanket, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit continue taking advantage of cold temperatures to pile up man-made snow ranging from 24 to 60 inches deep. Nearby Snow Valley, with a six- to 20-inch base, and Mountain High at Wrightwood, which is reporting 12 to 36 inches on its slopes, are also making snow and operating daily.

Snow-making is not as common in the Sierra, but may become more prevalent as the drought persists.

Mammoth Mountain has managed to cover about 80 acres of runs, including Stump Alley, Broadway and Sesame Street, for beginning and intermediate skiers, and is offering more advanced action in the bumps on Patrolman’s. Until another storm hits, though, Mammoth is keeping only the main lodge open and has reduced its lift tickets to $25. At June Mountain, the price has been cut to $20.

Farther north, Heavenly Valley, Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley are also benefiting from recently installed or augmented snow-making equipment, but several resorts, including Badger Pass in Yosemite National Park, Dodge Ridge, Tahoe Donner and Mt. Rose have been forced to close because they are totally dependent on whatever happens to blow their way from the Gulf of Alaska.

Americans have competed in four of the seven events held so far in the World Alpine Ski Championships, after returning from their war-related “vacation” at home.

As expected, the United States is still without a medal and probably won’t come close to one in today’s women’s slalom. However, Eva Twardokens of Santa Cruz, Calif., has a reasonable chance for a top-three finish in the women’s giant slalom Saturday, and Jeremy Nobis of Park City, Utah, could be considered a longshot in the men’s giant slalom Sunday, closing day of the biennial affair at Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.

There were no U.S. racers in the women’s combined, which was won Thursday by Switzerland’s Chantal Bournissen, who added a fifth place in the slalom to her third in the downhill last Friday. Petra Kronberger of Austria, winner of the regular women’s downhill Saturday, tore a ligament in her right knee when she fell during the women’s super-G Tuesday and did not start.

The best American showing to date was in the women’s super-G as Edith Thys of Olympic Valley, Calif., and Hilary Lindh of Juneau, Alaska, finished ninth and 10th, respectively. The winner was Ulrike Maier of Austria.

A.J. Kitt of Rochester, N.Y., appeared to be in contention for a top-10 result in the men’s combined after his sixth in Monday’s downhill, but he failed to finish the slalom Wednesday when Stefan Eberharter of Austria took the gold medal. In the regular men’s downhill Sunday, Kitt finished 20th behind winner Franz Heinzer of Switzerland.

Phil Mahre moved into second place in the U.S. Pro Tour standings by defeating Austrian Bernhard Knauss in the slalom Sunday at Snow Summit. Knauss, who won Saturday’s giant slalom and has earned $75,400 this season, still leads with 388 points, 130 more than his rival from Yakima, Wash.

The pro scene shifts to Squaw Valley this weekend.

Skiing Notes

Taped highlights of the men’s combined and the women’s super-G in the World Alpine Skiing Championships will be shown on ESPN today at 4:30 p.m.

Roswitha Raudaschl of Austria tops the Women’s Pro Tour standings with 168 points after a pair of giant slaloms last weekend at Mt. Sunapee, N.H. Linda McGehee-Walsh of Boulder, Colo., who won Saturday’s race, is second with 151, and Birgit Hussauf of Austria, Sunday’s winner, is tied with Catharina Glasser-Bjerner of Sweden for third with 150 each. They’ll do it again this weekend at Mast-hope, Pa.

Mammoth Mountain will play host to the Far West Absolut Bartenders’ ski race Monday, with entry-fee proceeds benefiting the Jimmie Heuga Center for the physically challenged at Avon, Colo. . . . About 4,000 African-American skiers are attending the National Brotherhood of Skiers Summit, which concludes today at Park City, Utah.