Snowboarders / Skiiers - Need some help!

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-- Snowboarders / Skiiers - Need some help!

Posted by EarnYourKeep on Aug-23-2006 21:33:

Snowboarders / Skiiers - Need some help!

Hey wanted some opinions from you west coast kids. I'm looking to do some trips out west and I need some honest opinions.

I don't have a problem riding, I've already been out to Utah and rode that without a problem, jumps rails and all.

For those of you who skii'd/rode the following mountains, can you guys help me by telling me what you thought was good or bad about the mountain. Your own skill level helps along with personal views that I can't find when visiting the resorts websites -- that means no omg it's super! comments.

I'm also up for some suggestions if you all have any other mountains / ski resorts worth wild that I might not have mentioned please do include it along with any information you think might be beneficial for me when deciding.

My choices thus far

Lake Tahoe (Northstar / Heavenly)
Vancouver (Whistler / Blackcomb)
Washington (Mt. Hood)
California *not tahoe region* (Mamouth / Sierra)

Yea I know tahoe is border cali/nevada, and I'm not even sure if Mamouth is in the Sierra Mtn Range. Could use some clarification here.

What i'm looking for? POW, Long Runs, Super Park and Pipes. Me and friends plan on making a film out of this trip (we didn't with Utah since we were afraid we'd couldn't handle the mountain...i know sad) - Fairly easy to get to but if I have to drive I don't want to drive more than 3+hours from the airport.

Well thanks in advance for those who can help...I appreciate it! =)

Posted by psychochick on Aug-23-2006 21:47:

check this one out .. we went for the 1st time last season .. it's pretty nice

20-30 mins pass Mammoth ..

http://www.junemountain.com/

Posted by butterfly on Aug-23-2006 22:06:

you might also want to consider mt baker - it's supposed to be a snowboarding mecca.

Also, you forgot squaw. it's by far my favorite. if you want to go there (or several other places in tahoe) let me know...

IMO, heavenly isn't great for snowboarders. it's also really expensive.

Posted by djillicit on Aug-23-2006 22:16:

who's up for throwing a RAVE at the foot of the mountain next year!!
you gotta be willing to work hard with promotion. awesome way to get your name out

Posted by EarnYourKeep on Aug-23-2006 22:42:

LOL - Thanks so far...was looking for more of a review type of responses but then again I don't want to ask too much =P

I'll take a look into baker thanks mells

Posted by butterfly on Aug-24-2006 11:08:

ok i'll try since i am not being too productive at work right now...

I went to Heavenly once and unfortunately it was martin luther king weekend. It was so crowded that everything was tracked out by like 10 am, even though it snowed like 3 feet the day before. The other problem I had with heavenly is that there are a lot of traverses to get from one part of the mountain to the other and as a snowboarder, that sucks. It�s also one of the more expensive mountains (like $59 WITH the Safeway discount, $70+ without). Martijn is a better rider than me and he has been to Heavenly two other times and he didn�t feel that mountain either. It�s way overhyped compared to other resorts in Tahoe.

Northstar is ok. I only go there when the weather is too bad to go to Squaw. The thing is, if you stay in Truckee, you are about the same distance from Squaw, Northstar, and Alpine Meadows so you can get some variety. Squaw is by far my favorite because it has really varied terrain and some really fun challenging stuff. They have 2 half pipes and at least 1 terrain park (not too sure as I don�t do terrain parks). The only problem is that the higher lifts shut down when it is snowing hard or windy. So when that happens it is better to go to Northstar because it is more protected. Alpine Meadows is the resort adjacent to Squaw. It has really similar terrain but it is slightly smaller. The good thing is that it is like $41 and they cut off how many people they let in each day. It�s one of the cheapest resorts in Tahoe (Homewood is the cheapest, at about $25). Squaw is $70+ but I usually pay $41 so price doesn�t affect my opinion of it much.

As for Whistler, I have never been there but it is Martijn�s favorite resort that he has ever been too (and he has ridden VT, NY, PA, in the Sierras, in the rockies, and the Alps).

As for airports, you can get to Tahoe in roughly 45 minutes if you fly to Reno, 2 hours from SMF, and 4+ hours from SFO. (I don�t know if there are any direct flights from new york to Reno).

And most importantly, if you are coming to Tahoe, don�t do it NYE week. It is more crowded that week, sometimes there isn�t heaps of snow yet, and most importantly, we need to ride together.

Posted by EarnYourKeep on Aug-24-2006 11:37:

i'll ride with you any day! You know that....

go big or go home =P

Posted by optionvdo on Aug-24-2006 17:28:

I use to live in Lake Taho (South Shore) and Mammoth for over a year. Mammother you cannot go wrong with as it usually has really good snow and excellent park all season long. Though the crowds are growing with Mammoths popularity. Plus Mammoth doesnt get the "Sierra Cement" that Tahoe cant when the dumps are not dry enough. The only thing that compares in Tahoe that is consistent would be Squaw, but even that really can't compare. However on big dry snow storms, Kirkwood is ridiculous and Heavenly can be great off-trail too. Ask about a place called Fire Break. You may not be able ot run it anymore with the new Gondola, but....

Posted by EarnYourKeep on Aug-24-2006 17:55:

How is the lifestyle out in Tahoe. Granted I'm comin from NYC and I don't expect it to be as eventful. I'm considering relocating for a job with one of the major snowboard companies. I need to get out of this crappy business lifestyle and into a more interest focused career.

Posted by EarnYourKeep on Aug-25-2006 11:12:

Hey also wanted to know if it's cheaper to stay at hotel or to stay on the resort. Granted I know staying on the resort is pretty expensive just that maybe the accomodations are better on the resort than a hotel. Also, during the winter how bad is it to get to the resort if i did stay at a hotel? I would imagine staying in truckee and driving out. I think I'm doing Northstar for the whole time unless you all have any other recommendations...

mells i'll wait for your response hehee

Posted by TheMETHOD on Aug-25-2006 19:20:

I've been riding for about 5 years now, here are my recommendations:

Squaw
PRO: Huge, fast lifts, tons of runs, terrain parks, never over crowded, night boarding!
CONS: Expensive
TIP: skip the lines and get to the top fast, take the cable car.

Northstar
PRO: Huge, fast lifts, great backside, big jump park
CONS: Expensive, sometimes too crowded, parking sucks
TIP: get there early for best parking.

Sugarbowl
PRO: Cheap, nice jump park, rarely over crowded
CONS: Not huge, lots of beginners
TIP: get there early for best parking.

Posted by EarnYourKeep on Aug-25-2006 20:03:

^^^sweet

now the question is how far are they apart from each other?

and would i be better off staying in truckee then hitting these. northstar i need to visit just because of the name and reputation associated with it. Half day at that as well as a magnet for my fridge...yea i know blah blah blah lol

after mels and ur recommendations for squaw, I think i might do 2 days there and 1 at northstar....

again thanks for everyones input i appreciate it...