EXPLORE ENDLESS TERRAIN AND UNTOUCHED POWDER AT KIRKWOOD

Expedition: Kirkwood Goes Beyond Traditional Programs for Skiers and Riders

(Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Kirkwood, Calif.) – Expedition: Kirkwood http://www.kirkwood.com is California´s only resort based education program designed to expand skiers´ and riders´ knowledge of mountain exploration. This unique program is fitting as the October 2007 issue of SKI Magazine featured the resort on its  cover and ranked Kirkwood No. 8 for "snow" among all North American resorts. 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.

Below is an outline of clinics and backcountry programs. For more information, call 209-258-7360.

CLINICS

• Women Only Ski and Snowboard Clinics: One and two-day clinics designed by women for women to develop one´s ability in a positive learning environment. Certified female guides offer tips on technique, finding the best line, how to read a slope, and terrain selection.
• Progression Sessions for Snowboarders: These two-hour sessions include freestyle on the mountain and in the park, carving, switch riding, riding powder, trees, chutes and steeps.
• Park N Pipe Sessions: Coaches and freeride team teach skills on becoming a more complete freestyle skier or rider.
  
  

Backcountry Based Programs

• AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) Avalanche Level I Course: California´s only resort-based backcountry education program is a classroom lecture method combined with on-snow practical application.
• Intro to Backcountry Touring: Designed as a beginner or refresher course, this course if for strong intermediate through expert skiers or riders. Students should have basic transceiver and touring gear.
• Avalanche Terrain Awareness Course: Expedition Guides teach the basic skills needed to venture safely inside resort boundaries or into basic lift accessed backcountry terrain. The three hour course topics include avalanche awareness and avoidance, equipment usage, snow observations and safe terrain travel techniques.
• Beacon Basin: In partnership with Backcountry Access, the leader in transceiver technology, Beacon Basin is a state-of-the-art avalanche transceiver training site that offers 11 permanently buried transmitters wired to a central control panel.
• Transceiver Clinics: Expedition Guides explain the proper steps for successful digital transceiver use and practice in these one-hour clinics.
• Winter Snow Camping: Expedition Guides teach proper gear selection, site selection, shelters, cold weather cooking and efficient ways to keep packs as light as possible.
• Guided Backcountry Trips: Advanced skiing/riding is a prerequisite for this course which will take guests off piste when backcountry conditions permit. Packs, shovels, probes, and transceivers are provided and touring gear can be rented from Kirkwood´s demo center.
• Powder Cat Skiing and Riding: California´s only resort based cat skiing operation operates at 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.

Expedition: Kirkwood also offers Junior Expeditions Teams and Custom Expeditions featuring clinics, programs personalized for groups and individuals. All-Mountain Skills Clinics are another available program and are perfect for people wanting to brush up on their skills to handle the conditions of the day.

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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.