Ski Butlers newest location in North Lake Tahoe adds premium top of the line skis to their Squaw Valley ski rental repertoire. We are very excited to announce the arrival of the Volkl Grizzly to the menu of skis to choose from. Three different positions, reveal three different Grizzly personalities, encouraging the skier to apply different amounts of tip and tail pressure. Yes, the Volkl Grizzly feels heavy when picked up, but click in to the Marker Wideride bindings and get them up to speed. Suddenly the ski feels agile and very responsive. A wood core combined with Volkl’s double grip construction and a 17 meter radius deliver a masterful blend of stability and carving. This is not the ski for smaller ultra-groomed ski areas, so plan on taking your Grizzlies to Squaw Valley's KT-22 and letting them off the leash. They blast through everything with authority and love it fast. The dial just works and is an easy and effective way to change your skis personality and match it to your style. You will not be disappointed, but a helmet is almost mandatory. "Experts only" as they say, but if you want the big mountain agility and control of an amazing ski, you will have to test out our new secret weapon = The Grizzly! This is a Ski Butlers must!!
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Once again, it's that time of year. The sun is shining and the slopes are covered. Skiers and riders in South Lake Tahoe are gearing up for another beautiful day at Heavenly Ski Resort. After some fresh snow earlier this week, we are looking at another perfect day in Tahoe. March is the time to buy some sunscreen, strip off the layers, and enjoy the amazing weather and scenary we have to offer here in Northern California. Tourists and locals alike are blessed with unmatchable conditions and terrain in the Tahoe Basin. Earlier this week, I had the chance to check out the slopes at Alpine Meadows with two good friends. After a nice 4 to 6 inch dusting, the mountains were prime for magnificent sugar turns. Unfortunately, underneath the fresh snow were some pretty crusty conditions, but at those moments, if you use your brain, you can really find great snow. We managed to search for all of the North facing slopes and tree wells, which generally keep the best conditions, and low and behold the snow there was amazing. So for the rest of the day we lapped the resort, hitting as many North slopes as we could find. Lesson learened, if you come across a day where the snow isn't perfect, look for the northern slopes and you will be satisfied. Tahoe has officially entered Spring skiing time, which is one of the best times of the year. Our "freeze/thaw" cycle elicits unbelievable afternoon spring conditions, where a t-shirt is really all you need. There is nothing like having a day off of work, visiting a fresh resort, and skiing with your buddies in the Spring time. Personally, it helps to keep me centered and remember why I live here and why I do what I do. I always think about something my Dad once told me, "Find something you love and figure out how to make a living doing it," and that's exactly what I did = Thanks Dad.
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It has been one awfully mild summer in Lake Tahoe, locals are talking, and Mother Nature seems to be tempting us Alpine folks with cold temperatures. These signs usually trick us into thinking winter is around the corner, but this year it just might be. In fact, there was snow on the north side of Mt. Rose until Thursday night from a front that moved through a few days before. The wind today was white-capping the lake on the South Shore just below Heavenly where frost could be seen from town a few days before. It's been cold at night and some sporty parkas have been dawned on the south shore casinos keeping tourists warm. Sail boats seen from Cave Rock where moving quite well in 20 knot wind on Thursday with clouds coming in in the afternoon. From Castle Rock on Friday, larger clouds came across the lake with 40 mph winds. The tree branches were swaying and pine needles and forest debris was blowing. Local ski rental shops have been setting up throughout the Heavenly Valley area. Ski industry purchase have been growing at a faster rate than last year as media coverage begins to offer crazy weather predictions for the season. The oceans affect the weather, and it does appear that the current weather patterns seem similar than in past huge snow seasons here in Tahoe. One local ski rental delivery shop employee believes this year will be similar to the explosive ski season of 2005 where Heavenly, Kirkwood, and Sierra-at-Tahoe received 900" of snow each starting with skiing in October. The concern for the winter could possibly be more rain on snow events with precipitation at different temperatures. This forecast could make it difficult for backcountry skiers to read the snow as the season progresses or just make conditions in the Sierra backcountry more precarious and dangerous. In this case, South Lake Tahoe is well endowed with lift access skiing for some of the most unique powder turns in the country.
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As summer officially comes to a close after labor day, most ski towns will go into what we locals like to call "mud season". This is the time of year that buffers the two busy seasons: summer and winter. Locals, in particular, love this time of year because all the tourists are gone and town becomes quite normal for two months or so. They also call it "mud season" because it is usually accompanied by serious amounts of precipitation.
In the Spring, the wet conditions from melting snow and rain keep many locals from enjoying their skitown. However, the fall mud season is quite different. During this time, locals have access to the best mountain bike conditions of the season and can't still enjoy warm weather until daylight savings occurs.
As daylight savings approaches on Sept. 22, locals will scramble to enjoy their last bit of the outdoors before the clocks are set back. Personally, I love daylight savings. It signifies the approach of ski season in Lake Tahoe and other North American resort towns. Summer business will shut down and ski rental shops will start preparing for the busy El Nino winter ahead of us. As many area shops wrap up their labor day sales, many potential lcustomers will start booking their trips for next winter. Also, competition heats up as many area ski and snowboard shops will start selling their services to the local community.
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It seems that every year about this time I begin to dream about the snow falling and all the great lines I intend to carve when Heavenly Ski Resort opens in the Fall. This season, I am interested in all the new ski and snowboard rentals that will be available to experience on the hill. Most people are beach-side burning themselves to a crisp this time of year, but my brain is thinking of cloudy skies, pounding snow, and thundering avalanche cannons. In South Lake Tahoe, the Heavenly Ski Basin receives some of the heaviest snow fall that I have witnessed in North America. This is just one of the many reasons we are blessed to ski in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains. With so many major cities around the area, Heavenly Ski Resort is very accessible for families to make a quick trip up and enjoy all of the winter festivities. Families can be assured that they will have an amazing trip and make memories that will last a lifetime. There really is nothing like experiencing the snow and all its glory with your loved ones. One of these days, I might be content with sunny afternoons and bathing suits, but, at this time in my life, all I want is to be on the Heavenly Gondola with some brand new ski rentals, fresh wax, and feet of snow. So for now, I'll just have to deal with my Fall Fever and keep dreaming of snow falling and pray for an early winter season in Lake Tahoe.
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