by The Editors on December 7, 2010
Mammoth’s sister mountain June Mountain has always been one of our secret spots. When there is snow (and there is now) June Mountain has one of the best blowing powder runs in the world. And on Thursday, December 16, 2010 the mountain will open for the first time this season with $5 lift tickets.
With over 500 acres of terrain and a vertical rise of 2,590 feet, June Mountain lies just 21 miles north of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. June Mountain is widely regarded for its utter lack of crowds, pristine conditions and great variety of diverse terrain. . . June Mountain was voted by the readers of Transworld Snowboarding as the third best terrain park and sixth best pipe in North America. For opening day, June Mountain is scheduled to have terrain parks open on Upper and Lower Sunrise and Mambo.
All that and getting Carson untracked? Might be worth a flight up for the day.
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by The Editors on November 24, 2010
Tahoe’s Sugar Bowl Ski Resort is opening today (or so we’ve heard) with what is likely the best opening day snow they’ve had in years.
With 101 inches of new snow in the last seven days it would seem like they’d have all kinds of great things to Tweet about. Right?
So what was their last tweet? It was on November 9, 2010 letting all their followers know that they had “fired up the snow-making guns.” Since then, not a peep.
Social media really shouldn’t be this difficult, seriously. Then again, maybe they’ve ditched Twitter for facebook (which seems to be where all their latest info ends up).
by The Editors on November 24, 2010
Sierra-At-Tahoe gave snowboarders a little early season taste of deep, deep Sierra snow with a sneak opening on Tuesday, November 23, 2010. The resort had been buried in nearly nine feet of snow in the past seven days and resort General Manger John Rice (pictured right) could not have been happier.
“Up until last week, I wasn’t really sure how this season would go,” he said Tuesday morning. “We don’t have snow making so our business depends on the weather. But how about nine feet of snow the week before Thanksgiving? That will do, huh?”
Sierra’s lift crew fired up a few of the lower lifts (Nob Hill and Easy Rider) at little after 10 AM, but saved the Grandview chair (and the top of the mountain) for a surprise 12:30 opening. That’s when everyone got to float (or boat) through nine feet of fresh snow.
With no base layer in the trees it was absolutely bottomless (we know, we looked in several different spots). Upper Dynamite was technically closed but that didn’t stop anyone from exploiting the terrain. It was first tracks and snow-spackled smiles all around. We heard rumors that Abe and Elijah Teter were out getting some, but they we way too stealthy for us, unfortunately. It would have been fun to run a few with them.
This morning (Wednesday, November 24, 2010) Sierra is reporting clear skies, 7 degree temperatures, and an entire mountain of perfect, mid-winter snow. Damn.
[Link: Sierra-At-Tahoe]
by The Editors on November 24, 2010
Denver, Colorado based private equity fund KSL Capital Partners announced yesterday that they had acquired virtually all the assets of the Squaw Valley Development Company from the Cushing family for a undisclosed amount. The Cushing’s have run Squaw Valley since founder Alex Cushing opened the resort in 1949.
“It’s with a respectful eye for the past that I say this news is part of a new era in Squaw Valley’s incredible history,” said Andy Wirth, Squaw’s new President and CEO. “KSL is dedicated to further enhancing the resort and the guest experience by committing over $50 million in additional capital improvements over the next 3-5 years. The KSL team, all of whom are skiers and riders, are thrilled to be the new owners of Squaw Valley and are excited about the resort’s future.”
KSL currently owns several warmer climate resorts like La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California or Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, but the Squaw Valley purchase marks their first expedition into the winter resort business. This is not to say they have no experience. After years at Vail Associates, KSL’s Managing Directors Mike Shannon and Eric Resnick certainly know the ski business.
This purchase, along with Vail Resort’s recent operations deal at Northstar-At-Tahoe is kicking the entire Tahoe resort game up a notch. Industry insiders are saying that this is exactly what Squaw needed. “This is going to be a game-changer for sure,” said one resort executive.
We’ve never really liked riding Squaw. Maybe the changes KSL brings will give us a reason try it out again. For a complete list of resort upgrades follow the jump for a “personal letter” from Andy.
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by The Editors on November 17, 2010
A recently released report by the US Forest Service titled The Effects of Climate Change on Lake Tahoe in the 21st Century: Meteorology, Hydrology, Loading and Lake Response suggests that the shred industry in the Lake Tahoe area could be up for extremely hard times in the future, according to a story in the New York Times.
Iconic Lake Tahoe could see its regional snowpack decline by as much as 60 percent over the next century, with increased floods more likely around 2050 and prolonged droughts closer to 2100, according to a new report from scientists who have studied the lake for decades. . . Such predictions could mean bankruptcy for ski destinations that surround the lake, including the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley USA. Squaw Valley and other resorts are an accessible stop for skiers throughout the West and the heavily populated California coast.
Guess that means we all better hit up Tahoe a little more this season.
[Link: New York Times]
by The Editors on November 16, 2010
Southern California’s Mountain High Resort’s new 1.6 mile long snowboard park will include two new features sponsored by KLeN Laundry.
“It is so rad that a young company like KLeN is given the opportunity to build a partnership with an industry icon such as Mountain High,” said Mark Froke, president of KLeN. “The entire team at the resort is super fun and positive about the whole plan.” One of the main assets to the entire idea is that Mountain High and KLeN sponsor some of the same athletes; Spencer Link, Cory Cronk and Kyle Loppicollo all are sponsored by both organizations.
We’re not exactly sure what the two new features will look like, but we have some ideas for their names: Clothes line? Wedgie? Sock drawer? For more details, follow the jump.
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by The Editors on November 11, 2010
Danny Thomas and the Arbor crew on the first chair.
Snowboarders began gathering at 10 PM last night (November 10, 2010) at the bottom of Mammoth Mountain’s Chair 1 to make sure they were first in line for the 2010-11 winter. Danny Thomas, Patrick Reddy, Chris Peroddi, John Farr, Marley McPhillips, and friends brought a tent and BBQ’d hotdogs all night.
“It’s not easy sleeping in a tent when you keep getting woken up by the cat driving around,” said one of the snow campers. “They came in and kicked us out around 5 AM, but we by that time we had our spot.”
The sun came up over a cloud-covered mountain, but by 7:30 it was full blue-bird and the line was filling. By the time the line began moving at 8:30 AM there were a couple hundred people ready to ride (mostly snowboarders, oddly).
There is something to be said for cold, crisp air, blue skies, and a snowboard back in the snow and sliding. It’s borderline double rainbow action.
Follow the jump for more photos.
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by The Editors on November 2, 2010
Whistler Blackcomb Resort’s planned IPO doesn’t seem to be offering up much help lately. Fortress Investment Group LLC cut the offered share price for a second time in one week, according to a story on Bloomberg.
Whistler Blackcomb aims to sell shares for C$12 each, with a dividend yield of 8.12 percent, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. The company previously cut its price range from C$14 to C$15 a share down to C$12.50 and C$13 apiece.
Not really sure lowering the price on buying into a debt-ridden resort will make it look any more attractive, but what else can they do?
[Link: Bloomberg]
by The Editors on October 26, 2010
Vail Resorts announced yesterday that it has purchased Northstar-At-Tahoe from Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC, according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Broomfield, Colo.-based ski company acquired the stock of the companies that operate Northstar-at-Tahoe from Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC and other sellers. . . Vail Resorts will lease the land on which the resort operates from CNL Lifestyle Properties Inc. . . Booth Creek CEO George Gillett, Chief Operating Officer Chris Ryman and Chief Financial Officer Betsy Cole will no longer have management positions at Northstar, and Vail Resorts is seeking a new general manager for the resort.
This means snowboarders who have the Vail Epic Pass will also get to ride Heavenly, Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe in addition to the companies Colorado resorts. . . not a bad deal, actually.
[Link: San Francisco Chronicle]
by The Editors on October 25, 2010
Loveland Ski Area officially ripped open Colorado’s 2010-2011 season on Sunday, October 24, 2010 and look who was on the first chair: snowboarders, of course. As sometime Colorado local Todd Richards said yesterday on Twitter: “Its officially open season on the white ribbon of death.”
This year’s opening was a little later than last, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone according to the Denver Post:
“It’s been a really strong turnout,” Loveland director of marketing John Sellers said. . . “Everyone’s been saying that the snow’s riding great,” Sellers said. . . . Eight inches of natural snow fell on the slopes in the two days leading up to the opening, making for good conditions on the big day, Sellers said.
Just tempting enough to lure snowboarders out into the trees on those brand new boards. . .
[Link: Loveland Ski Area and The Denver Post]
Mammoth’s sister mountain June Mountain has always been one of our secret spots. When there is snow (and there is now) June Mountain has one of the best blowing powder runs in the world. And on Thursday, December 16, 2010 the mountain will open for the first time this season with $5 lift tickets.
