Sales Training Guide and Destinations

7/29/2019 Sales Training Guide and Destinations

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42 // JANUARY 2013 // OUTDOOR USA MAGAZINE

[destinations]

BY JOSEPH GOMEZ

From the backountry gates to the park, Sierra's terrain has something for everybody

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In North America there were 481 ski resorts

in operation last season. With so many options,

Outdoor USA is highlighting winter destinations

that bring something unique to the slopes. Our

search brought us to Sierra-at-Tahoe, just 12miles West of South Lake Tahoe, California.

The Sierra-at-Tahoe resort (Sierra for

short) caught our eye because of its emphasis

on backcountry accessibility and education,

particularly with the new guided snowcat tours

and an entire center devoted to the needs of

those burly backcountry folk. The resort also

partners with industry brands to provide

unique events and themes like the Burton Star

Wars Experience and Telegrass, a bluegrass

inspired Telemark celebration. Finally, Sierra's

pricing and programs make skiing and snow-

boarding available to all sizes of wallets.

South Lake Tahoe itself needs little intro-

duction. The lakeside casinos and restaurants,

mountain town vibe and proximity to some

of the best alpine terrain in California have

brought travelers into the high Sierra Nevadas

for more than a century. The old mining town

was a favorite among Frank Sinatra and the

Rat Pack, and much of that culture still re-

mains.

DEEP IN THE FOREST

Back in 1946, a Tahoe local by the name of

Vern Sprock wanted to put a lift on Echo Sum-

mitit's one of the snowiest places in the

U.S., boasting over 480'' of average annual

snowfall (NOAA). Aside from the face-deep

powder, Sprock was drawn to the vast tree

coverage. Clear cutting was a common prac-

tice during the silver mining days of Tahoe'spast, but Red Fir trees were left behind be-

cause they became water logged easily and

made poor lumber.

If you look at the map, you'll see that we

are known for our tree skiing, says Steve

Hemphill, marketing manager for the Sierra at

Tahoe resort. The Red Fir's have a wide base,

which keeps them evenly spaced and they

also have a dense canopy with lots of moss so

you get that lush forest feel.

Today, with 14 lifts and 46 trails, Sierra is

larger than it sounds. The resort offers 2,000

acres of skiable terrain and 2,212 ft of ver-

tical rise, 5 terrain parks and a ski-patrolled

and avalanche-controlled backcountry sec-tionsomething many resorts in the area do

not provide.

BEYOND THE HUCKLEBERRY GATES

What sounds like the name of a Napa Val-

ley winery is actually some of Sierra's steep-

est and deepest terrain. The Huckleberry

Gates are entry points into the resort's private

backcountry section, which is comprised of

technical features like cliff drops, cornices,

rock chutes, natural jib forests, open bowls

and powder pillows to name a few. Although

some of the gates are accessible by one of

the main lifts, nearly all of the terrain must

be hiked in order to be enjoyed, so the words

tracked-out don't apply to this area. We call

it the 'mini golf' stash, says Steve. You liter-

ally have 18 holes of every obstacle you could

imagine.

One of the greatest benefits of having a

backwoods playground within a resort bound-

ary is the safety aspect. All of the Huckleberry

Gates are covered by ski patrol and blasted

for avalanche control. The resort is also big on

education, making it a great place to make the

leap from in-bounds skiing to the dangerous,

yet endlessly-rewarding, powder-infested wil-

derness.

New this year are the snowcat backcoun-

try tours, which take expert skiers and rid-

ers straight to the top of Huckleberry Canyon

allowing them to bypass the hike out to The

Gates. The tours are centered around back-

country instruction and teach participants how

to judge snowpack and how to use equipment.

In fact, all the bare essentialsprobe, beacon,

pack and lunchare included in the tour.

For many alpine enthusiasts, snowcat toursmay seem a little like cheating, so the resort

has an official Backcountry and Nordic Center

devoted to these skillful pursuits. The center

boasts everything from telemark skis and

bindings to alpine trekker set-ups, splitboards,

safety gear, lessons and clinics in addition to

knowledgeable staff who can assist everyone

from first time knee-droppers to seasoned

vets.

Also, telemarkers and anyone with free

heel envy can look forward to the 9th an-

nual Telegrass Festival this April. The festival

includes live shows from regional bluegrass

bands, free clinics and demos from brand

sponsors like K2 and Vole. Not to mention,

there's plenty of beers on tap, says Steve.

And ditching the kids is easy, especially with

the resort's new partnership with Burton and

Lucasfilm.

THE BURTON STAR WARS EXPERIENCE

The force is strong at Sierra. As part of

the resort's Learn to Ride program, it has

partnered with Burton to feature iconic Star

Wars themed attractions aimed at introduc-

ing kids as young as three to snowboarding.

The centerpiece of the new program is Yoda's

Riglet Park, which features three on-hill learn-

ing stations, appropriately called nodes.

At these nodes, qualified instructors help

grooms participate in a number of balance

and riding activities that should make the first

snowboarding experience more enjoyable for

all parties involved.

Each learning node is decked out with

custom-made chainsaw carvings of Star Wars

favorites like R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca,

Yoda, Ewoks and many more. The carvings

and even the node stations themselves are

made entirely from recycled hazard trees and

other reclaimed materials like scrap metal

and old lift tower tubes. In addition to teaching

riding basics, the Star Wars Experience is de-

Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the view, especially in Lake Tahoe


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OUTDOOR USA MAGAZINE // JANUARY 2013 // 43

[destinations]

signed to instruct youth about the importance

of respecting natural environments, mountain

etiquette and, of course, the ways of the Force.

And young skiers shouldn't feel left out.

The resort offers four adventure trails/learning

zones, two magic carpets and even interactive

kids' maps, all specifically designed for begin-ners of any sk iing or riding preference. Finally,

adults who want to get in on the Star Wars

action can search for a hidden statue located

somewhere in the trees we are told.

A TASTE OF SIERRA

When the young Jedis are tired and hungry,

Sierra has some interesting apres-ski options.

All the basics are there: a coffee spot for a

quick morning jolt or fireside beverage; several

cafe options from standard cafeteria dining to

homestyle cookin' and gourmet pastries to the

all-organic Happy Hippie cafe; and of course, a

pub and deli with specialty pizzas, live music

and craft brews on tap. But what really stands

out are the resort's three grilling options, eachwith a different take on the meat-and-flame

experience.

Just outside the base lodge is the Tiki Bar

and Grill, which brings a taste of the topics to

an otherwise snow-covered mountainous for-

est. We always try and keep things quirky and

fun, says Steve. The Tiki cuisine includes Ko-

rean short ribs, coconut shrimp skewers with

mango lime and plenty of drinks with island

flaregoggle tan not included.

Also continuing the Sierra grilling tradition is

the Baja grill. It is located at the bottom of the

West Bowl, where skiers and riders will find a

good mix of advanced/intermediate terrain and

some hearty Mexican cuisine. The Baja Grill

is all about kickin' back, says Steve. We'vegot fish tacos, fresh-grilled carne asada and

we have a partnership with Corona so plenty

of beers and some nice Adirondack chairs to

sink into.

Finally, perhaps the most epic eatery at the

resort is the 360 degree Smoke House BBQ,

which is essentially a giant smoker on top

of a mountain. If Southern style pulled-pork,

grilled tri-tip, brisket and loaded side dishes

don't do it for you, maybe some spicy Bloody

Marys will. Parties of 20 people or more can

actually ski/ride Sierra all day and rent out the

mountain-top BBQ for $69 each; free sampler

plate and a beer or glass of wine on the house

included. It's a solid deal for corporate retreatsor private get-togethers.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN

Despite its diverse grilling heritage, at Si-

erra, you won't find a resort village filled with

shopping malls, pricey suites and other circus-

like attractions. For Sierra-at-Tahoe the moun-

tain is what it's all about.

We're a friendly locals mountain and we

pride ourselves on that independence, says

Steve. The focus for us is on the skiing and

riding experience; there's plenty of distractions

15 min away in South Lake so when you're

here it's all about good times and bragging

about who had the best line.

The Traveler's Perspective

Steve, what kind of terrain does Sierra-at-

Tahoe offer?

We are best known for our old growth tree skiing,

but everything is pretty evenly divided. We have

about 50 percent blue/intermediate runs, 25percent easy greens and the remaining 25 percent

is advanced blacks or double-blacks. We also have

a steep and deep backcountry section for experts.

The mountain itself gets around 480 inches of

annual snowfall, one of the highest in the country.

How does Sierra differ from other resorts in

Lake Tahoe?

We have a warm, home-like vibe, and the focus

is more on the skiing and riding experience. Other

resorts in the area are also really expensive. For us it's about

accessibility; we are one of the few resorts to offer a season pass

at only $239 and day rates starting at $79. We also have some

really good packages and deals.

What are some of those packages?

We have a $39 learn to ski and ride package for adults. You get

2.5 hours of lessons, a lift ticket and rental. As an alternative to aseason pass and also for the dedicated weekend warrior, we have

3-packs. These are unrestricted lift tickets with no blackout dates

that can be used at any time throughout the season. It comes out

to a value of $55 for three lift tickets. Another one of the favorites

is the parent predicament pass.

Parent predicament pass?

Yeah, this is a day pass for $79 that can be split between two

people. It's ideal for parents who have a young child and want to

split time with the kids.

Are there any interesting travel options for people who want

to get away?

We have tons on the website, but one that comes to mind is the

ski, stay and soar package. This includes a two night stay at a

Lake Tahoe lodge, two lift tickets and two scenic helicopter rides

around the lake for $265 a person.

What's new this year at the resort?

One of the biggest things is our snowcat tours in the Hucklberry

Gates, our 320-acre backcountry section. For $79

plus a lift ticket, folks get an instructional course,

all the essential equipment (probe, beacon, pack

and lunch) and a guided tour of some of the most

technical terrain in Tahoe. The only other otherway to reach those cornices, rock chutes, pillows,

etc. is to hike.

How many people can you bring on a snowcat

tour?

The snowcat can hold up to 10 people or can

be rented out for private tours by groups of five

or more. You get as many runs as you can get in

between 10 am and 2 pm, weather permitting of

course. Also, we do avalanche control and have

ski patrol back there, so you get the freedom to explore with some

added safety. It's great for people who are new to backcountry

conditions or who don't have the energy to trek.

Anything new for the kids?

Yeah, one aspect of the partnership with Burton Snowboards and

Lucasfilm is the incorporation of the Riglet Reel into the Star

Wars themed adventure learning stations on-hill. Sometimes it cantake kids a while to get to the point where they are standing up on

their boards and actually moving on their own. The reels expedite

the process.

Interesting. So how does the Riglet Reel work?

They function kind of like a yo-yo and attach to the nose of youth

snowboards so instructors can tow kids more easily and safely.

This allows beginning riders to quickly get a feel for the movement

and control needed to balance on a board. It makes learning easier

for everybody, especially since you really want to make sure kids

have a positive experience when they are first starting out.

So what if you are an adult and you want to get in on the Star

Wars Experience?

Well, for now it's just for kids, but there is a hidden statue of a

Wampa somewhere in the forest. The Wampa is the snow beast

that attacks Luke in the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back. It's

funny, every now and then we will hear of guests who get spookedby the statue when passing by. We love to keep things fun and

quirky like that.

The Huckleberry Gates offer Sierra's most advancedterrain; the area is avy controlled and ski patrolled

Sierra is densely populated with Red Fir trees

A hidden Star Wars "Wompa" spooks passersbyThe resort gets younglings stoked on snow sports with Star Wars decor

Beers and bikinis at the Baja grill make bluebird days that much better

Marketing Manager Steve Hemphill

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