What’s New?

This came up in a search for something or another. Basically if you stay 2 nights in Truckee (convenient to Northstar, Squaw, and Alpine. Close-ish to Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch, and Soda Springs) you can get $100 cash from the Truckee Chamber of Commerce.

https://www.truckee.com/100-cash-lodging-promo/

There’s a few caveats:

• You have to book no less than 48 hours prior to your arrival.
• You have to forward your booking info to lodgingdeal@truckee.com, and tell them how you heard about the deal (http://snowcheap.com!), and whether you heard about the deal before or after you booked.
• If you receive a email confirming you qualify, then after checking-in, you have to swing by the California Welcome Center in Truckee with the all the emails, and your room key/card/proof of check-in. They’ll give you $100 + a goodie bag.

So, where to stay? Welp. It has to be in Truckee proper, which their search engine will helpfully display: https://chamber.truckee.com/list/mc/truckee-lodging-1813-1814-

Personally, I’ve stayed at both the Best Western (literally down the street from Northstar!) and the Inn at Truckee (close to McDonalds, and… other restaurants!)

I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of staying at the Truckee Hotel smack in the middle of downtown, but we’ve never had a chance to do it. Also, the Cedar House looks super-swanky, but uh, have I mentioned that I’m cheap?

My original motivation for starting a deals website was to become a better snowboarder. Snowboarding is fun, but it’s hard to get better without practice. So in those first few seasons, I went a lot, thanks to finding various deals. But… that wasn’t really the most efficient way to improve.

So I have some advice on how to get better skiing or snowboarding, faster, and more cheaply.

Absolute Beginners

Totally new to skiing/snowboarding? Go to Donner Ski Ranch. 1) It’s out-of-the way enough that it still doesn’t get that crowded, 2) First-timer packages are $99, 3) I bet your “experienced” friends have never been there – they will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of terrain.

Lots of resorts offer discounted 3-packs of first-timer packages, more people learning to ski and ride is good for their long-term business. One great example is the Homewood’s 1-2-3 Deal which has an amazing bonus of an unrestricted season pass after taking your third lesson. All for $300!

Oh wow, I didn’t realize Boreal also offers a deal like this (where you get a season pass after your third lesson): Take 3, Ride Free! $249 non-holiday, $279 anytime. Such a great deal.

Sierra also offers a 3-pack of first-timer packages (no season pass tho) for $267. They’re also offering $79 first-timer lessons on Fridays in January.

And I’m pleasantly shocked to report that Alpine is offering the 3-pack Perfect Progression lesson package for first-timers, which on the one hand, is $499(!), but on the other hand, gets you an unrestricted Squaw/Alpine season pass (again, upon “graduation”) and a free pair of goggles and bag for them and free rentals for the season and $18 in lunch vouchers. You also get 50% off of group lessons for the season so you can continue progressing. If your friends/partner/family all love Squaw or have passes there, this is a pretty great way to get started.

Oh, one more piece of advice. If you can go more than 1 or 2 days in a row, DO IT. You may be sore after the first day, but if you space out your trips, your body tends to “forget” everything you learn. (Pro tip: stay at a hotel or rental that has a hot tub. Also, bring ibuprofen. Also, buy a helmet!)

Moving On Up

Gone a few times, got those green runs down, and you want to start doing harder runs? Well, as I said, you could just go up as often as you can, like I did. But I remember getting a little frustrated and bored, because after maybe 5-6 times, without taking any lessons, I wasn’t making much progression. I still would wipe out halfway down that one short, steep hardpacked groomer at Homewood (I think it was Show Off?) every. dang. time. Ugh. (It didn’t help that I had locked myself into the same resort by purchasing a bunch of hotel/resort “deals”. That’s a story for another post, but think of it like a season pass. I felt locked in, like I had to get my “money’s worth”. I think I’ve mentioned that’s why I’m not a big fan of season passes.)

So my suggestion instead? Take more lessons.

For skiing, I feel like it’s even more important to take intermediate lessons, because while a snowboarder can (painfully) do a “falling leaf” down a black diamond run, trying to go down that same run in a snowplow is not just difficult, it can be dangerous.

But as I mentioned, lessons can be a huge boost for snowboarders too. I remember my first intermediate lesson, the others in the class wanted to learn carving, to which I thought, pshaw, man, I want to ride bumps (I’m weird). Or learn how to jump.

But carving is key. Anybody can skid through turns. But learning how to use your edges will help you in bumps, and jumps, and park.

Most resorts offer lessons at all levels. Bonus: not many people take them at higher levels, so it’s possible you’ll get very personalized instruction.

Mt. Rose offers specific lessons (including rentals) for progressing past basics: Next Steps.

Many years ago, Sugar Bowl had an innovative promotion, offering free lessons and rentals Mon-Fri for the price of a lift ticket. These “General Admission” lessons were for all levels. Again, because few people were riding Mon-Fri, and those did were not taking lessons, I often had nearly private lessons with no more than 3-4 other people.

Heck, if you can believe it, way back when, even Northstar, along with Sierra, used to offer free intermediate-advanced lessons Mon-Fri. Ah, yes, the olde Vertical Improvement Program. Over the years, Homewood, Mt. Rose and even Squaw (wait, am I remembering that right?) have run such programs. Clearly they thought it was a good idea back then. Maybe they’ll do it again someday.

ANYWAYS though, for now you’re going to have to pay for your lessons. But trust me, it’ll be worth it.

(Huh, Squaw/Alpine again surprises me with a deal – Take 2 Group Lessons Get 3rd Free.)

Back in Black

So, maybe you’re comfortable on blue runs, maybe even some black diamonds. But do you know where the best grooming is? Or where there might still be stashes of powder even days after a storm? Or maybe you’d like to learn about the geology or history of the resort? Well then, you might want to take a free tour! (You still have to have a lift ticket or season pass and equipment.)

Sometimes you’ll see a sign at the top of the main lift, or somewhere near the base that says something like “Free Tours” or “Mountain Host Tour”. These are tours, not lessons, but the guide will make sure everyone is at similar levels, or adjust accordingly. They can certainly advise what runs are appropriate for your level.

• Sierra: Mountain Tours
• Squaw: Mountain Host Tours
• Unconfirmed: Diamond Peak, Northstar, Sugar Bowl

These tours can be a lot of fun – you’ll be skiing/snowboarding with somebody who very likely knows the mountain way better than you. So lots of opportunities to learn something new.

So, you want to ski or snowboard in Tahoe. You don’t want to buy a season pass, because that’s a big chunk of change, or you like going to different resorts. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, one of the greatest things about riding in Tahoe is the variety. Big and small, you can find something fun and interesting at every resort.* I still need to get to Tahoe Donner, but I can say that I’ve had fun at every other place I’ve been to at Tahoe. Can you say you’ve been to all 14 of Tahoe’s ski resorts?

Here’s what you can do: Go to the resorts that are still locally-owned. Many people think these resorts are small, compared with someplace like Squaw or Heavenly. While looking at a trail map, a place like Diamond Peak looks tiny. But it skis much bigger than you would expect. Especially if you are not a hardcore black diamond skier/boarder hucking off of cliffs. (And actually, Mt. Rose, Sugar Bowl and Sierra have plenty of challenging black diamond runs, including cliffs.

And here’s the trick – most of these places still have deals:
Deals like Donner Ski Ranch’s $40 Tues-Thurs tickets. Or Mt. Rose’s Two-fer Tuesdays and other specials. Or discounted Diamond Peak, Homewood, Sierra or Sugar Bowl tickets from any number of places.

* What’s that you say? You’re a hardcore skier or boarder who says that there’s nothing challenging at Soda Springs? Well, have you gone down those green runs backwards (or for snowboarders, riding switch?). You think Boreal is a “boring hill”? Well, have you actually tried riding over a flatbox, or launching off of a kicker? Diamond Peak’s groomers are too boring? Have you ever gone through the trees? What about a bump run? Yes, snowboarders can do bump runs too (ideally when they’re powdery or slushy). It’s hard. And fun, once you figure it out.

If you’re bored, you’re not challenging yourself. And challenging doesn’t just mean steep groomers.

Yeah. That’s why you’re here, right?

Welp. I have some bad news. Over the past decades, resorts have made the strategic decision to heavily promote discounted season passes, providing a guaranteed revenue stream as early as Spring (when they start offering those “ski/ride the rest of the season for ‘free'” deals).

But that wasn’t enough. Because to “encourage” people to buy these season passes, and to keep the daily revenue high, they’ve raised the ticket window prices to exorbitant levels.

To be sure, it sounds great to buy a pass for $600 because it’s “paid for in less than 6 visits.”

But consider that Northstar’s ticket window prices in the 1999-2000 season were $49. Adjusted for inflation, tickets should be $74.66 (so a 50% increase). But instead, Northstar charges $169. That’s… a 238% increase. What do we get for that?

A fancy village with an ice skating rink. A fancy hotel. A few more lifts and a few more runs off of Lookout.

So, getting back to those pass deals. Thanks to consolidation, at least your pass is good at more than just one resort. An Epic Tahoe Pass ($609 in Oct 2019) is good at Northstar, Kirkwood, and Heavenly. That’s nothing to sneeze at, and you certainly won’t get bored. And of course, if you paid earlier, you saved even more.

And because of the Squaw/Alpine merger a few years back, the IKON pass lets you ski at those two resorts (non-holiday, of course) for $749.

SO AGAIN, where are the deals, you ask? Say you don’t go more than 3-4 days a year. Or you want to take advantage of the wide variety of Tahoe resorts.

Here’s the trick: Go LOCAL. More on that in my next post.

I love the idea of a ski bus. You have to wake up early (I’m talking 4-5AM early) to get to the pickup stop, but once you’re on the bus, go back to sleep, and when you next wake up, you’re 30 minutes from the resort, and (on the good buses), you get a continental breakfast – bagels, cream cheese, yogurt, etc.*

Upon arrival, the host jumps off and get the lift tickets from the resort. By the time you get your gear on, they’re ready to hand you your ticket, and off you go.

Ski or board hard all day, because hey, you can sleep on the way back, made easier still by the occasional beer or wine offerings by the buses, sometimes barbecue, hot dogs, hot chocolate, and other goodies.*

Tahoe Ski Trips (formerly Bay Area Ski Bus)

For a long time, the go-to for Tahoe buses was Bay Area Ski Bus. Their drivers and hosts were top-notch, and they had all the amenities – breakfast, apres ski, etc. A few years ago, the company changed hands, and they’ve rebranded as Tahoe Ski Trips, but the reviews are still pretty solid.

NAC SKI

I wish I could say the same for NAC SKI. For a long time, NAC SKI was a bargain-hunter’s dream. Their drivers weren’t always on top of their game. *You got “light” breakfast and no après-ski. But they were CHEAP, so you dealt with it. Well, I’ve read some pretty awful reviews over the past few years, but worse still, they’ve gone radio silent. Last year I reached out to ask about Kirkwood drop-offs and some really awful reviews (a no-show for a privately chartered trip, and then no follow-up, and no refunds!?) , and never heard back at all. Really a bummer. That being said – people usually only complain when there’s a problem.

I have some credits accrued with them, so I may give them another try and report back. If you’re willing to give it a shot (I recommend not going with them if there’s a storm forecast), I’d be obliged if you used this link, with which I will earn more credits: www.nacski.com/mr/register.aspx?id=CA92896237&r=ca-sfb

Sports Basement Tahoe Ski Bus Trips

But let’s leave on a brighter note. Sports Basement Tahoe Ski Bus Trips have been departing from their stores for the past couple of years. I believe they started out having Bay Area Ski Bus run the trips – not sure if they still do. Prices are similar, but with (possibly) more convenient pickup locations (Sports Basement stores). Looks like they only go to Squaw/Alpine Sat/Sun and Northstar on Sundays. Also of note – you’re responsible for buying your own lift tickets ahead of time. Sports Basement has promo codes to save you a little on Squaw/Alpine tickets, but I don’t think they sell Northstar anymore. Oof. They do however, have an neat option to pre-load your Sports Basement equipment rentals onto the bus, if you reserve 2 days in advance, so if you don’t have your own skis or board, this is a great way to save some time and money. (Renting at the resort always takes a while, and costs more than renting down here.)

But is it a deal?

Well, Tahoe Ski Trips charge $185 for Sierra/Kirkwood, $199 for Northstar/Squaw. Considering that Northstar and Squaw walk-up prices are northward of $169 (!), and you didn’t otherwise have discounted lift tickets for those places, then yes, I’d say the difference of $30 for a bus-ride is pretty worth it. Sierra tickets can be picked up at REI/Sports Basement for $92, so that’s a tougher sell, as then you’re paying $93 for the bus.

You can save a little bit buying that ticket ahead of time and doing bus-only for $79.

I can’t find Kirkwood’s window price, but it’s gotta be upwards of the $124 they charged last year. Alas, I can’t find any discounts for Kirkwood tickets. Thanks Vail.

Here’s how I do the calculation, and literally, Your Mileage May Vary: Round-trip from SJ to Sierra in my car (~25MPG) probably uses about 16 gallons of gas, which at $3.60/gallon (ugh, premium), is $57.60. If I’m driving solo is it worth $21 to be able to board until the very last lift and have somebody else drive home? I say yes.

If you can split the driving duties and the cost gas? Then you’re probably better off driving. Of course this assumes that either the roads are clear, and your car is snow-ready. Even in the best of conditions, you should always carry chains and know how to put them on. And yes even with a 4WD/AWD you need to know how to drive with caution. Don’t end up being that guy in the SUV who spun out when they slammed on their brakes/over-corrected and ended up in a snowbank or worse.

*NAC SKI’s pricing is often $20-30 or so cheaper. Do you get what you pay for? Well, as previously mentioned breakfast is “lighter”. No après-ski. But the bigger concern is customer service, or judging from Yelp, the lack thereof. Based on the horror stories, right now I can only advise taking NAC SKI if the road conditions look clear.

Ah Homewood. I had a bunch of stuff written about a promo package I bought for Homewood and the Holiday Inn in Reno, but that’s a long time ago, and I was dumb. Still, I rode Homewood a lot as a beginner, which in retrospect, means I missed out going through their supposedly legendary glades and trees on a powder day. Someday I need to make up for that.

But bottom line, I ended up riding a lot of days that season. And that’s how you get better. And the lake view from Homewood’s slopes (even the green runs) is beautiful.

Anyways, right now, Homewood is running some interesting deals for first-timers.

Homewood Easy as 1-2-3 Lesson Package

If you are brand new to skiing/snowboarding, or have a friend who wants to learn, they’re running a pretty great deal right now. Skiers/boarders 13+ buy a 3-pack of lessons, and after graduating, you get a free season pass, with no blackout dates or restrictions, and discounts!

The 3-pack of lessons includes equipment rentals. It’s $297. Doesn’t include helmet. You should buy a helmet.

​Season pass doesn’t include rentals. But you do get a discount on Homewood’s rentals. Or you could go to Sports Basement and likely save a bunch ($60/weekend).

Free Lessons – Monday, Jan 20, 2020 (quantities extremely limited)

On Monday, January 20 (that’s MLK day, a holiday for many folks, so… crowds), Homewood is hosting its 2nd annual Very Best Day to Learn How To Ski & Ride.

They will be giving away 50 Adult (13+) first timer lessons, and 20 Children’s (12 and under) lessons. The details:

We will give away lessons starting at 8:00 am at our Guest Services Office, located at our North Lodge. Note, that this is on a first come first served basis. Adult lessons begin at 10am at the North Lodge and Children’s Lessons begin at 10am at our South Base. Lessons include, surface lift ticket, lesson and rentals.

So, this is awesome right? Well, except that… if you go all the way around the lake to Homewood, and you’re not one of the first 50 adults or 20 kids, are you really going to go someplace else? Nope. And how much will those lessons cost? Adults – $139, Kids – $259.

So… I’m not saying this isn’t a good deal. I’m just saying… they probably will run out of free lessons, so be prepared.