Hello Sliders!

After a pretty rough ride over Christmas, we've been treated with up to five feet of fresh snow and fair weather is in the forecast, right through the upcoming weekend. Even better dear sliders, we've got a boatload of deals so if you're headed toward the high sierra this weekend, you're gonna do it cheap! With all the new snow, you're bound to find great skiing and riding this weekend, and don't forget the rims and glass to protect your eyes! Make sure to check out our new sponsor, the Village at Squaw Valley where, finally, someone is hosting après happy hour and entertainment on the North Shore!

Our Wonderful Sponsor!
The Village at Squaw Valley USA is the place for Apres ski this season with live music and entertainment every weekend and holiday afternoon and several exciting dining options. Unwind at Balboa café or check out daily après ski happy hour specials at Auld Dubliner Irish Pub and Mamasake Sushi. http://www.thevillageatsquaw.com/shopping-dining/Specials+Sales/index.htm ?campaignid=SOTC

Deals, deals, deals!
Alas, sliders, I don't know where to begin with as many deals as we've managed to stuff into one email. What should I do, you ask? Scan down, dear sliders, to your favorite resort and reap the bounty laid out this week! We've got $20 Northstar tickets, $41 Alpine, $46 Sugar Bowl, $41 Sierra-at-Tahoe, Costco ticket deals for Kirkwood and more!

Slidingonthecheapgear.com!
Of course we've got you covered well beyond the value ticket. Get the best prices on skis, boots, boards, gloves, goggles, helmets and more at slidingonthecheapgear.com!

A Dream Come True! Ski Free at Northstar/Sierra!
How would you like to ski FREE at Northstar or Sierra-at-Tahoe?? Help TelePacific and they can send you to the slopes! Click here to find out more about the TelePacific Powder Program: http://www.telepacific.com/ski

What is Sliding on the Cheap?
The Sliding on the Cheap newsletter is free and is delivered once a week during the season and twice monthly during the fall! What will you find? A complete INSIDER guide to skiing and riding Lake Tahoe's world-class resorts. Yeah. Sure. We got cheap tickets, hotel, lodging, food... but we've also got the best up to date scoop on Tahoe happenings--anywhere on the planet. To sign-up (or drop) go to http://www.slidingonthecheap.com! Yes, and we give away FREE lift passes, (and swag) to SOTC readers selected at random from our list each and every week!

Yes! We cover the entire planet!
(Well, not really--let's just say 99% of where you'd want to ski or ride.) Sign-up for our newsletters covering:

Lake Tahoe/Northern California/Nevada, Southern California, The Northwest Colorado, Utah, New England

Go to http://www.slidingonthecheap.com to sign up for any one of our cherished FREE email blasts...

As usual, if you don't see what you're looking for here, don't find it here--go to the website of course at: http://www.slidingonthecheap.com

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Northstar-at-Tahoe
Ski for Education Day is on Sunday, January 8 at Northstar-at-Tahoe. Discounted tickets are available at Porter's Ski Shop in Truckee, Tahoe City and Incline for just $20 with 100% of proceeds going to the Excellence in Education Foundation. Tickets are direct to lift. Must be pre-purchased from Porters. No $20 tickets will be sold the day of the event. Contact Porters for more information: 530-587-1500

Sierra-at-Tahoe
$41 lift tickets are back! Yes, but not for long! Pick up a coupon at any participating Bay Area, Sacramento and Reno ski/board shop and you can get a $59.00 ticket for just $41.00. This program is valid again through January 13th. For a list of participating ski/board shops: http://www.sierraattahoe.com

Boreal
Treat yourself to a free iRide Card. With the card purchase two days ski/ride, get a third day freebie. Don't need to slide consecutive days! www.rideboreal.com

Squaw Valley USA
Invites all sailors, soldiers, marines, airmen, and Coast Guard personnel on active duty to come enjoy skiing or snowboarding for FREE every day through the 2005-2006 winter season. That's right, 7 days a week, all season long. Check the website at http://www.squaw.com/ for details.

Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl tickets now just $46.00 everyday! Check out the new (massive) Mt. Judah Lodge!

Alpine Meadows
Alpine tickets just $41.00 everyday! The new Sherwood Express will open January 5th! This new express quad will speed sliders to the top at twice the speed of the old lift.

You've Won a Free Ticket to Northstar/Sierra!
(If you see your email address listed below...)

  baechoven [at] *****.com
  steve.chrisman [at] ***.com
  ghayes3 [at] *****.com
  girlfaded1979 [at] ***.com

  tsukidayo [at] *****.com
  biff [at] ****.org
  rocko333 [at] *****.com
  hulabird411 [at] *********.net

Send a note to kwtinto [at] aol.com within 7 days to claim your ticket!

Let's go Sliding on the Cheap!

Northstar-at-Tahoe
Open top to bottom, with 60 open trails. 13 lifts spinning with a snow depth of 97 inches at the summit, machine groomed and skier/rider packed powder.

$41 lift tickets are back at Northstar/Sierra. Pick up a coupon at any participating Bay Area, Sacramento and Reno ski/board shop and you can get a $59.00 ticket for just $41.00. This program is valid again through January 13th. For a list of participating ski/board shops: http://www.sierraoatotahoe.com or www.northstarattahoe.com.

The Quad ticket program is back! Quad Pak allows you to ski or ride for less than $50.00 per day. Includes 4 lift tickets valid daily, including holidays through the end of the season. You DON'T need to use them on consecutive dates! Adult Quad Packs: $199.00, young adult/senior $169.00, Kids and Super Seniors, $49.00.

College Week is coming January 9th-13th. College students can get a $41.00 ticket with valid college ID.

Northstar has a world-class children's ski school program, Star Kids. If you have ankle-biting sliders, you can purchase a Star's 4-Pak for just $329.00. The Star's 4-Pak includes four all-day lesson packages: lift tickets, lessons, rentals and lunch. Fantastic option for holidays skiers and riders with kids. http://www.northstarattahoe.com/

Soda Springs
100" of snow at the summit, great coverage top to bottom. Open: Lions, Head, Little Dipper Tube Tow, Planet Kids Learn to Ski/Ride Package $55.00. Includes: Lesson, Lift & Equipment. Carousel, Planet Kids Magic Carpet and mini Snowmobile lift. Lift ticket price at Soda Springs: Adults: $25.00, 8-17: $16.00. 7 and under $10.00. $15.00 tubing Planet Kids: Designed for Children 10 and under. Includes: Magic Carpet, Tubing, sledding and miniature snowmobiles! 10 laps on the miniature snowmobiles for $7.00. (Electric snowmobiles, your kids will go wild.) http://www.skisodasprings.com

Sugar Bowl
92" on the top, open top to bottom with awesome conditions. Locals recommend: East side of Disney, Rahlves Run for fantastic groomer. Have you seen the new Mt. Judah day lodge? It's massive inside with tons of room for your entire crew to enjoy lunch, or warm by the fire. We park on the Mt. Judah side of the mountain, so should you! X-Games qualifier at Sugar Bowl January 13th-15th. Check out the live entertainment in the Mt. Judah day lodge every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. $46 lift ticket price valid 7 days a week. Include your gas price up and back from the mountains, Sugar Bowl is a great value. Get $10.00 of a children's ticket by getting a free coupon at any participating McDonalds. See http://www.sugarbowl.com for details.

New Children's Base Camp Program: Sugar Bowl's popular Base Camp program gets bigger and better!! By popular demand, an expanded program will be offered to adventurous outdoor-loving kids ages 4-6. This is a ski based program for kids ready to take on the challenge and really learn to ski. The program provides lesson, rental, lunch, indoor training techniques and a whole lot of fun!! Call 530-426-9000 for more details. http://www.sugarbowl.com

Squaw Valley USA
Squaw Valley is reporting up to 79" of base on the top of the mountain and is open top to bottom running 28 lifts. It should be a fantastic weekend at Squaw Valley, make sure to get there early to get the best groom.

Night skiing is scheduled to run from 4:PM until 9:PM, daily.

Squaw Valley USA invites all sailors, soldiers, marines, airmen, and Coast Guard personnel on active duty to come enjoy skiing or snowboarding for FREE every day through the 2005-2006 winter season. That's right, 7 days a week, all season long. Check the website at http://www.squaw.com for details.

Bring a friend who takes a first time beginner package, you save $20.00 off your lift ticket, same day!

Make sure and purchase the Frequent Skier Card. Buy four days, your fifth day is free. Also, kids 12 and under slide for just $5.00. http://www.squaw.com/

Another great way to get a discount at Squaw Valley is to purchase a multi-day ticket. Save up to $170. More info, http://www.squaw.com/

Visit High Camp with the family and enjoy Ice Skating and Dinner! (After 4:00 pm) Evening Value Price: $15.00, adult, includes cable car, ice skating and rental. Kids 12 and under, just $12.00.

Twilight Dinner Package at High Camp! $34 includes: Cable Car Ride and Three-Course dinner at Alexander's Cafe. Info at http://www.squaw.com/

Check out the Extended Rewards Package! Stay slopeside at Squaw Valley Lodge, book three nights lodging and three days discounted sliding, get your FOURTH night of lodging and FOURTH day of skiing/riding freebie. Starting at $393.00 per person, double/occupancy, some restrictions, etc., http://www.squawvacations.com/

Alpine Meadows
Three feet of new snow during this storm. The new Sherwood Express will open January 5th! This new express quad will speed sliders to the top at twice the speed of the old lift. Locals recommend: D-chutes, Alpine Bowl and Wolverine for fantastic conditions. Sunday: Big Air competition for all comers! For information: Call 530 583-4232. Ski/Ride top to bottom at Alpine Meadows. Alpine Meadows at $41.00, $39 teen lift tickets: Ages: 13-18. Alpine Meadows is truly a great deal, one of the industry's best values says, Ski Magazine. Get to and from Alpine Meadows via a free shuttle from many locations around the Lake. http://www.skialpine.com/

Boreal
Tons of new snow at Boreal. Reporting 65" at the base and 100" at the summit. Boreal is now covered in terrain features, thanks to all the new snow and terrain park staff. With the combination of new snow and Tahoe's best terrain park staff, you can be assured Boreal Mountain Resort will provide skiers and riders of all ability levels with an enormous variety of Terrain Park features, Day and Night. Lift ticket price of $38.00! Open for night skiing/riding from 3:30pm-9:00pm seven days a week. $22.00 for night skiing! As featured in the December 27th issue of the Wall Street Journal, Boreal's FREE iRide Card offers guests of all ages the opportunity to ride for any two days this season with your third day lift ticket for free. To get the FREE iRide Card: rideboreal.com or pick one up at any Boreal lift ticket window. Visit any Northern California Raleys to pick up a free brochure which offers a boreal adult beginner learn to ski/ride package at $10.00 off the regular rate. Sunday-Friday non holiday.

Bear Valley
Purchase a discounted Bear Valley lift ticket from participating Bay Area ski shops. Go to http://www.bearvalley.com for listings.

5-Paks are valid daily! Get 5 unrestricted adult lift tickets for just $199.00. You can use these during the holidays.

Group lesson 5-Pak. 5 lessons for just $154.00. You'll need to have equipment and purchase lift pass. 3-Pak Save $68.00! You're getting three lesson packages for the price of two. Includes: lessons, beginner lifts, rentals.

For up to date weather forecasts, mountain cam and unbelievable lodging specials visit http://www.bearvalley.com or contact the main office at 209.753.2301

Diamond Peak
Temporarily closed due to a major power outage! Diamond Peak hopes to be open by the end of the week. This power outage is also affecting areas of Incline Village, so if you have a ski lease rental, check ahead and make sure your neighborhood has power. Check the website for updates: http://www.diamondpeak.com/

Purchase the Costco 2-Pack $63.99 for two tickets. Valid during Christmas holiday!

Great for Kids and Parents! Child Ski Center, All-Day Value Package Children, 4-7 10am-4pm. Drop off the kids and enjoy the slopes! Includes: All-day group lesson, lunch, pre and post child accommodation. We love it, so will you!

Purchase a Mini Pass, valid for 2,3,5 or 7 days. You can ski/ride for as low as $30.14 a day using the Mini Pass The Mini Pass is valid daily, including holidays and is transferable.

Learn to Ski/Ride Cheap! Take advantage of Diamond Peak's Family and Friends semi-private lesson program, 2-5 people, similar ability you can learn for as little as $18.00.

Ski and Stay Package at Diamond Peak: From $59.00 per person http://www.diamondpeak.com/ for more information.

Heavenly
Mott Canyon, Gun Barrel, Dipper--you name it, open at Heavenly. With five feet of new snow, Heavenly is in great shape, including some awesome tree skiing and excellent grooming.

Insider's tip for Heavenly: Park on the Nevada side of the mountain. It's quiet and convenient, the perfect way to have a (cheap) tailgate lunch 50 feet from the lift. We love to park on the Nevada side, so will you!

$59 tickets for Heavenly available at Albertsons! http://www.skiheavenly.com/tickets_rentals/albertsons/lift_tickets.html Save $14 off of the walk-up price next week of $70. http://www.skiheavenly.com

Homewood
100% open today! Includes 4 lifts, Madden, Quail, Ellis, Quad chairs spinning. Locals recommend: Rainbow ridge. Locals also tell us that the food service is terrific. It will be a great weekend at Homewood with clear skies in the forecast,awesome views of Lake Tahoe and value priced lift tickets. Homewood is a fantastic family resort. Value-priced lessons for kids and adults and old-fashioned family feel. Easy parking, and more. Still have the $99.00 value pass sale going on. Valid Monday-Thursday, non holiday. Regular Ticket Prices: Monday-Thursday: $27.00 Friday-Sunday: $45.00. Kids 10 and under ski free with purchase of adult ticket. Buy consecutive day tickets, save $5.00 daily. 530-525-2992 http://www.skihomewood.com

Kirkwood
Kirkwood received 79" to 100" over the past week. 100% open, top to bottom, Locals recommending Thunder Saddle, Palisades and Lost Cabin.

This weekend at Kirkwood: Tele-clinic on Saturday and back-country awareness clinic on Sunday.

Subaru Master of the Mountain this weekend at Timbercreek, Learning lanes, free mini lessons ands more.

Kirkwood--excellent First Time Beginner package! $69.00! (Want a tip?) Use your Costco ticket, plus $10.00 and you can take a first time beginner's package' for $57.50.

If you try it and love it--you can purchase an Adventure Pass for $229.00. This gives you Season Pass, Unlimited lessons and rentals!

COSTCO 2-PAKS: $94.99 Adult & $79.99 Junior. Save over 20% on adult and 18% on Jr. tickets when purchasing 2-Paks at participating Costco stores. Adult vouchers can be exchanged for a Learn To Ski package ages 13+. Costco 2-Paks are available in 22 locations throughout Northern California and Nevada.

Stay and Ski Free package. Packages start as low as $64.50 per person, double occupancy, and include accommodations and lift ticket. Please call Kirkwood Vacations at (800) 967-7500 for more information.

Need More? Call the toll free snow phone at 877 KIRKWOOD. 1 800 967-7500. http://www.kirkwood.com

Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe
While it was raining last week at many resorts, it was dumping at Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe. Base depths of 70"- 120" there's plenty of skier packed powder, machine groom and open powder to go around.

Now that we've passed the Christmas rush, all of Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe's regular deals are back in effect.

All daily specials are valid including: 2 fer Tuesdays (Buy 1 Get 1 Free) Student Wednesdays, all student ID's slide for $21.00. Ladies Thursdays - all ladies ski/ride for just $19.00. Want a great Mt. Rose weekend special? Purchase the weekend extender: Three consecutive days, including Saturday and Sunday: $99.00. Runs and Roses! 2 adults, 2 children for just $108.00.

Are you planning a holiday ski/snowboard vacation? Reno offers ski and stay from as low as $59.00. A great way to enjoy a holiday ski vacation at affordable rates. http://www.renolaketahoe.com http://www.skirose.com

Sierra-at-Tahoe
Sierra has 125" at the top of the mountain, open top to bottom with machine groomed and skier packed powder conditions. Locals recommending: Castle and Dogwood (in the trees)

Learn to ski/ride for Just $20.00 at Sierra this week! Valid through January 8th. Includes: rentals, lessons and lifts. Valid for skiers/riders 13 and up. NOTE: MUST BE PRE-PURCHASED ONLINE

Unlimited Rental Pass! Valid at Sierra daily, the cost is just $109.00. This gives you the opportunity to rent unlimited skis, boots, poles, boards for the entire season. If you're a beginner, no need to purchase gear until the end of the season 50% off sales.

Special Military Discounts! All active duty military ski free every Sunday this winter at Sierra-at-Tahoe excluding two holidays - January 15th and February 19th. You'll need to show official I.D.

$41 lift tickets are back! Yes, but not for long! Pick up a coupon at any participating Bay Area, Sacramento and Reno ski/board shop and you can get a $59.00 ticket for just $41.00. This program is valid again through January 13th. For a list of participating ski/board shops: http://www.sierraattahoe.com)

3-Paks are back! You get three lift tickets to Sierra valid any day and you don't have to use them consecutive days. $117.00 which means you're sliding for just $39.00 a day. Limited quantity available so purchase them now.

Next week dear sliders...lodging, ski and stay, discounts, more!

Kevin Tinto + Crew
Editor-in-Chief

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