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November, 2024

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Moving to SF this winter - fill me in

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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Can't imagine not skiing this winter, but I know there isn't anything that close to SF. Where are the closests resorts? Where are the best resorts? Anyone make weekend trips out of SF that I could connect with? Anything I should know about living in SF?
Oct 26 2013 3:53PM
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HalfandHalf
Posts: 1216 - Karma: 207
when I lived in sf id go up every weekend all winter long, expect to drive 3 hours.
best resort depends on what you ski? If park laps is all you want to do then boreal, 2- 2:30 hours to get there from the city.
I live in tahoe now and will be working at squaw, which imo is the best mountain in tahoe, little bit longer of a drive but real good park, and best terrain in tahoe.

Oct 27 2013 12:51AM
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David_Wells
Posts: 42 - Karma: 128
YO! I LIVE and go to school in oakland and san francisco

Get an epic tahoe local pass or you will regret it.

Its easy to get up there if you are really about it... if not ehhh

there are a bunch of ways to get up there Zimride.com if you dont have a car
Oct 29 2013 8:32PM
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David6
Posts: 141 - Karma: 177
Agreed. IMO this is the best pass because it gives you a ton of variety and gives you a suprisingly good bang for your buck. Northstar has great parks, Kirkwood has amazing terrain, and Heavenly has that party and is just plain huge. Also, no matter where you are in Tahoe, north/south, you'll be covered.

To get up there, zimride.com is always an option, but there are also many ski bus companies in the bay area (e.g. Bay Area Ski Bus, NAC Ski, Tahoe Snow and Sun, Ski Mela) that do day trips and sometimes even a weekend trip.

If your interested, you should hit up the Snowbomb Ski & Board Fest in SF at AT&T Park to get some more info on all things Tahoe.
Oct 30 2013 3:45PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Yeah I just looked into that, damn thats just as much as the local hill in Indiana. Thats awesome. Ill probably get it, is there a last day to buy?

Do you drive up to Tahoe a lot? I think it would be sick if I could find someone who rides park or at least could take me up there. Or even lived there.


I forgot to mention I do a little bit of filming and I think it would be sick to do some little edits out there and obviously Id need to tag along with a crew for that.

Nov 4 2013 1:39AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
I'm moving to Marin (10min north of SF) from Colorado so i already have amd jave been using the epic clocal pass. I will be looking for people to pitch on my gas to get up to Tahoe so gimme a holler. I'm used to skiing Sugar Bowl, Swuaw and Alpine Meadows so it'll be fun skiing unfamiliar terrain at Kirkwood.
Nov 4 2013 5:34PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
hell yeah thats what Im looking for, how often do you typically go? Im moving out from the Midwest so I dont know what any of these mountains are like..

Nov 4 2013 10:37PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
I live in lower Haight and will be shredding Kwood most weekends, mainly because its terrain is on par with squalpine, but its about 45 mons closer.

if you need rides, i need gas money so im sure we could work something out in the future. Dont ski park, more of a TGR type skier if ya know what i mean haha.
Nov 6 2013 11:38PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
Old, cynical and complaining about your knees?
Nov 7 2013 1:23AM
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kyleoutside
Posts: 103 - Karma: 95
I just moved to SF as well, now working for liftopia.com. I just got back from Tahoe this past weekend and the drive was not to bad, of course if it is snowing and during prime season I assume traffic gets much worse. I drive a wrangler and will pretty much be heading up to Tahoe every weekend. Any of you SFers do any backcountry skiing?
Nov 7 2013 1:38AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
Ha. The traffic get's terrible when it blizzards. Truckers and mustangs spewn everywhere.
Nov 7 2013 2:20AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
not old, am cynical, and complain about my shoulders.

i do however really, really enjoy going downhill quickly on all sorts of snow, so if you share the enjoyment, come join me and we can enjoy it together!
Nov 7 2013 9:49PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
Kidding, I'm more of a "TGR" type skier too. Do you know Kirkwood well? I grew up skiing Squaw, Alpine, and Sugar Bowl. I know them really well, but haven't ventured over to Kirkwood. Can't wait to check it out.
Nov 7 2013 10:50PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
I know my man, its all good haha.

unfortunatly no i do not know Kwood all that well. been there 5 days in my life, never on a day with soft snow, so a lot of the fun stuff is pretty foreign to me. In other words, i dont feel safe venturing into the gnar on a shit visability day.

Where you living this season? lets meet up for some laps in a few months.



Nov 7 2013 11:15PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
Mill Valley
Nov 7 2013 11:35PM
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David_Wells
Posts: 42 - Karma: 128
HEY!! BAY AREA FOLKS!!

I am going to start a thread on here for ride share from the bay area up to resorts!!! I STRUGGLED WITh that shit super hard last year and hopefully you guys wont have to if your carless. I will be driving up starting second semester! as well as I am really looking to go do BACK COUNTRY STUFF LIKE SKIN OR BOOTBACK STUFF AND MORE PEOPLE= MORE FUN (if you know what your doing)

I will start a thread soon maybe today and bump it up and shit to keep it in the loop and peoples eye's on it. Cause tahoe folks wana go kick it in the bay sometimes too!
Nov 8 2013 1:05PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
sick, I will definitely be there, no car, but cash and bud in hand for anyone willing to drive. Never been backcountry riding, but I think Ill be able to hang since Ive been riding forever.

So looks like I may get the tahoe local pass, do most people here ride Heavenly/Kirkwood? I dont have any skis that are fat, should I look into buying some if I dont see myself riding more than 10 days? (weekends) Would anyone be willing to let me ride their old beaters if there is a nice day?
Nov 9 2013 12:31PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
DO NOT go backcountry (anywhere out of bounds) without a beacon, shovel, probe, and knowledge o how to use them.

Yes, get powder skis at one of the many ski swaps that are going on this time of year.
Nov 9 2013 2:48PM
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David6
Posts: 141 - Karma: 177
Are there any more ski swaps in the bay area this season?
Nov 11 2013 2:46AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
dunno. I won't be in the Bay til the end of the week. I'm sure there's a few.
Nov 11 2013 11:04AM
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kyleoutside
Posts: 103 - Karma: 95
Next Thursday the 21st Liftopia is having our season kickoff party at Public Works in SF. It is free to attend and their is a limited open bar. All you have to do is rsvp on eventbrite. It will be a good time with a lot of SF skiers and snowboarders! http://www.eventbrite.com/e/liftopias-ski-season-kickoff-party-sf-tickets-9283355767
Nov 12 2013 1:47PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
So would anyone be willing to take me to Tahoe on the weekends?

24 420 friendly rider coming out the midwest who will want rides on the weekends and maybe some weekdays. Im more than willing to chip in for gas in whatever form possible. I also film a bit and will want to make some edits this season, so if anyone around Tahoe wants a filmer lmk.


Nov 22 2013 2:32PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
Where do you live? I prefer to go weekdays but if it means I have people to ski with, Weekends are OK if you leave early enough in the AM and late enough in the evening.
Nov 22 2013 3:06PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
No idea yet, hopefully somewhere around the lower haight/mission. Looking for a place now. Ill be working a 9-5 in Cupertino so I wont be able to do many weekdays.
Nov 22 2013 8:57PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
I am in lower haight and will be skiing kwood. Zero park will be skied. lots of weed will be smoked. and skiing will be had on weekends and the very odd/epic weekday pow day.

expect to leave SF at 5am sharp and return around 7 or 8pm. the driving sucks, but the mountains kick ass in tahoe.
Nov 23 2013 3:36AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
I like your style
Nov 23 2013 12:43PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
How often do you ride groomers/stay in bounds. I wont have any avy gear coming from the midwest.
Nov 24 2013 2:58AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
only groomers are getting from one run to the chairlift.
Nov 24 2013 12:58PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
I think you and a few others warned me of heading out to the BC with out proper gear, so unless I come across someone willing to let me use/rent this gear I dont know how much riding well do. Would you ever be willing to drive me up and just let me lap park for the day and meet up at the end of the day? I mean I would love to ride some BC, but I dont have the gear, nor the sticks coming from Cincy.
Nov 24 2013 2:01PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
dog, the inbounds terrain will blow your mind. though the side and backcountry around kwood does kick ass also.

I generally never ski on groomed runs except for the first run of the day as a warmup, or when the snow sucks and making giant 50mphh GS turns seems like the funnest thing to do on the mtn. I have never skied BC, nor do i plan to this year.

and also, kwood has a pretty meh park. Northstar and heavenly would be much better for parks.
Nov 24 2013 9:33PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
sorry I didn't edplain that well I guess. I meant the only groomers I ski is to get from the black runs back to the chairlift. I do ski bc but not even close to every time I go skiing. the in bounds in tahoe is more than enough to scare your tits off. don't even bother thinkin about skiing out of bounds until you can ski every in bounds run.
Nov 24 2013 10:33PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
Hi, we should hang out, I'm in the mission.

I have the luxury of leaving a bit earlier on fridays and half my burning man camp lives in tahoe so I've got places to stay whenever. Midweek pow days should be had.

Also to OP, GOOD LUCK finding a place, I say this in all sincerity, it's a fucking rat race now a days.

Dec 3 2013 12:58PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
yeah dude, not a single fucking person on craigslist has answered my emails.
Dec 4 2013 10:17AM
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kyleoutside
Posts: 103 - Karma: 95
Dude, move to Emeryville or Berkeley. I just moved to Emeryville from the Mission and will never go back. Apartments are bigger/cheaper and for going to Tahoe you don't have to worry about bridge traffic!!!
Dec 4 2013 11:27AM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
While I agree that everything you said is true you still live in Emeryville. Getting stoned and going to Ikea must get old.
Dec 4 2013 1:05PM
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kyleoutside
Posts: 103 - Karma: 95
i agree, ikea is junk along with all the other box stores, i spend most of my free time at Berkeley Ironworks anyways
Dec 4 2013 2:49PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
Anybody want to ski heavenly or kwood Saturday? supposed to dump on fri night...
Dec 4 2013 8:08PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
I'll be there. I have a full car already though.

I hope it dumps, who fuckin knows though.
Dec 4 2013 8:14PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
HOLY SHIT, I haven't checked the forecast in a bit, this does look rather tasty.
Dec 4 2013 8:15PM
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kyleoutside
Posts: 103 - Karma: 95
Where are you guys getting this report from?
Dec 4 2013 8:31PM
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*steph*
Posts: 729 - Karma: 45
You by any chance work at Apple? If so, let me know! I'm over on main campus.
Dec 5 2013 2:47AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
holla!
Dec 5 2013 4:48AM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
I typically like to wet my whistle with opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe

Then I become more realistic with noaa.gov and search kirkwood, ca.

Noaa seems to be a bit more conservative, not in this case though.
Dec 5 2013 11:53AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
I haven't had the chance yet to get a feel for how the Tahoe guy forecasts but Joel is usually more conservative than NOAA for CO or right about the same.

I still need to find someone to go ride with on Saturday btw.
Dec 5 2013 12:39PM
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kimmm
Posts: 141 - Karma: 59
I'll be at kirkwood saturday!
Dec 5 2013 4:39PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
Sweet, but I need someone to split gas with from the Bay unless I stay up there somewhere.
Dec 5 2013 5:39PM
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kyleoutside
Posts: 103 - Karma: 95
I am trying to decide whether to leave Friday night or early saturday. and then sugarbowl vs. kirkwood
Dec 5 2013 7:21PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
let's shred!

I think I'll be all black with bright blue helmet. Scott p4's 191's. Probably yelling something obscene.
Dec 5 2013 7:59PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
I've never driven hwy 88. Will it be a complete shitshow if I leave the Bay at 5am Sat Morning?
Dec 5 2013 8:02PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
No, but it's a bitch even in the summer with no traffic, it's a gnar road to drive either way.

Do you have AWD? You'll probably need chainz if not.

Something to remember, specifically about bay area skiers is that most of them suck and think Heavenly or northstar are the raddest mountains in Tahoe. Because of that few people go to kirkwood and thus lighter traffic on 88. Don't get me wrong, on huge days you can be 40+ cars back and stopped but that's only if the pass closes. If you're on 50 you'd be something like 250 cars back.

Also very few people ski this early in the season, at least that's what I've found.
Dec 5 2013 8:11PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
Yeah man, I grew up in the Bay, I know how it goes. I've just never skied anything but the North Shore since my parents had a place in Truckee.

Still undecided, but since I have nobody to roll with, I might head to Heavenly and (potentially) meet some friends there, then stay at a friends in Truckee and ski Northstar on Sunday. All the way to Kirkwood and back right after a big dump on a sketchy road that I've never driven before sounds, well, sketch. Doesn't seem like there's much terrain open yet so it doesn't seem like I can go wrong with any of the resorts at this point and time.

However, if you spot a really short guy with a green jacket, multicolored facemask, black helmet, blue goggles, and gray corduroy pants skiing on Moments, that's me hopefully not skiing by myself.
Dec 5 2013 8:50PM
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