The Rahlves’ Banzai Tour will end where it all began more than 70 years ago — the Silver Belt gully at Sugar Bowl Resort. Some of the best skiers and snowboarders in the West will battle it out to cap off the four-stop skiing competition with a win at Sugar Bowl Resort. The Rahlves’ Banzai Tour is described as “big mountain freeskiing meets skier/boardercross.” Competitors race in four-person heats over natural terrain in a contest of pure skiing speed. Previous stops include Kirdwood Mountain Resort, Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley USA.

The Rahlves’ Banzai’s roots date back to the famed Silver Belt downhill race, which began at Sugar Bowl Resort in 1940 and was considered one of North America’s premiere ski races, attracting elite skiers from across the nation.

Daron Rahlves — Olympian, X Games gold medalist, one of the most decorated downhill skiers in U.S. history, and freesking film star — helped reshape the race into the four-resort circuit that it is today. Although he does not compete in the other three stops of the tour, he takes on the ski winners of all four tour stops in a one-time, winner-takes-all, $10,000 cash prize Super Final at Sugar Bowl Resort on Sunday, March 10.

Apart from the $10,000 Super Final prize, another $25,000 of prize money will be handed out to winners at Sugar Bowl’s Rahlves’ Banzai stop. Prizes, including the coveted Banzai’s Silver Belt Buckle, will be handed over at an awards ceremony at the Mt. Judah Lodge on Sunday afternoon, featuring Red Bull and Sierra Nevada drink specials. A portion of each drink sale will support the High Fives Foundation. A Banzai Barbeque featuring Sierra Nevada beer, burgers and bratwurst, will be set up at the Rahlves Banzai finish line both days, allowing spectators to eat and drink while they watch the race action.

The Rahlves Banzai course starts at the top of Mt. Lincoln, Sugar Bowl’s highest peak. From the Block House starting line, it drops into the Elevator Shaft and into the Silver Belt Gully. As skiers pass the Keyhole, they have an option of going either right or left, around an island that will open to spectators during the race. After dropping into the CEP Compression Gully, it is a flat-out, mad dash race to the finish.

The race will be announced by X Games commentator Chris “Uncle E” Ernst and High Fives Foundation Executive Director Roy Tuscany.

Tour winners so far include the Sugar Bowl’s own Jesse Maddex, who raced to a win at the Alpine Meadows stop of the Banzai, and who will be competing on his home turf in the Super Final.

For more information on the Rahlves Banzai Tour, visit rahlvesbanzai.com. For more information about Sugar Bowl Resort, visit sugarbowl.com.

­­­­­­Sugar Bowl Resort Hires JoJo Toeppner
as Royal Gorge General Manager

DONNER SUMMIT, CALIF. — JoJo Toeppner, a 31-year veteran of cross-country ski instruction and resort management, has been hired by Sugar Bowl Resort to oversee the operation of Royal Gorge, the largest cross-country ski resort in the U.S.

Sugar Bowl Resort will operate Royal Gorge under an agreement with the Truckee Donner Land Trust and the Trust for Public Land. The two conservation groups have agreed to purchase the iconic Donner Summit property after the previous owners defaulted on their loan.

Toeppner comes to Royal Gorge from Tahoe Donner Cross Country, where she worked for 20 years, as an instructor, assistant manager, and manager. Toeppner has 31 years of experience in the Tahoe cross-country ski world, having also spent 11 years at Tahoe Nordic in Tahoe City (now called Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area).

Toeppner is an accomplished athlete, having won 10 championships as an outrigger canoe paddler and competed as a member of the U.S. World team for flatwater kayak sprints. After a life of competing on the water, Toeppner moved to Tahoe and embraced the joys and aerobic challenges of cross-country skiing.

Toeppner said she will focus on impeccable cross-county ski trail grooming, excellent instruction and attentive customer service at Royal Gorge.

“I am assembling a team that will bring Royal Gorge back to what it once was — one of North America’s most iconic cross-country ski areas,” said Toeppner “We will work hard to deliver a cross-country ski experience that everyone can enjoy.”

Toeppner will have two additional Bison grooming machines at her disposal this season, as Sugar Bowl Resort has invested more than $500,000 into upgrades at the cross-country ski resort his season, including changes to the resort’s lodge, Summit Station.

Toeppner, who learned to cross-country ski at Royal Gorge, said the resort’s potential lies in its natural features — its high elevation, expansive terrain, and easy access off of Interstate 80. She is currently assembling a team of Royal Gorge instructors, groomers and customer service personnel who will operate the resort under the leadership of Sugar Bowl Resort.

After all of the hiring and administrative work is put in place, don’t expect to see Toeppner sitting behind a computer in the manager’s office all winter. As a former ski instructor and top-level athlete, Toeppner describes herself as a “hands-on manager.”

“I won’t ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself,” said Toeppner.

About Royal Gorge

With over 200 kilometers of trails and approximately 6,000 acres of terrain, Royal Gorge is the largest cross-country ski resort in the nation. Royal Gorge cross-country skiing varies from the beginner-friendly, open expanse of Van Norden Meadows to the challenging trails at the foot of majestic Devil’s Peak. The Summit Station lodge is the center of the cross-country resort and warming huts dot the expansive trail system.

Cross-country skiers can purchase an unrestricted Royal Gorge season pass for $299 ($249 for young adults and seniors). Sugar Bowl passholders can add a Royal Gorge season pass for $149 ($99 for young adults and seniors).

For more information visit royalgorge.com or sugarbowl.com.

Press Contact: Krystal Tingle

Senior Account Coordinator
The Abbi Agency for Sugar Bowl Resort
(775) 219-8900
krystal@theabbiagency.com

Resort Contact: John Monson

Director of Sales and Marketing

Sugar Bowl Resort

(530) 426-6720

jmonson@sugarbowl.com

BY PRESTON SPRINGSTON 
Vice-President, Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers
pspringston@hughes.net
TRUCKEE, CA – The Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers and Sugar Bowl Resort have signed an agreement that returns a sled dog race to the Truckee / North Lake Tahoe region after a 17 year hiatus. Sugar Bowl Resort will host the Jack London Commemorative Sierra Sled Dog Derby on the 3,000 acre property of the Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort on March 2-3, 2013. The race will be conducted by the Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers, a non-profit California corporation, under rules and the animal welfare policy of the International Sled Dog Racing Association.

Sled dog teams in classes of from three to eight dogs will depart the starting line in Soda Springs and run to the Village at Sugar Bowl Resort and return. “As part of our overall efforts to return Royal Gorge Cross Country to its once and former glory, adding special events to the calendar is important.  And with history in mind, this particular event fits the brand perfectly.  It should be a lot of fun to watch,” said Sugar Bowl Director of Marketing John Monson.

The Sled Dog Derby highlights the area’s heritage and races that were centerpieces of Winter Carnivals in the early 1900’s. The first sled dog race in the “lower 48” was held in Truckee in 1915 and was attended by Jack London. Sled dogs contributed to early regional development being relied upon for transportation, work chores, law enforcement and search and rescue. Annual races were a popular winter sports event until World War II and the advent of modern transportation led to their discontinuation.

Completion of Interstate 80 brought growth to the area and in the 1960’S local mushers led by Truckee resident, Bob Levorsen, formed the Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers and held races at Hobart Mills. The Truckee Lions Club initiated races at the Truckee airport in 1979. These annual races were very successful in drawing mushers from western states and in attracting spectators. However, chronically poor snow cover at the site forced many races to be cancelled and the last was held in 1997.

“I travelled from southern California to run a team in the 1997 race and was very impressed by the local community. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to assist in the return of this exciting, family-oriented, event to the founding location of our organization,” said Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers Vice-President Preston Springston now a full-time Truckee area resident. “The race site at Donner Summit and the support of Sugar Bowl in trail grooming insures a dependable and fast race course for our canine athletes,” said Springston.
Race proceeds will benefit local animal welfare organizations. Volunteers and non-profit service organizations interested in participating in the race should contact Preston Springston, pspringston@hughes.net.

About Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers
The Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers (SNDD) was formed in 1961 in Truckee by northern California mushers to organize and promote the recreational sport of sled dog racing in California. SNDD is a sled dog Race Giving Organization (RGO) that works closely with communities and service organizations. The importance of good sportsmanship and humane treatment of sled dogs is emphasized.

SNDD partners with northern Sierra communities and service organizations to conduct sled dog race events on snow during the winter season. Proceeds from the events support local charities and youth activities. Race events are currently conducted at Chester, Portola (Lake Davis), and Foresthill (China Wall) in California. The later is conducted in partnership with the Foresthill Chamber of Commerce.
SNDD is an IRS 501 c(3) non-profit incorporated in the state of California. Governance is by a 7-member Board of Directors. Annual membership averages 45, principally from California, Nevada and Oregon.
Web site: http://www.sndd.org

About Sugar Bowl Resort
Sugar Bowl Inc. owns and operates Sugar Bowl Resort in Norden, CA. Sugar Bowl Resort, California owned and operated since 1339, provides family-oriented alpine skiing and sports events on terrain that receives the most annual snowfall in North Lake Tahoe.
Sugar Bowl Resort recently inked a deal making it the operator of the Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort, America’s largest cross-country operation. Sugar Bowl plans to invest $500,000 into Royal Gorge this season, including upgrades and renovations to Summit Station, the purchase of two new grooming machines, enhanced way-finding signage and a new website with comprehensive daily grooming report. Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge are already connected by an “interconnect trail” that allows skiers to ski back and forth between the Donner Summit resorts. Plans are in the works to further enhance the connection with two additional beginner-friendly routes.
Web site: http://www.sugarbowl.com

About International Sled Dog Racing Association
The International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) was formed in 1966 by Canadian and American mushers to organize and unify the sport of sled dog racing. Beginning in the New England states and lower Canadian provinces, ISDRA sought to standardize rules for ‘Nome style sprint racing’.

Today ISDRA annually represents over 100 days of sled dog racing and thousands of individual race performances. Traditional sleds, wheeled rigs or ‘gigs’, ski-joring and, most recently, bike-joring competitions are held for Adult and Junior Divisions and team sizes from ‘Unlimited’ to 1 dog. The racing action begins in mid-October and ends in late March with multiple ISDRA sanctioned events occurring on any given weekend during the months of January and February.

ISDRA gives the highest priority to the welfare of the canine athletes that are our partners in the wonderful world of sled dog sports. To underscore that commitment, each sanctioned event is provided with our Animal Welfare policy as an important component of their sanctioning materials. No abuse is tolerated and all injuries are documented and investigated.
Annual membership averages 850 total members with 55 to 75 sanctioned events and 30 to 40 member clubs. ISDRA is an IRS 501 c (7) nonprofit incorporated in the state of New York. Governance is by an 18-member board of directors and an Executive Director.

Contact
To learn more about this event, please contact
Preston Springston, Vice-President
Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers
16410 Dog Valley Rd, Truckee CA 96161
(530) 587-2160
pspringston@hughes.net

John Monson, Director of Marketing
Sugar Bowl Resort
629 Sugar Bowl Rd, Norden CA 
(530) 426-3651, jmonson@sugarbowl.com
Dave Steele, Executive Director
International Sled Dog Racing Association
22702 Rebel Rd, Merrifield MN, 56465
(218) 765-4297 
dsteele@brainerd.net

###

The Sugar Bowl Resort operating agreement was inked on Monday, Oct. 1, and includes the 3,000 acres the conservation groups have agreed to purchase. The Truckee Donner Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land and the Northern Sierra Partnership put down a $500,000 non-refundable deposit on the property on Oct. 1, and plan to complete the $11.25 million purchase on Dec. 20, 2012.  The previous owners of Royal Gorge defaulted on their loan on the property, and Royal Gorge was taken over by the lender last summer.

The agreement unites two of North Tahoe’s premiere ski resorts. Sugar Bowl Resort, founded in 1939, is a 1,500-acre downhill ski resort with four peaks, 13 lifts and North Tahoe’s deepest annual snowpack. Royal Gorge is America’s largest cross-country ski resort. Its 200 kilometers of trails and approximately 6,000 acres of terrain stretch from the open expanse of Van Norden Meadows to the foot of majestic Devil’s Peak. The Summit Station lodge is the center of the cross-country resort and eight warming huts dot the expansive eight track trail system. Sugar Bowl has trail leases with Donner Summit landowners, which will ensure the entire 6,000 acres of cross-country ski will be open for skiing this winter.

Sugar Bowl Resort and Royal Gorge are already connected by an “interconnect trail” that allows skiers to ski back and forth between the Donner Summit resorts, and plans are in the works to further enhance the connection with two additional beginner-friendly routes. Sugar Bowl is now offering a season pass that allows holders to downhill ski at Sugar Bowl and cross-country ski at Royal Gorge for one affordable rate. Sugar Bowl passholders can add on an unrestricted Royal Gorge pass for $149 (adult price), and can purchase an unrestricted, standalone Royal Gorge pass for $299.

Sugar Bowl plans to invest $500,000 into Royal Gorge this season, including upgrades and renovations to Summit Station, the purchase of two new grooming machines, enhanced wayfinding signage, a new website with comprehensive daily grooming report and more. Sugar Bowl is committed to making Royal Gorge, again, the preeminent cross country resort in North America. It will also bring a tradition of exceptional customer service to the resort. Sugar Bowl Resort was one of three ski resorts across the nation awarded “Best Overall Guest Service Program” by the National Ski Area Association in 2010.

“Royal Gorge has incredible potential, and we’re excited about the opportunity to return such an iconic resort to its once and former glory”, said Sugar Bowl CEO Rob Kautz.  “It’s a perfect complement to the authentic alpine adventure brand that we’ve built here at Sugar Bowl, and we’re committed to investing in Royal Gorge as a world-class destination for years to come.”

Royal Gorge is known for its easy access, consistent snow conditions and expansive trail system. The resort’s high-elevation base area (much of the resort sits above 7,000 feet), ensures reliable, high-quality snow conditions. And its location, significantly closer to San Francisco and Sacramento than other North Tahoe resorts, make it a popular day and overnight ski destination. www.royalgorge.com

Contact:
Sugar Bowl Season Pass Office
530.426-6783
seasonpass@sugarbowl.com

SUGAR BOWL RESORT OFFERS 15,000 BONUS CORE POINTS WITH PURCHASE OF A SEASON PASS, EXTENDS DEADLINE TO MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th

(Donner Summit, Calif.) – With the 2012/13 ski season fast approaching, Sugar Bowl Resort is ramping up for opening day, including great deals and incentives on season passes. Purchase your Sugar Bowl season pass by Monday, September 17th, and passholders will receive 15,000 bonus CORE Points. The CORE, a points-based loyalty and reward program, allows members to accrue points every day they ski or ride and for every qualifying dollar spent, that can then be redeemed for free items across the resort including food & beverage, lift tickets, ski school, retail items and more. Passholders from the 11/12 season enjoy a special renewal rate on this year’s pass, while new passholders still enjoy great rates on a season pass that accesses some of the finest terrain in the region, and the most annual snowfall in North Lake Tahoe.
For more information on Sugar Bowl’s season passes and the CORE Rewards program please visit www.sugarbowl.com or call (530) 426-9000.

Sugar Bowl Resort, atop majestic Donner Summit, has been California owned & operated since 1939.

# # #

Sugar Bowl
PO Box 5
629 Sugar Bowl Rd.
Norden, CA 95734
530-426-9000

August 22, 2012

Contact:
Meghon Shrewsbury
Sugar Bowl Retail Manager & Buyer
(530) 426-6769

HUGE SAVINGS ON WINTER SKI & SNOWBOARD GEAR AT SUGAR BOWL’S 3 DAY LABOR DAY SALE IN TRUCKEE

(Truckee, Calif.) – Gear up for winter with some incredibly cool summer prices, as Sugar Bowl Resort clears out their inventory of skis, snowboards, boots, clothing, accessories and more, bringing all items to the Truckee High School parking lot September 1-3, from 9:00am – 5:00pm each day. Brands on sale include Volkl, K2, Nordica, Burton, Ride, Bogner, Arc Teryx, Spyder, Patagonia, Helly Hansen, Nikita, Vans, Rome, Union, Oakley, 686, Spacecraft, Sessions, Holden, Dakine, Sugar Bowl logo items and more, with skis and boards starting at just $190.

For more information on Sugar Bowl’s Labor Day winter ski & snowboard blowout sale, visit www.sugarbowl.com/winter-gear-sale.

Sugar Bowl Resort, home to authentic alpine adventure, has been serving up some of the finest skiing & riding in the Tahoe region since 1939.

# # #

Sugar Bowl
PO Box 5
629 Sugar Bowl Rd.
Norden, CA 95734
530-426-9000

May 31, 2012

Contact:
Jennie Bartlett
Sales & Marketing Manager
jbartlett@sugarbowl.com
Sugar Bowl Resort
(530) 426-6724

SUGAR BOWL’S LAKE MARY CABIN DINNER SERIES RETURNS, SUNDAY EVENINGS TO BENEFIT LOCAL NON-PROFITS

(Donner Summit, Calif.) – Sugar Bowl’s popular Lake Mary Cabin Dinner Series returns to Donner Summit this summer, featuring Chef Alan Davis’ French-inspired California cuisine, served in a stunning lakeside setting below a Palisades backdrop.  Dining will be offered most Saturday and Sunday evenings from July 22nd through September 16th, with seating offered from 5:30 to 9:00pm.  In addition, each Sunday evening will showcase a different local 501(c)3 non-profit partner from the Truckee/Tahoe community, with a portion of the evening’s proceeds benefiting their worthy cause.
This summer’s Lake Mary Cabin Dinner Series dates, including special Sunday night non-profit partner evenings:

• July 22   (Benefiting Donner Summit Historical Society)
• July 28   Open for dining
• July 29   (Benefiting Young Life)
• Aug 12   (Benefiting Truckee Trails Foundation)
• Aug 19   (Benefiting the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science)
• Aug 25   Open for dining
• Aug 26   (Benefiting the Truckee Donner Land Trust)
• Sep 1       Open for dining
• Sep 2      (Benefiting Donner Summit Area Association)
• Sep 8      Open for dining
• Sep 16    (Benefiting the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation)

Every evening is open to the public, and reservations, strongly recommended, can be made by calling 530.426.7002.  Further information, including dates, directions, non-profit partner missions and sample menus can be found by visiting www.sugarbowl.com/lake-mary-dinners

Sugar Bowl Resort, atop majestic Donner Summit, has been California owned & operated since 1939.  For more information visit www.sugarbowl.com

Contact: Jennie Bartlett
Sales & Marketing Manager
Sugar Bowl Resort
(530) 426.6724

SUGAR BOWL ADJUSTS OPERATIONS FOR LATE-SEASON SKIING & RIDING, OPENS LIFTS 30 MINUTES EARLY FOR FINAL WEEK OF SEASON
(Donner Summit, Calif.) – With warm daytime temperatures and late-season conditions in mind, Sugar Bowl Resort will adjust lift operations for the remainder of the season. Starting tomorrow (4/23) Sugar Bowl will open for skiing and riding 30 minutes earlier than normal, with lifts starting to spin at 8:30am, and staying open till 2:30pm. Sugar Bowl will remain open for skiing and riding daily through Sunday, April 29th. Other late-season operational changes include morning-only General Admission lessons, with all lessons starting promptly at 10:30am. 2012/13 Season Passes are on sale now, and include free skiing & riding for the remainder of the 11/12 season. For Season Pass options, visit www.sugarbowl.com/seasonpass

Steeped in tradition yet modern in amenities, Sugar Bowl Resort has been California owned & operated since 1939, serving up some of the finest skiing & riding in the Tahoe region with an unwavering dedication to the guest experience. www.sugarbowl.com.