Ski

On Friday, Dec. 17th Fox and Hound will host Moment Skis and Life More Natural for the premiere of Level 1’s Eye Trip, a worldwide documentation of ski action as you’ve never seen it presented before. Skiing’s counterculture continues to buck the trends of what’s come before them. In addition, the night serves as a benefit for LMN’s Tahoe to Tanzania solar project for Reno/Tahoe youth. Time to get hyped for the season in South Lake Tahoe!

The Red Hut in South Lake Tahoe will host a Burger Night fundraiser to benefit the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation.

Winter is the time of year that seems to go on forever. Shorter daylight hours, cold temperatures and house-bound kids. And if you do go outside you wear so many clothes your knees won't bend.
What type of exercise would tempt you to brave the cold --- Sledding! Remember when you were young and fresh snow was an exciting part of your day? I’ll bet as you aged you lost sight of all that fun. Just imagine the calories you can burn when you force yourself to have fun with a sled!

A book signing by former Nevada Appeal and Tahoe Daily Tribune sports reporter Jeremy Evans will be on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Borders Books in Carson City. Evans is the author of the new book "In Search of Powder: A Story of America's Disappearing Ski Bum."

Squaw Valley USA will have a new owner after a Denver-based equity firm bought virtually all of its shares.

KSL Capital Partners LLC of Denver, which owns stakes in resort-related businesses, announced Tuesday that it hopes to complete the sale by the end of the year and that it will put $50 million into the exclusive Lake Tahoe area resort, home of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games.

Squaw was opened in 1949 by the late Alexander Cushing. It has about 4,000 acres and 2,850 vertical feet that spans over six peaks.

Looks like a great snowsport season ahead as Tahoe resorts are opening all over, the latest being Sierra-at-Tahoe on Tuesday.

La Niña has dropped more than six feet of snow since Friday when the storm first rolled in and forecasters are calling for another 2 to 4 feet possible late Monday. It's cold, it's dry, it's white and it's ski time.

There's been a lot of hype to this upcoming winter storm that will begin its reaches through the Carson City region later today and tonight with anticipated gusty winds and rain turning to snow.

But with trust in the weather folks at the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com, this storm could well be the real deal. In fact a winter storm warning goes into effect at 10 tonight and will last through 10 a.m. Sunday for the Carson City region.

A handful of Lake Tahoe ski resorts prepare to open for the season this weekend thanks to an early snowfall, snowmaking guns and a fairly large storm set to punch the Sierra.

Around a foot or more of natural snow across the Sierra earlier this month certainly helped get things moving. With this weekend's anticipated storm, which may bring anywhere from 2-4 feet of snow to the Sierra, resorts should get a nice healthy boost just in time for the holiday season.

Here's what we know:

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will host the 22nd annual Ski and Snowboard Swap at Lake Tahoe's MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20.

Proceeds will benefit the Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides Lake Tahoe ski and snowboard programs for regional youth, local middle school students, and the S.O.S. program.

Skiers and boarders know when it comes to predicting snow at Lake Tahoe, a wing, a party and a prayer never hurts.

Prepare yourself for a snow dance at the alter as the annual “Pray for Snow” party will happen on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Fresh Ketch Restaurant in South Lake Tahoe. There will be live music, dancing, beverages and an avalanche of prizes.

Super-cold temperatures have allowed Heavenly Mountain Resort to begin making snow at nights this week.

Signaling that the Lake Tahoe snowsports season is just days away if temperatures continue to cooperate, the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system gives Heavenly’s guests confidence that they will be skiing and snowboarding on Heavenly’s opening day, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 19, weather and conditions permitting.

Northstar-at-Tahoe can now be added to the Vail Resorts ownership roster.

Company officials announced today that a $63 million deal was struck between the Colorado-based ski giant Vail Resorts and Booth Creek Resorts, owners of Northstar-at-Tahoe.

Yep, there’s a new guy sitting in the corner office of Heavenly admin building on Kingsbury Grade — Pete Sonntag, one-time ski bum turned management of the giant resort at Lake Tahoe.

So maybe the era of ski bums isn’t over. They may not wear suits but they often are the people doing the suits’ job.

With a new boss at Heavenly, onetime ski bum Pete Sonntag, things are humming there as they prepare for the upcoming season. I taught skiing there for several years and with all the new stuff and improvements going on I sometimes wish I were back on the hill there  — even if they never improve the ski school facilities are Boulder Base.

Sonntag is a real skier (and boarder) who was on the Vail demo team, so you can be sure he’ll be out on the hill checking things out himself. 

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation at Lake Tahoe has opened registration for the 2010-2011 Alpine, Freestyle and Snowboard Programs. With a variety of options from the One-Day Program to the Full-Time Competitive Program, the Foundation has something for all ages and levels of skiers and riders. Registration packets are available online, at the HSSF building, or by calling the HSSF administration office.

The Sept. 30 deadline for the Double Whammy season pass at Lake Tahoe's Northstar and Sierra resorts is approaching.

Squaw Valley USA at Lake Tahoe has announced the appointment of JP Martin as the mountain’s new terrain park manager.

JP comes to Squaw Valley with 19 years of experience in the ski and snowboarding industry and a resume that includes experience at Whistler, Mt. Hood, Jackson Hole and many resorts in Japan. Most recently, Martin worked as the terrain park manager at Sugar Bowl Resort on Donner Summit in Lake Tahoe.

STATELINE, LAKE TAHOE — A $20 million federal grant to fund a 75-mile bike path around Lake Tahoe is being pursued by the Tahoe Transportation District according to a statement released to the press today.

LAKE TAHOE — There are a couple weeks left to get Diamond Peak 2010/11 season passes at the Early Bird Rate.

Save 20 percent off the regular rate by taking advantage of this special deal plus get exclusive Diamond Peak season passholder discounts on third party vendors. Buy a season pass for as low as $295 (mid-week Adult resident rate) until the end of September.

Google has chosen the Nevada Commission on Tourism's online winter ski commercial as a successful case study after it attracted 8 million viewers in seven targeted markets, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki announced today.

Course improvements, packages, online accessibility and savings are springing up around the Carson City and Carson Valley’s Divine 9 Golf Courses.

Spring and summer golf excursions for individuals and groups to Nevada’s capital city and the High Sierra are convenient, fun and affordable with the co-op power of nine Carson City/Carson Valley golf courses and nine lodging properties.

LAKE TAHOE — The “South Shore Summer Series” launches the season with a weekend of live music, culinary delights, sternwheeler race, concerts and competitions stretching across the shore from Camp Richardson Resort on the west to Zephyr Cove on the east. Recognized for its combination of scenic beauty and outdoor recreation with value-added vacations, entertainment and dining options, Lake Tahoe dives into summer as the recently designated No. 2 Destination and No. 8 place in the U.S.

All Mt. Rose Ski Resort passes purchased between now and May 9 will be entered in a drawing to get their pass refunded. Buy your Mt. Rose Unlimited or Limited Pass online at www.skirose.comtoday.
Here is the price for the ski passes:

— Adult ages 18-64, $377
— Senior ages 65 plus, $255
— Teen ages 13-17, $255
— Child ages 6-12, $133

All Unlimited Passes include unrestricted lift access with no void dates plus these perks:

— $50 Rosebuds Children's Camps (void holidays, discount available to children of adult and senior pass holders)

OK, so skiing and riding are pretty much over for the season. But get out your swim suits, 'cause Squaw Valley is holding its annual pond skimming event.

Yeah, the season's pretty much over for skiing and riding except at Mammoth where they plan to run through July 4. But there are some deals coming up and expiring. Check this one out.

Squaw Valley USA announces its start of the countdown to next year’s season pass purchasing deadline. After an epic winter season and an even more remarkable spring, Squaw Valley is again offering adult season passes starting at just $369 — but prices are slated to rise after May 9, 2010.

Carson City Public Works tech Jason Moore puts loose limbs into a wood chipper this morning on King Street. High winds overnight and early this morning of nearly 50 mph on the west side of town to more than 70 mph just outside the city limits blew lots of dead and dying tree limbs and debris to the ground, public works reported.

Carson City Sheriff's Office reports some calls were made to the department regarding downed trees. One large tree limb smashed into a fence and blocked part of the road at Ash Canyon and Ormsby. Public Works removed the debris earlier this morning.

For all you experts of the terrain parks, Heavenly Mountain Resort has something new and exciting for you. Plus details on that last week of operations for the ski and rider season.

Heavenly has announced its plan for the week of April 19 – 25. In mid-March, Heavenly announced the extension of the 2009-10 season by one week in response to conditions and a plentiful snowpack. This season the resort will operate the final week with the most ski and snowboard terrain available in the past three years.

Gee, I wish I could be up there on the hills, making a few turns and enjoying the weather and the snow. But modern medicine says no, two herniated disks in the back rule it out for the time being. Doc advises against skiing until the spine expert has an eyeful and decides what I can and can’t do for now.

With so many of the mountain resorts staying open well into May there's a marvelous chance to combine skiing and hiking in one glorious wind-up of a great season.

I did this once and enjoy it immensely, hiking in the low and then turning around and skiing on the high. It was May of a couple of years ago when I loaded the car with camping gear and tucked a pair of skis on the roof rack. I headed south down 395, inflated with the idea of hiking around Death Valley National Park and then stopping off at Mammoth Mountain on the way home to ski.

Squaw Valley USA reports the longest and most complete season in Lake Tahoe
After receiving seven feet of fresh snow in seven days, Squaw Valley is once again offering the longest and most complete ski season in Lake Tahoe with plans to stay open for skiing and riding through May 9, 2010. Squaw Valley’s annual snowfall of 450 inches and mountain topography featuring acres upon acres of upper elevation North-facing terrain are among the natural attributes that enable the resort to remain open through the middle of May each ski season.