Kirkwood, Calif. – Nov. 24, 2018 – Kirkwood Mountain Resort kicked off the 2018-19 season with a six inch blanket of fresh snow Saturday, which fell over the past 24 hours. Lifts started spinning at 9 a.m. with eager skiers and riders lined up at the base, awaiting first tracks.
The resort has received 30 inches of new snow since Wednesday. Kirkwood is opening with the following lifts and terrain: Snowkirk Chair is spinning with access to beginner terrain on Snowkirk and Hay Flat, from top to bottom. Solitude Chair includes access to intermediate terrain on Outlaw (formerly Racecourse), from top to bottom; off-piste intermediate terrain is available on Lower Zachary, Lower Monte Wolfe, Mokelumne; and advanced terrain on Lower Olympic.
Passholders were treated to free breakfast sandwiches starting at 9 A.M. Also on the schedule for opening day: snack, ski and ride gear giveaways. Guests enjoyed a break from the slopes and après in the afternoon with live music in the Kirkwood Village. All retail outlets, on-site lodging and a majority of the Resort’s restaurants were open for business serving up drinks and food. There to welcome incoming guests, was Kirkwood’s new Vice President and General Manager Tom Fortune. Tom joined Vail Resorts in 2010 and most recently served as Sr. Director of Mountain Operations at Kirkwood.
“I am extremely excited about my new and expanded role at Kirkwood, it’s such an amazing mountain with an incredible team of people,” said Tom Fortune, Vice President and General Manager of Kirkwood Mountain Resort. “Kirkwood truly is a special place to hold this position.”
This marks his 40th season in the ski industry, which began at the age of 15 as a rental and repair shop technician at Stevens Pass Resort in Washington. Tom rose through the ranks at the Resort, eventually assuming the position of Director of Operations. He has also held senior roles at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho and Snow King Mountain in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Tom lives in South Lake Tahoe with his wife Jennifer and their pooch Lola. His three grown boys live in Washington State and all work in the ski industry.
New This Season
The Cornice Pizza makes its debut in the Kirkwood Village with a fun and fresh concept and interior. The inspiration comes from the 80’s with newly installed neon lights and bold colors, preserving the lively spirit of this Kirkwood staple. The menu includes unexpected pairings and traditional favorites, with plenty of build-your-own pie options. Whether it’s a day of riding The Wave, dropping off The Wall with friends, or exploring and learning Kirkwood as a family, The Cornice Pizza is an ideal spot to fill up, share stories and take a turn on the karaoke microphone.
Cyber Week Sale
With the resort now open, guests who are planning a Kirkwood Mountain Resort vacation this winter can take advantage of the Snow.com Cyber Week Sale. The Cyber Week Sale ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, Nov. 27 and offers savings of up to 40 percent off lodging, and the best available prices for everything you need for the ultimate winter getaway to Kirkwood Mountain Resort. Visit Kirkwood.com to start planning.
Epic Pass Purchase Deadline Extended
The deadline to purchase a 2018-2019 season pass for the Best of Tahoe Resorts has been extended to Sunday, Dec. 2. Epic Pass currently offers the best value for a multi-resort pass, or at least $100 less than competitors.
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Kirkwood Mountain Resort will be open for the season through Sunday, April 7, 2019.
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About Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Removed from the hustle and bustle of nearby Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood offers some of North America's most diverse, challenging and open terrain; a place to adventure, explore, and grow with friends and family. It’s why the resort’s legendary gullies and ridges – blanketed with some of the region’s deepest and driest snow – are known for helping to raise standout big line skiers and snowboarders. A warm and welcoming community just 35 miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe, a visit to Kirkwood provides visitors of all abilities the room to truly own the Resort’s epic terrain and pristine natural landscape
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 15 world-class mountain resorts and three urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher in Australia; Stowe and Okemo in Vermont; Mt. Sunapee in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development 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.
Contact(s)
Media Assets: Photos/Broll from Opening Day will be updated throughout the day and are available here: https://vailresorts.box.com/s/0bm362mg5ktbgk41pnzxekq98qtrgy43 (Please credit Kirkwood Mountain Resort)