Northstar-at-Tahoe™ Resort Bike and Hiking Park to Open for Season on June 17, 2011
Resort to Introduce New Learning Terrain, Pump Track and Easy Rider Trail Improvements; Host High Profile Bike Events
TRUCKEE, Calif. – June 15, 2011 – Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort’s popular mountain bike park and lift served hiking trails are scheduled to open for the summer season on Friday, June 17 beginning with the lower mountain, serviced by the Big Springs Express Gondola. For the park’s opening weekend, riders will have access to six beginner, intermediate and advanced biking trails including Easy Rider, 6%, Deerpath, Liftline, Mineshaft, The Woods, as well as the Jump Park. Lift tickets will be available for $29. Additional bike trails and upper mountain lift access will open as soon as conditions permit.
In celebration of the park’s opening weekend, Northstar® Resort has teamed up with bike park sponsor, Giant Bicycles, and the Ride Giant/Ride Northstar mountain bike sponsorship program to host the premiere of the mountain bike film “3 MINUTE GAPS” on Saturday, June 18. The party will start at 5:30pm on the deck of the Lodge at Big Springs featuring a BBQ, the complimentary movie screening and a raffle. The bike park will extend its hours until 6pm that evening, and the Big Springs Express Gondola will run for free from 5:30pm until 9pm that evening for guests who want to attend the event without a bike.
Visitors looking for a mountain adventure on foot are invited to experience Northstar Resort’s scenic chairlift rides for sightseeing and hiking. Tickets are just $6 for ages 13+ and are complimentary for kids under 12. For opening weekend, the Village Run trail will be open for hiking. Additional non-lift served hiking trails currently accessible include the Martis Creek Trail and the Tompkins Memorial Trail network that begins near the Village at Northstar and weaves through the Martis Valley. Complimentary “Meet the Mountain” tours will be offered daily at 11am once the upper mountain opens for those interested in participating in a guided hike.
LESSON PROGRAMS & NEW LEARNING TERRAIN
This summer Northstar Resort will again offer mountain bike instruction programs designed for those just getting started with the sport who want to learn the proper technique or just familiarize themselves with the bike park. For just $15, Ride 101 instruction will be offered every day the park is open from 10:30am-12pm for beginners, and will meet at Plaza Bikes in the Village at Northstar. Intermediate and advanced riders who want to improve their cornering and learn progressions for jumping are invited to participate in Bumps & Bends clinics from 1:30pm-4pm for just $35. Private instruction is also available, and advance reservations are recommended for all lesson programs.
In addition to the continuation of its lesson programs, Northstar Resort plans to improve its teaching terrain in the Big Easy learning area that will feature additional “smart terrain,” allowing beginners to quickly progress their riding skills. A pump track will also be constructed, allowing for much more rapid improvement of balance and handling skills.
Easy Rider, a beginner family trail, will be modified this summer to improve ease of use for entry level riders and families. Corners will be re-sculpted and small re-routes will offer riders of all ages a sense of comfort as they progress their skills as a downhill biker.
CROSS-COUNTRY & DOWNHILL BIKING EVENTS RETURN
Both professional and amateur athletes will descend on Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort this summer to compete in high profile events scheduled at the resort including:
Lake Tahoe Trail 100k (Leadville 100 Qualifier) – July 24
The Lake Tahoe Trail 100k, one of the races in the Leadville Qualifying Series, was designed to promote the Leadville style of mountain bike racing in one of the most breathtaking locations around the country, and to provide athletes with an opportunity for entry into one of the most recognized mountain bike races in the world – the Leadville Trail 100.
Pro Gravity Tour – August 27-28
Top mountain bikers test their skills in this series, which looks to showcase the country’s strongest gravity venues by bringing elite riders together to compete against the best. The sport encompasses two of mountain biking’s most exciting and prolific disciplines – “downhill”and “gated”racing.
Tara Llanes Classic – September 24-25
Professional mountain biker Tara Llanes has always had an aggressive, never-say-die attitude and despite suffering a horrible accident during a race which left her paralyzed, her drive and determination is stronger than ever. After years of rehab, Tara herself competes in the event, which once served as a fundraiser to cover her medical costs and now raises money for research to help find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
In addition, the resort’s Downhill Mountain Bike Race Series will kick off July 9 with the first of six events, and the Thursday night Cross-Country Race Series will begin July 7 with the first of eight races in the series. For the complete summer event schedule, visit www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Northstar Resort’s Mountain Bike and Hike Park is scheduled to open Friday, June 17, 2011, weather and conditions permitting, and will be open Friday through Sunday until July 1 when it will be open Thursday through Monday until August 18. Following that, the park will resume Friday through Sunday operations until October 9. Operating hours will be 10am to 5pm Saturday through Monday and 10am to 7pm on Fridays until Labor Day. Additional days the park will be open include July 5, 6 and September 5.
Helmets are required for all riders and can be rented along with bikes and other equipment at the resort or online in advance. In addition, all rentals will come standard with a full face helmet and gloves.
Northstar Resort encourages advance online reservations for bikes in the rental fleet. For more information about bike rentals, the Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort bike and hike park, and upcoming events, visit www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com or call the Plaza Bike shop at 530.562.2268.
Guests are invited to Stay & Play at Northstar Resort this summer for $80 per person, per night. Lodging packages include two all-day mountain biking or hiking lift tickets per room, per two night stay. Some restrictions apply. Reserve this package online or call 1.800.GO.NORTH (466.6784) for more information.
About Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort
One of the finest year-round mountain resorts in North America, Northstar Resort is host to a base area village featuring unique shops and restaurants, a conference center, 9,000 square foot outdoor skating rink, on-site lodging, special events and more. A winter sport enthusiast’s paradise, Northstar Resort offers 93 ski trails spread across 3,000 acres, award-winning terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and Telemark skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, biathlon and tubing. Summer activities include mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and more.
Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is located on Highway 267, just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com.
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, and the Heavenly Ski Resort and Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort property and hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and in the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.