One of the most popular lifts at Squaw Valley ski resort is the Siberia Express chairlift. Skiers and riders will be happy to know that the Siberia Express chair will be new and improved for the 2015-16 ski season.
The new chairlift is part of the improvements and new experiences that will take place for the upcoming ski season at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows.
Siberia Express Replaced
The Siberia Express chairlift, one of the most popular lifts at Squaw Valley, has been replaced in an effort to enhance the on-mountain guest experience for the 2015-16 winter season and beyond. The high-speed quad was replaced with a high-speed six-passenger chairlift to improve reliability, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
The Siberia Express lift is primarily used by intermediate and advanced level skiers and riders to access Siberia Bowl, Mainline and the Mainline Terrain Park, as well as the sprawling Gold Coast area. The lift was constructed in the same location and will open at the start of the 2015-2016 season.
New grooming machinery
Two PistenBully 600 winch cats will join the grooming fleet at Alpine Meadows. In keeping with the mountain’s longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, these “powerhouse” machines allow for maximum ground coverage and high angle grooming while providing approximately 40 percent fuel savings over current machines.
With the new cats, skiers and riders can expect high quality grooming on Alpine’s signature slopes like Alpine Bowl, Sherwood and Wolverine.
At Squaw Valley, the PistenBully 600 will allow the terrain park crew to perfect takeoffs, kickers and landings. The versatility of this machine will ensure continued creativity and impeccable contouring.
Improved and Expanded Snowmaking
Alpine Meadows has added five new HKD SV10 high-efficiency snowmaking guns, allowing the resort to expand snowmaking on the lower portion of the very popular Summit run. These guns were awarded by a grant from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Sustainable Slopes Grant Program and HKD Snowmakers. Recipients are selected based on demonstrated commitment to sustainability and energy conservation. The added snowmaking in this location will allow for more consistent snow surfaces and early-season snowmaking.
Squaw Valley added high-capacity snowmaking fan guns at key lifts that will allow the resort to improve its lift access ramps and the lift-loading process. Lifts slated for new snowmaking to support the loading areas include: Big Blue, Siberia and Headwall.
Worry-Free Guarantee
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is making it easier than ever for skiers and snowboarders to commit to the purchase of next winter’s season pass. The resort is offering an unprecedented “Worry-Free Guarantee” to those who purchase the 2015-16 Gold or Silver Tahoe Super Pass.
The “Worry-Free Guarantee” includes the ability to roll over up to four unused days during the 2015-16 winter season for credit toward the purchase of a 2016-17 Tahoe Super Pass. Visit squawalpine.com for complete details and restrictions.
Jet Blue Flights to Reno
Jet Blue Airways now offers daily non-stop service between Reno-Tahoe International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. This new flight, launched in May 2015, provides the only direct air service from the East Coast to Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows.
Roundshot Cameras
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is home to state-of-the-art, streaming cameras with the launch of new Roundshot webcams at each mountain. High-definition Roundshot Cameras have been installed on the upper mountains of both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, providing crystal clear, 360 degree views of each mountain.
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows is only the second resort in North America to install the cutting-edge technology which allows guests to get a very clear image of the current mountain conditions and weather, and make visitation decisions based on real-time, high definition images of the mountain and snow conditions. The Roundshot cams also allow users to download images for their own use so they can be inspired even when they cannot make it to the mountain.
Enhanced Family-Friendly Terrain Park Features
Look for creative new features designed specifically for families and intermediate terrain park users at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. These new features will complement the robust terrain park and learning features currently available to skiers and riders of all ages and abilities.
Additions may include family cross course features such as gently banked turns, small rollers and jumps, in areas like the Belmont learning park at Squaw or the Loop Road at Alpine Meadows.
FIS Freestyle World Cup Returns to Squaw Valley
Squaw Valley is set to host the best skiers and riders in a variety of disciplines as the FIS Freestyle World Cup returns to the resort March 11-13. Home of the 1960 Olympics, Squaw Valley played a key role in the early days of the FIS Alpine World Cup, last hosting a tour stop in 1969.
Cross racing pits four athletes against each other to race head-to-head down a course of jumps, bumps and berms. Snowboardcross made its Olympic debut in 2006, with skicross in 2010, and both events were among the top spectator events in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Stowe and Taos Join the Mountain CollectiveTM for 2015-16 Season
The Mountain Collective™ has widened their geographic reach with the addition of two iconic destinations to its roster. Stowe joins the Mountain Collective as their first resort on the East Coast, while Taos extends passholder access into New Mexico. The resorts join Sun Valley, AltaSnowbird, Aspen Snowmass, Ski Banff-Lake Louise-Sunshine Village, Jackson Hole, Mammoth Mountain, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, Thredbo and Whistler Blackcomb in offering unparalleled access to the best ski and snowboard terrain the world has to offer.
For more information about Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, to purchase a season pass or to make lodging reservations, visit www.squawalpine.com.
