FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW FOR 2009-2010 AT SIERRA-AT-TAHOE® RESORT

$35 Learn To Ski Package, $45 Lift Tickets, Free Backcountry Tours , Olympic Athletes

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE , Calif. – September 9, 2009 – With El Niño on his way, Sierra™ Resort is anticipating a winter to rival the 2005-2006 season, when we received close to 650 inches of snow. Get ready for early powder mornings, smiles from ear-to-ear and memories to last through the year.

Here’s a look at what’s exciting for the coming winter.

$35 Learn to Ski/Snowboard Package

Sierra Resort has taken a direct shot at the perceived price barrier to learning a new sport in a tough economy with a $35 beginner package that includes a limited access lift ticket, rental equipment and a 2 ½ hour lesson. Friends and families can now spend an entire day on the slopes, learning a new sport, for less than the cost of going out to dinner and a movie together. The $35 Learn to Ski/Snowboard package is valid for adults age 13+, Sunday through Friday, non-holiday and excluding blackout dates. It is available in limited quantities and only online at SierraAtTahoe.com.

First Tracks in West Bowl

On Saturday mornings, skiers and riders can get on the lifts 30 min early to get First Tracks in West Bowl for just $25. Whether it’s untouched powder runs or corduroy that begs to be carved, First Tracks in West Bowl will give skiers and riders a guided tour to some of the best runs of the season and memories to last for years to come. Great for special occasions or to add a little flair to a winter vacation, First Tracks in West Bowl includes a continental breakfast and guided access to West Bowl 30 minutes before lifts open to the public. This program is suitable for intermediate and above skiers and riders and will be limited to 20 people each week. Valid lift ticket or season pass required.

Olympic Athletes

Two of Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort’s premier athletes are aiming for the podium at the 2010 Winter Games. Hannah Teter, the reigning Gold Medalist in Women’s Halfpipe, is hoping for a repeat performance to earn her a second Olympic Gold. Elijah Teter took fourth in Men’s Halfpipe at the 2009 Winter X Games, finished in the top 10 at World Cup contests all season long, and has been touring with the U.S. Snowboarding team to get ready for the Winter Games. Look for both athletes to be in the running for medals in February. Jamie Anderson, another Sierra Resort elite athlete and currently considered the top female slopestyle snowboarder in the world, has been named to the Women’s Halfpipe Rookie Team and hopes for a chance to compete in the 2010 Games.

Great Value on Lift Tickets

If frugal is the new black, then Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort is the new Rodeo Drive . Still the best value in Lake Tahoe (lift tickets at $45 per day with a 3-Pak, season passes for $199), Sierra Resort is keeping skiing and snowboarding within reach for the average American. Because when it comes down to it, winter is about snow, spending time with friends and family and making memories that are worth more than the price tag of the vacation. Sierra Resort delivers with an annual average snowfall of 480 inches, a cool California vibe, and services priced to keep money in your wallet.

Free Backcountry Tours

Expert skiers and riders will have a whole new way to experience Huckleberry Canyon , Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort’s double black diamond terrain. Free backcountry tours will take qualified skiers and riders out the five gates every Friday afternoon, when conditions allow. The one hour tour will introduce skiers and riders to the terrain, offer advice on various lines, chutes and drops, and give directions on when and where to exit the Canyon. Huckleberry Canyon is well known among locals as some of the steepest and deepest terrain in Lake Tahoe . Recently annexed inside Sierra Resort’s boundary, Huckleberry Canyon offers cliff drops, cornices, rock chutes, open bowls, gladed runs, and powder pillows galore.

Expanded Backcountry and Telemark Center

Also new this season, an expanded Backcountry and Telemark Center will offer telemark and splitboard rentals, avalanche beacons, probes and shovels and continue to offer telemark lessons. The Backcountry and Telemark Center will give skiers and riders a primer of the skills and knowledge they need to travel through Tahoe’s vast winter backcountry terrain.

The new center is a great addition to Sierra Resort’s existing array of backcountry offerings which include the Backcountry Lesson – a 2.5 hour experience in Huckleberry Canyon that is a focused introduction to backcountry equipment, route selection and skier/rider improvement. At just $33 per lesson with a 3-Pak, the opportunity to experience some of the premiere backcountry terrain in North America at this price makes this one of the best deals in the ski world.

Chillín on the Deck

A new 1,800 square foot deck at the Baja Bar and Grill in West Bowl will keep the best beach party on snow going all winter long. Guests can lounge in the Adirondack chairs, enjoy a fresh Mexican lunch and a cold beer at the picnic tables, or nap in the sun at one of the most popular hang out spots on the mountain. The deck will also enable more live music and events to take place in West Bowl.

Live Painting Performances

Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort has commissioned  internationally recognized  Lake Tahoe fine artist Reds Regan to do a series of  original paintings inspired by skiing, snowboarding and Sierra Resort’s relaxed California vibe in his unique style "Primitive Contemporary.” Reds will create the paintings live at Sierra Resort during several Art & Wine pairings. The painting performances highlight his ambidextrous style and will add a creative flair to the complimentary wine tastings held at Sierra Resort by Boeger Winery, Madroña Vineyards and Lava Cap Winery.  

New Learning Programs

Four new programs in the Sierra Resort Ski & Snowboard School complete the progression of learning opportunities for serious skiers and snowboarders in the Northern California region. With the addition of Gravity Camp, a weekly training program designed for teens ages 13 – 17 and a Development Race Team for children ages 8 - 17, Sierra Resort now offers skiing and riding instruction and training for adolescents of every age and ability. Two new programs for adults, a Masters Drop-In program and Adult Rippers, a weekly training program, allow skiers and riders to continue to receive professional instruction each winter, progressing them in the sport and keeping them in shape for competition.

Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort: Keepin It Real

Recognized by TransWorld SNOWboarding as a “Best Value” and a “Best Vibe” and known for its wind-protected slopes, incredible tree skiing, family programs and parks and pipes that are among the best in the nation, Sierra Resort is a bastion of the authentic California ski experience. Easy to get to and always laid-back, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort welcomes skiers and snowboarders to escape from everyday life and enjoy the simple pleasure of winter in the mountains. Sierra Resort and the Eldorado National Forest are partners in recreation.

The closest major resort to Sacramento , Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort is located just 12 miles west of Lake Tahoe and receives an annual average of 480 inches of snowfall. For more information, visit www.SierraAtTahoe.com or call 530.659.7453.

Media Contacts:

Kirstin A. Cattell, 530.543.3132

Jessica VanPernis, 530.562.3866

tahoepr@boothcreek.com

###