Hey Sliders!

All good news today! As we leap into the holiday and wintersports season, snow is falling in the Sierra and the SOTC sleigh is jammed with pre-Christmas ski and snowboard deals... Make sure to check out the website and sign yourself up for our newsletter while you're at it. www.slidingonthecheap.com

Vail! Our Wonderful Sponsor (back again this year)
Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado have been blessed with some of the best early season snow on record. With over 80 inches of fluffy white stuff fallen since November 1st, you cannot afford to miss out. Vail will be opening the remaining back bowls this weekend, including China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin. Beaver Creek celebrates its 20th Anniversary this weekend with free skiing on Friday, and a free concert on the plaza Saturday night. And better yet, American Airlines now flies daily from San Francisco to Vail/Eagle Airport, just 30 minutes from Vail and Beaver Creek. Roundtrip fares from $229, or for package deals call Vail Beaver Creek Reservations at 1-800-525-2257.

The SOTC Skinny
With snow falling just in time for the weekend, ski and snowboard enthusiasts are sky high this week. Ski resorts continue spreading pre-holiday cheer by offering extended lift ticket discounting. Diamond Peak opens Thursday with half price tickets until further notice and Heavenly is offering $49 lift tickets through Nor Cal Albertson's. If you're new to skiing or snowboarding take advantage of Soda Spring's SOTC lift ticket offer. Bring in a copy of the SOTC newsletter and you get an all-day ticket for just $16.00! If you're planning on skiing over the holiday, call today and get a hotel reservation. It's a sure bet the entire Tahoe basin will be sold out this Christmas. Also, sign-up for your favorite resort's Frequent Skier Program. Most offer free skiing after the fifth or sixth paid day.

Northstar-at-Tahoe Joins our SOTC Ski Weekend!
It's snowing! Join us for our SOTC weekend. Stay at on-site lodging nestled at the base of Northstar's 2,420-acres of world-class skiing. Ski Northstar with the SOTC crew on Saturday and Sierra-at-Tahoe on Sunday. This package would normally retail for over $600, but you get it for just $213 per person Includes 1bd/1bath accommodations, Two (1Sierra/1Northstar) Free lift tickets per person. (Tax and lodging surcharge extra) Call 1 800 GO NORTH and say, "I want the, "Sliding on the Cheap," ski weekend special!"

Our SOTC Restaurant Pick of the Week - Northshore
T's Rotisserie Chicken - Great lunch and dinner in Incline Village, located at Village Blvd. and Highway 28. Yucatan style and Soy Lime Rotisserie chicken dinners for under $6.00. If you're skiing Diamond Peak or passing through Incline Village, stop and have a great lunch or dinner. 775-831-2832.

Our SOTC Restaurant Pick of the Week - Southshore
Tudor Pub, located at 1041 Fremont Blvd. Offers half price beer when you show a Heavenly lift ticket. They feature great Apres' ski appetizers as well. 530-541-6603.

Buy Tires, Ski Free At Northstar-at-Tahoe/Bear Mtn.
Back again this year, buy four Michelin Tires at a participating Tire Pros dealer, they give you two tickets valid at Nothstar-at-Tahoe or Bear Mtn in Southern California. If you need tires, it's the best ski deal around. For locations, http://www.tirepros.com.

You're Skiing Free!
gregsherwood [at] yahoo.com - Sugarbowl!
Dsieu530 [at] aol.com - Sugarbowl!
snowboardnsocal [at] aol.com - Sugarbowl!
Sugarbowl, located at the top of Donner Summit, Sugarbowl is rich in ski history. Drop into the Silver Belt and hang on for dear life!

SOTC Weekend Weather!
Mike Pechner says, "For Wednesday into Thursday afternoon. Second largest storm of the year with 6"- 8" at Lake level and 10" - 14" above 7,000 feet. For the weekend, possible weak system inbound for Saturday night and Sunday morning. Expect a trace at the lake and 5"+ at the 7,000 foot level." Great skiing for the SOTC weekend!

Here are the weekly SOTC Ski Resort Updates!

Alpine Meadows - will rock this weekend with powder galore
8" lower mountain 10" upper mountain. Alpine Meadows is open to the top and we highly recommend Alpine this weekend. Wolverine Bowl is a great run at Alpine Meadows. "High Beaver just opened and is awesome," says, Andy Goggins, Marketing Assistant. Alpine is still offering a lift ticket discount! $42.00 adult all day. $30 adult afternoon. POWDR Card Day - December 19th and 20! Ski for just $35! For more information on POWDR CARD call 1-800-441-4423 or visit http://www.skialpine.com

Boreal - big snow, big parks, big fun till 9: PM every night!
6" to 8" inches of new snow and planning to be near full operation by the weekend. Boreal now hosting 38" - 58" base. Race course is a great run along with the Night Park with the Giant tabletop. Burton and Vans Demo Night and Jam Session - 12/13 and 12/20. Music, fun and prizes. Boreal in conjunction with Raley's & Bel Air stores are running a promotion. Pick up coupons at any Raley's or Bel Air stores for 50% of Adult Learn To Ski Or Snowboard packages, $5 off a kids ticket or 50% of the Kids Club Full Day Program. See coupon for restrictions. http://www.borealski.com.

Bear Mountain - southern cal quick sliding fix
Machine groomed hard packed, Bear received a trace overnight but is making snow. Base is 15" to 30" Check out Gold Rush's brand new 25-foot double barrel kink rail. Big Daddy Season pass still just $299 "Anytime Season Pass," which gives the greatest access during the holidays will remain at $299 until January 1, 2001. http://www.bearmtn.com

Bear Valley - your east bay connection. skip the crowds, ski bear!
8" new snow. Base of 28" - 38". Great runs at Bear are: Cornice, Porridge Bowl and Groovy Gully. Best Deals are 2 for 1 Adult All-day lift tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesday, and 2 for 1 Ski or Board Intro Packages on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Young adult pass offer still available at Bear. 13-23, get an unlimited pass for just $250.00. Multi tickets. Save up to $30 on a five day ticket. Coming soon! New www.snowboard.com Half Pipe and Terrain Park. http://www.bearvalley.com.

Diamond Peak - opens at half price!
Opening this Thursday, December 14! Enjoy top-to-bottom skiing and pay only half of the regular ticket price, only $21 for an adult all-day lift ticket! Three lifts will be in operation servicing at least four runs, including Crystal Ridge. Diamond Peak will be offering full services, including the main lodge, rental shop, ski and snowboard school, retail shop, children's ski center and free shuttle transportation throughout Incline Village and Crystal Bay. All lift ticket prices will be half-off until further notice, the best early season deal in the Tahoe Basin! 775-832-1177 or http://www.diamondpeak.com.

Heavenly - lift ticket discount at albertson's!
New Snow at Heavenly! Currently have 19 trails open with increasingly good skiing and riding. Surface conditions are machine groomed packed powder with a base depth of 14-32 inches. Heavenly $49 vouchers are available at all Northern California Albertson's stores, excluding stores in the greater Tahoe Basin. Specially priced tickets have no restrictions and are good any day of the season including all weekends and holidays. Ticket vouchers can be redeemed at all four of Heavenly's base facilities, including the new $20 million gondola. The savings are good for adult lift tickets only and can be redeemed throughout the 2000-01 season, expiring on April 30, 2001. This program will not be listed on the website. For info, call 1-775-586-7000

Homewood Mountain Resort - great family resort with lake views
Homewood Mountain Resort scheduled to open Friday, December 15th. Don't forget the "Ho Ho Homewood Toy Drive" (Friday, December 15), and $25 Value Days lift ticket info. Complete details at http://www.skihomewood.com Note! You will soon be able to purchase lift tickets once again at a huge discount through http://www.slidingonthecheap.com.

Kirkwood - the powder king with all this new snow
Kirkwood generally picks up more than its fair share of new snow and today is no different. They are reporting over 12" of new snow in the last 48 hours. Kirkwood's new and improved terrain park is up and running off Chair #5- Solitude with hips tables and rails for all you freestyle sliders. Carvers will enjoy the long corduroy runs off the new Cornice Express high speed quad servicing advanced terrain from the top of the mountain. Early season lift ticket prices are in effect with $44 adult tickets, $35 young adult, $25 for seniors, $10 for Super Seniors (70+) and $10 for children. As always, children 5 and under slide for FREE! Spend Christmas Break at Kirkwood in one of their ski-in, ski-out lodging properties. The toll free reservation number is (800) 967-7500. Lodging guests can take advantage of the Avid Plus-which allows skiers to save $5 every time they slide and get their fifth day free! Cost to join is just $10.

Mt. Rose - high base elevation, your reno ski connection
Up to 6" of new snow. Open top to bottom! Lower Lake View is 'Groomer's Choice." Lift tickets still discounted to $38.00 (call ahead as prices will change) Student Wednesdays. $19.00 with a current valid student ID. Offering FREE ALL-STAR level lessons. (advanced only) through December 23rd. $29.00 Private Lessons! Anytime through December 23rd. (normally a $60.00 value) http://www.skirose.com.

Mammoth - the name does not do the mountain justice
Mammoth received 5" of new snow last night and it's still coming down. With a 14-26" base conditions are great and getting better. Best frequent skier/holiday deal is Mammoth's 10-day pass. For $480 adult skiers and snowboarders can by-pass those pesky ticket lines and go direct-to-lift while saving $6 a day! For more information call 800-MAMMOTH or www.mammothmountain.com

Northstar - the best family resort on the planet, in our humble opinion
Lift Ticket discounted to $45.00! (but call ahead as that will change) 6"-8" new snow over night. Northstar is skiing on a 16"-36" base. Northstar has created lots of great family value options including the Vertical Plus program and the VIP lessons program that offers lessons free every day to skiers at intermediate level and beyond. December 14th! Bonny Doon Vineyards hosts Winemaker's Dinner at Timbercreek Restaurant. 530-562-2250 for reservations. http://www.skinorthstar.com

Sierra-at-Tahoe - treat yourself to a big mountain without the high price
Sierra has the perfect gifts for all of the sliders in your life! Gift certificates are available on the web site http://www.sierratahoe.com. Hey! Don't forget Sierra's $259 Sun-Fri Season Pass. One of the best pass value still around.

Soda Springs Winter Resort - save $4.00 with your SOTC newsletter!
6" - 8" new powder snow. Soda Springs Winter Resort is in full operation. Conditions are great and come up with a copy of the "Sliding on the Cheap" newsletter and receive $4 off an adult lift ticket. Offer good any day. Valid through December 23rd. Don't want to ski or snowboard? Come snow tubing at Soda Springs! Two lifts open, $20 for adults all day, or $12 for two hours. (Don't forget night tubing as well, Fri/Sat nights.) www.skisodasprings.com

Squaw Valley USA - squaw will come into its own with big snow
Up to 8" of new snow. Shirley Lake is reported to be coming into nice shape and the snow up on top is reported as light and fluffy. Still offering a lift ticket discount! $46 for an all-day adult ticket. (call ahead to confirm price) A great deal everyday at Squaw Valley is a Multiday ticket. Save us to $11 per day buying a Multiday ticket over the holidays. (And don't forget the frequent skier program, one of the best in the Tahoe basin. Got Kids? 12 and under, kids are just $5.00. Night skiing will Rock, beginning December 16th. Night skiing included with your day ticket. 530-583-6985 or visit http://www.squaw.com.

December 16th! Squaw Valley Ski Patrol hosts the ninth annual Winter Solstice SnowGod's Ball. Proceeds go directly toward the Squaw Valley Ski Patrol Avalanche Education Fund. The party begins at 7pm at the Tahoe Biltmore Lodge/Casino in Crystal Bay, Live Music by Vinyl. $30 at the door. $20,000 in giveaways at the benefit! For information call (530) 581-7260.

Sugarbowl - one of the oldest ski resorts in america, and one of the best
5" - 10" new overnight. Sugarbowl base is up to 36". East face of Disney getting red hot for early season fresh powder skiing or riding. Cal Berkeley band at Sugarbowl 12/23 playing three Christmas concerts on the deck at Judah Mountain. Multiday ticket deal. 2 day ticket - $88.00 and a three day ticket is $125.00. Great way to save over Christmas. Sign-up for Sugarbowl's Frequent Skier Program - $12 to signup and $3.00 off every ticket and the fifth ticket is free! Sign-up at any ticket window. http://www.sugarbowl.com.

That's it, Sliders.

Kevin Tinto +Crew
kwtinto [at] aol.com
http://www.slidingonthecheap.com