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Home Ski Lake Tahoe Resorts Enter 2008-09 Winter SeasonOptimism is high in Lake Tahoe entering the 2008-09 winter season, as the region experienced some of the highest snowfall in decades last season, and a snowy winter is predicted, according to Harris-Mann Climatology. With winter snowfall accumulating and snowmaking underway, the seven Ski Lake Tahoe resorts are ready to offer visitors another memorable season. The Ski Lake Tahoe resorts and the surrounding Lake region are undergoing lake-wide improvements and development projects totaling over one billion dollars and new programs are being introduced that enhance the recreation options and mountain lifestyle while maintaining the unique culture and experience that draws so many travelers to the destination. New opportunities for travelers this season combined with exciting long-term resort development projects cast a bright future for Lake Tahoe as America's up and coming winter destination. Over the past two winter seasons, Lake Tahoe was rated the No. 1 U.S. Travel destination by Tripadvisor.com, the No. 1 ski destination by Orbitz for 2007 and again for 2008, and also the No. 1 North American Ski Destination by Travelzoo. More than any other U.S. winter destination, the Lake Tahoe area boasts: more ski resorts and combined skiable acreage in close proximity to each other; better weather conditions with over 400 inches of annual snowfall combined with over 300 days of sunshine and more comfortable winter temperatures; the breathtaking scenery and aura of one of the world's most incredible alpine lakes; and unmatched, 24/7 entertainment options at the numerous restaurants, bars and casino resorts surrounding the lake for night owls and families alike. Lake Tahoe offers a truly unique, world-class winter experience both on and off the mountain. This press room contains some key story angles and areas of interest for the 2008-09 winter season from the Ski Lake Tahoe resorts, including Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort and Squaw Valley USA. These are just a few angles and ideas and please visit the press room often to see the latest news from the Ski Lake Tahoe resorts and partners. Or you can contact us for more information and assistance with your editorial needs. Best regards,
Eric Doyne
Eric Doyne, Dispatch Comms. Nov 20, 2008 Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Set the Bar High For 2008-09 Winter SeasonOver $1 Billion in Development Projects, New Ski and Snowboard Programs to Enhance Guest Experience Lake Tahoe, CA & NV (Nov. 2008) – The seven Ski Lake Tahoe resorts enter the 2008-09 winter season amidst a new period of lake-wide improvements and new programs that enhance the recreation options and mountain lifestyle while maintaining the unique culture and experience that draws so many travelers to the destination. New opportunities for travelers this season combined with exciting long-term resort development projects cast a bright future for Lake Tahoe as America’s up and coming winter destination. Several new elements come into play this season at the Ski Lake Tahoe resorts. On the slopes, new ski trails will be opening, new lifts will be going into service, expanded snowmaking and grooming operations, terrain park and pipe expansions, and breakthrough new technologies will make getting through lift lines more efficient. New clinics, ski schools and women-specific initiatives will be offered as well. Big resort development projects will begin enhancing the guest experience with expanded lodge amenities while base village developments offer new restaurants, shopping and guest services. In addition to the countless new amenities, the Ski Lake Tahoe resorts have expanded environmental programs that improve the guest experience while reducing environmental impact. Lake Tahoe is a winter paradise, and the public and some of the most noteworthy travel organizations agree. Over the past two winter seasons, Lake Tahoe was rated the No. 1 U.S. Travel destination by Tripadvisor.com, the No. 1 ski destination in 2007 by Orbitz.com and the No. 1 North American Ski Destination by Travelzoo. With the new programs, events and amenities this season and seeing what’s to come, Lake Tahoe delivers that top-rated experience that is so talked about. Following are some in-depth updates on what’s new for the 2008-09 winter season from the seven Ski Lake Tahoe resorts, including Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort and Squaw Valley USA: Alpine Meadows With the goal of offering one of the country’s top ski and snowboard schools, Alpine Meadows Ski Resort will offer several new programs for children and adults. The focus will be to provide guests with an unforgettable mountain tour while receiving top level coaching and instruction regardless of ability level. New for winter 2008-09, Alpine has ramped up the offerings to include North America’s newest Burton Learn To Ride Center for kids and adults; an expanded daily Kids’ Camp with fun for younger ages; an expanded adult novice center; weekly specialty camps including Women’s Wednesdays and Senior Tuesdays; daily expert adventures through the new Alpine Guides mountaineering tour; and new multi-day ski and snowboard camps for beginners through experts like the new Steep Camps; Women’s Camps. Clients receive expert technical coaching, an insider’s tour of Alpine Meadows, video analysis, dryland strengthening and yoga sessions; and a chance to achieve a higher level of skiing and snowboarding while having fun on Alpine’s legendary terrain. For more information, please visit www.skialpine.com or call (530) 583-4232. Heavenly Mountain Resort The improvements continue in year two of Heavenly’s ten-year master plan that promises a steady stream of new lifts, on-mountain restaurants, lodging and base villages that will greatly improve the overall experience. Following the debut of Olympic Express and the Heavenly Flyer ZipRider last season, this winter guests can expect more investment in the resort, including three new gladed trails on the resort's California side; two in Ski Ways glades and another in Powderbowl Woods. The two Ski Ways trails are accessed from the newly re-graded Skyline Trail. The re-grade will allow all levels of skiers and snowboarders easier access to Nevada terrain from the California side of the mountain. In addition to the trail improvements, Heavenly is doubling the number of indoor seats at East Peak Lodge, expanding and remodeling the rental shop at the California Lodge, adding six new, low-emission grooming machines to the country's largest fleet of Prinoth350 snow cats, and installing a magic carpet surface lift at the California ski school. On the high-tech side, Heavenly season passes will offer "easy scan" RF technology that will expedite access to the lifts. As part of the Vail Resorts Appetite For Life program, Heavenly will be serving 100 percent Certified Organic Starbucks coffee and Fair-Trade espresso and eliminating the use of all artificial trans fats at all of its dining establishments. Other future projects approved under Phase One of the Master Plan include: Replacement of another existing fixed-grip chair lift on the mountain’s Nevada side with high-speed, detachable lift technology; a 1,000-seat, LEED-certified, on-mountain restaurant with incredible views of Lake Tahoe called Powderbowl Lodge; 152 acres of new ski trails; and a skier bridge that will allow skiers and riders to ski from the Gondola top station to Tamarack Express. Every project contained in the Master Plan Amendment was designed to minimize environmental impact and maximize water clarity from the watersheds draining Heavenly, earning the endorsement of the League to Save Lake Tahoe. For more information, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or call (800)-HEAVENLY. Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe Summer improvements to Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Tahoe’s highest base resort, include a mix of minor works in preparation of its big project for the coming seasons – the new Slide Lodge. Improvements to the First Timer area include the relocation and extension of the Flying Jenny Conveyor Lift by 100 feet to give it a stellar 430 feet of gentle uphill travel. The surface lift will move to the east side of the Show-off run too allow for the maximum learning on this gentle slope. Bringing snowmaking to this area is also planned for the off season to ensure operation of this area from the earliest part of the winter. Continued willow thinning and glade work took place in both the Chutes and Wild Card Bowl. Selective glading in Wild Card includes the removal of snags, stumps and dead wood thus creating improved lines in this epic bowl, which does provide some of the grandest views of Lake Tahoe. Other mountain expenditures include 400 new rental skis and a new Piston Bully grooming machine. Construction on the new Slide Lodge already began with the first phase of the project the demolition of the current facility, which will be followed by grading of the site to improve loading access to the Blazing Zephyr Lift. Leveling the site will then allow a faster building schedule for next summer. For Further information, please visit www.skirose.com or call (800) SKI-ROSE. Kirkwood Mountain Resort Kirkwood Mountain Resort will be adding two new lifts for the 2008-09 season to improve access to its 2,300 acres of legendary terrain. Additionally, the resort is installing a new Wonder Carpet lift in the Timber Creek beginner’s area designed specifically to ease the learning process for those just taking up the sport. Kirkwood is also investing over $10,000 in revamping its three terrain park layouts with upgraded features and more progressive elements. These improvements are the first significant phase in bringing to reality Kirkwood’s recently approved Mountain Master Development Plan. On top of the on-mountain improvements, Kirkwood spent the off-season upgrading base area services and resort infrastructure. New programs and events have also been added to the 2008-09 winter calendar including the return of the North American Freeskiing Championships March 16-22, 2009. And the resort has invested a significant amount of both time and money in upgrading its website and online communication channels. Kirkwood is overhauling its online carpool forum, known as the “KPool”, to create a more intuitive, user-friendly format and include additional areas in its search capabilities. The resort will continue to offer incentives from sponsors such as O’Neill, Marmot and CLIF Bar for those who take advantage of the program. For more information, please visit www.kirkwood.com or call (209) 258-6000. Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is investing $15 million in on-mountain, village and skier service improvements for the upcoming season. These improvements include the expansion of Lookout Mountain, an area of the mountain that provides skiers and riders access to advanced ski terrain and phenomenal glade skiing, new and improved snowmaking that will provide for great early season conditions, increased lift capacity, and more. Additionally, Northstar Resort is working in conjunction with Burton to develop and implement the Burton Academy - a new way to teach snowboarding, and will host the final stop of the inaugural AST Winter Dew Tour, February 19-22, 2009. In the Village at Northstar, three new dining options will join the village this winter, offering resort guests even more variety. The equipment rental shop, children's ski school, season pass and tickets office, and overnight ski storage are being revamped in an effort to make it more convenient for guests to begin their day and get on the slopes. For more information, please visit www.northstarattahoe.com or call (800) GO NORTH. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort Three new features on the Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort web site will offer guests a cutting-edge online experience and once again raise the bar for web technology in the ski industry. An interactive radar application will allow guests to see weather patterns over precise locations at Sierra Resort, differentiating between summit and base for example, and will enable eager skiers and snowboarders to follow storms in real time as the storms approach the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Various avatars, or virtual characters, will guide online guests through daily conditions reports, frequently asked questions and general resort information in an audio format. Avatars add a human element to the web site and deliver information in a whimsical, interactive fashion, broadening the communication potential of the online experience. SierraAtTahoe.com will also debut a mobile web site catering to the growing niche of iPhone and other smartphone users. Features of the mobile web site will include a touch-screen design with live feeds reporting daily conditions, weather, news, events and more. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort continues to offer skiers and snowboarders a truly authentic, mom-and-pop, come-as-you-are place to chill out with friends and have some good times. The quirky, easy-going attitude rings true with locals and destination visitors alike. There aren’t many frills at Sierra Resort – no fancy villages, no luxury amenities. But what the resort does have is tons of snow, incredible terrain and friendly smiles as far as you can see. It’s the vibe that sets Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort apart and it’s the pure, unrefined California winter fun that guests remember long after they’ve left Tahoe. For more information, please visit www.sierraattahoe.com or call (530) 659-7453. Squaw Valley USA For the 2008-09 season, Squaw Valley USA will break its own rules by hosting a ski competition below Tower 1 of the Cable Car known as the “Tram Face,” – terrain that has traditionally remained strictly off-limits until now. The world’s top international freeskiers and riders will compete in the Nissan Tram Face – Squaw Valley ’09, February 27 – March 5, the 2009 Freeride World Tour’s only North American stop. Squaw debuts the most technologically advanced new ticketing system in the world this year, enabling lifts access to be quicker and more efficient for skiers and snowboarders. Using SmartCard technology, the new Axess Smart Gates let guests leave tickets and pass in their pockets – it’s scanned automatically when passing the lifts. Incentives provided for guests who re-load their cards on www.squaw.com include discounted lift ticket prices, weekly prize drawings, and direct-to-lift capabilities. The resort’s new customized backcountry tours now give guests more terrain riding options. Taking guests of all abilities to a variety of untracked stashes, certified backcountry guides will lead groups out-of-bounds for private runs that are closed to the public. All of the backcountry terrain options: National Geographic Bowl, Shirley Canyon, Smoothies, and Happy Valley are easily accessed via lifts, with minimal hiking as they are located on the closed side of in-bounds terrain. Groups receive a briefing on out-of-bounds protocol prior to the excursion. For more information, please visit www.squaw.com or call (530) 550-1212. About Ski Lake Tahoe Surrounding North America’s largest alpine lake, the seven resorts that make up Ski Lake Tahoe are Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort and Squaw Valley USA. Lake Tahoe boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year, and the region has some of the highest annual snowfall amounts in North America. The seven resorts, all offering unparalleled scenic vistas of panoramic mountain and lake views, are located less than an hour from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. For further information and to directly book travel, lodging and transportation for Ski Lake Tahoe resorts and its travel partners, visit www.skilaketahoe.com. Nov 09, 2008 Winter Snowstorms Cover Lake Tahoe, America's Reigning No. 1 Ski DestinationLake Tahoe, CA & NV (Nov. 3, 2008) - This week, the Ski Lake Tahoe resorts welcomed cold winter storms that have brought over a foot of new snow to the region and yet another accolade to the long list of praise from top media and travel organizations. Additionally, Lake Tahoe was just named the No. 1 ski destination in the U.S. for the second consecutive year by Orbitz, one of the largest online travel agencies in the world. A snowy early winter is anticipated in Lake Tahoe according to Harris-Mann Climatology, and in addition to this weekend's natural snowfall, snowmaking operations are now underway to continue building the early season snowpack for the ski resorts' opening later this month. This ranking from Orbitz comes as no surprise as Lake Tahoe is one of America's most easily accessible, affordable and totally unique luxury winter resort destinations. Over the past two winter seasons, Lake Tahoe was rated the No. 1 U.S. Travel destination by Tripadvisor.com, the No. 1 ski destination by Orbitz and the No. 1 North American Ski Destination by Travelzoo. "Lake Tahoe has incredible appeal as a ski destination where the quality of the experience, from incredible skiing and snowboarding to luxury amenities and non-stop entertainment that is second to none," said John Wagnon, president of Ski Lake Tahoe. "Thanks to over a billion dollars recently invested in upgrades and the development of new hotels, luxury properties and redevelopment projects, Lake Tahoe is America's next cool winter destination - and the Orbitz recognition shows that travelers agree." With ski lifts in close proximity to the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RTIA), travelers can find the closest ski lifts just half an hour away, as well as an array of accommodations, entertainment and acclaimed dining options at the luxurious resorts, casino hotels, restaurants and bars surrounding the lake. RTIA provides 170 daily flights with non-stop service to 19 destinations and a multitude of regular shuttle services and transportation options make it easy to get around the lake. Orbitz.com is a leading online travel web site that includes information on national and international destinations. The ranking for 2008 is based on Lake Tahoe leading gross hotel and vacation package bookings on Orbitz.com. Nov 04, 2008 |
