Author: darryllee

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.

$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.