That someone would be Doug Pierini, Alpine Meadows Ski School Director.

Even those of us who have been skiing all our lives can still use a few pointers. A little brush up on our mountain manners. A polite introduction to the big lines. That’s where Steep Camp comes in.

Come get an advanced lesson in shredding with the best instructor’s @ Alpine Meadows. The first Steep Camp of the year went off last weekend, and the next alpine steep camp is March 12, 13 and 14. Get tips on skiing all kinds of terrain and snow conditions, and learn avalanche safety from Alpine Meadows Ski Patrollers.

Check out the other 3 and 2 day specialty ski and snowboard camps running this season including the How to Heli Ski Camp, Women’s Camp, Telemark Camp and Snowboard Camp.

The peaks and bowls and chutes and hidden gnar @ Alpine Meadows may show off the sublime beauty of the Tahoe basin, but you don’t want to meet them unprepared.

See you @ camp…

Lift ticket rates for opening weekend:

• $44 Adult 19-61
• $44 Teen13-18
• $44 Senior 62-69
• $20 Super Senior 70+
• $15 Child 5-12

If you are looking to work out those early season kinks, Alpine’s Ski School will offer lessons for all ability levels.  And don’t worry; rentals will be available, too!  So come on out, get in some turns and say hello to your winter friends at Alpine Meadows.

The Alpine Divas personify the Unfiltered Alpine Meadows spirit and act as passionate ambassadors for the Ski and Snowboard School through their abilities, style and skill on the mountain. “Our ladies are talented and focused on fun, while learning,” Deanna wrote of the the ladies back in January during the tryouts. “Emphasis on FUN. These ladies know what it takes to have a good time”
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Back on Valentine’s Day we had a great party at The Last Chair to honor the new team members and mix it up with dancing, music, raffle prisez and all our friends from the Alpine Club. When you join the Alpine Club you get access to exclusive events like this with the people who make Alpine Meadows awesome, like our Divas!

The best private party of the year is next week on April 8th for our last season pass party of the year at the top of the Summit 6 chair. Load up @ 6:00 for a bonfire, music, hot chocolate and sparklers as the sun goes down, then ski down for dinner, dancing and drinks in the lodge.

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For them, we feature a series of intensive three-day workshops. Throughout the season we have adult workshops for learning to ski the steep terrain you see in the movies, improving you telemark skiing, snowboarding, and a special ski camp for women taught by women.

The Alpine Meadows Women’s Camp is one of our most popular programs. The instructors work on improving your technical skill, strength and enjoyment of the great Tahoe skiing terrain in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Camps include three full days of skiing with our top female instructors, video analysis, advice on choosing and fitting equipment, après ski and lunch.

If you missed the last Women’s camp, the next one is being held March 20th through the 23rd. Register online.

We have 3 ski school programs that teach kids as young as 3 years old to expert adults. The youngest kids get introduced to skiing in a comfortable warm environment. When they’re old enough for the snow they take their first runs in the arms of one of our expert instructors. From there they move on to the the bigger practice hill and the Meadow lift where they can get safely work up to longer runs and steeper terrain while having a great time.

There’s no terror of loading and riding the chairlift, and no back-breaking hike up the run with your kid in your arms. We have two moving carpet surface lifts that make getting up the hill for beginners easy, fun and fast. This year we’ve added a 200 foot SunKid conveyor to open up that much more terrain for beginning skiers and boarders.

Call (530) 581-8200 for info and reservations or reserve your lesson through the Alpine Meadows online store.

Tenured Tahoe residents realize the significance of the new name:  Originally from Immenstacht, Bavaria, Werner Schuster was invited to teach at Alpine Meadows by Luggi Foeger in the 1960′s.  In 1963, Werner started at this 3-year old mountain as the Assistant Ski School Director.  In 1964, he was the new Ski School Director at the mountain.  Understand, though, this was a time when Alpine Meadows was literally world-renowned for its ski school; and skiing was on the cusp of being one of the largest, fastest-growing sports in the United States.  Teaching at Alpine Meadows in the 1960′s was like teaching  world socioeconomics at Radcliffe.  It was a big deal, and the school was Werner’s passion.  His students loved him; and still do.  Many were at Alpine Meadows to honor him today.

Werner, his wife Hanni, and his granddaughter, Genevieve, were at the mountain today.  He had ‘first tracks’ down Werner’s Schuss, and he was joined by many of his former instructors.  Here are some great photos from today’s festivities:

Werner Schuster with Babette Haueisen (former instructor):

Werner with Alpine Meadows General Manager, Jim Kercher (former instructor):

Three great friends: Osvaldo Ancinas, Robert Frohlich, and Troy Caldwell:

Three MORE great friends: Ed Lahr, Nancy Collins, and Sue Caldwell:

Great friend and General Manager of Homewood, Kent Hoopingarner:

Werner back in the day of 215 Blizzards:

Undoubtedly, Werner is advising this very cute student on proper ski technique:

Three generations of world-class instruction directors – Greg Felsch, Doug Pierini, and Werner Schuster:

Fern Elufson and Melanie Jackson celebrate as Werner officially opens “Werner’s Schuss”:

Everyone had a great time at the Werner’s Schuss celebration:

Today we held tryouts for the Alpine Meadows women’s team. The objective of the team is to choose a group of women who will personify Alpine Meadows real, authentic brand and act as ambassadors to the mountain and the Ski & Snowboard School, especially our women’s programs. After all, the best way to sell something is find those who are most passionate about it to do it!

Doug Pierini, Regional Director of Resort Services/Ski & Snowboard School opened the day with a pep talk explaining the rigorous tryout schedule and the expectations of the team. General manager, Jim Kercher (Kerch) added to his comments reminding us that the buzz from this team should attract additional talented people to our team as coaches, while also acting as friendly mountain and ski school ambassadors. Kerch was to judge skiing and teaching abilities. My critical eye was supposed to judge style and personality. As expected, the competition was tough. Our ladies are talented and focused on fun, while learning. Emphasis on FUN. These ladies know what it takes to have a good time …

Those up for the job are as follow:

1. Deanna Neu
2. Danielle Hankinson
3. Carina Cutler
4. Leigh Pierini
5. Jill Evans
6. DJ Beals
7. Lynn Kennon
8. MJ Rees
9. Billie Cornell
10. Andrea Richards
11. Haid Garrett
12. Colene Carroll
13. Kim Mann
14. Kim Covill

We plan to post the final team by the end of the week. In the meantime, take a look at a couple of shots from the try out today. If you have a suggested team name, please comment to the blog.
Special thanks to all of the participants! We are very excited to support this new initiative and get this team out in the marketplace representing our cool mountain and Ski & Snowboard School.

~Deanna