It’s easy to call Lake Tahoe the last unforked pea on the plate of American snow riding. More and more Tahoe resorts might be mirroring the mainstream, painting a canvas of haves and haves more, but don’t kid yourself: No other resort destination in North America encompasses such a wide array of world class slopes, abundant snowfall, pristine vistas and sparkling amenities. Moreover, there are more chair lifts to ride in the Tahoe Basin than in the entire state of Colorado and four out of five days are sunny. Winter temperatures average around 29 degrees, and when it snows, which is often this early season, the flakes fall thick and fast, piling into soft mounds on the upper portion of discolored mountain peaks and setting the stage for exceptional skiing and snowboarding.

Sugar Bowl
(530) 426-9000
Snow Phone- (530) 426-1111
www.sugarbowl.com
1500 acres
 
The doyenne of Sierra Nevada resorts, Sugar Bowl continues to undergo a sizeable expansion to compliment some of the finest and most scenic pistes in the region. Founded in 1939 by Austrian downhill champion Hannes Schroll it’s always been a skier’s mountain. In fact, jumping into some of Sugar Bowl’s remarkable air-sucking terrain can be like meeting a drum majorette wearing a military helmet, jackboots, and carrying a mace-like baton. Get ready to be pleasantly beat up. This summer Sugar Bowl completed a new addition to its 20,000 square foot Main Lodge at the Mount Judah base area. Improvements continue with expanded parking and the construction of 64 condos for an increased rental pool.
 
Some things never change, however, and Sugar Bowl’s slopes remain a tasty selection of cruisers, rolling shoulders, steeps, and chutes. Its 1,500 acres of terrain and four mountain peaks are serviced by 13 lifts and a whopping annual average of 42 feet of snow. If you got the legs for unabashed fun, stick around Mount Lincoln. Even if you don’t, be sure to ride the Silver Belt chairlift to watch others zigzag down the Silver Belt, a natural gully-like halfpipe, once the hair-raising giant slalom course that tested the skills of Leo Lacroix, Billy Kidd, and Phil Mahre. From the top of Lincoln, it still makes even the best rippers act like a hot potato in a child’s palm. Intermediates enjoy riding the high-speed Disney Quad that accesses the blue runs on Pony Express, Upper Mac, and Montgomery. Some of the best powder stashes are discovered below Crow’s Nest Peak in Strawberry Fields.
 
No other area in North America has averaged more snowfall over the last one hundred years than Donner Summit and major dumpage makes Sugar Bowl become completely dipped in snow, like a Granny Smith covered in caramel.
 
What’s New: Besides the new condos, Sugar Bowl has hired one of the better terrain park designers in America, J.P. Martin. The former K2 Team member is already re-vamping Sugar Bowl’s park to include more “incubator” elements for an appeal to a broader base.  Also, the resort is continuing with their commitment to go with 100% green energy by this year.
 
Best Deal: The General Admission program allows qualifying skiers and riders 2-hour free group lessons of any skill level. Daily from March 14 through closing day.
 
Best Event: During the Silver Belt Banzai, March 13-14, competitors race for cash prizes down Sugar Bowl’s historic Silver Belt gully in a skier cross/ border cross format.
 
Best Place To Take A Screaming Pottie: Sugar Bowl’s Pipe Monster made by Zaugg of Switzerland creates 22-foot high walls with the smoothest and largest transitions this side of Zurich. Its pipe location at the base of the Mt. Lincoln Express has perfect sun exposure (i.e., no melting or sagging walls) and the ideal 17-degree pitch for optimum speed.
 
Don’t Miss: Weekends, the expanded Judah Lodge presents live music.  The best bet is Eric E playing Christmas week. He’s a crowd favorite.
 
Insider Tip: The new Backcountry Adventure Center in the Village offers professional guided tours, educational seminars, telemark instruction and avalanche education.

More of Tahoe Resorts: A-to-Z

Alpine Meadows
Boreal
Diamond Peak
Donner Ski Ranch
Granlibakken
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Homewood Mountain Resort
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Mt. Rose
Northstar-at-Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe
Soda Springs
Sugar Bowl
Squaw Valley USA
Tahoe Donner