Lake Tahoe competitors did the region proud with a dozen of the Sierra Nevada’s best taking part in the 2012 Winter X Games held at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado January 26-29.

Reno native, David Wise won his first Winter X Games gold medal in the Ski SuperPipe, unseating two-time defending champion Kevin Rolland of France.

One of the most notable runs at the 2012 Winter X Games was two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, whose home mountain is Northstar California, taking home his fifth consecutive gold medal in the men’s Snowboard Superpipe with an unprecedented perfect score of 100.

Squaw Valley athlete Nate Holland claimed his sixth Winter X gold medal in the men’s Snowboarder X January 28, bringing his total Winter X Games medal tally to nine with five consecutive gold victories from 2006 to 2010.

Jayson Hale, of Sugar Bowl Ski Resort on Donner Summit, proudly represented North Lake Tahoe, taking home bronze in the men’s Snowboarder X on January 28.

The ladies of North Lake Tahoe were fierce competitors as well at Buttermilk Mountain.

Northstar California’s Elena Hight won silver in the women’s Snowboard Superpipe and Torstein Horgmo won silver in the Snowboard Big Air.

Squaw Valley athlete and Squaw Valley freestyle coach Brita Sigourney (a silver medalist at the 2011 Winter X Games) received a bronze in the women’s Ski Halfpipe and landed the competition’s only 1080.

It’s a great time to ski and board North Lake Tahoe, alongside the Winter X Games athletes. Sun’s bright, snow’s bitchin’.

For more information about North Lake Tahoe ski resorts, the best deals on lodging, special events, dining and winter activities, click to www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

Snow is continuing to dump in Reno Tahoe and epic powder days are predicted to show up next in the forecast. Resorts are boasting over 60” of fresh powder from the storm, opening thousands of acres of terrain.

Here are some quick facts on what you can expect at a few of the resorts. And it’s only getting better…

• Squaw Valley was pounded with close to 6ft in the past 72 hours. 650 acres opened today.
• 18 new trails opened at Northstar California Resort after being greeted with 29” at the summit.
• 28” in the past 24 hrs at Alpine Meadows. Tons of expert terrain is now open.
• Royal Gorge XC was graced with 3 ft of fresh. Opening tomorrow.
• 50” of powder in the last 72 hours at Boreal, 48” at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, 38” at Heavenly, and 24” in 24 hrs at Diamond Peak.

Whether an awesome ski season means digging into some fresh powder or grabbing some sky in the terrain park, nothing ends a season faster than injuring yourself or others.  In an effort to make sure everyone enjoys a great season of skiing and snowboarding at two world-renown destinations, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort are implementing Vail’s “Play It Safe, Play All Season” slope safety campaign.

The Play It Safe campaign is aimed at addressing slope safety by communication how guests can ski and snowboard more responsibly while still enjoying a great day on the mountain. To effectively reach skiers and boarders of all ages, Heavenly and Northstar are implementing enhanced on-mountain Play It Safe messages through a variety of channels, including videos featuring Olympic and world champion athletes Lindsey Vonn and Shaun White.  Play It Safe messages will be found in critical locations such as trail merging areas and terrain park exits.

In addition to signage and videos, guests can also expect to see a greater presence of mountain safety personnel, whose primary focus is to enforce the mountain rules, allowing ski patrol to focus on assisting injured riders. A special training program has been designed to equip safety employees with new tactics for enforcing safety laws and rules, including the ability to revoke skier’s and snowboarder’s passes for safety violations and requiring them to attend a safety and awareness class. In addition, the presence of safety personnel will be more prominent on busy days.

Written by, Cody Haener

Discounted drinks. Music. Dancers. Free swag. An electric vibe. Heavenly Mountain Resort is taking the après ski party to new heights – 9,150 feet, to be exact – with Unbuckle at Tamarack, Tahoe’s ultimate après party.

Located inside Heavenly’s spectacular Tamarack Lodge at the top of the Heavenly Gondola, Unbuckle at Tamarack will run from at 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily from December 17-23 and 26-31 featuring DJs, dancers and half-priced drinks. After the New Year, Unbuckle at Tamarack will be daily from 3:30-5:30 p.m., with the EpicMix Chix dancers being featured exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays.

A live DJ will set the tone for the party, as the Heavenly Angels pass out prizes and giveaway items, mingle with guests, and pose for photos. In addition to half-price drinks, a specialty food menu will include staples such as Tamarack’s famous BBQ nachos.

Heavenly is operating 18 lifts and 20 total trails of varied levels of terrain equaling nearly 11 miles of skiing. See for yourself what’s happening at Heavenly from this video of last weekend’s skiers!

Before the real crawling begins, when 4,000+ Santas take over downtown Reno Saturday night at the annual Reno Santa Pub Crawl, warm up your ski legs for the upcoming season on the slopes of Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe – just a quick hop, skip, and jump away! (Which translates to about 25 min from downtown.)

Santas and holiday helpers in costume will get a $39 lift ticket. Don’t miss the photo op with fellow Kris Kringles at the Main Lodge at 11:00am, right before the “Red Parade” when all Santas are to meet at the top of Kit Carson Bowl for one large Santa run at 11:30am.

Everyone knows Santas have a hearty appetite, so the Mt. Rose kitchen is offering various specials on food and beverage at the Main Lodge!

Check out pictures from past Santa Crawls on our Reno Santa Crawl group on Flickr!

A powerful Sierra snowstorm has moved through the Lake Tahoe region, leaving up to 10 inches of new snow at Tahoe Resorts; including, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort.  With Lake Tahoe’s two largest snowmaking systems already operating for over a week, these two resorts have a jump start on opening for the 2011-12 season on Friday, November 18, 2011, weather and conditions permitting.

“This storm packed a good little punch, really supplementing what we’ve been able to accomplish with the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “We’re looking forward to a rocking opening week, with awesome entertainment and the finest snow quality and surface conditions.”

Heavenly is making snow at the top of the Gondola, California Trail and Ante Up Terrain Park.

“This first storm system has not only helped our efforts with the addition of natural snowfall, but the cold temperatures it has brought with it will allow us to continue our snowmaking efforts in the coming days,” said Bill Rock, vice president and chief operating officer of Northstar California Resort. “We’re looking forward to welcoming our guests back for another incredible winter season.”

Northstar is making snow on several trails including Main Street, Lower Pioneer, Pinball, Lumberjack, in the Big Easy beginner learning area, and on Cat’s Face where Shaun White’s signature 22’ halfpipe will be built.

Opening Weekend

Winter Ignite, a 24 Hours of Heavenly event, kicks off on Opening Day, November 18, 2011, with an après ski party at Heavenly’s spectacular Tamarack Lodge and the South Lake Tahoe premiere of “Like There’s No Tomorrow,” the latest installment of the Warren Miller movie franchise, and a concert by Grammy-winning American blues and rocker Jonny Lang. The fun continues through a wild week of parties, music, entertainment and giveaways, culminating with a pool party inside MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa and a concert by British alt-rockers BUSH on November 26, 2011.

At Northstar, opening weekend includes live music from the Village Stage featuring super-charged acoustic rockers Ike and Martin, country crooners Curtis and Luckey, and indie band, The Novelists. Northstar will also hold its very first Epic Mixer at the Big Springs Day Lodge, celebrating the resort launch of Vail Resorts’ award-winning mobile and online app with drink specials and EpicMix experts who will help new users activate their accounts.

The Tahoe Value Pass – The Best Deal in Snowsports!

The 2011-2012 winter season is scheduled to run from November 18, 2011 to April 15, 2012, weather and conditions permitting. Season passes are now on sale, starting at just $389 for the Tahoe Value Pass, which provides seven-day-per-week access to Heavenly Mountain Resort and six-day-per-week access to Northstar California Resort. Some restrictions apply. Other pass options are available, including the Epic Pass, priced at just $669. The Epic Pass offers unrestricted access all season long to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, and both Heavenly and Northstar California Resort at Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada. For more information, visit www.epicpass.com.

Snow is piling up in the Sierra Mountains surrounding the iconic Lake Tahoe… ski season is near.

Now boasting the largest ski resort in the nation, and the largest cross-country resort in North America, Reno Tahoe is going to be the hub of another unforgettable record-breaking season.

Be one of the heads to hit the first runs of the season. Here are the opening dates (weather dependent) for the region’s ski resorts:

Boreal Mountain Resort – OPEN

Heavenly Mountain – OPEN

Northstar – OPEN

Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe –OPEN

Squaw Valley USA –OPEN

Sugar Bowl – Nov 24-28 & re-opening Dec 2

Tahoe Donner Ski Resort –December 9

Alpine Meadows – December 10

Diamond Peak Ski Resort –December 15

*List will be updated as resorts continue to announce their opening dates. For more information on local ski resorts and other wintertime activities, visit our website at VisitRenoTahoe.com.

Resorts including Boreal, Northstar and Heavenly have been busily making snow this week anxiously preparing for their opening dates, but one resort pulls out in front. Boreal says they have enough snow to open for two days of pre-season skiing!

Boreal’s Operating Schedule

Friday, October 28th –        3:00pm – 8:00pm*

Saturday, October 29th –    9:00am – 2:00pm*

*conditions permitting.  Operating schedule post October 29th TBD.

Lift tickets will only be $15 for all ages!

Resort services will be available including season pass sales, food, beverages, and retail.  Gated access to the mountain, valid lift tickets and passes permitted in the gated area only.  Lift tickets subject to sell out.  All Boreal season passes are valid October 28th and 29th and will be available for purchase onsite at a discounted rate.  Due to limited terrain, no beginner terrain or ski school will be available this weekend.

To celebrate the beginning of the season, the 7th Annual Jibassic Public Invitational (JPI.7) will take place on Saturday, October 29th from 10am – 2pm.  This season JPI.7 will be open to the public.  Boreal is set with $1,000 cash to be handed out in the public park, open to all and built to Boreal terrain park perfection.

Boreal’s early season operations will continue as conditions permit.  Stay tuned for updates at www.rideboreal.com.

With 18 world-class resorts right in our backyard, deciding which mountain to buy a pass to can be difficult, so let us help. *Most prices listed are SALE prices and will go back to their original amounts after the end of October – act now!

Alpine Meadows & Squaw Valley

Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley have joined forces to offer you access to two mountains with one pass!

Tahoe Super Pass

Adult (23-64)                         $799
Young Adult (13-22)             $529

Boreal

Unlimited

Adult (13-59):                        $279

Child (5-12):                          $99

Diamond Peak Lake Tahoe

Unlimited

Adult (18-64)                         $454

College (with ID)                   $209

Donner Ski Ranch

Adult (18-69)                         $249

Youth (13-17)                        $199

Heavenly Lake Tahoe & Northstar-at-Tahoe

Ride two premier Tahoe resorts, Heavenly and Northstar-at-Tahoe, for one price with the Epic Pass:

Epic Pass

Adult (13+)                            $649

Child (5-12)                           $329

Homewood

Adult (19-61)                         $399 (reg)               $299 (locals)

Teen (13-18)                         $259 (reg)                $159 (locals)

Kirkwood

Premium + Alpine

Adult                                       $799

Junior (13-18)                       $459

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

Unlimited

Adult                                       $377

U-22 (13-22)                          $199

Royal Gorge

Adult (18+)                            $425

Junior (13-17)                       $198

Sierra-at-Tahoe

Unlimited

Adult (23-69)                         $379

Young Adult (13-22)             $279

Soda Springs

Adult (18+)                            $199

Youth (13-17)                        $249

Sugar Bowl

CORE Unrestricted

Adult (23-59)                         $799

Young Adult (13-22)             $479

All pass-holders 4 and up can participate in General Admission. Get a FREE 2 hour group lesson at any level and standard gear rental on General Admission Days.

Tahoe Donner

Unlimited

Adult (13-59)                         $279

Child (7-12)                           $139

*Each resort offers a variety of passes to accommodate all needs. Please visit individual websites for a full listing. For more information on the upcoming ski season, check out our website.

Two North Lake Tahoe Resorts, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, have decided to combine ownership and operations to offer the ultimate Lake Tahoe experience. Season passes and lift tickets will allow skiers and boarders access to both mountains, located only 10 minutes from each other.

Stretching across eight peaks of the Sierra Mountains, the combination of the two resorts boasts 6,000 acres of some of the best terrain in skiing. Last year, the region accumulated over 800 inches of snow, breaking records for North America’s highest average annual snowfall.

The companies also announced an all new dual mountain season pass and six day card.  The all new Tahoe Super Pass will be available starting at $439 for adults, with the unrestricted adult pass available for $799, providing unlimited skiing and riding at both resorts for winter 2011-12. Also, the all new Tahoe Super Six is available for $399 for adults and provides six unrestricted days of skiing and riding for the 2011-12 season. Both the Tahoe Super Pass and the Tahoe Super Six are immediately available for sale and additional information can be found at www.squaw.com or by contacting the Squaw Valley Resort & Activity Sales Department at 1-800-403-0206. Passes previously purchased at Squaw or Alpine for winter 2011-12 will valid at both mountain resorts.

Squaw Valley has earmarked $50 million in capital improvements to Squaw Valley over the next three to five years, many of which will be apparent this winter.

For more information visit www.squaw.com.

About Squaw Valley
Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley is internationally renowned for its legendary terrain that spans over 3,600 skiable acres, six peaks and 30 lifts. From the expansive mountaintop beginner area to unrivaled expert steeps, trees and bowls, the resort offers terrain for all abilities. Off the mountain, families relax around the cozy village fire pits or stroll the pedestrian-friendly streets to enjoy a host of restaurants, boutiques, specialty wine shops and art galleries.  This winter, guests can enjoy new dining experiences, a new day lodge, vastly improved facilities at the base and on mountain and a new snowsports school as part of the resort’s $50 million renaissance.
Click here to view the Squaw Valley Trail Map.

About Alpine Meadows
Ranked as a top winter resort by SKI Magazine, Alpine Meadows is known for its abundant and varied skiable terrain, family-friendly atmosphere, and innovative children’s ski and snowboard programs. Alpine’s seven powder bowls, summit-to-base groomed slopes, and authentic hospitality have long been the resort’s reputed attributes among the local community and visitors alike. Alpine Meadows offers skiers and riders access to more than 100 trails across 2,400 skiable acres serviced by 14 lifts.  With its high annual snowfall, the resort boasts one of Tahoe’s longest skiing and boarding seasons, which this past season, along with Squaw Valley, ran through July 4th.
Click here to view the Alpine Meadows Trail Map.