Lake Tahoe´s Most Secnic Cross Country And Snowshoe Center Located At Kirkwood Mountain Resort

Backcountry Certifications, Powder Cat Tours, Women´s Burton Learn-to-Ride and Powder Progression Found only at Kirkwood

(Kirkwood, Calif.) – Known for its world class snow, diverse terrain, high alpine setting with uncrowded slopes, it’s no wonder that SKI Magazine devoted the October 2007 magazine cover to Kirkwood as readers ranked the resort No. 8 for snow quality among all North American resorts.

It marks the first time in over 25 years since a Lake Tahoe resort has been on the cover with such prominent exposure. Kirkwood is the only Tahoe resort that has been ranked in the top 10 for its snow quality 18 out of the 20 years SKI Magazine’s Reader’s Poll has existed.

What most people don’t know is that Kirkwood http://www.kirkwood.com offers some of Lake Tahoe’s most exclusive ski and ride programs (see below):

BACKCOUNTRY BASED PROGRAMS
Kirkwood is the region’s only resort to offer backcountry certification programs, which include avalanche, route-finding, hazardous terrain recognition, and pacing and travel techniques thru Expedition: Kirkwood.

• AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) Avalanche Level I Course: A progressive education as set forth by AIARE guidelines with classroom lecture and on-snow practical applications. The only avalanche education course in California’s only resort-based backcountry education program. Course content includes: Decision Making, Avalanche Terrain Recognition, Snowpack and Metamorphism, “Red Flag” Observation Techniques, Planning and Preparation for travel in avalanche terrain and Basic Rescue.
• Intro to Backcountry Touring: Designed as a beginner or refresher course for strong intermediate through expert. Students should have basic transceiver and touring gear.
• Avalanche Terrain Awareness Course: This three-hour course is led by Expedition Guides who teach the basic skills needed to venture safely inside resort boundaries or into basic lift accessed backcountry terrain. Course topics include avalanche awareness and avoidance, equipment usage, snow observations and safe terrain travel techniques. Clinics are limited to eight participants. 
• Powder Cat Skiing and Riding: Kirkwood offers California’s only resort-based cat skiing operation operates in Martin Point and Red Cliffs. Expedition guides and pro patrollers lead groups of advanced and expert skiers and riders on four runs of fresh turns. Daily expeditions are weather dependent; the location will be determined by snow conditions. Groups of eight or more can reserve private cat trips seven days a week with advance reservations.
  
  

CLINICS

• Burton Women’s Learn-to-Ride: For the second year, Kirkwood has partnered with Burton Snowboards, the world’s leading snowboard manufacturer, to offer a Women’s Learn-to-Ride Center geared to providing new riders with a comfortable first-time experience. This program is the only program of its type in South Lake Tahoe and includes specially designed gear and training programs to accelerate the beginner learning curve, therefore enhancing the learning experience.
• Learn to Ride Pow: Powder skiing and riding can be intimidating to some people and that’s why Kirkwood and Burton Snowboards have partnered to create a first-of-its-kind powder progression program. The “Learn to Ride Pow” program is designed for new riders who want to experience deep powder.

BEST SNOW

At Kirkwood, 60 foot high snow banks are not uncommon and quantity is met by quality at the resort as it is consistently rated in the nation’s top 10 for snow, terrain variety and challenge.

Its location on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range puts it in prime position for the powerful storms that roll in off the Pacific Ocean. These legendary systems have become known as the “K Factor” to long-time locals and avid Kirkwood skiers and riders because they deliver the lightest and driest snow, and lots of it.

Over the last four years, the average total annual snowfall at Kirkwood is 638 inches and last season the resort brought in more snow than other area resort.

Snow lovers can be confident skiing and riding at Kirkwood all season long. Even in spring, it is known to have mid-winter conditions plus some of the best ‘corn’ snow in the Nation. SKI Magazine recognized Kirkwood for having the country’s best ‘corn’ or granular snow (April 2006). 

For more information, call 209.258.6000 or visit www.kirkwood.com.

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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.