Squaw Powder Day January 2008 from Jason on Vimeo.
Epic powder day with some friends at Squaw Valley USA! January 2008.
Get Your Stoke! Squaw Powder Day Helmet Cam 2008
Published: December 5, 2009Posted in: Helmet Camera, Squaw Valley
Resort Archive
Opening Day Squaw Valley 2009/2010 Season
Published: November 22, 2009Posted in: Audio / Video, Squaw Valley
At 9am this morning I joined the other folks up at Squaw today enjoying opening day. It was far from EPIC!, but there were some great turns to be had in the morning. Red Dog chair was spinning, as was Exhibition. From the top of Red Dog you were able to ride the main cat track down to the bottom. There were some bottle necks, some rocks, some stumps, more rocks, little trees and bushes, more rocks, big ole ice blocks and more awaiting you on your decent. Besides there not being a fun box at the bottom of the run to get rad on, it was a great opening day.
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- Opening Day at Squaw
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- Opening Day at Squaw
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- Opening Day at Squaw
J.T. Holmes Birdman Full Video from 60 Minutes
Published: November 22, 2009Posted in: Audio / Video, Movies, Riders, Squaw Valley
About a month ago, JT was going to be featured on 60 minutes flying in his wingsuit. Here’s the full video. It’s a great watch!
First Winter Storm Warning of 2009 / 2010 Ski Season!
Published: November 20, 2009Posted in: Backcountry, Conditions, Squaw Valley
Tahoe is getting hit. Getting hit good. It’s a fast moving storm that will leave some of that nice thick Sierra pow pow at Lake level and above. NOAA is expecting 18″ above 7000 feet and around 6″ at Lake level. Loads of wind will be pushing this storm through the area quickly. You know what that means?! Loads of snow deposited on those prime East / Northeast faces. It’s gonna be good!
If this storm comes in right, a little heavy and sticky like that classic Sierra cement, we’re golden! I think it will. It’s got the higher freezing level, the moisture and the winds. The backcountry in the Mt. Rose area will probably see 2 feet plus. I’ll report back on that… Opening day at Squaw is Saturday the 21st. Any beta on what will be open? I think not much. Who cares! I’m making some turns!
EPIC!
Sugar Bowl Joins with ASI to Create Backcountry Adventure Center
Published: October 26, 2009Posted in: Sugar Bowl
By Craig Dostie
Alpine Skills International and Sugar Bowl ski resort announce an historic and strategic partnership for this year. More than just a merging of marketing efforts, ASI’s Backcountry Adventure Center will be a dedicated physical presence in Sugar Bowl’s ski village.
After years at the forefront of promoting backcountry skiing through classes and guided tours around the world Alpine Skills International is now combining their mountaineering know how with Sugar Bowl’s recognition that core customers want to ski the whole mountain, not just under the lifts.
It is all part of the progression envisioned by Bela and Mimi Vadasz when they founded Alpine Skills International 30 years ago. What set ASI apart from other guide services in the 80s was their emphasis on ski mountaineering.
As a result, ASI taught backcountry skiing while most American guiding outfits took the attitude that skiing was for skiers, not mountaineers. Except back then it wasn’t called backcountry skiing. It was called ski mountaineering, or ski alpinism and only skiers crazy enough to ski the Grand Teton, like Bill Briggs, or Denali, like Sylvan Saudan, engaged in such reckless behavior. Or so it seems in retrospect.
By the mid-90s, Sugar Bowl had felt the presence of backcountry skiers, thanks in part to the proximity of ASI. Right next door to Sugar Bowl, Bela and Mimi regularly taught backpackers and climbers the thrills of making fresh tracks on the east face of Mt. Judah, which also happened to be the eastern border of Sugar Bowl’s lift accessed playground.
The relationship between backcountry skiers and Sugar Bowl has a history of disputes, but on the whole Sugar Bowl has maintained a backcountry friendly attitude. Access from the resort has remained open except during rare days with high avalanche danger, but they have not restricted pure backcountry access ever.
John Monson, Sugar Bowl’s marketing director says, “With Sugar Bowl’s impressive sidecountry terrain and improved access via the new summit chair, there’s an elevated need for programs aimed at educating skiers and riders on safe backcountry travel. The new Backcountry Adventure Center will deliver just that, as well as some great powder skiing, of course. ASI is the perfect partner to run the show, having intimate knowledge of Sugar Bowl’s terrain beyond the ropes, a proven track record of successful programs, and a professional staff of guides focused on the guest’s experience.”
In the past decade there has been progressive acceptance of open boundaries throughout American ski resorts. With this partnering, Sugar Bowl is saying backcountry skiing is not just allowed, it is an integral part of the services they provide.
To celebrate this development, and to kick off the upcoming season ASI and Sugar Bowl will be hosting a Backcountry Ball at The Lodge at Sugar Bowl resort on Saturday November 21st, 2009 from 5pm – 10pm. The Crawlers will be playing live at the ball, with a Hutte style buffet, a cash bar, and prizes. Tickets are $15 with $5 going to support the Sierra Avalanche Center and are available via alpineskills.com or sugarbowl.com or pick ‘em up at The Back Country shop in Truckee.
Free Season Pass!
Published: October 25, 2009Posted in: Resort
What a deal! You get a free season pass if you work at one of the many resorts throughout Tahoe and Truckee. So you are itching to get your face shots, don’t have enough money for a pass and need a job? Well the solution is work at the resort. Working at a resort is not always the most enjoyable job, but work is not a synonym for fun. However, here are some tips to getting that perfect job at the resort of your dreams.
The best job, without a doubt is one that is during swing shift. You can ride all day and work in the evenings. My choices for resort jobs would be anything that allows me to ride all day. With that there are only a few options.
- Building Maintenance / Janitor – as you are inside durning the pounding nightly storms we get in Tahoe.
- Snowmaking – They don’t do this all year you know! Get your pass, save your money and you are free to go after January usually.
- Groomer – Drink your Redbull!
- Evening Lift Operator – It’s not bad reping the lift at the night park.
- Evening Ski Patroller – You get to ride!
If all of these jobs are taken, then you next best bet is to find a job in the resort village or even a part time job a the resort to get the pass and pay some bills. Make sure you get on it and go interview for a job now! Some interviewing tips can be found:
Here are some links to top resorts job pages:
Race for Tara Mountain Biking Event
Published: October 22, 2009Posted in: Mountain Bike, Northstar at Tahoe
There are few things for me during the summer that really get my heart racing. Mt. Biking just so happens to be the one that works for me every-time, without fail. I figure if you can’t scare yourself flying down dirt, inches past rocks and trees then you are doing something wrong.
I gained a new respect for the downhill mountain biking world last weekend during their “Race for Tara” event. The race was being held to support Tara Llanes, a pro level downhill racer who was tragically paralyzed during a race in 2007. It brought together a great turnout of the bike industry including many of the sports top names to raise funds for Tara’s expenseive rehabilitation.
Now I hadn’t visited Northstar in a few years, but I remembered the transition from skiing to biking looking like all they had done to change seasons was to start loading bikes onto the lifts. Now the transformation is unbelievable, jumps everywhere, wallrides on every banked corner, log bridges over obstacles. Just an amazing amount of trail mantanice and upkeep that has started to make this place look really serious about their biking season. I don’t know how many times I will be skiing at Northstar this winter, but I want to be here everyday next SUMMER if I can.
Upload Your Pass Photo for Your Squaw Pass
Published: October 21, 2009Posted in: Squaw Valley
I think they might be kinda strict on this, like they are in special tix, but it’s cool you can upload your own mug shot and have your pass mailed to you. You might be able to put on a thicker set of eye brows, long eye lashes or even comb your beard all crazy and get away with it. What I like about this is getting it in the mail. It’s like your birthday or Christmas, but way better! You’re getting your ticket to freedom for 188+ days a year.
If you got a Squaw pass this year, upload your mug and then check the mail everyday. Say hi to Larry at the Post Office on the way out.
Boreal Ski Resort Open for Jibbing Yo!
Published: October 9, 2009Posted in: Resort
More often than not, Boreal is the first ski area in the Tahoe area to open. This year is no exception. Boreal is open for skiing and snowboarding as of Friday October 9th. Boreal has been making snow for a while and even received about 3″ of natural snow. Currently they are only open on the weekends, which might mean a little congestion, but it’s riding so go!
The 5th Annual Jibassic Public Invitational Event will be held at Boreal Ski Resort on Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th. With $2000 in cash the event is going to bring some sick talent from around the area. Boreal’s mini park is setup with features like the flat box, down box, c-box, down box, up box and a mini wall. Come take advantage of the early conditions, bring your steeze and get your jib on.
