What's New at Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts
| 20 November 2009
Lake Tahoe, CA/NV - With a number of Tahoe ski resorts getting ready to open for the season this week, and Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe already in operation, we've put together a roundup of what's new around the lake for skiers and riders this winter.
Alpine Meadows
Alpine Meadows has announced a new dual lift ticket valid at its partner property, Homewood Mountain Resort, including a complimentary shuttle interconnecting the two mountains.
Back by popular demand, guests can sign up online to become members of the Alpine Club with expanded benefits for the 2009-10 season including deals on dining, shopping, demos and rentals, lessons and daily lift tickets beginning at $44.
Skiers and snowboarders this season will enjoy an entirely new terrain park designed by industry experts that offers progressive elements and a more natural flow.
Alpine Meadows is embracing new technologies this season to elevate the guest experience including a new GPS tracking system for families to keep tabs on their kids and hands-free automated turnstiles to expedite lift lines.
The resort will offer unique new gourmet dinners courtesy of a customized snowcat ride to the ski area's cozy Mid Mountain Chalet encircled by towering Sierra peaks and statuesque pine trees. Guests can enjoy an evening of star gazing, fun with friends, and house made fare including four courses of creative cuisine.
Alpine Meadows has announced a new women's ski team representing the next era of ski coaching for women, by women. Team R.A.D. (Rippin' Alpine Divas) includes coaching by eight of the country's top female ski instructors who focus on a sensory experience on the slopes and building technical skills. Team R.A.D. coaches were carefully selected so that coaches and students are able to relate to each other outside of skiing. Additionally, Alpine Meadows remains the host mountain of Jamaican Ski Team and 2010 Jamaican Olympic Team athlete, Errol Kerr, as he trains for the upcoming games.
Heavenly Mountain Resort
For winter 2009-10, Heavenly will debut a new four-lane tubing hill accessed by a state-of-the-art magic carpet conveyor. Stretching hundreds of feet up East Peak, the new tubing hill will be a welcome addition to Heavenly's Adventure Peak family recreation are that already includes sledding and ski bikes.
In conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, Heavenly Mountain Resort continued its selective trail enhancement projects that annually identify key trails to be treated. This year, The Pinnacles trails were selected and this area can now be opened earlier and groomed more consistently. In addition, several trails were also widened while entrances were enhanced to provide more convenient access and rocks were removed for a better guest experience.
Heavenly's expansive snowmaking and grooming operations were enhanced to continue improving its snow surface. The resort expanded snowmaking onto Stagecoach run, increasing the amount of terrain covered with snowmaking to 70 percent, and Heavenly's new grooming machines will be added to its technologically-advanced snowcats. The resort will also add snowmaking to the new tubing area to provide early-season access for sightseers as well as skiers and snowboarders looking for non-ski activities.
This season, Heavenly's Terrain Park Crew focused on creating some of the most creative, urban-based recycled jibs at Lake Tahoe, including highway barriers, water drums and corrugated pipes.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Kirkwood Mountain Resort added two new lifts last season that improved access to its 2,300 acres of ski and snowboard terrain. The Lookout Vista lift replaced the hike to the famed chutes of Thunder Saddle along with access to the snowfields and cliff bands of Sunnyside for those headed to the resort's backside. The Covered Wagon lift gains access to the highest point crossed on the historic Mormon Emigrant Trail along with pristine powder stashes on Fawn Ridge and easy backcountry access. Additionally, the resort installed a new Wonder Carpet lift in the Timber Creek beginner's area designed specifically to ease the learning process for those just taking up the sport. These improvements are the first significant phase in bringing to reality Kirkwood's Mountain Master Development Plan.
Kirkwood has invested over $10,000 in new school features to revamp its three terrain park layouts. The resort has recruited a dedicated staff of experienced individuals to maintain the features and invested in snowcats and machinery specifically designed for terrain park applications. In addition to its three terrain parks and halfpipe, Kirkwood will be constructing a dedicated Skier/Boarder X Course open to the public this season.
Expedition: Kirkwood this winter will add a new amenity for resort guests with its Evening Snowcat Tours that take clients to the top of Red Cliffs to enjoy one of the most spectacular views in the High Sierra complete with appetizers and drinks.
Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe
Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe has undergone off-season improvements in excess of $4 million, highlighted by the contemporary new Slide Lodge, replacing the former structure is a modern facility with a contemporary style that is unique in Tahoe. Architects designed the building based on a style becoming popular in Europe which brings the valley architecture into the mountains. The glass façade of the primarily steel and glass lodge will bring the mountain into the space, creating a warm, special feel for what has become coined as the "locals" side of Mt. Rose.
Located on the southeastern-most edge of the Slide Bowl base area, the positioning of Slide Lodge will lend itself to a more conducive guest area providing improved traffic flow from the slopes, to the lodge, as well as to the loading zone for the Blazing Zephyr lift. A modern kitchen will bring new food service to the lodge and the cozy bar will relax its patrons and offer panoramic views of the Washoe Valley 4,000 feet below. An impressive outdoor deck will provide expansive seating within an inviting atmosphere for a ski break on those famous Tahoe days.
Other enhancements include construction of a grand staircase to improve guest flow between the Main Lodge and the middle parking lot, selected rock blasting, and a new Skier Services building. Early season snowmaking efforts were complemented by three new snowmaking machines that allowed the resort to open in late October this season. Check out daily lift ticket deals including Two 'fer Tuesdays, Runs n' Roses family packages, Ladies Day Thursdays, the Weekend Xtender and more.
Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort
Situated at mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe will open on December 9, featuring ski-in, ski-out access, mountain valet services and Manzanita, the resort's signature restaurant created by renowned San Francisco celebrity chef Traci Des Jardins, as well as a 17,000 square foot spa and fitness center. The year-round destination includes 170 guest rooms, 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences and 25 Ritz-Carlton Club fractional ownership units.
The new Highlands Gondola, featuring eight-passenger cabins was erected this summer and will provide a direct connection between the Village at Northstar and The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe. The Bear Paw double lift accessing the resort's beginner teaching area has also been replaced and realigned, and the new quad chairlift now provides ski-in, ski-out access to and from The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe from the mid-mountain area of Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort and greatly improves access to Northstar Resort's beginner teaching terrain.
Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort's beginner teaching area has been expanded and redesigned to include more of the sculpted smart terrain that helps improve the learning curve for beginning skiers and snowboarders. This increase in terrain (twice the size of the previous teaching area) as well as new ski trails brings the resort's ski trail count to 92 and its total skiable acreage to 3,000 acres.
New snowmaking has been added to the beginner teaching area of the mountain, allowing for ski-in, ski-out access from The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, as well as improved early season conditions for the beginner slopes. In an effort to improve the efficiency and quality of its snow grooming efforts, the resort has invested in three new grooming machines, including a "Beast," that is designed to reduce the time and fuel needed to maintain the snow surface.
New this year, the Burton Snowboard Academy will feature instruction for children under the age of 13. In addition, the Academy will introduce the Northstar Training Lab, a season-long development program that will follow a structured process that supports the foundations, skills and tactics that all riders need to become creative and push the limits of their riding and the sport.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort has taken a direct shot at the price barrier to learning a new sport in a tough economy with a $35 beginner package that includes a limited access lift ticket, rental equipment and a 2½ hour lesson. Friends and families can now spend an entire day on the slopes, learning a new sport, for less than the cost of going out to dinner and a movie.
Free backcountry tours will take qualified skiers and riders out the five gates into Huckleberry Canyon every Friday afternoon when conditions allow. The tour will introduce skiers and riders to the terrain, offer advice on various lines, chutes and drops, and give directions on when and where to exit the canyon.
Also new this season, an expanded Backcountry and Telemark Center will offer telemark and splitboard rentals, avalanche beacons, probes and shovels and continue to offer telemark lessons. The Backcountry and Telemark Center will give skiers and riders a primer of the skills and knowledge they need to travel through Tahoe's vast winter backcountry terrain.
A new 1,800 square foot deck at the Baja Bar and Grill in West Bowl will keep the resort's beach party on snow going all winter long. Guests can lounge in the Adirondack chairs, enjoy a fresh Mexican lunch and a cold beer at the picnic tables, or nap in the sun at one of the most popular hangout spots on the mountain. The deck will also enable more live music and events to take place in West Bowl.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort has also commissioned an internationally recognized Lake Tahoe fine artist to do a series of original paintings inspired by skiing, snowboarding and Sierra Resort's relaxed California vibe. The paintings will be created live at the resort during several art and wine pairings.
Squaw Valley USA
New for 2009-10, the High Camp Triple Chairlift improves access to the multiple terrain parks and also to the High Camp area's vast beginner terrain, restaurants, ice skating rink, Lagoon & Spa, and Olympic Museum.
Over previous seasons, the Monster Park at Riviera has seen a huge expansion and the new chairlift will become the hub for park riders of all tastes and abilities with access to numerous jump lines and jib features. The new three-person High Camp Chair is scheduled to operate at night for the first time, giving skiers and riders day and night access to the Ford Belmont Park and the Monster Park and Superpipe.
The recent hiring of a new Executive Chef resulted in a complete overhaul of the on-mountain dining experience and the unveiling of new mid-mountain restaurant, The ARC at Gold Coast, and continues with the renovation of a second Gold Coast restaurant; North scheduled for completion in December. The newest Gold Coast restaurant remodel is part of more than $5 million in resort improvements that took place in summer 2009. Located at the top terminal of the Funitel, the new restaurants are constructed from 100 percent recycled and locally produced building materials.
Adding to the bevy of base area restaurants, the new Twenty-Two Bistro & Bar will open at the base of Squaw Valley's world-renowned run KT-22 along with the Cornice Cantina Mexican restaurant going in the Red Dog building.
Squaw Valley USA's 50/60 Anniversary season welcomes new ski and snowboard programs for women, parents and children. Women of Winter on Wednesdays, a discounted full-day clinic open to women skiers and snowboarders, focuses on skiing or riding in current conditions and teaching technique needed to tackle varying terrain on the mountain. The affordable rate of $49 is a pricepoint all women can appreciate. For maximum savings, books of five sessions are available for $159.
Big mountain ski icons Ingrid Backstrom and Jessica Sobolowski will be on hand for Squaw's Just for Women Weekend taking place Jan. 9-10, 2010 including an off-snow, après ski social element. Robb Gaffney's popular ski-the-book clinic is back this winter, and his Squallywood Clinic series is welcoming a new program designed for parents and children to experience together what it is like to be in a ski movie.
In 2009-10, Squaw Valley is embarking on a season-long celebration to commemorate two milestone anniversaries: the 60th Anniversary of the resort's founding and the 50th Anniversary of the 1960 Olympics. One of the great moments in California history, the 1960 Winter Olympic Games brought international acclaim to the Lake Tahoe region and sparked interest in winter sports and skiing in California. Thus, the 50th Anniversary of the 1960 Olympics has garnered region-wide support for an official Olympic Heritage Celebration, taking place Jan. 8-17, 2010.
No less than 20 events commemorating the 1960 Olympics fill the ten-day Olympic Heritage Celebration, beginning with an Olympic Torch Relay from Sugar Pine Point State Park to Squaw Valley, and an Opening Ceremony complete with fireworks, live music, and a 1960 Olympian Reception. During the celebration, ski enthusiasts can simulate competing on the original 1960 Olympic Men's and Women's Downhill courses with special early access, before the mountain opens to the public. Additionally, guests can take part in "Ski-with-Jonny Moseley" days taking place Nov. 21, Dec. 26-Jan. 2, and Jan. 8, 2010 for a tour of Jonny's favorite runs and a chance to ski with Squaw's "Golden Boy" for free.
The festivities culminate with a 1960 Olympic Legends Ball at the Resort at Squaw Creek. Olympic Heritage Celebration events are either free to the public or fundraising events to benefit construction of a new Lake Tahoe ski heritage museum.
