Reno-Tahoe

When the fall weather cools down on the Sierra summit Boreal Mountain Resort turns on the snow guns. After a several days of intense snowmaking effort, the resort is ready to fire up the Castle Peak Quad for its earliest season opening ever this Saturday.

• UPDATE: Boreal moves opening day to Friday

In keeping with tradition, Boreal will also host the 5th Annual Jibassic Public Invitational Event, Oct. 10-11. This year’s event has been cooked up to feature all shredders willing to throw down great tricks for cash. Boreal is primed with $2,000 cash to be handed out both days of the competition at the public park. Judges include Robbie Sell from FUEL TV and the Boreal park crew.

This year’s JPI.5 event also includes a Team Video Challenge. Registration is sold out, but come out and watch the private video session on Saturday from 5- 9p.m. An additional $2,000 will be awarded the team with the best video, and $500 cash to the most viewed video.

Boreal’s lift will operate from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lift tickets for ages 5-12 will be $15, while ages 13 and older are $30. The park will include 6-10 features. Season pass holders are welcome.

Resort services will be available including food, beverages, rentals, and limited availability on lessons and retail. Gated access to the mountain, valid lift tickets and passes permitted in the gated area only. Poaching is not cool, nor tolerated. Educate yourself on helmet use. Helmets recommended. Lift tickets subject to sell out.

After opening weekend, Boreal’s early season operation is tentatively weekends only (Friday-Sunday) until further notice, or as conditions permit. Stay tuned for details at VisitRenoTahoe.com’s resort site.

Click here for video of Boreal snowmaking from earlier this week.

The Rock-n-River Marathon seeks individuals 18 years old and older for race crew traffic positions for the May 3 race. The race crew secures and monitors the race, including road closure support, directing runners, detouring traffic and calling for support for participants if needed.

Volunteers check-in at the Harrah’s Plaza at 5:30 a.m. and are expected to work between one to four and a half hours depending on assignments. To volunteer call Catherine McFeely at (775) 846-0706 or e-mail CateMcF14@aol.com.

To register for the race or for more information, visit online at Rock-n-RiverHalfMarathon.com.

This week is feeling a little more like winter than spring in the Sierra Nevada, with several inches of new snowfall, and powder conditions. That means great conditions for skiers looking to get a last-gasp trip in before the season winds to an end.

Resorts have marked their calendars preparing to close up for summer, so be sure to get to the mountain before its too late.

A sample of Tahoe-area closing dates for the 2008-2009 season:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: April 19 for daily operation; the resort will be open for weekend operation April 24-26 and May 1-3
• Alpine Meadows: April 19
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: April 19
• Squaw Valley USA: May 10
• Diamond Peak: April 19
• Heavenly Lake Tahoe: April 19
• Sugar Bowl: April 26
• Boreal: April 12
• Kirkwood: April 26

To book your spring skiing getaway shop online.

Spring fever has hit the slopes in Reno-Tahoe – the birds are chirping, the air is warm and the snow is turning to corn. But spring is more than the celebration of perfect T-shirt turns for skiers and boarders, it’s also the time to plan ahead for next year and land your 2009-2010 pass for the (sometimes) discounted price.

Check out these deals at Reno-Tahoe ski and board resorts*:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: $399 – purchase now and ski the rest of this season for free
• Diamond Peak Ski Resort: $454 – purchase now and ski the rest of this season for free
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: $329 – includes Sierra-at-Tahoe access
• Alpine Meadows: TBD
• Squaw Valley USA: $369
• Heavenly Tahoe: $579 – includes access to other Vail Mountain Resorts Co. properties
• Boreal: $229 – this deal is available for the next 10 days!
• Sugar Bowl – TBD

For a complete list of Reno-Tahoe resorts, go online.

* Adult rates: Check Web sites for details on children/students/seniors pricing as well as any restrictions.

Spring is in the air, and Squaw Valley – traditionally one of the more expensive resorts in the North Lake Tahoe/Truckee region – is making the late-season affordable.

For $179, skiers and boarders get unrestricted access with a spring pass from March 29 until the end of the season, currently projected for May 10. Basically, use the pass three times and it has more than paid for itself.

As a bonus, the pass also includes free use of the pool and spa at High Camp.

For more information, call the resort at (530) 583-6985.

The Sierra Nevada is finally digging out Wednesday after the largest storm of the year – and it’s been a good one for skiers. Tahoe-area resorts are reporting several feet from the latest dumping … and transportation crews have opened roads, so get up to the mountain!

24-hour snow totals as reported by Tahoe resorts Wednesday morning:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: 20 inches
• Diamond Peak: 24 inches
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: 18 inches
• Alpine Meadows: 32 inches
• Homewood Mountain Resort: 24 inches
• Squaw Valley USA: 24 inches
• Sugar Bowl: 37 inches
• Boreal: 40 inches
• Heavenly Lake Tahoe: 36 inches
• Kirkwood: 48 inches

Search Reno-Tahoe’s 18 ski and board resorts for maps vacation deals, up-to-the-minute snow conditions and more. Read More

Headed to the mountain? Be sure to bookmark these Web sites on your iPhone or mobile device for the latest snow and driving conditions:

NVski.mobi: Created by the state of Nevada, this useful site offers updated resort reports with information like accumulation totals, weather conditions and base depth information. When the snow is coming down, conditions are always changing. Keep an eye on your favorite resorts with the searchable features.

NVroads.mobi: Although crews are on top of road clearing in and around the Sierra Nevada, conditions can change with big snow flurries. Nevada Department of Transportation alerts are channeled through this site to provide updates on slowdowns, chain and snow tire controls and other traffic news instantly, so drivers know what to expect around the bend.

Even Colorado snow junkies need to try something new every once in awhile, and United Airlines is making it easy with added direct flights between Denver and Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Through March 27, United is running an extra non-stop flight between the two ski meccas on Fridays and Mondays, making getting here – and getting home – as easy as checking the skis and hopping a quick flight. With the addition, United operates four non-stop flights per day between Reno and Denver on a 146-seat Airbus 320.

And for weekend warriors looking to get the most out of their ski getaway, our 18 ski and board resorts won’t disappoint. With several feet of new snow over the last two weeks, base totals are huge. Also, check out online ski-and-stay packages to make your weekend economical and easy.

Returning for a second year after a successful inaugural race, Rock-n-River in Reno has expanded its format to include options for runners looking to enhance their skills, train, qualify or just have fun.

The famous Reno Arch provides the starting gate for the May 3 races that include a new marathon, a half marathon option, and a new 10K and kids fun run with the course traveling along the Truckee River and winding through downtown Reno. A large portion of the race proceeds will be given to a local non-profit foundation focused on bringing awareness, preventative education and support to people suffering from a variety of eating disorders in the Truckee Meadows.

In 2008, more than 800 runners participated and event producers are anticipating more than 1,500 registrants this year. A pre-race dinner with guest speaker Tim Twietmeyer, a Western States Endurance Run record holder from Auburn, Calif., is scheduled for Friday, May 1 at the Eldorado Hotel Casino.  Advance registration and a pre-race expo starts on Saturday, May 2 at Harrah’s Reno.

Registration is available online at Rock-n-RiverHalfMarathon.com with fees starting at $50 for the full marathon, $45 for half marathon and $30 for the 10K and a free kids fun run.  Each participant receives a t-shirt, finisher medal, race goodie bag and post-race massage.  Additional festivities include live entertainment, food and beverages. Top runners also have the chance to receive cash prizes, hotel packages compliments of Eldorado Hotel and Casino and more, as well as first-, second- and third-place awards for all age group categories.

The snow is continuing to fall in Reno-Tahoe as the heart of a good storm system passes over the Sierra crest. Good conditions on Saturday and Sunday (video) have turned to great conditions with cold temperatures keeping things light and fluffy.

According to the National Weather Service, the stormy weather is expected to continue through the week – with any luck the new layers will ensure a great couple weeks of powder and a long season well into spring.

Storm totals as reported by Tahoe resorts Monday morning:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: 6 inches
• Diamond Peak: 8 inches
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: 13 inches
• Alpine Meadows: 22 inches
• Homewood Mountain Resort: 12 inches
• Squaw Valley USA: 16 inches
• Sugar Bowl: 16 inches
• Boreal: 18 inches
• Heavenly Lake Tahoe: 10 iches
• Kirkwood: 24 inches

For updated snow conditions, check out our resorts page online.

(Web cam view on Monday from the top of High Camp at Diamond Peak)

The Sierra Nevada is getting a fair dusting of storm as a cold front moves through. We hit Alpine Meadows on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore on Saturday and enjoyed some powder turns. Sunday should be great at ski and board resorts throughout Reno and Tahoe. If you are planning a trip to the area, be sure to check out our searchable resort finder to get up-to-the-minute snow and weather reports, as well as maps and pricing information.