Hey Sliders!

They're gathered in circles chanting away; the skies overhead, a dark shade of gray. It's a huge group of sliders, in Halloween dress; preparing to sacrifice an old pair of Dynamic VR-17 GS. "Bring us big snows, drop it all deep... We've been waiting six months, it's time to go, Sliding on the Cheap!"

We're Back!
That's right, dear sliders. Back once again to guide you toward, well, cheap skiing and riding. We send out our newsletters weekly on Wednesday, and all of those who subscribe to our newsletters have a chance to win free lift tickets. Simply open the Sliding on the Cheap newsletter and scan down. We cover all the major ski markets, so choose the newsletter that suits your sliding needs. You can also find SOTC at www.weather.com/ski and at the San Francisco Chronicle and Reno Gazette Journal when our print column is featured.

Get Hooked Up!
The SOTC newsletter is provided to you FREE, courtesy of Northstar-at-Tahoe.

Sign up or drop for any or all of our wintersports newsletters at: slidingonthecheap.com.

Free Lift Ticket to Northstar Drops in Your Lap!
Get the newsletter? You're automatically entered in our weekly lift ticket drawing. Just open "Sliding on the Cheap" and you have
a chance to ski/ride free... Can it get any better?
 jimdearden [at] yahoo.com
 cembrey01 [at] yahoo.com
 metanymy [at] yahoo.com
 slellis [at] pacbell.net

Been to Northstar-at Tahoe?? Best family resort on the planet. Send us an email if you won to slidecheap [at] aol.com.

Mel Cottons
Check it out at melcottons.com under Events. This weekend, Nov. 2-3 10AM-4PM, Mel Cotton's is trucking in over 25 tons of snow. Resort reps, gear reps, ski and snowboard clinics on Saturday morning. Big sale too. 1266 West San Carlos Street, San Jose. Thanks to Jon for the information.

Okay...lets go Sliding on the Cheap!

The Skinny
I'm typing at you from the world's largest ski and snowboard expo, the Daily Mail Ski Show in London, England. For our UK sliders, stop by the Ski Lake Tahoe Booth upstairs and feel free to chat us up.

Have you Tahoe sliders bought a season pass yet?
This year signals a change in the way sliders will purchase tickets. We sent out notices on the major pass offers, which were as low as $249. Go to www.slidingonthecheap.com for details on what is still available.

Ski Shows/Swaps
Darryl has listed the key shows and swaps on the website.

Bear Valley
Bear Valley's Young Adult Season Pass (for ages 13-23) is only $250 and offers unlimited access to Bear everyday of the season ... the best deal for teens and college age students we've seen... Bear Valley has the mountain, snow, terrain features, easy access and comfortable feel young folks can get into... Also, Bear Valley's Lift Ticket Voucher Program has a reduced minimum buy in, just 30 vouchers before October 31st and the ticket price is only $34 each. That's 20% off the regular ticket price. Visit Bear Valley's on-line store for Voucher info and to purchase at www.bearvalley.com or call 209/753-2301.

Donner Ski Ranch
Every Day Lift Ticket Prices - Basically: Adult (ages 13 thru 59) ALL weekends and holidays - $20; Adult (ages 13 thru 59) all mid-week days, weekdays, non-holidays, and non-special days - $10; Child (ages 5 thru 13) everyday prices - $10; Child 4 and under - FREE; and Senior 70 and older - FREE. SPECIAL PRICING: November 21 ($1), December 12 ($1), January 16 ($5), February 6 ($4), March 13 ($3), and April 17 ($2); Adult (ages 13 thru 59) $15 Easter Period (April 14 - 16 and April 22 - 25). www.donnerskiranch.com/price.asp and view the ticket pricing calendar.

UNRESTRICTED 2002/2003 Winter Sports Season Passes - These passes are valid any day during the winter season - Adult (ages 13 thru 59) $199, Child (ages 5 thru 13) $89, Senior (ages 60 thru 69) $89, Children under 4 and seniors over 70 $5 processing fee.

Homewood
FREE MIDWEEK PASSES IN EXCHANGE FOR HOUSING Rent a room to a Homewood employee and receive a free midweek season pass

Homewood Mountain Resort, in an effort to help employees find affordable seasonal housing, is offering a free midweek season pass, valued at $399, to anyone who rents a house or a room to Homewood employees.

The offer is valid only for new rentals for the 2002-2003 winter season. Landlords will receive one midweek season pass for the first employee, plus two extra adult all day lift tickets, valid any day, for each additional employee housed at the same address. For more information, please call HMR at (530) 525-2992 or check out the website at www.skihomewood.com.

Mammoth

1. Mammoth Mountain's opening day is November 7, 2002
2. Mammoth invested another $24 million in resort improvements including a new gondola linking the village to the mountain, new businesses in the Village (scheduled to open Feb 03), and improvements to the Unbound Terrain park including a new Super Duper Pipe.
3. Great deals at June Mountain. Including a College pass for $99 that allows unrestricted skiing and boarding the entire 02-03 season (must be purchased by December 1, 2002 at www.jm2unbound.com or 800-MAMMOTH). Must present current college ID to pickup the pass. Not a college student, but looking for a good deal at June? Buy a June season pass for only $250 through December 15. Call 800 MAMMOTH

Northstar-at-Tahoe
Even though some skiers and riders missed the early deadline, they can still save hundreds of dollars with Northstar-at-Tahoe's 2002-2003 season pass options. And, as an added bonus this year, Northstar has teamed up with its sister resort Sierra-at-Tahoe on the South Shore to offer "Double Whammy" interchangeable pass options that dramatically increase the skiing and snowboarding options. Now priced as low as $279, the adult (ages 23-69) Northstar & Sierra interchangeable pass is valid Sunday-Friday, non-holiday at Northstar and daily, non-holiday at Sierra. The pass offers skiers and riders access to two great Lake Tahoe resorts for an incredible price. The deadline for these Double Whammy pass prices is November 22.

Kirkwood
Kirkwood's Corporate Quad Pass is back again this year, and it give skiers and riders unlimited access to the mountain including weekends and holidays. It's the best value in unlimited skiing and riding you'll find.

Now through October 31, 2002 you can get Kirkwood's legendary terrain, record-breaking snow and world-class amenities every day of the 2002/03 season. It's just $329 with no black out days.

Visit the Kirkwood Corporate Quad Pass website at: www.kirkwood.com/quadpass for all the details on how to score these passes.

Mt. Rose
Bonus Mondays Present a Mt. Rose full-day ticket from the preceding Saturday or Sunday and get a $20 lift ticket. Ticket applies to appropriate age brackets: teen ticket presented = teen ticket Monday. Valid that day only.

(Exclusion dates Nov. 22-25, Dec. 22-Jan. 6, Jan. 19-21, Feb. 16-18.) 2-fer Tuesdays Get two full-day lift tickets for the price of one! Valid that day only (Exclusion dates Nov. 22-25, Dec. 22-Jan. 6, Jan. 19-21, Feb. 16-18.) Student Wednesdays Student day. Present any current student ID (college, high school, etc...) and receive a full-day lift ticket for $19! (Exclusion dates Nov. 22-25, Dec. 22-Jan. 6, Jan. 19-21, Feb. 16-18.) Ladies' Day Thursdays All women receive a full-day lift ticket for $19 (Exclusion dates Nov. 22-25, Dec. 22-Jan. 6, Jan. 19-21, Feb. 16-18.)

Squaw Valley USA
American Express - Lodging & Lift Package Enjoy two nights lodging with breakfasts, two days skiing and one ski lesson at full service ski-in, ski-out accommodations when you ;book at the Resort at Squaw Creek using your American Express Card. Package starts at $338 per person, double occupancy. Free room upgrades based on availability at check-in. Blackout dates: 12/21/01-1/1/02, 1/18/02-1/21/02, 2/15/02-2/23/02. Offer valid December 1, 2001-April 30, 2002. For information and reservations call 800-545-4350 and ask for the SkiAmex offer. Frequent Skier Club Buy a Frequent Skier Card for $5, ski or ride 4 days and your 5th day is free.

Check the website for updates, and open our email each and everyweek. If you ski or ride--It's Sliding on the Cheap!

Kevin Tinto + crew
kwtinto [at] aol.com
help [at] slidingonthecheap.com