Hello Sliders!

While many Bay Area skiers and riders are battling their fellow shoppers in order to finish up that last minute shopping, others are enjoying the best early season snow and slope conditions in memory. With up to 80 inches of base, and ski resorts at or near full operation, it's a great time to sneak off to Lake Tahoe for a day, or perhaps a few, while prices are still low and the slopes almost empty. If you can't, we still have a number of great values for skiers planning their annual winter sports pilgrimage after Christmas.

BTW: We just happened to have some KILL prices on hotel and hotel/ski packages. Lakeside Inn & Casino Southshore. Cal Neva Resort on the Northshore. The Cal Neva room deal is valid into the Christmas holiday. You WILL NOT find a better deal...

Most preseason lift ticket and hotel discounts are valid through the December 19th, but it always pays to call ahead and check, since some resorts discount right up to the 24th, and others consider the week prior to Christmas, high season.

The website at Slidingonthecheap.com is an excellent source for info on the latest in holiday deals.

Come Ski & Stay at the Lakeside this weekend!
Our super cheap Lakeside/Heavenly package will run through this weekend, and then will be blacked out for the holiday. It's $159.00 per person until Friday, then will be $169.00 for the weekend. Two nights and two breakfasts at the Lakeside Inn & Casino and two days skiing at Heavenly this weekend! Call: 800-624-7980. Make sure to ask for the Sliding on the Cheap special package!

Cal Neva Resort/Lake Tahoe SOTC Holiday Package!
You'll never find a room, or package this cheap ANYWHERE! It's limited, so call to make a reservation. This special room rate is available on a limited basis and is valid seven days a week until December 29th! $79.00 for a lakeview room! Want a package? We have it! $79.00 per person, double occupnacy. Includes one room night and lift ticket. Your choice of: Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak and Sugar Bowl. Stay at the same resort once owned by Frank Sinatra and visited by the Rat Pack! Valid through December 24th. www.calnevaresort.com.

For reservation: 1 800 Cal Neva! Must ask for the Sliding on the Cheap Special! Limited Space Available!

Mike Pechner Weather's Forecast
Spring-like conditions, colder nights, lows teens and 20's. Highs in the 40's and 50's through next week.

Season Pass On Rental Gear!
$99.00 gets you a rental season pass for Northstar and Sierra. For beginners, or for anyone who doesn't want to hassle with equipment, for $99.00 you can rent all season long. Really great for families with growing kids. sierraattahoe.com or northstarattahoe.com.

Northstar Opens New Village Quad Express!
If you've ever waited in line for the Gondola to open on a holiday, you're going to love this news. Northstar is opening a new highspeed Quad chair at the base of the mountain, replacing the old triple. It's called the Village Express Quad and will put sliders up at mid mountain in about the same time as the Gondola. Official opening is December 23rd.

Sports Basement!
Christmas shop with a SOTC member discount! Do all your outdoor shopping while relaxing at home--and do it cheap! Sports Basement offers a vast selection of snowboard, ski gear and clothing, athletic shoes, backpacks, sleeping bags, snowboards, fitness and triathlon apparel, cycling gear and more. Major named-brands up to 70% off retail price every day. (Before the SOTC discount.) Sliders always receive and ADDITIONAL 10% off online at www.sportsbasement.com when you enter coupon code SLIDING3 at checkout. Bring a newsletter into one of two San Francisco store locations, and take another 10% off the lowest marked price!

Sugar Bowl $20.00 This Sunday!
Sunday, Dec. 19, Sugar Bowl Ski for Schools Day Special, pre-purchased lift tickets are only $20 and on-sale at all Porter's locations (Truckee, Tahoe City, Incline). Limited quantity available. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For information call Porters at 530 587-1500.

Peak Holiday Ticket Pricing
(We think) this is what the resorts will be charging at the ticket window during the peak holiday period, generally beginning on or around December 18th, but many resorts don't begin peak pricing until the 27th. There are LOTS of ways to get tickets that are valid over the holiday cheaper. Scan down, dear sliders or check slidingonthecheap.com for the latest info.

Holiday Pricing: Alpine Meadows - $49.00 Boreal - $36.00 Bear Valley - $45.00 Dimamond Peak - $44.00 Donner Ski Ranch - $29.00 Homewood - $44.00 Heavenly - $68.00 Northstar - $64.00 Sierra-at-Tahoe - $59.00 Squaw Valley USA - $62.00 Sugar Bowl - $59.00

Want free lift tickets to Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe? Scan down, dear sliders and see if your email address is listed below...You have to be on our list to win, so sign-up, find the best deals in sliding and have a chance to ski FREE courtesy of Northstar And Sierra-at-Tahoe... We ski and ride Northstar and Sierra--so should you!

  playazklubb [at] *******.com
  laurelmalin [at] *********.net
  cthompson [at] *******.***.**.us
  dave [at] ***********.com

If you've won, send an email within seven days of the date of this email to kwtinto [at] aol.com!

To sign-up (or drop) go to www.slidingonthecheap.com! Yes, and we give away FREE lift passes, to SOTC readers selected at random from our list each and every week!

Free Lift ticket for Cell Phone Purchase!
Exclusive for SOTC readers. Free Lift Ticket for any new cell phone activation. Free cell phones with new activation. Call Stuart at 925-274-1075 for details.

Let's go Sliding on the Cheap!

Northstar-at-Tahoe & Sierra-at-Tahoe
With Double Whammy passes priced as low as $299, after five visits passholders will be skiing and riding for free. The pass allows riders to ski both sides of the lake at Sierra-at-Tahoe and Northstar-at-Tahoe all season for one incredibly low price.

Lift Ticket Three-Packs at Sierra-at-Tahoe -- Those who aren't quite ready to commit to a season pass but know they will make it to the slopes at least two weekends this season can purchase a three pack of tickets and ski/ride as low as $39 per day. The three-pack costs $117 and tickets can be used any day throughout the season, including holidays.

Gift Cards -- Gift cards can be used to purchase a variety of items at any Booth Creek Resort including lift tickets, day care, ski or snowboard lessons, retail, food and beverage, tune-ups and repairs. Choose your value of $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, $200, $250 or $500.

Food and Beverage Discount Cards -- Offered as an exclusive benefit to Double Whammy season passholders, the food and beverage discount card allows guests to receive more food and beverage for their money. Pay $50 and receive $60 in food and beverage value' that's 20% more value for the money. The card is valid throughout food and beverage locations at both Northstar and Sierra.

Northstar's Demo Equipment Four-Pack -- The four-pack allows guests to try out top-of-the-line gear from leading brands such as K2, Dynastar, Salomon, Rossignol, Burton and Nitro four times throughout the season for just $99.

Limitless Lesson Season Pass -- Sierra's Limitless Lesson Season Pass for $99. Valid for unlimited adult intermediate/advanced class lessons. Pass is valid any day, non-holiday.

Treat friends and family with the gift of snow this holiday season. Gift cards and food and beverage discount cards! $25 or more. On the food and beverage card: Purchase a $50 card get $60 value. These are work at both Sierra and Northstar and are also good on adult beverages...so make sure to slip one to your SOTC crew this holiday season. www.northstarattahoe.com

Sugar Bowl
Sunday, Dec. 19, Sugar Bowl Ski for Schools Day Special, pre-purchased lift tickets are only $20 and on-sale at all Porter's locations (Truckee, Tahoe City, Incline). Limited quantity available. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For information call Porter's at 530-587-1500. The Sugar Bowl Safeway gift card program is back. This year, anytime tickets just $49.00 when purchased as a giftcard from participating Safeway stores. www.sugarbowl.com for more info on this great program.

Alpine Meadows - Open Daily! $39.00 till December 24th.
Great mountain at a great price. Good north-facing slopes will keep that holiday snow fresh. Holiday pricing is still a bargain at just $49.00. Alpine Meadows offers the Parent Interchangeable lift ticket! Switch off, ski and baby sit. Rentals, Ski School, Ski Shop all open and ready to go. Newly remodeled Lodge and new Gourmet food service! Kid friendly parks off Tiegel. For current schedules and conditions, call the Alpine Meadows snow phone at 530.581.8374 or visit www.skialpine.com. Stay & Ski Free, ticket/lodging--what more do you want? 1 800 949-3296

Boreal
Tons and Tons of snow. Open daily, top to bottom. Includes terrain features and terrain park. Lift tickets $36.00. Ski from 9am to 9pm. At Raley's--pick up a discount coupon redeemable for a $5.00 children's ticket. Boreal is a wonderful resort to take the family and learn to ski or ride this holiday season. Learn to Skii/ride - $59.00. Easy day trip if you have limited time. Stay at Boreal Free! That's right! If you have an RV you can stay in the Boreal Parking lot for FREE! Simply check in at special tickets. Don't want to sleep in the parking? Stay at the Boreal Inn! For info: www.rideboreal.com

Diamond Peak
Diamond Peak opening top to bottom December 16th! Sign up for Diamond Peak's Corporate Program, employees can ski for $34 anyday! The tickets are based on consignment so there's no pricey commitment to give it a try. For more information: Diamondpeak.com, or call 775-832-1132. Companies can come celebrate the Holidays at Diamond Peak with lift tickets starting at $27 for groups of 16 or more! Season Passes are on sale for as low as $535 for a full, unrestricted pass! Purchase your Diamond Peak lift tickets at Costco! Tickets up to $35% off. Purchase a 4-pak--valid every day for just $113.99. Find participating Costco locations on the Diamond Peak website. Use the TahoeCard, get a $10 lift ticket. Purchase a Mini Pass and save every time you use it! Ski & Ride for as low as $29 per day! Pass valid any day of the season including holidays plus it's transferable! For more information, call 775-832-1177 or purchase online.

Donner Ski Ranch
Lift tickets $29 for weekends and holidays. Midweek - $25.00/ $20 for halfday. Kids 6-12 are just $5.00. http://www.donnerskiranch.com

Kirkwood
Ticket Prices Midweek $47, Weekend $54 Holiday $62.00 $88 gets you a two-day consecutive lift ticket. Kids Ski Free Sundays! 2 free kids tickets, (12 and under) with any paid adult Costco 4 Paks are $184.99. Raley's has a $10 Learn to Ski or Adult lift ticket. Kirkwood will be hosting a torchlight parade on December 31st.

Heavenly
Purchase tickets at Albertson's for just $55.00. These tickets valid over the Christmas holiday. Heavenly has undergone more than a facelift in the last three years; it's almost completely transformed with a huge infusion of cash from the Vail Corporation, the current owners. Don't expect to find any deals at the lift ticket window, but you can purchase your Heavenly ticket at a discount from participating Northern California Albertson's stores for $55.00. www.skiheavenly.com

Homewood
Buy a 2- or more consecutive day lift ticket and ski for as low as $20 a day on Value Days or $39 a day Friday through Sunday AND holidays! www.skihomewood.com

Mt. Rose -Ski-Tahoe
1800 vertical feet! East Bowl and the Chutes now open! First timer packages for $49.00. The following deals will be void from Saturday the 18th until January 2nd: Ski or ride 3 consecutive days for $99.00 - Purchase on any Friday or Saturday. 2 Fer Tuesday - Two for one lift tickets; Ladies Day Thursday - $26.00; Student Wednesday - $26.00. www.skirose.com

GET A PACKAGE DEAL DURING THE HOLIDAYS! Your best deal for a holiday package: Ski and Stay! Renolaketahoe.com for ski and stay packages. Starting at $59.00.

Squaw Valley
Half pipe and terrain parks open. College students can get a ticket for just $39.00 at Squaw.com. Valid every Tues, Wed & Thursday, except December 28-30. MUST HAVE ONLINE COUPON! Want to find a discounted Squaw Lift Ticket? They are available at a variety of winter sports retailers including REI, North Face and more Check www.squaw.com for details. Frequent Skier Card is your best Squaw value. Buy for $5 at squaw.com ($10 at the window). Every fifth day is free. Got Kids? Kids 12 and under just $5.00. Night skiing begins on the 18th! Ski free at night with purchase of any lift ticket. Granite Chief opening this weekend. www.squaw.com

Soda Springs
Soda is open for skiing/riding and tubing. Daily 9:00am to 4:00pm. Lift tickets $25 for adults. A short drive up from the Bay Area and Sacramento, the best tubing in Tahoe. www.skisodasprings.com

Awesome weekend ahead, sliders. Don't miss out!

Kevin Tinto + Crew!