Kirkwood Ski Resort - News
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WHAT'S SHAKIN' FOR THE 2006-07 SKI SEASON AT KIRKWOOD
Kirkwood Mountain Resort Makes Impressive Improvements to Mountain, Programs and Facilities
( Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Kirkwood , Calif. ) – While skis and snowboards have collected dust over the summer, Kirkwood has kept the sport fresh with a multitude of resort improvements including an improved ski/ride school facility, new lodge, increased expedition options, additional programs for women, expanded terrain parks and more.
The new Timber Creek Learn to Ski Center and expanded Burton Learn to Ride Center will improve the on-mountain experience for novice Kirkwood skiers and riders throughout the upcoming 2006-2007 winter season. Ranked by USA Today as one of the top ten places in North America to learn to ski, Timber Creek features a variety of fall line runs that create a natural progression on which to learn. A high-speed quad chairlift provides a quick trip to the top where skiers and riders have a plethora of trails and glades to choose from for their descent.
In addition, new Day Lodges at Timber Creek will offer guests easier access to ski school and rentals reducing the amount of time it takes to get onto the snow. A new food court, Snowshoe Thompson's offers guests plenty of meal options for hungry skiers and riders. A greatly expanded Kirkwood Mountain Sports provides a great selection of outerwear, accessories and logo wear. The new day facilities are part of a multi-phase plan to build the premier learn-to-ski-and-ride family area in North America.
In response to the growing number of women participating in snowsports, Kirkwood has expanded its partnership with Burton Snowboards, the world's leading snowboard manufacturer, to offer a Women's Learn-to-Ride Center geared toward providing new riders with a comfortable first time experience. The Burton Women's Learn-to-Ride Center joins the already successful children and adult Learn-to-Ride programs introduced last season by Burton at Timber Creek. The program includes specially designed gear and training programs to accelerate the beginner learning curve therefore enhancing the fun factor. The terrain at Timber Creek features a natural perfect fall line giving first-timers an advantage with linking turns quickly and easily.
New Expeditions: Kirkwood will continue to offer seasoned mountain enthusiasts advanced backcountry and all mountain instruction via its unique Expedition: Kirkwood clinics. New this season, Expedition: Kirkwood will offer guided tours into Thunder Bowl and Avalanche Bowl – a backcountry area just over the Kirkwood ridgeline. These tours are for advanced skiers and riders only; participants will be outfitted with proper safety equipment, and will be tested in Beacon Basin (Kirkwood's transceiver training area) before embarking on tour.
Lake Tahoe's only Powder Cat Tours will continue at Kirkwood on Martin Point and Red Cliffs. The only cat skiing operation on South Shore offers participants a fun ride up and then fresh tracks down the mountain. Tours are available twice daily on weekends and holidays; groups of 8-11 people can reserve the cat any day with an advanced reservation.
Level I and II Avalanche Certification Courses teach snow safety and science including how to evaluate snow density, slope evaluation and advanced rescue techniques. The popular Backcountry Awareness Clinic will also be offered twice monthly in the 2006-07 season.
A host of new Women Specific Camps will provide intense on-mountain training complemented by sneak-peak trunk shows with the newest of outerwear fashions plus wine tasting the region's best afterwards.
A fully equipped Salomon Test Center will demo the latest top-of-the-line skis and snowboards, offering skiers and riders an opportunity to try them out before they buy. Participants can experience the latest gear from K2, Salomon, Volkl, and Tecnica to 4FRNT, Nordica and even Scott Skis. New for 06/07, Kirkwood will be the only Prostock Center for Sapient Snowboards. In addition, other snowboard demo lines include Burton, Rome, LibTech, Santa Cruz and Prior. All snowboard demos are equipped with Burton Mission strap bindings.
Junior Expedition Teams (JETS) provide high-level skills and team building experiences for kids. The program offers young skiers/riders a hip atmosphere plus an opportunity to explore the many facets of Kirkwood in a team environment with a dedicated coach. Kids learn to take on the entire mountain: cornices, chutes, open bowls, trees, and hike-to terrain – exploring all 2,300 acres while they learn the skills to safely navigate it all. Six, Eight and 16-week programs are available and spring and holiday programs are also offered. The program length is flexible and can be customized to fit families' needs.
Kirkwood's High Angle Grooming program continues to tame some of Tahoe's steepest slopes into corduroy runways for those who love it fast and steep. The program offers several off-the-top options with plenty of pitch. A leader of groomed expert terrain including double black diamond runs, Kirkwood boasts a variety of vertical terrain and is the favorite among discerning locals who seek a more challenging environment.
Three expanded terrain parks will be offered for the 2006-07 season with new dedicated park cats to ensure every freestyler's satisfaction. For kids and beginners, Adventure Land is located at Timber Creek off Bunny Chair (Chair 9) and is perfect for young children. It offers gentle rollers and ski-through tunnels. The Playground , accessed via the TC Express (Chair 7), has beginner and medium-sized features to practice jib skills before moving over to the big park, along with a starter halfpipe. Stomping Grounds , Kirkwood's main park on Solitude (Chair 5), will have new features and longer lines with a longer Mountain Dew Superpipe. Located just out of the village, the Stomping Grounds provides live entertainment for everyone on the Plaza.
For season passholders, there is a special $49 Cross Country & Snowshoe Center upgrade option which provides a low cost entry into another great fitness opportunity.
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Kirkwood Mountain Resort is a secluded year-round alpine resort community located 35 minutes from South Lake Tahoe and only 177 miles from San Francisco via scenic Highway 88. Located at a base elevation of 7,800 feet, it offers unparalleled mountain recreation with skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in addition to Villages with ice-skating, boutique shopping and restaurants. Kirkwood Mountain Resort is a private retreat, never crowded and receives more snow than any other Tahoe resort. Consistently recognized by national media outlets for its quality snow and terrain variety, this storied resort offers an unmatched experience with a USA Today nationally recognized beginner area. Skiing Magazine readers recognized Kirkwood as one of the top resorts in the nation (November 2006). Ranked Overall as the 12th Resort in the Country, Kirkwood leads Lake Tahoe's South Shore resorts with a top position. Live on the mountain and ski to your doorstep this winter at Timber Ridge or build your second home at The Palisades, Kirkwood's most pristine on-mountain residence. Expedition Lodge is the area's first on-mountain private residence club groundbreaking spring 2007. Visit www.livekirkwood.com or call Kirkwood Mountain Realty (888) 593-7767 for more information. For Kirkwood's online pressroom, please visit www.kirkwood.com or call 209-258-6000 for information.
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