A storm that is expected to drop as much as a half-foot of powder at high elevations is making for an epic first week for Sierra Ski Resorts.

The biggest openings this weekend include Squaw Valley, where the resort is kicking of its “50/60” season, the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Winter Olympics and the 60th anniversary of the resort’s opening.

Squaw will feature an outdoor screening of the anniversary movie on the KT-22 Sundeck and live music at Olympic House, when hundreds of balloons drop from the Funitel and Squaw Valley pro skier and BASE jumper, JT Holmes BASE jumps out of the cable car (weather permitting). Event calendar:

• 1 p.m.: Ski With Jonny Moseley at the top of the Funitel
• 4 – 4:30 p.m.: Monster Toast, Balloon Drop, Cable Car BASE jump
• 5 p.m.: Screening of Squaw Valley USA – 60 Legendary Years
• 7 p.m.: Live Music at the Olympic House

The lifts are turning at Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe, and the action is in the park this weekend. The resort will be holding its Saturday in the Park Rail Jam on Nov. 21, from 1-2 p.m. The rail jam is free, but attendees must have a Mt. Rose season pass or lift ticket to enter. It is open to all ages and abilities.

Participants will be judged on their tricks in a jam-style format for an hour. Prizes will be provided by Out of Bounds board shop. Here are the details:

• What: Saturday in the Park Rail Jam
• When: Saturday, Nov. 21
• Where: Ponderosa Park
• Registration: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., held in the Ponderosa Park
• Competition: 1-2 p.m. in the Ponderosa Park, awards to follow immediately after

Snowboarders will compete with skiers, and girls and boys will be in their own categories. The three ages groups are as follows: 11 & under, 12-15, 16 & older. Helmets are required and a parent or guardian must sign a liability release for those 17 years of age or younger.

Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is also kicking off its season this weekend, with four lifts turning, access to beginner/intermediate trails, affordable lift tickets, more big storms in the forecast and some of the best early season conditions since the 1994-95 season.

Other resort openings:

• Alpine Meadows: Dec. 5
• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: Open
• Squaw Valley USA: Nov. 21
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: Nov. 21
• Diamond Peak: Dec. 10
• Sugar Bowl: Nov. 25
• Heavenly: Nov. 20
• Boreal Mountain: Open
• Homewood Mountain Resort: TBD

For conditions reports for all Tahoe ski and snowboard resorts, click here.

Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe will be holding its Saturday in the Park Rail Jam on Nov. 21, from 1-2 p.m. The rail jam is free, but attendees must have a Mt. Rose season pass or lift ticket to enter. It is open to all ages and abilities.

Participants will be judged on their tricks in a jam-style format for an hour. Prizes will be provided by Out of Bounds board shop. Here are the details:

• What: Saturday in the Park Rail Jam
• When: Saturday, Nov. 21
• Where: Ponderosa Park
• Registration: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., held in the Ponderosa Park
• Competition: 1-2 p.m. in the Ponderosa Park, awards to follow immediately after

Snowboarders will compete with skiers, and girls and boys will be in their own categories. The three ages groups are as follows: 11 & under, 12-15, 16 & older. Helmets are required and a parent or guardian must sign a liability release for those 17 years of age or younger.

Mt. Rose will be open Nov. 14 with the Flying Jenny lift in operation accessing the Show-Off run.

Mother Nature is finally playing along, as the Sierra Nevada got blanketed with several inches of beautiful snow last night. Several resorts are open with lifts turning, with more openings on the way.

The news from Alpine Meadows:

Lake Tahoe’s Alpine Meadows Ski Resort received 4 inches of new snow at its base lodge (elevation 6,835’) and 6 inches of new snow at mid-mountain (elevation 7,500’).
Evening temperatures are forecast to remain below freezing through Saturday, and Alpine Meadows will make snow during cold durations.

Video shot at Alpine today:

The news from Boreal Mountain Resort:

The storm that blew in Wednesday night to Donner Summit dropped eight to ten inches of fresh snow on the ski trails at Boreal allowing the resort to open to the top of the mountain for weekend skiers and riders. Boreal is expanding its daily operations to two lifts, two trails and two terrain park lines on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Boreal will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. thru Nov. 26. Night operations will begin Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. More lifts and runs will continue to open as snow and weather conditions permit. Resort services include all base facilities including food and beverage, ski/snowboard rentals, lessons and retail.

For complete ski conditions and resort information, log on to our resort finder.

Powder-lovers, get your bags packed!

Southwest Airlines is blowing out ski season travel deals to Reno-Tahoe International Airport with its “Friends Fly Free” promotion by extending the offer with one free night hotel booking along with one free ski day, with a flight+hotel+ski booking.

The offer applies to travel booked between Oct. 30 and Nov. 26 (before 6 p.m.) for travel between Nov. 4 and Feb. 10 (blackout dates apply).

The deal

• Every second person flies FREE when you book a flight + hotel package.
• Receive every 3rd night FREE.
• Buy a 3-day lift ticket and receive 1 of those days FREE.

Reno Tahoe hotels involved in the promotion include: Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino, Peppermill Reno, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Circus Circus, John Ascuaga’s Nugget, Grand Sierra Resort, and the Sands Regency.

Ski Resorts involved in the promotion include: Squaw Valley USA, Northstar at Tahoe Resort, Sierra at Tahoe, and Heavenly Lake Tahoe.

For more information on sking and snowboarding in Reno Tahoe, visit our resort guide online.

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe offers affordable multi-session lessons available to all local children for the 09/10 season. Ski and snowboard development programs are designed for elementary age children in a controlled learning environment with safety as Mt. Rose’s highest priority.

Mt. Rose Youth Programs have a tremendous success rate with the key element being continuity. The students learn from the same instructor throughout the lesson block, enabling them to build a positive and trustworthy relationship. Class sizes are small, allowing for individualized instruction and rapid progression of skill development. Year to year many students return to further their abilities; in fact, many graduates of past school programs are now part of our qualified instructor team.

The Winter Program starts Jan. 5 and the Spring Program starts Feb. 23. Youth programs are held one day per week for five weeks, available Tuesdays through Fridays. Each five-week session is offered both in the morning or afternoon and is great for kindergarteners or students at multi-track schools that are off during January, February or March.

The Rosebuds Youth Program is available to ages 4-8 (snowboarders ages 7-8) and costs $200, includes rental equipment. The Rippers Youth Program is available to ages 9-12 and costs $115 ($160 with rental equipment). Register for Youth Programs online at www.skirose.com.