Heavenly and Kirkwood

Original Closing Day: April 15

Added Dates: April 20-22 and April 27-29.

Heavenly Mountain Resort is gearing up for its 16th annual Spring Loaded festival filled with parties, concerts, competitions and of course, skiing and boarding!

Spring Loaded kicks off on Friday, March 30, at 3:30 p.m. with Unbuckle, Tahoe’s ultimate après ski party at Tamarack Lodge. The celebration continues for 15 non-stop days and includes events such as the coveted Gunbarrel 25 hosted by Glen Plake, extreme pond skimming, a Helly Hansen fashion show featuring the Heavenly Angels, a bratwurst-eating contest, and live, outdoor concerts.

For a full schedule of Spring Loaded events and information on how to purchase tickets visit www.skiheavenly.com/springloaded.

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows

Closing Date:  April 29

Alpine also open May 4-6, and 11-13.

Squaw Valley will be hosting pool parties every weekend this spring at the resort’s renowned mountaintop pool and hot tub. Free for all season pass holders and $14 for everyone else, the High Camp Pool and Hot Tub is nestled between Squaw’s magnificent peaks at elevation 8,200 feet with stunning views surrounding Sierra Nevada.

Across the ridgeline, skiers and riders can relax at Alpine Meadows’ Ice Bar, located at the bottom of Sherwood.  Recognized as one of Tahoe’s most unique spots to gather with friends and catch a few rays of the Sierra’s famous sunshine, the Ice Bar is a springtime hotspot. Keep an eye out for Ice Bar parties scheduled throughout the season.

For more details about spring events and great spring skiing deals, see www.squaw.com and www.skialpine.com.

Sugar Bowl

Closing Date: April 29

#MiracleMarch spread almost as fast as snow was piling up in Tahoe. That first storm dumped 9 ft in one week.  Skiers and boarders were so amped to once again start their ski season, they gave March Madness a whole new meaning. Making up for lost time? Most definitely.

Almost half of the season’s snowfall fell in March, and the snow gods are not turning off their snow guns just yet. Over a foot came down just last night, and it’s still falling. Check out the totals below from http://tahoeweatherdiscussion.com/resort-totals. Spring skiing is crazy good! Good thing the hotels still have their killer stay and ski packages.

Powder runs are waiting.

On Monday, in 24 hours, Lake Tahoe Ski resorts were graced with up to 1 ½ ft of snow… and Mother Nature is just getting started! After a few more feet of fresh stack up through Thursday, the skies are predicted to open up Friday for weekend of Tahoe’s famous blue bird ski days. It’s the perfect storm.

The fresh powder is falling just in time for North Lake Tahoe’s 10-day SnowFest kicking off this Friday!

Events we wouldn’t miss include:

March 2 – Opening Ceremonies with fireworks and a laser light show

March 3 – Tahoe City Parade & 22nd Annual Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim

March 3-4 – Rahlves’ Banzai Tour KT-22 Banzai

March 9 – Bridgetender’s 4th Annual Rib Fest

March 10 – Kings Beach Parade

March 11 – Ta-Hoe Nalu Arctic Standup Paddle Board Race & the River Ranch Annual Snow Sculpture Contest

For a complete listing of events, go here: http://www.tahoesnowfestival.com/#!vstc1=events

See you on the slopes!

Vail Resorts, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Kirkwood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe, Calif. Vail Resorts is purchasing the ski resort as well as the undeveloped sites at the center of the base area which are zoned for residential and commercial development for a purchase price of approximately $18 million. The seller will retain a participation interest in the base area parcels and will continue to own the remainder of the real estate development sites. Following the acquisition, Vail Resorts will now operate three world-class mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe region which between them offer the entire breadth of the skiing and riding experience, including Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Northstar California on the north shore and Kirkwood Mountain Resort.

As of today, Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass holders will have unrestricted access to ski and ride Kirkwood. The Company also announced that it intends to retain a Kirkwood-only season pass and Kirkwood-only daily lift tickets, priced comparably to what’s offered today. For more information on how to use your pass at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, visit www.bestoftahoe.com.

Located about 35 miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood Mountain Resort offers pure high alpine skiing and riding at its best. The ski resort’s unique location, completely surrounded by National Forest atop the Sierra Crest combined with elevations ranging 7,800 to 9,800 feet, create a geographical predisposition to receive the lightest, driest and most plentiful snow in the Tahoe region with an average of 472 inches annually. Kirkwood offers 2,000 feet of vertical drop and more than 2,300 acres of terrain from groomed beginner runs to hair-raising cornices, cliffs and the most high-angle grooming around. The resort offers four terrain parks, from beginner to advanced, as well as a Boarder X course.

Vail Resorts expects to close on the acquisition of Kirkwood Mountain Resort within the next month. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Closing is subject to certain conditions, including transfer of the U.S. Forest Service Permit.

The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com

Skiers and boarders go head-to-head, top-to-bottom, across a wide variety of natural terrain. First one down wins. Locals try to defend their home mountains as out-of-towners attempt to take their territorial pride away.

The four-stop Rahlves Banzai Tour kicked off at Kirkwood Ski Resort, February 11-12.  Next stop is Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, February 23-24, followed by Squaw Valley, March 3-4, and the finals are at Sugar Bowl Resort, March 10-11. Former Olympic ski racer, Daron Rahlves, attends each of the races, offering tips, tactics and support. At the final race, the Super Final, Rahlves will compete against all four Men’s Ski Champs for $10,000 -winner takes all.

Each mountain leading up to the Tour Finals has a $15,000 prize purse up for grabs. Then one lucky skier will take home an extra $10,000 in the Men’s Ski Super Final, if they can beat the former Olympian.

Warren Miller Entertainment showcased the 2011 Rahlves’ Banzai Tour in their recent film “Like There’s No Tomorrow.” For 2012, the event will be covered by NBC Red Bull Signature Series (airing nationally March 27), Powder Magazine, Red Bull Media House, Tahoe TV, 101.5 FM Truckee Tahoe Radio and other media outlets.

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are offering the Tahoe Super 2 package which includes two unrestricted days of skiing and riding at either resort for just $49 per day. Valid for any two days. Plus, you’ll get 2 Friday afternoon tickets as well! **Tahoe Super 2 is only available through February 17, 2012 – buy now!

Sugar Bowl season passholders with a restricted pass, blacked out over the holiday week, can take advantage of $39 Adult, $33 Young Adult/Senior and $10 Child Tickets, on that specific pass blackout day, FEB 18-26. All Sugar Bowl CORE Daily and season passholders can bring along a friend and save them $15, and season passholders from any other ski resort can also take advantage of the $15 saving on their Sugar Bowl lift ticket

Mt Rose Ski Tahoe tickets are just $49 on Monday – that’s $20 off!

Ski at Diamond Peak for just $35 this weekend if you show your season pass from any other ski area.  Plus, show your lift ticket at Sillwater Spa at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe and get 10% off any massage and enjoy the steam room and sauna for FREE.

Don’t forget to use our Stay and Ski package finder on our website. You’ll get $20 dining credits, coupon books and more!

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.

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.

Endless blue skies, fresh corduroy, and savings adding up to over $60 per person… there’s really no better time than the present!

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows
$39 per person (ages 13+) through January 29
Includes beginner half day lesson (10am – 1pm), lift ticket and equipment rentals

Homewood Mountain Resort
$44 per person (ages 13+) through January 31
Includes 2.5 hour beginner lesson, lift ticket and equipment rentals

Diamond Peak Ski Resort
$29 per person through January 13
Includes 1hr 45min beginner lesson, lift ticket and equipment rentals

Sugar Bowl
Through January 31
Ticketed guests (ages 13-69 and all season pass holders ages 4+) enjoy free rentals for the day and a free two-hour group lesson at any level.

Mt Rose Ski Tahoe
$10 lift tickets (17 and under) through January 20
$69 Learn to Ski Packages include beginner lift ticket, 90 min lesson and equipment rentals

Boreal Mountain Resort
Boreal Mountain Resort offers its popular 1-2-3 Ride Free program. Participants taking lessons at Boreal have their days tracked. After the third lesson, skiers and snowboarders (valid for 4 years and older) get a free season pass. Lessons are intended for beginners only.

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