Boulder Lodge still a great place

Sam Bauman

The new year seemedto be an excellent time to revisit something from the past, so I headed to Heavenly's Boulder Lodge Sunday after enjoying the power at Heavenly Saturday from the California base. No crowds at the Boulder parking area at 9 a.m., just like the past.

I taught at Boulder for several years in the '90s, suffering through the trailer locker rooms, tiny beginner area and slow Boulder lift to a beginner hill that used to terrify beginners. So I felt right at home in the lodge, which hasn't changed a bit since I taught there. Cozy, comfy and there were old friends still teaching - Stanley, Martin and others.

The old check room has been turned into a locker room, about the only change I noticed, other than the fact that the water fountain really works now. Chris is no longer at the bar, but it's unchanged.

No line at the Boulder lift, still possibly the slowest lift at Heavenly. No line at the North Bowl lift either, but it's the longest three-seater in Tahoe. From there it's Pepi's to Comet and Dipper, both runs in fine shape. Ending the day I skied down Comet (you've got to really let the skis run to make it across the flats) to the Olympic lift, a venerable two-seater with again no line. In recent years there has been a terrain park there, but not this year. Powder at the boundry line was fine and on the last run I decided to revive the past with a race from the top of Olympic to the Boulder Lodge, as we used to do at 9 a. m. in a long conga line. It was turning back the clock to the pleasures of a long, fast running down constantly changing terrain. Made me think I still know how to ski. I recommend it.

• If you've got friends coming in for skiing you might want to tell them to check the special at The Carson Valley Inn hotel/casino in Minden. Five winter packages are offered.

The Ski Inn-Vite provides two nights hotel accommodations and one Kirkwood lift ticket for just $88 per person, double occupancy, for Sunday through Thursday arrivals.

• All Diamond Peak season passholders can enjoy a day of appreciation on Sunday. Passholders will receive a free barbecue lunch, free ski and snowboard clinics and a free race. Mid-week season passes will be honored for this special event.

Registration for the passholder race will be from 8:30-10 a.m. in the Loft bar. The race will be 11 a.m.-1p.m. and will be followed by an award ceremony in the Loft bar at 3 p.m. Call (775) 832-1177 or visit diamondpeak.com.

Also Sunday those who live within a 50-mile radius of Incline Village are invited to ski at Diamond Peak for only $10.

• Homewood Mountain Resort is implementing a new lift ticket rate for guests ages 70 and over. Seniors 70 and over can get an all-day lift ticket any day of the week including holidays for only $10 a day.

• Skiers, riders, men and women are all invited to compete in the Northstar-at-Tahoe and SnowBomb.com "Sick & Twisted" Superpipe Competition on Saturday. The action begins at noon on Northstar's 17-foot Superpipe at mid-mountain, when skiers and riders compete for cash and major prizes. Registration is 8-10 a.m. in the Chaparral Room above Cippolini's in The Village. The entry fee is $20 for all competitors.

The Superpipe will open for practice from 10 to 11:15 a.m., followed by a competitor meeting at the Superpipe. An awards ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of The Lodge at Big Springs.

Prizes for the amateur classes include snowboards, skis, gear and more. The open class awards cash purses to the top skiers and riders. The "Sick & Twisted" competitions are sponsored by SnowBomb.com, K2 Snowboarding, Nantucket Nectars, Spy Sunglasses & Goggles, Freeze Magazine, Transworld Snowboarding Magazine, and Totally Board. Call (800) GO-NORTH or (650) 851-0664.

n Northstar will host Ski for Education Day in conjunction with Excellence in Education (a local education based foundation). Northstar has provided 1,000 tickets to Porters in Truckee, Tahoe City and Incline Village, as well as Bank of the West in Kings Beach. These tickets will be sold for $20 (a $38 discount) and must be purchased at these locations.

Also on Sunday Northstar will host Kids Cross, an event that allows both skiers and snowboarders to get a taste of competition in a free event for kids only. The event is open to children under age 15. Registration will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the top of the gondola. A lift ticket is required to enter the event and parents must sign a waiver for each participant. The race will begin at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m., awards will be given to the top three skiers and snowboarders in four different age groups.

Sam Bauman is the Nevada Appeal Diversions Editor. Contact him at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.