Best of Lake Tahoe snowsports season coming up now; storms line up for weekend skiing

OK, so it hasn't been the best snowsport season so far, but hold on, more snow is coming with storms over this weekend and we'll be able to ski off-piste without worrying about slightly hidden rock and logs. And on top of that, it's spring skiing, always the best of the year. Forget those crowds of December and January, don't recall those icy January days when the wind howled. It's spring skiing, lightly clad with plenty of sun for sitting on the lodge deck.
And that means corn snow — you know, how snow changes after melting during the day and freezes at night in those corn-sized shapes. It calls for a little different technique; it's much like powder.
You've got to keep the skis parallel, weight forward and make sure the skis are parallel in turns. Yes, more effort is required but it feels so good to make both skis work for you. For boarders, it's the rides of the season as you can just let the board go and make just easy check turns.

It's a shame that so many visitors to Tahoe come for the President and MLK Jr. weekends; I try to stay off the runs on those days, maybe a little back country (but not much of that this season).
And remember that it's undoubtedly time to rewax and tune your skis and boards. You'll probably want to switch to spring wax, but it's worth the effort.
This has not been a snow season to glory in. Heavenly for the first time in recent years has been closing Boulder base and associated lifts during the week, running it all just on weekends. Not a great loss but one locals with mourn as many liked the site with its easy parking and short lift lines.
Anyhow, here's what's going on at the mountain resorts. They will be open and you can be sure the lift lines will be short.

Sierra-at-Tahoe opens 29 trails with lots of snow
March has roared in like a lion, with no signs of backing down. Five inches of fresh snow fell over Tuesday bringing the storm total up to 12 inches and counting with several feet by the weekend at Sierra-at-Tahoe. Five lifts are scheduled to spin taking you to explore 29 open trails of the best terrain on the south shore
NOAA is estimating this storm will drop another 2-5 feet of POW, setting us up for an unbelievable weekend chocked full of events and pow face shots! Thanks to our peak elevation of over 8850' and our location on the western slope of the Sierra Crest, we typically receive the highest natural snowfall around the lake during storms - so get stoked for many powder days ahead at Sierra Resort!
Wanna save money and get more powder days in at Sierra?! Get your hands on a 3-Pak and you can ski or ride for only $54/day! That's a sweet savings of up to $20/day!

Yes, Homewood Mountain Resort is busy and offers deals In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Homewood will be hiding a “Pot O’ Gold,” filled with treasures such as a lint ticket 3-pack, a 2012/2013 season pass, and a West Shore Café & Inn gift card. Guests will receive hints as to the Pot O’ Gold’s whereabouts on the Homewood Facebook page on St. Patrick’s Day.
The St. Patty’s Twilight Ski gives skiers an exclusive opportunity to watch the sunset over Lake Tahoe and hit the slopes for the only time this season during sunset from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The St. Patty’s Twilight Ski welcomes all Homewood 2011/2012 Saturday-access season pass holders; as well as full- or half-day Homewood ticket holders on March 17. Guests who arrive at 4 p.m. or later for the St. Patty’s Twilight Ski may purchase a special $29 evening lift ticket.
Additionally, Homewood is setting up a St. Patrick’s Day Party Tent at the South Lodge from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to enjoy live music, dancing, and a full bar which will feature green beer, green bull cocktails, and many others.
For additional details about the St. Patty’s Twilight Ski as well as the full schedule for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Homewood, visit SkiHomewood.com or call (530)525.2992.

Vail resorts pass holders have three resorts on passes
Vail Resorts ski and snowboard season passes for the 2012-2013 winter season are on sale and feature the best prices in the industry. With the recent addition of Kirkwood Mountain Resort in the Lake Tahoe region, Vail Resorts created the new Tahoe Local Pass that gives pass holders access to more than 10,000 total skiable acres between Kirkwood, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California, marking the most combined terrain in Tahoe. Priced at $419, pass holders receive seven-day-per-week access to an extra resort in the Tahoe region for $80 less than last year’s comparable Epic Local Pass.
“Each of our Tahoe resorts offers a different type of skiing and riding experience and now skiers and snowboarders can have it all on one pass from Heavenly’s breathtaking scenery and Northstar’s award-winning terrain parks to Kirkwood’s high alpine steep terrain,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. "And new for the 12/13 ski season we are offering The Tahoe Local Pass, providing skiing seven days a week at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood."
Kirkwood Mountain Resort, about 35 miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe, offers 2,300 acres of pure high alpine skiing and riding at its best with the most annual average snowfall in Lake Tahoe. Heavenly Mountain Resort combines a one-of-a-kind scenic view and unparalleled tree skiing across 4,800 acres with the non-stop nightlife atmosphere of South Lake Tahoe. On the North Shore, Northstar California features award-winning terrain parks, Lake Tahoe’s only 22-foot superpipe and an elegant base area village with unique family-friendly activities, shops and restaurants.
Skiers and riders who purchase the Tahoe Value Pass or the new Tahoe Local Pass before April 15, 2012 will receive an added benefit of six buddy tickets for family and friends next ski season, and anyone who purchases their pass this spring will also receive special benefits for summer 2012, including access for sightseeing and gondola rides.
All season pass holders receive exclusive offers and promotions on lodging, dining, ski rentals, equipment, ski school and special events for the 2012-2013 ski and snowboard season.
Prices listed below are only guaranteed through April 15, 2012, and Vail Resorts is giving guests the option to lock in these prices now with a $49 down-payment, with the remainder of the balance due in mid-September 2012.
For more information about Vail Resorts season passes or to purchase online, visit www.epicpass.com. All season pass products are non-transferable and non-refundable.

New for 2012-2013, the Tahoe Local Pass offers skiing and riding seven days a week to Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood resorts for $419. The Tahoe Local Pass includes access on Saturdays at all three Tahoe resorts with limited holiday restrictions and $50 pass holder tickets available for purchase during blackout dates. Priced $80 less than last year’s comparable Epic Local Pass, the Tahoe Local Pass pays for itself in just over four days.
The Tahoe Value Pass™, available for $379, includes skiing or riding seven days a week at Heavenly and skiing or riding at Northstar and Kirkwood on Sunday-Friday, with all Saturdays blacked out. Holiday restrictions apply, but pass holders can purchase a $50 ticket to any of the three resorts on restricted dates. In less than four days of skiing or riding, the Tahoe Value Pass pays for itself.
A Kirkwood-only pass will also be announced at a later date.
The Epic Pass, the best season pass deal in the ski industry, offers unlimited, unrestricted skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Arapahoe Basin for $659. The Epic Pass pays for itself in less than six days on the mountain.
(If you've never tried Arapahoe Basin in Colorado perched on the Continental Divide, you've missed one of the glories of skiing or riding. It's an old-fashioned gem with superb runs.)
Epic 7-Day pays for itself in less than five days and is ideal for people who don’t plan to ski more than seven days. The Epic 7-Day gives skiers and snowboarders a total of seven unrestricted days of skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, and Northstar, plus Arapahoe Basin, anytime during the season for a price of $509.