Lake Tahoe Winter 2019-20 El Nino or La Nina? NOAA Three-Month Forecast

Posted on January 1, 2019 by

noaa-el-nino-la-nina-tahoe-forecast

Updated October 30, 2019

As of this article’s posting, we still have about 2 weeks until start of the 2019-20 Lake Tahoe winter ski season. Checking in with meteorologists at NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seasonal climate outlooks for November – December – January 2019-20) reveals their long range winter forecast for 2019-2020 ski season to be a higher probability of an El Niño winter season which calls for a warmer than average winter across the United States especially the Sierras and Lake Tahoe.

Three-month precipitation outlook for winter of 2019-20

noaa-2019-winter-snow-forecast

Three-month temperature outlook for winter of 2019-20

noaa-tahoe-weather-temperature-forecast-winter-2019

Specifically, the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies will all see below average chances of precipitation from October through December. However, Colorado, parts of Utah, and the Southern Rockies are all expected to see above-average precipitation for the start of the season. New England is expected to see average precipitation throughout the start of the winter.

While predictions for low precipitation averages and warmer temperatures are not good news for powder chasers among us, it’s important to remember that this just an early forecast; bookmark this page to revisit as we’ll post updates as the season draws closer.

Keep in mind last season’s precipitation called for mostly average precipitation across much of the country, with higher than average precipitation in Colorado and much of the Rockies. This turned out to be incorrect, Utah and much of the Pacific Northwest saw average to higher than average precipitation totals.

If this ski season ends up bringing record low snowfall levels for the Lake Tahoe area, which season pass is a best value buy so you can have the option to ski other destinations blessed with fresh powder?

Answer: Check out THE MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE PASS which includes 18 SKI RESORT DESTINATIONS. TWO DAYS AT EACH with no blackout dates with two days of bonus lift tickets at your choice Chamonix (France) or Valle Nevado (Chile). That’s a total of 36 lift tickets included with the pass. Unlimited 50% off single day lift tickets after the 2 days of lift tickets per resort, plus exclusive lodging deals at each resort destination.

The Climate Prediction Center defines. .

“El Niño conditions” as existing when:

A one-month positive sea surface temperature anomaly of 0.5C or greater is observed in the Niño-3.4 region of the equatorial Pacific Ocean (5oN-5oS, 120oW-170oW) and an expectation that the 3-month Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) threshold will be met AND

An atmospheric response typically associated with El Niño is observed over the equatorial Pacific Ocean (see The ENSO Cycle).

“La Niña conditions” as existing when:

A one-month negative sea surface temperature anomaly of -0.5C or less is observed in the Niño-3.4 region of the equatorial Pacific Ocean (5oN-5oS, 120oW-170oW) and an expectation that the 3-month Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) threshold will be met AND

An atmospheric response typically associated with La Niña is observed over the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Source: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php

* Looking to create a ski lease members group to share the cost of a ski house/cabin lease? List your ski lease or advertise your vacation rental. Browse available ski leases to join or planning a Tahoe area vacation, browse rentals.

* What’s it like to ski/ride Japan’s famous dry champagne powder?

This season pass gives you two days of skiing / riding in Japan among 18 other resorts across Alberta, Australia, British Columbia, Chamonix (France) and Valle Nevado (Chile), California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, New Zealand, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming. For 2019-20 season, this pass enables you to go where there’s POWder galore!

Upcoming

+ Enjoy wine and beer tasting plus four free lift tickets; get 1`/2 off SNOWBOMB SKI SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL SHOW TICKETS

+ Check out our upcoming ski and snowboard preseason kick-off parties

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Warren Miller Ski / Ride Film Showing with pre-event PIZZA

Posted on January 7, 2016 by

Join us for Warren Miller’s 67th ski and snowboard film screening at 9 PM on Saturday November 19, 2016 of Here, There & Everywhere with Snowpals’ exclusive pre-show pizza social. Here’s a great opportunity to meet local skiers and boarders to expand your social circle/meet a few new friends for Tahoe ride share and ski trips for the winter season.

Got season pass? Maximize your ski season pass by joining a ski lease and expand your circle of friends and activity partners in the process.

Pre-show Pizza Social Tickets Remaining: 3 tickets left as of 11/17/2016. Ticket sales via Snowpals close at 11:59 PM PST on Friday Nov. 18, 2016.

[ujicountdown id=”Deadline to purchase tickets” expire=”2016/11/18 23:59″ hide = “true”]

Pizza Social Tickets: $10 per person ~ buy tickets.

Join us for our exclusive pizza social prior to the movie from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Pizza is included. Buy your own drink(s). Pizza social location is in Campbell; exact address will be given to all participants by email on Saturday Nov 19, 2016 by 11 AM.

Once you have purchased your ticket(s); PayPal will send you a receipt by email. Please print the receipt and bring it to the Pizza Social get together to redeem. If you have any questions, please Tim or text/sms 408.341.9744.

*Pizza social tickets are non-refundable but transferable to someone else; you are responsible to sell /transfer your ticket if you can not go. If you missed or can not make it to the pizza social, there’s no refund.

Got film tickets? You can still buy tickets on Eventbrite to see the film screening of Here, There & Everywhere film screening 9:00 PM showing on Saturday November 19, 2016 at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell, CA.

Film Ticket Holders will receive coupons at the film showing for:

2-FOR-1 LIFT TICKET TO SQUAW VALLEY | ALPINE MEADOWS: Everyone attending this screening of Here, There & Everywhere will receive a voucher good for One (1) 2-FOR-1 lift ticket to Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows. Buy One (1) adult lift ticket at the resort rate and receive a second lift ticket for FREE. Offer valid from Opening Day 2016 through Closing Day 2017. OFFER NOT VALID Saturdays AND the following blackout dates: 12.17.16 through 12.31.17, 1.14.17 through 1.15.17, AND 2.18.17 through 2.25.17. Not valid with any other discount offers. No cash value. No refunds.

FREE LIFT TICKET TO MT. BACHELOR: Everyone attending this screening of Here, There & Everywhere will receive a voucher to Mt. Bachelor good for One (1) FREE lift ticket valid Opening Day 2016 through Closing Day 2017, Sunday through Friday (non-holiday). One (1) coupon per person. Not valid with any other discount offer. No refunds. No cash value. Non-transferable.

FREE EARLY- OR LATE-SEASON LIFT TICKET TO STEAMBOAT: Everyone attending this screening of Here, There & Everywhere will receive a voucher good for One (1) FREE lift ticket to Steamboat. OFFER VALID 11.24.16 through 12.16.16 OR 4.1.17 through 4.16.17. Non-transferable. Not valid with any other discount offers. No cash value. No refunds.

20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE AT SPORTS BASEMENT: Everyone attending this screening of Here, There & Everywhere will receive a voucher good for 20% OFF your entire purchase. One (1) coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other coupons or discounts. Some exclusions apply. OFFER EXPIRES 11.30.16.

About the movie:

It’s been 67 years since ski-film pioneer Warren Miller picked up a camera to capture the wonder, the adventure, the humor and the beauty that is skiing. Since that time, Warren Miller film crews have traveled the globe—from storied slopes to hidden, snow-covered corners—to celebrate all things snowsports. Their quest has taken powder-hungry filmgoers, well, Here, There & Everywhere—and this year continues that legacy.

In this 67th annual Warren Miller film, take a freeski adventure with industry veterans Ingrid Backstrom and Wendy Fisher in Crested Butte, tour Eastern Greenland by dog sled with Seth Wescott and Rob Kingwill and follow Jess McMillan and Grete Eliassen on a Swiss holiday aboard the Glacier Express. Explore the backcountry of Western Montana’s Glacier Country with Tyler Ceccanti, Collin Collins and Keith Curtis and catch a powder day with Kaylin Richardson, Matt Elliott, Marcus Caston and the Kicking Horse ski patrol in British Columbia.

Travel along as Warren Miller Entertainment commemorates Stein Eriksen in Deer Valley, captures the big air at Boston’s Fenway Park (yes, that Fenway Park!) and rides the steeps of Squaw Valley to the big lines of Cordova, Alaska, plus much more. This year, don’t miss original ski bum and filmmaker Warren Miller himself in on-screen interviews as he spins tales of the past as only Warren can do, reminding us that through the years, these films have truly taken audiences Here, There & Everywhere.

Sponsors of the 2016 Warren Miller Film Tour include: Western Montana’s Glacier Country, Gosling’s, L.L. Bean, Moosehead, Switzerland Tourism, Helly Hansen, Korbel and SKI Magazine.

Featured Athletes: Aaron Blunck • Chris Anthony • Collin Collins • Grete Elliassen • Ingrid Backstrom • Jeremy Jones • Jess McMillan • Jonny Moseley • JT Holmes • Kailyn Richardson • Keith Curtis • Marcus Caston • Matt Elliott • Morgan Hebert • Rob Kingwill • Ryland Bell • Seth Wescott • Tyler Ceccanti • Wendy Fisher

Narrated by: Jonny Moseley and Featuring Warren Miller

Featured Locations: Squaw Valley, CA • Crested Butte, CO • Deer Valley, UT • Montana • Switzerland • Kicking Horse Mountain Resort • Cordova, AK • Greenland • Boston’s Fenway Park • Steamboat Springs, CO

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Scenic Backcountry skiing in Yosemite National Park

Posted on January 2, 2016 by

Scenic Backcountry skiing in Yosemite National Park interests you?

Yosemite Winter Club Cross Country Ski Section
Jane Raschuke-Goodman, a representative from the the Yosemite Winter Club Cross Country Ski section( is a non-profit organization founded in 1928 to bring winter sporting opportunities to outdoor enthusiasts in Yosemite), will be presenting information about YWC, as well as, sharing tips on all aspects of back country skiing. Attend one of the two information sessions that are scheduled at Sports Basement:

When and Where:
Thursday, January 19, 2017, from 6pm to 7pm
At the Sports Basement, Presidio of San Francisco, 610 Old Mason Street, San Francisco, Ca. 94129.

and

At the Sports Basement, Berkeley location – 2727 Milvia Street, Berkeley, California 94703 on Thursday, February 23, from 6 pm to 7 pm

For further information, email: or call Jane Raschke-Goodman at (559) 392-1194

Learn about the Yosemite Winter Club Cross Country Ski Section ( YWCXC). This Club arranges hut supported ski trips into the backcountry of Yosemite. These trips are made possible by the XC Section members who volunteer their time for trip planning, meal planning, shopping and packing food caches and placing the caches in the cabins in the fall before the roads close. These are not guided trips, but a trip leader is assigned for the purpose of facilitating decision making and everyone pitches in to cook, clean up after meals and tidy up the cabins before the group leaves.

Looking to buy gear, skis, snowboard or snow sports clothing? REI is having their REI’s Winter Clearance Sale.

Save up to 50% on Cold Weather Clothing and Footwear. Plus Save 50% off or more at REI Garage! Shop early for the best selection. Free U.S. Standard Shipping on all Skis and Snowboards. Earn a $100 REI Gift Card when you apply for an REI Mastercard. Browse clearance sale items.

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Tahoe Snowfest

Posted on January 12, 2013 by

By Desiree Holroyde, Snowpals Newsletter Contributor

Snowfest is coming! Get bundled up and ready to kick off Spring!

The Space Cowboys of San Francisco are beginning the festivities with some funky breakbeats on the patio of the KT Olympic Deck at Squaw Valley on March 1^st at 1pm. Check out some of their music and djs here https://soundcloud.com/spacecowboys or hit up their main website to see where they’ll be bringing beats to Snowfest with their infamous UNIMOG. (The UNIMOG is fully equipped with sound, lights, and ready to provide a bass pumping party at a moment’s notice.) Don’t fret if you wander off from the party with friends, you can come back for more in the evening. The Space Cowboys will be hosting an after-party at the Olympic Plaza Bar, and you can catch them the following night at Lakeside in Tahoe City.

http://www.spacecowboys.org/

Then head over to Mamasake in the Squaw Valley Village for the Extreme Food Challenge they are hosting from 4-6pm. Heck, why not enter? Mamasake is also featuring happy hour hand rolls from 3-5pm.

If you want to keep dancing, Crystal Bay Casino has a free concert in their Crown Room Friday March 1^st at 10pm featuring Dehli 2 Dublin, a live electronic band, with an after party featuring Izzy Wise (SF) and local bass music artist Benjah Ninjah. Here is what the BBC had to say about Dehli 2 Dublin: “The Vancouver-based collective combines dhol, fiddle and breakbeats in an Irish/Asian stew that is surprisingly varied, a marvellously wide-ranging and free-thinking concept.”

http://www.delhi2dublin.com/ or https://soundcloud.com/delhi2dublin

https://soundcloud.com/izzywis

https://soundcloud.com/benjah-ninjah

This is just a sample of what is going down for the opening daze of Snowfest! Check out the full calendar of events here and decide for yourself which are most worth catching. Snowfest events are ongoing from March 1^st through March 10^th.

http://www.tahoesnowfestival.com/#!vstc1=events

Sunday, March 3^rd check out the Duncan Golf Dog Pull in Tahoe City, followed by a Luau at Sunnyside on the West Shore. If you would like to register your dog in the dog pull, you’ll need to arrive an hour early and the cost of registration is $10. Show up at 11am to the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park/Tahoe City Golf Course behind Bank of America in Tahoe City. Otherwise, the event is free and starts at noon. Afterwards, head on down to Sunnyside Resort… just a quick jaunt from Tahoe City down Highway 89. Sunnyside features an amazing view of the lake. The luau begins at 4pm, with the buffet starting at 5pm. Sunnyside is a family favorite and this all-you-can-eat event, featuring both cooked and barbequed delights, as well as sashimi and poke, and will run you $32 a head, or $16 for kids. Reservations are recommended.

http://www.sunnysideresort.com/events/view/sunnysides-hawaiian-luau-2013

Don’t miss another free show at the Crystal Bay Club on Friday March 8^th showcasing the talent of Polyrhythmics, the funky world-beat band from Seattle.

http://www.polyrhythmics.com/home.cfm

http://polyrhythmics.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/polyrhythmics

The Crystal Bay Club is an excellent venue for live music, and if you just so happen to need a hotel for the night, there are affordable cabins for rent behind the Tahoe Biltmore – just across the street. They are even pet-friendly! Reserve your room ahead of time though, especially on busy weekends with free shows.

http://www.tahoebiltmore.com/

Whatever you choose to enjoy for Snowfest, please do it responsibly and be well! Happy Snowfest!

Top Pick for Bay Area Ski Shop

Posted on January 10, 2013 by

Snowpals’ Top Pick for Bay Area Ski Shop goes to California Ski Company

California Ski Company is a premier San Francisco Bay Area’s ski equipment shop specializing in:

alpine skiing(aka downhill skiing)
backcountry – the only SF Bay Area ski shop specializing in backountry
expert custom boot fitting
professional ski tuning
high-performance ski rentals

What is most important to you when you’re looking to buy or get your gear serviced? California Ski Company provides stellar customer service and has an experienced, knowledgeable and capable staff with insightful answers to your product and gear questions. Most importantly, they care about your snow riding experience and have the track record to prove it — thousands of loyal customers.

“For more than 16 years, California Ski Company has been the Bay Area leader in specialty alpine ski sales, offering knowledge, expertise and experience that few volume retailers can. Our staff is what makes our store unique. We are a group of ski enthusiasts drawn together by the desire to work in a SKI ONLY environment where skiers come to learn about the latest and best products from people who spend every available moment using those products.”

Exclusive promotional offer

Receive a free beanie or cap with any purchase of $50 or more; just mention that you saw this video on the Snowpals website to get in on this promo.

“Please click on the thumbs up ‘like’ button if you find our Youtube video informative. Thanks!”

California Ski Company | 843-A Gilman Street, Berkeley CA 94710 | 510-527-6411

Website: http://www.californiaskicompany.com

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Top Picks Newsletter

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Kirkwood Under New Management: Oh, By The Way — Part 2 of 2

Posted on December 24, 2012 by

24 December 2012

By Vicki Olds, aka Shibumi – “Snowpals Reporter At-Large”

Last week we asked some “locals” how they felt about the new management at Kirkwood. This week we’re highlighting a few dining destinations, and one historic B&B, along the way, and in Kirkwood Valley.

Let’s face it: Kirkwood is Big Mountain Fun—so close to the San Francisco Bay Area, you can practically smell it in the tule fog that makes your passage through the Central Valley, at times, harrowingly poetic. Yet getting from here to THERE can be a long haul, chomping 6-8 hours of your waking life in the to-and-fro, and that’s not accounting for a traffic accident (drive safely, always!) on two-lane Hwy 88. Boo. Goodness gracious, aren’t we lucky to have SnowPals to ride with to make the time fly?

Certainly, hitting the road in the pre-dawn to make the slopes and back by 9pm in a whirlwind, mission-from-God-type, herculean effort, is something many of us have done because, like, there’s no good reason to dally in the valley? Are you one of those people who feels lost if your smart phone can’t find a Starbucks near? Do you race along the byways of the Sacramento River delta, determined to put as many miles behind you as your gas tank and bladder will allow with no favorite pit stop?

LOCKEFORD, CA

On Hwy 88, and about fifteen miles northeast of Stockton, you will find the hamlet of Lockeford, home of the COUNTRY CAFÉ that opens every day at 5:30am. This is the place you bring your big appetite, to leave it behind. Breakfast burritos ($7), chicken fried steak and eggs ($9), and the Combo Special of waffles plus 3 eggs plus 3 sausages ($8.50) are eye openers. Fish & chips, homemade salsas and generous Mexican dinners, such as Chili Verde Steak with rice & beans ($10.29), are served until 8pm—except on Tuesday when the cafe closes at 2pm. Have a beer and try the Gnarley Head house wines, locally-produced by Oak Ridge Winery in nearby Lodi CA.

THE INN AT LOCKE HOUSE is a beautifully restored bed and breakfast operation on property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, about 1,000 feet north from town center on Elliot Road. Proprietors, Lani and Richard Eklund bought the original estate of Dr. Dean J. Locke, founder of Lockeford, twenty years ago; fixed it up with love of finer things for six years, and now offer guest rooms with private baths—some with their own fireplace—all with views of English gardens. They’ll make you an Early Bird breakfast to-go if you want to hit the road before breakfasts are served between 7-9:30am. (209) 727-5715 http://www.theinnatlockehouse.com

JACKSON and PLYMOUTH, CA

Hwy 88 takes a dogleg in Jackson, to merge, briefly, with Hwy 49 in Gold Country. You’ll pass lots of eateries and hotels here. If you want sushi, OKO SUSHI is a gem for tempura lovers. It’s by the Safeway and other fast food joints at the north end of town on Hwy 49. If you keep going north just 12 miles, the town of Plymouth is the unlikely home of Zagat’s “#1” rated restaurant in the whole Sacramento Region, TASTE. Dinner entrees range from $31 to $50; yet we have filled-up on an array of appetizers … and wines! Plymouth calls itself the gateway to famous Amador Wine Country, and Taste is a five-time winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. But it’s not fussy. And you can’t miss it as it seems the only bustle on Main Street. (Gee, I just can’t say enough about this place, so I won’t.) Try it, someday.

KIRKWOOD, CA

You’re here! Before you buckled your boots, there are several hot BREAKFAST options to hold out for. MONTE WOLFE’S MOUNTAIN KITCHEN is to the left of the Kirkwood tickets office, off the main Mountain Village plaza. Daily, from 8a-4:30p, Starbucks coffee is served alongside pastries, eggs, salads, sandwiches and soups. Say hello to Chef “Daddy Wolfe” (he’s a burner) who makes a mean Wolfe Burger with chipotle aioli, cheese, bacon, and sautéed onions—totally non-fattening! There’s a “baked potato” bar and the full-service THUNDER SADDLE BAR here to hoot in, too. Or, slide into the Red Cliffs lodge where the KIRKWOOD GENERAL STORE offers “the best breakfast sandwich on the hill,” with a full service espresso bar, at their deli, as well as other sundry comforts, 7:30a-6p. SNOWSHOE THOMPSONS at Timber Creek, Chair 7, has hot pastries, burgers and pizza—no wonder the kids love it! Open 10a-4:30p, 7 days a week.

Did you know the KIRKWOOD INN & SALOON offers a Saturday Night Prime Rib Dinner ($26.95), and $2 tacos during Happy Hour, Monday through Friday 3-5p? BUB’S PUB (nee Cornice Grill) with nine beers on tap, and veggie and casual menu options served in the glow of big-screen TVs, is everyone’s favorite sports bar. It’s been getting a facelift lately, yet when Bub’s reopens they’ll be serving Pizza & A Pint ($7.25) and Dirty Blonde Ale pints for $4 from 11a-9p. Dinner reservations are required at OFF THE WALL BAR & GRILL but you can enjoy their primo location, and upscale wine and bar choices Sunday through Thursday, with a lunch menu on Friday and Saturday only, from 11a-5p. 209-258-7365

For a full list of Kirkwood noshes, please visit http://winter.kirkwood.com/site/resort-services/resort-dining.

Why not enjoy the ride, on and off the hill?

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Kirkwood Under New Management: What Does It Mean For Us Locals? — Part 1 of 2

Posted on December 17, 2012 by

17 December 2012

By Vicki Olds, aka Shibumi – “Snowpals Reporter At-Large”

What does this mean for us Bay Area Snowpals, and the local Kirkwood crews who have faithfully served us for years–some of us for decades? Find out in this exclusive, two-part Snowpals report.

When Vail Resorts, a premier mountain resort development company based out of Colorado, and Kirkwood Mountain Resort, announced in March 2012 that they were joining forces, some fans of the Kirkwood resort community in California braced, defensively, for big changes; others took a big sigh … of relief.

Kirkwood is a four-season township and recreational services development, located just 11 miles south (as the crow flies) of the Lake Tahoe basin and a 35-mile drive from the city of South Lake Tahoe, on Hwy 88 in California. In the winter, Kirkwood Mountain Resort focuses on skiing and snowboarding, and hiking and mountain-biking activities in the summer. A long-time favorite of San Francisco Bay Area snow riders in-the-know, Kirkwood is famous for its epic vistas (more reminiscent of European valley ski experiences), deep snow, and challenging stacks of terrain. Now, Kirkwood is Vail Resorts’ most western and southern star for this corporation whose mission is the “experience of a lifetime” for luxury, destination-based travelers and property owners.

WHAT’S UP WITH NEW MANAGEMENT

Kirkwood opened their 2012-2013 ski season with all ski lifts operating on Friday, December 7, 2012. It was a shake-down week; a trial run for newbies and employee associates that had stuck around after the Vail Resorts buyout. We spoke with some “olde timers” who have lived, and worked, on the mountain … trying to ascertain the local’s zeitgeist in the valley.

“A lot of people wanted to leave when the new management came in. They’re really liability-minded. I mean, Kirkwood (old management) used to be ‘OK, whatever, make it work,’ and now there are all these rules and regulations. But it’s probably for good … I mean, Kirkwood was losing its ass; up to here in a lot of debt and big ideas. They had a vision for development of the valley that just didn’t fulfill as fast as it could … all these time-shares, condominiums. I blame it on global-warming.”

— 4-yr Kirkwood Maintenance Associate

“Whatever everyone says, I love it. They’re coming professional and we’re in it for the long haul. Now we don’t have to worry about the Big Picture. Vail knows what’s it’s doing. This place is going to be more beautiful than ever.

— Kirkwood Meadows homeowner, since 2002

“A lot of my friends are all ‘no’ … but they just don’t know what’s going to happen. Personally, I think things will get better because if VR hadn’t bought us, no one would be skiing Kirkwood this season. It was that bad. Now we’ll be able to do the right thing for the valley (environmental) development and us skiers. You may not notice it but by this time next year you’re going to see some changes!”

— 3-yr. Kirkwood Ski Rentals Dude

Vail Resorts also owns the venerable California mountain ski resorts of Northstar at Tahoe and Heavenly (aka The Heave) which spans Kingsbury Grade in Nevada to the east, and Ski Run Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe, California to the west. All three resorts are recognized world-class snow riding destinations, with Northstar being more “chic; family-oriented”; Heavenly serving “the masses”; and Kirkwood having a higher concentration of locals saying, “WTF! Let’s ride!” … IMHO.

So, expect Kirkwood to be spruced-up a bit; the facility equipment better maintained (not left out overnight); the walkways and byways around the Mountain Lodge ‘chopped & trimmed’; and signage for services, escapes and splurges a bit more defined. Around Kirkwood Valley, Caples Resort is under new management, and valley restaurants, and the venerable Red Cliffs Lodge, are having face-lifts, too (more on this in Part II of this report).

Safety and guest service considerations are paramount for the sugar daddy, Vail Resorts, whose affiliate, Rock Resorts, is a hotel development concern with operations in the U.S., Caribbean and Jamaica. I couldn’t find much on Vail or Rock Resorts environmental track records, operating in some of the world’s most pristine environments as they do. Yet, the slick “Echo” program video at http://www.vailresortsecho.com/ indicates a long-term, “local ecology”, marketing savvy.

Let’s hope the new mountain resort management comes through for the locals and the communities around NorthStar and Heavenly … and now, Kirkwood, in California—good for us who have been patronizing this year-around, off-the-beaten-path, treasure, and for all who care about preserving the unique environmental resources of Kirkwood Valley, Caples Creek and Silver Lake wilderness areas—and, HECK, the whole Lake Tahoe Basin, in general!

NEXT WEEK:

Kirkwood Under New Management:

What FUN! — Part 2 of 2

+++

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkwood_Mountain_Resort

Kirkwood Mountain Resort opened its ski lifts in 1973. Now Kirkwood is a year-round resort, headquartered in the hamlet of Kirkwood, California, 1501 Kirkwood Meadows Drive, Kirkwood, CA 95646, 209-258-6000.

Kirkwood has 2,300 skiable acres, 12 lifts, and 65 trails. With lodge accommodations in the valley (tel. 800/967-7500), and dining options, this is a great year-round destination. The shuttle service to downtown/State Line, South Lake Taho, is $5 each way.

Kirkwood Tickets, Passes, Frequent Flyer Programs

http://summer.kirkwood.com/site/tickets-passes

Vail Resorts, management company

http://www.vailresorts.com/Corp/index.aspx

Vail Resorts, resort sales & information

http://www.snow.com/

Kirkwood Mountain FaceBook Friends (please “like” on Facebook: it’s good for the locals and will prompt Vaile Resorts to pour more money in to Kirkwood Valley’s future)

https://www.facebook.com/KirkwoodMtn

Map of Kirkwood Valley:

Kirkwood-vallley-map

Gear Review: Praxis MVP Skis

Posted on December 17, 2012 by

View photo album.

Praxis MVP Skis Skill Level: for intermediate to free ski professionals. Currently the ski for Drew Tabke – freeride world tour champion.

Price when purchased: $689 for stock version. $879 for custom version with carbon layup.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Category: All mountain ski

Dimensions (mm): 133-110-126

Actual Tip-to-Tail Length (straight tape pull): 183cm

Sidecut Radius: 24 meters

Measured Weight Per Ski: 2,119 grams

Boots/Bindings: ie.. Lange RS 130/ Look pivot 18

Mount Location: -4 cm from Recommended Line

FLOTATION/SURFABILITY: EXCELLENT

STABILITY AT SPEED: EXCELLENT

QUICKNESS/BUMPS: GOOD

FORGIVENESS/FUN: GOOD

CRUD PERFORMANCE: EXCELLENT

HARD SNOW INTEGRITY: ACCEPTABLE

Test Location: Squaw Valley USA, North Lake Tahoe, CA

Days Skied: 6

Parting thoughts: Great all around ski. Can be a quiver of one ski.

What follows is a gear review of the Praxis MVP skis from your everyday working man who’s passionate about that sensation of floating on untracked powder:

I just finished three days on my new MVP’s and thought I’d tell you about them since there doesn’t seem to be much out there about them. I’ll start by telling you a bit about me so that you can determine if you want to take what I say with a grain of salt or decide that maybe this may be helpful to you. then I’ll describe my observations with this ski and you can do what you want with the info. My hope is that you will gain some sort of insight (good or bad) about this ski if you are in the process of pulling the trigger or not.

So, I am a early 40’s guy, 6’0, 205 lbs (athletic, gold medal at SF tri last year, scratch golfer that wins amateur tournaments), that is now able to ski again because my kids are now old enough to enjoy time on the mountain. I used to ski lots in high school and college and was considered an expert. Zipper lining was my favorite past-time. the bigger the bumps the better. I would also huck cliffs and anything else that would impress my friends and girls because I was fearless. They tried to get me to race in Nastar stuff, but I just wanted to rip around with my buds.

So, fast forward many years, three kids later and a great career. I’m back to skiing again and its like riding a bike. You never forget how to although it seems like “carving” is all the rage these days. When I learned, I was taught to ski as fast as you can in as strait a line as you can, keep your upper body pointed downhill and only pivot your skis to control your speed. I skidded my turns to control speed.

With this “carving” thing all the rage, my trusty 195 K2 5500’s weren’t going to cut it anymore so I bought some used Atomic Slalom skis and skied them all last season. They are pretty awesome skis and you can turn so quick in them. They are stiff as boards too.

Then all I kept hearing about last season is “rocker” and wide skis. So this year I bought a pair on a leap of faith without trying any. I orignally ordered Praxis Pist Jibs. Keith then recommended that I go with MVP’s and that’s what I did. Praxis MVP, 184’s, Medium/Stiff with Carbon/glass layup. Bindings mounted on boot center on dot indented on left side of ski. They are not nearly as stiff as my Atomics.

I skied them for the first time on Friday at Squaw. Basically all on groomers, the steepest terain being Siberia Bowl, but mostly on the runs off Shirley Express. I love moguls so was happy to see little bumps form. Anyhow, on Friday the skis felt very “spinny” or pivoty. They wanted to pivot at the slightest movement. I’m guessing my first experience with rocker?

The tails kept washing out on me and the tail tips would cross a lot. I also felt very forward on this setup and noticed that the bindings looked too centered on the skis. When the speed increased the tails seemed to behave a lot better and so I started seeing how fast I could go until I felt unsafe on them. At higher speeds, they would start twisting around on me. Its like there is some sort of speed sweet spot on these. Not enough speed and the tails misbehaved and too much speed and they start being thrown all over the place. I was not happy on Friday. I hated these skis. I wanted my Atomics back.

So after Friday I needed to do something about these skis since I dropped a boatload on them. I took the skis to the Squaw shop and asked them to remount them for me. The centeredness of the bindings bothered me so I eyeballed the binding position that looked right to me and asked the guys in the shop to remount them there. That ended up mounting the bindings with the boot center mark 4 cm behind the mark on the left side of the skis.

What a difference that made!! It is like a totally difference ski. Not sure of the technicalities of moving the mount position but it looks right now. Better for my old style of skiing? Don’t know.

By today, I’ve got them so dialed in and I feel I have total control over them. Not one crossed tip or tail, zip through bumps, great skidded turning and sometimes I would even get on the edges and carve some nice turns that felt locked into the snow and solid. I had lots of fun Saturday and today. I don’t feel a speed limit anymore and they are now stable at high speeds. I did plenty of beginner slopes too, teaching my kids skiing and these skis are much better when going faster.

Anyways, that’s what I have to say about these so far. Again only three days on these and all on piste. I feel like I have the control like my Atomic slalom skis with solid edges that I can lock into the snow, but also with the rocker for deeper snow that hopefully I’ll be able to experience soon.

I totally love them now and have confidence to do anything on them now. I have the feel of my Atomics in a modern form factor that will add to the terrain I can ski with them. I want to try the 187 to see if I can control them as well as I can mine at 184.

Those are my thoughts on these. Hope this review helps someone in the purchasing decision process . Take care!

Gear review by Joe Woo who mainly ski Squaw and Alpine; he’s based out of the North Bay.

Snowpals is looking for snowboard, related snow gear and apparel review contributors; if you have a unique writing style that engages the reader, to share a writing sample.

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The Last Chair Music Festival at Squaw

Posted on December 14, 2012 by

8 January 2013

By Desiree Holroyde, Snowpals Newsletter Contributor

The Last Chair Music Festival

Olympic Village Lodge @ Squaw Valley, CA

Friday January 11, 2013

Foster The People DJ Set

Eliot Lipp

Saturday January 12, 2013

Bonobo DJ Set

Emancipator

Random Rab

Photo by Keoki Flagg

This coming weekend Friday Jan 11 and Saturday Jan 12 is the second installment of The Last Chair Music Festival which is being hosted at the Olympic Village Lodge by Squaw Valley. A lift ticket purchased online through http://www.squaw.com/last-chair-music-fest includes one day of skiing or riding on Friday or Saturday, as well as access to one concert in the evening. Season pass holders are offered a discounted ticket to The Last Chair Music Festival for $30, which may be purchased online or at the event. Regular event tickets are $35 and available online or at the door. Tickets are also available daily at the Guest Services and Sales Center, in addition to the Squaw Valley Conference Center until 4pm, or until sold out.

Friday night’s event includes Foster the People, a fresh new band from Los Angeles performing a dj set. Supporting act Eliot Lipp, whom you may know for having performed with Sound Tribe Sector Nine, has received recognition from both Prefuse 73 and Jay-Z. Eliot Lipp signed to Pretty Lights Music just last year.

Saturday features Bonobo, one of the many fantastic artists belonging to the infamous Ninja Tune label, who surely will deliver a great set. Emancipator hails from Portland, OR with dreamy, danceable beats and “The Master of Emotion” aka Random Rab is based out of San Francisco. Arrive early to catch all three of these delicious acts on Saturday January 12.

Check out the Last Chair Music Festival 2013 Lineup:

Friday January 11, 2013

Foster The People

http://www.fosterthepeople.com/us/music/torches

https://soundcloud.com/fosterthepeoplemusic

Eliot Lipp

http://eliotlipp.com/music

https://soundcloud.com/eliotlipp

Saturday January 12, 2013

Bonobo

http://bonobomusic.com

https://soundcloud.com/bonobo