Now in its fourth season making snowboards, Salomon's entry into this industry was much like its entry to the skiing scene. The company's innovative designs and performance turned some heads and stoked some fires. This year's line-up includes the 250, 350, 450, 550, and a pro model series. Using input from pro riders, and with a thorough R&D team, the engineers at Salomon build rock-solid performance snowboards.

In an unprecedented win, little-known Mario Matt from Austria came from behind and won the prestigious Hahnenkamm slalom, amazing the top contenders and everyone involved in the World Cup "White Circus." This was only his third World Cup race. Starting from the 47th position, the 20-year-old skier from St. Anton am Arlberg won by nearly a second. He also became the first Austrian to capture a slalom this season.

Most crewed charters require a 50 percent deposit when you sign the contract. If the cost of the charter does not include food, bar, fuel or other expenses (as is often the case outside the Caribbean and on large motoryachts), a deposit on those items usually is required as well. On motoryachts, those expenses typically run 25 percent of the advertised price of the charter; on sail, they run roughly 20 percent (food and drink usually are priced at cost to the boat). The remainder is due between one month and two weeks before the charter commences.

In the decades since American historian Hiram Bingham first stumbled upon the Lost City of the Incas in 1911, Machu Picchu has become the most popular archaeological site in South America. It also remains, against all odds, one of the world's premier adventure-travel destinations. A proposed tramway threatens to transform Machu Picchu into yet another mass-market tourist stop

The park contains one of the largest concentrations of natural sandstone arches in the world. The arches and numerous other extraordinary geologic features, such as spires, pinnacles, pedestals and balanced rocks, are highlighted in striking foreground and background views created by contrasting colors, landforms and textures.