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Despite the time of year, more boats were out on Lake Tahoe Sunday than chairlifts were operating — making ski resort owners nervous in an already tough year.
“I saw two boats on the lake,” said Darren Kramer, manager of the Tahoe Yacht Club.
“It’s drop dead gorgeous, with not a ripple on the lake.”
Meanwhile, only a single chairlift was operating in all of the Lake Tahoe area, a new quad chair at Boreal on Donner Summit. A tubing hill was open at Boreal this past weekend, but it will close until more snow comes.
Except for Boreal, all other resorts — Squaw, Alpine, Northstar and definitely Homewood at lake altitude — didn’t have enough snow to open for skiing.
Alpine said it hopes to open Dec. 6. No snow is in the forecast for the next week, however.
Ski resorts throughout the West are postponing their openings because of little or no snow.
The lack of cooperation by Mother Nature comes as the industry braces itself for the worst season in years because of the bleak economy. Ski resort operator Intrawest, for example, has announced job cuts at its ski areas throughout Colorado.
Despite the disappointment, Sierra ski resort operators were upbeat.
“It went great, considering our limitations,” said Jody Churich, general manager of Boreal. “It’s been challenging.”
Lift lines were limited to less than five minutes, thanks to the new quad chair, she said. The lift carried skiers and snowboarders to a groomed trail and a terrain park. Adult lift tickets were $45.
New snowmaking equipment allowed the resort to capitalize on a cold snap last month. Boreal was reporting 6 to 12 inches of man-made snow.
Temperatures were as high as 54 degrees and as low as 40 degrees on Sunday, according to www.borealski.com.
“We’re looking forward to cold,” Churich said.
Porter’s Sports of Tahoe City offered a 20 percent off sale to drum up business this past weekend, said manager Tony Hetrick.
He said sales were “on par” with last Thanksgiving weekend, thanks in part to the sale. People were buying skis, snowboards, clothing and accessories — and a bathing suit or two on sale.
“I’ve been here 10 years, and it’s always snowed, just not as early as people would like,” Hetrick said.
“I saw two boats on the lake,” said Darren Kramer, manager of the Tahoe Yacht Club.
“It’s drop dead gorgeous, with not a ripple on the lake.”
Meanwhile, only a single chairlift was operating in all of the Lake Tahoe area, a new quad chair at Boreal on Donner Summit. A tubing hill was open at Boreal this past weekend, but it will close until more snow comes.
Except for Boreal, all other resorts — Squaw, Alpine, Northstar and definitely Homewood at lake altitude — didn’t have enough snow to open for skiing.
Alpine said it hopes to open Dec. 6. No snow is in the forecast for the next week, however.
Ski resorts throughout the West are postponing their openings because of little or no snow.
The lack of cooperation by Mother Nature comes as the industry braces itself for the worst season in years because of the bleak economy. Ski resort operator Intrawest, for example, has announced job cuts at its ski areas throughout Colorado.
Despite the disappointment, Sierra ski resort operators were upbeat.
“It went great, considering our limitations,” said Jody Churich, general manager of Boreal. “It’s been challenging.”
Lift lines were limited to less than five minutes, thanks to the new quad chair, she said. The lift carried skiers and snowboarders to a groomed trail and a terrain park. Adult lift tickets were $45.
New snowmaking equipment allowed the resort to capitalize on a cold snap last month. Boreal was reporting 6 to 12 inches of man-made snow.
Temperatures were as high as 54 degrees and as low as 40 degrees on Sunday, according to www.borealski.com.
“We’re looking forward to cold,” Churich said.
Porter’s Sports of Tahoe City offered a 20 percent off sale to drum up business this past weekend, said manager Tony Hetrick.
He said sales were “on par” with last Thanksgiving weekend, thanks in part to the sale. People were buying skis, snowboards, clothing and accessories — and a bathing suit or two on sale.
“I’ve been here 10 years, and it’s always snowed, just not as early as people would like,” Hetrick said.
