Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Let’s Get Comfortable

Dialing in your outerwear and gear will help you have a great day on the slopes. Here is some insight on how you can prepare for your best day possible. Forget something? Stop by one of our retail stores at the Judah Lodge or the Village Lodge. We have just about everything you might need. 

Sierra Weather 

Our California winters run the full spectrum of Sierra weather. Conditions at Sugar Bowl range from blizzard days with gale-force winds to sunny spring T-shirt weather. Be prepared to dress for success in a variety of different weather scenarios. 

Outerwear

Start with the basics: a wind & water resistant jacket and pants. As with all ski gear, there’s a wide range of price/quality in outerwear. You can kit yourself out with brand name Gore Tex, or there are plenty of budget friendly options out there. Some retailers even rent soft goods, so you don’t have to buy a full ski kit to get started. 

Pro Outerwear Tip

The water resistant pants you choose should have a wide enough cuff to fit over your boot. This will prevent snow from getting into your boots. Try to choose jackets and pants with thigh/underarm vents if possible to help regulate your body temperature.

The Beauty Within: Layers!

Next, make a plan for your layers underneath. Non-cotton, sweat-wicking pieces of clothing will help keep you dry and comfortable. If it’s a sunny day and temps are above freezing, you may choose to simply go with a light pair of long underwear or yoga pants underneath your ski jacket and pants. If it’s a cloudy day or temps are below freezing, you may want to add additional layers, like a fleece or wool sweater. 

Pro Layering Tip

if you are bundling up, try to choose some upper body layers that don’t all have hoods. Stacking too many hoods might make you feel like you’re in a straight jacket once you zip everything up!

Fingers and Toes

Socks

Your socks should follow the same rules as your layers— no cotton. If possible, choose a pair of ski-specific socks. Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to double up socks, it doesn’t help. 

How can I keep my feet from getting cold?

Start with a high-quality pair of ski-specific socks. Look for a non-cotton, wicking pair of socks that fit slim to your foot without wrinkling or bunching. Next, if you’re wearing ski boots, you can unbuckle your boots as you walk across the parking lot or every time you ride lifts. This will help get the blood flowing through your feet while you aren’t using your boots for downhill performance. Just remember to rebuckle before you take your next run.

Gloves

While you probably don’t need to run out and buy a new pair of gloves just for skiing or riding, here are a couple considerations. It can be helpful to choose a glove with a synthetic exterior, like nylon, that has some kind of a water resistant layer. Choosing a glove with some insulation will help you stay warm in cold, wet conditions. Ski & ride-specific gloves will often have abrasion-resistant patches on the palm and fingertips for durability.

Pro Gloves Tip

It can be helpful to stash an extra pair of gloves in the car, even if they aren’t the ones you plan to ski in. If you have to put chains on before arriving at the mountain, you won’t want to get your gloves sopping wet before you even start your day. It can be nice to switch gloves midday or before your après activity.

Get your Head in the Game

Let’s protect your noggin! First, we always recommend a helmet. If you don’t want to purchase one, many retailers have helmets for rent. If you are taking a ski or board lesson at Sugar Bowl, we’ll include a complementary helmet rental.

Next, given our weather extremes in Tahoe, we highly recommend goggles over sunglasses. If it’s snowing, sunnies just don’t cut it. If it’s a bluebird day, the sun will be reflecting off the snow and you’ll want eye protection from all angles. Getting a sunburn on your eyeball is not a good look. 

The third element you should plan for is a balaclava or neck gaiter. Depending on the temps, you may want a light stretchy neck gaiter for light sun and wind protection. If it’s really cold, you may choose a fleece neck warmer. Our go-to choice is typically the light stretchy neck gaiter. If it gets wet, it’s really easy to have an extra one stashed in your jacket (they are inexpensive and fold up really small!)

Pro-tip: How should my helmet fit?

Your helmet should be snug but not so tight that you can feel pressure on the sides of your head. A good test is to rock your head side-to-side / yes-and-no. If your helmet sloshes around, it’s too loose. If it’s giving you a headache, too tight. There are many different helmet types to accommodate different shaped heads. A good rule of thumb is to use a helmet that is 5 or less years old. 

Pocket Essentials

How to Properly Wear your RFID Ticket

Seems simple right? Buy your ticket online, use the QR code to redeem it at a kiosk, then pop it in your jacket pocket… You’d be surprised how many people get stuck in the lift line because they’ve done it wrong! Here’s a couple things to remember (in additional to zipping your pocket up tight!)

• Choose a pocket on the left side of your jacket.
• Your ticket rides solo, not in your wallet or with a phone.
• Don’t punch a hole in your ticket
• Essentials for the other pockets: sunscreen, lip balm, medicine if needed, and a Cliff Bar or other light snack.

Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Want to know how the pros are getting ready for ski season? Check out this 5-part preseason exercise series with Jamey Conley, Director of Performance at Sugar Bowl Academy. Jamey shows us five ways to prepare the key muscles, or “primary movers” that you’ll use skiing and riding this season– think knees, thighs, glutes and core. This series of exercises are simple to do at home and they don’t require any specialized equipment.

A couple benefits to preseason training include:

• Building overall strength and endurance
• Preventing injury
• Being a little less exhausted on the first powder day of the season

A little background on Jamey… 

Jamey has a BS in Athletic Training from Springfield College, where he played on the Men’s Lacrosse Team. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with experience working in collegiate and professional sports settings, as well as in the private setting working with middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes. Prior to joining SBSTA, Jamey was a Performance Coach for Altis Performance and for U.S. Ski & Snowboard High Performance.

Exercise 1: The Classic Squat

• Start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart (Slightly wider is okay, but avoid trending too wide)
• Get tall through the top of your head and keep your back straight
• As you descend, your goal should be to descend straight downward
• Keep your feet flat on the ground- you should feel weight in your heels all the way to your big toe.
• Make sure your knees are tracking straight over shins

Exercise 2: Lateral Lunge

• Similar to the squat, remember to stay tall in your upper body with a straight back
• From standing, keep one foot anchored while stepping the other foot out to the side.
• Try to hit a 90 degree angle between your hip and your knee
• Drive from the inside edge of the foot
• Lateral Lunges are an important movement especially for skiing. When you are making a big arcing turn with speed, you’re using the same lateral movement as this lunge. Lateral lunges also help us train the muscles that absorb impacts on the hill. Stability prevents injury.

Exercise 3: Single Leg Squat

• Stand facing away from a stable surface (like a coffee table, chair, or bench)
• Shift your weight onto the foot of the leg you’re going to be squatting towards. Slide the other foot forward and lift it off the floor.
• Keeping your upper body tall, squat straight down to tap the bench and be sure to keep your knee tracking straight over your toes.
• This is a great exercise for building stability in the knee joint and preventing injury.

Exercise 4: Dead Bug 

• Lay with a flat back on the floor and bring your arms and legs up to 90 degrees (like an upside down table.)
• Take turns extending an opposite arm and leg outwards.
• Keep your back flat to the floor and remember to take deep breaths.
• Building a strong core is essential for being able to control our turns.

Exercise 5: Squat Jumps

• Get tall and set up like you would for a squat.
• Get low and bring your arms down towards your sides (your arms will go where ever your hips go.)
• Explode up to the ceiling and bring your arms up overhead.
• When absorbing the landing, don’t stop stiffly or drop all the way to the floor, try to stop somewhere right in the middle.
• Jumping exercises help build explosive strength in our legs.

Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Any month of the winter season can be a great time to ski or ride at Sugar Bowl. Here’s a little preview of the typical conditions we get throughout the season.

Sweet Tips

• Choose midweek/non-holidays if possible to take advantage of a more relaxed environment.
• If you want to ski & ride as much powder as possible this season, sign up for the powder planner email. We’ll email you when there’s a storm on the horizon so you can plan your trip.

Late-November through early-December

Every year is different, but sometimes early-season operations involve limited terrain until we get enough snow to open up additional areas. As more and more terrain opens for the season, skiers and rider go wild with stoke. After a long summer, we’re just excited to be back at it!

Events to look out for: Opening Day Celebration, Toys 4 Tots drive, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Royal Gorge Full Moon Snowshoe Tour

Late December

The holidays are typically our busiest time of the season— for good reason! Spending the holidays at Sugar Bowl is a great way to enjoy your time with friends and family. Let us show you what happens when you mix great skiing & riding with holiday cheer.

Events to look out for: Santa on the Slopes, Wine & Shop

January, February, and early March

Typically our snowiest & coldest times of year. These months are your best chance to score the “authentic winter experience.” i.e. sweet powder skiing. If you want to optimize your powder turns this season, sign up for the powder planner email. We’re always watching the weather and we’ll alert you when there is an upcoming storm so you can plan accordingly.

Events to look out for: Mac & Cheese Festival, Poker Run, Wine & Shop, Demo Days, Banked Slalom, Mardi Gras

Late-March & April

The springtime ski scene at Sugar Bowl is all about leaving your jacket in the car and seeking out great corn skiing in the warm California sun. With softer, more forgiving snow, it’s a great time to progress, whether that means learning a new trick in the park or trying skiing/riding for the first time. You can expect spirited après on the sundecks outside of both lodges. Driving to and from the mountains is typically simpler (but storms still do happen!) Look for late-season lift ticket specials in April. 

Events to look out for: Mini-Pipe Meltdown, Tiki Pond Skim

More tools to help you plan your trip

Use these handy links to:

• Check the Weather
• Check Road Conditions
• See Current Conditions on the Mountain
• Read the Open Snow Tahoe Forecast
• Sign up for Powder Alerts