The snow is falling at Reno Tahoe’s ski and board resorts, and the powder hounds are getting itchy with anticipation. The region should start seeing some openings in the coming weeks. Here are some tentative dates (conditions permitting):

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

For complete listings of Reno Tahoe resorts, visit us online.

(Photo taken today courtesy Alpine Meadows)

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 2008-2009 ski and board season is coming to an end, so get up to Lake Tahoe this weekend at all costs! Sunny weather and great (fresh) snow is on the menu. Check out this video from Alpine Meadows if you need to get pumped up:

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.

Looking to get the jump on next year’s skiing? Diamond Peak is offering a great bonus – buy next year’s pass now and receive the rest of the 2009 season free.

Diamond Peak season passes:

• Full passes: (Any Day): Adult $45; College $209; Youth $188; Child $156; Senior $188; Senior 70-plus $52
• Midweek (Monday-Friday):     Adult $363; College $167; Youth $150; Child $125; Senior $150; Senior 70-plus $42
• Beginner (Any Age): $109

* Further discounts may apply for Incline Village residents.

To buy your 2009-2010 Diamond Peak pass or get more information, go online.

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.

A strong storm is blowing through the Sierra Nevada right now and snow levels are dropping, which should translate into to a good dose of powder for pre-spring conditions. Before you pack the skis into the car and head for the hill, bookmark these great mobile Web sites to keep up with ski 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.

These mobile sites work great with the iPhone Safari browser, but they are also compatible with any Web-enabled portable device. For tutorial information, check out the embedded video by the Nevada Commission on Tourism below:

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.

The world’s best snow sports athletes brought their high-flying antics to Northstar-at-Tahoe last weekend for the Toyota Championship, the final stop of the Winter Dew Tour. The event featured men’s and women’s slopestyle and half-pipe events in snowboarding and skiing disciplines, with local athletes making a strong showing … and we got some pictures. Check out the slideshow below and log on to the Alli Sports Web site to view results: