Snow season is just around the corner and I'm plannin' to go up to Tahoe with some friends. I need some advice or tips for gearing my car and myself up for snowboarding and the drive over there. It'll be the first time I take my WRX (sedan) up there so I wanna be prepared.

1. Does anyone know how Falken Ziex 512's perform in snow? I know they're M+S rated. Or any other options? Cheap winter tires or chains?

2. What are the best places to go to if you're a beginner snowboarder? Cost for lesson packages or just the lift tix?

3. Where do you guys usually stay? We're plannin' to sleep over for just 1 night. Somewhere cheap but of course I don't want some roach infested place either. haha

If you guys can help me out, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks BAiC!

 

If you don't have your own equipment, where ever you end up going, look for a "beginner package". It will be a "limited" lift pass and a board. Nobody ever checked or stopped me from going on any lifts because I had a limited pass when I used to do this.

If you can, look for straps instead of clip-in's. While clip-in are fun and percieved as easier, clip-in rental boots tend to be pretty beat and don't provide much support.

Go to one of the smaller places your very first time. It might be a bit quieter and easier than trying to avoid a million people. Oh and wait until a REALLY good snow before you go. That way it will hurt less.

Oh, and take it easy, AWD isn't magic. And always carry chains.

 

I just got my Falken Ziex 512...no snow yet so I can't report on that.

Check out Sierra-at-Tahoe. It's a fairly decent place for beginners. Like some have said go after it's snowed a lot...more powder less pain on the butt. And if you can go on a weekday...EVEN BETTER! no crowds.

http://www.sierratahoe.com/learn.html

I usually just make day trips and don't stay more than a day, but I'm sure some folks here can recommend places.

Oh, and always carry chains.

 

Always carry chains and as long as your tires are all season(look for the m+s stamp on the sidewall) you should be fine. Go slow!

 

is it required to have chains or just a good idea to have a pair?

 

they close the road b4 they make AWD cars put on chains. the last two years ive going ive never been stoped to put on chains.

 

Yes you are required to carrry chains. They will ask you if you are carrying them. You won't have to put them on because they'll probably close the road before then but you are required to carry them. Buy a cheap $25 set.

 

BORREAL or Boreal, nice slopes, small place

 

Pretty much been covered...
If there is any snow or ice on the road (remember that you sometimes can't see ice) it will take you at least four times longer to stop. Slow down well before your turn, if you enter too hot and the back end oversteers, gently modulate the throttle and steering to straighten yourself out. Don't lift the throttle, don't jack on the brakes and be careful not to over correct your steering. Point and shoot, basically, but try not to get into that situation in the first place. I have no idea how good your tires will be, but they should be ok with the M+S rating, just be slow and smooth. Never mind the jackass in the Suburban tail gating you, he'll be in the ditch soon enough.
In addition to cable chains, it is a good idea to keep warm clothes accessible (snowboarding outfit), have some water and power bars handy in case the journey takes much longer than expected.
Buy some windshield fluid in Auburn or somewhere east of Sacto, as the stuff you get in the bay area freezes up there. If it has snowed recently, or you are in a storm, you are going to use a ton of the windshield fluid. When you stop for the winter windshield fluid, might as well grab an ice scraper/brush thingy for your trunk and gas up while you're at it.
I think pretty much any place is good for beginners...I would recommend buying an *** pad if you're comitted to learning. I've been riding for 8 seasons and still wear my Skeletools bum pad underneath my powder pants. I don't crash much anymore, but it's nice to have a built in pad to sit on.
I crash wherever I can, preferably free, but you're on your own there!

Have fun...remember to leave lots of room to stop when you're driving.

Oh yeah, one more thing, leave plenty of room to stop.

 

Just as a note, don't rely on buying the washer fluid to close to the mountains (mainly in them) because they run out a lot. I was up there for a week, and no store had any windshield wiper fluid. I finally found some, after like 10 stops, but it was the kind u have to mix, still worked, but a pain. Anyway, I'd advise getting some before you go. Just make sure its got enough anitfreeze stuff in it and u'll be fine. I've never had my "normal" stuff freeze, and I've had my car totally barried. Aside from that, I agree with Bling. Make sure u've got the icescraper or u'll destroy credit cards clearing windows. And have fun, don't go down blacks till ur skilled, cuz anyone can slide down on their ***, but it annoys those with skill, and have fun, and have fun, and have fun.

Good luck, and have fun

 

Thanks for all the input guys. From what you've all told me...

Things to remember...

1. Leave lots of room to stop.

2. Slow down earlier before turns. Don't go into the turn hot.

3. Tires should at least be "M+S" rated. (Which I just checked my car, my current tires are "M+S" rated. Woohoo! No need to splurge on better tires before new rims!)

4. Always carry snow chains although chances are they won't make me put them on.

5. Windshield wiper fluid and scraper. Just to clear things up, the fluid should specifically say they're made for severe weather right?

So, here's a few questions... How long does it take to drive up to these places (Boreal, Squaw, Sierra)? If anyone has their route mapped out and are kind enough to share, I'd seriously appreciate it. I'll be coming from the Fremont/Hayward area.

Also, should I do some prep work on my car right before the trip? ie. oil change, refill of coolant, or any other fluids. I'm planning to get my car aligned later in the month @ AI, so I figure I'll have that covered.

You guys have any suggestions as to where I should buy gear (jacket, pants, undies, goggles, gloves)? And lastly, very important question... Anyone care to share the prices they paid for lessons? Just wanna see what numbers I should be looking for. Thanks again guys!

 

Kirkwood pretty close for you. Probably 3 hours. Road there is kind of treacherous if you don't drive in snow much. Sierra is close also but Hwy 50 is can be kind of scary also for newbies. Stick w/ Northstar, Sugarbowl. All the places are 4 hours tops unless there is heavy snow and there is a lot of traffic. Also, your radiater fluid should be near 50/50 mix for the winter(they call it anti-freeze for a reason). Bring ice scrapers for your window. Buy the kind w/ a brush on the other end, they cost about $3 at Walmart. As far as clothes, where layers and used shells because they are cheap. Buy some long underwear, top and bottom. Oh yeah, I run a thinner oil during winter and runner slightly heavier in summer. Ask them to put in 5w-30 if they try to put in 10w-30. Gloves are a must but goggles are not. A sporty pair of sunglasses should suffice. Stay away from heavenly for beginner lessons. I believe Sierra has a good beginner program. I think Dodge ridge does also.

 

http://www.bearvalley.com/mt/guide.html <-- bear valleys pretty close and great for intermediate people, and ok for beginners, gets crowded though

http://www.kirkwood.com/index.shtml (really slow right now) is what homer's talking about I went there last year, and it was virtually empty (granted it was a friday) and it was great skiing, the next day I went to Heavenly and it was sooooo crowded.

http://www.sugarbowl.com/tahoe/SITE/...860/direct?c=1 <-- sugarbowl's also a great ski area.

I guess what I'm getting at is that they all have websites, and with a small search you can learn a lot about what you need, and the resorts. (though I agree peoples input is important) They're all good resorts, and for a begginner, as far as I know will be fine (though I guess maybe hevenly isn't???) and I try to rotate through them all.

For clothes, unless the weathers bad, a pair of longpants, (preferably nylon tho jeans work) is great. But you definetly need sunglasses, but any pair, even the $1 pairs will work. However, if the weathers not so good (which is usually when skiing is best because theres less people and better conditions) you may need more. If you wanna go when its not sunny, you'll want goggles (or at least something with a yellow or pinkish lens to bring out the shadows and still protect your eyes). You'll also want some thermal underwear, depending on how cold it is, a good fleece or wool jacket, and some snow pants (very important for boarding) and a ski jacket (though any waterproof/breathable should suffice. And of course regardless of weather, you'll want some nice gloves.

To get the stuff you need I'd go to REI or Mel Cottons (sp) they're helpful, knowledgeable (usually), and carry a lot of quality stuff.

Your car will do fine. i've never done anything to my car when I've gone, regardless of what car I have. To be honest, I don't even drive very slowly, I try to be safe, but unless I suspect Ice will be on the road (rarely ever when the roads been driven all day, more of an issue in the morning after a day where the temp was above freezing and at night it was below freezing).

And don't forget to have fun

 

do you have your own equipment, ie. snowboard, clothes, boots, gloves... let me know if you have any questions, send me a PM

 

I don't have my own equipment so that's why I asked where to get some quality stuff at good deals. I won't be buying a snowboard or boots as of now. Probably the essentials: snow jacket, snow pants, thermals (or alternative base layer), gloves, and goggles. I've got fleece sweaters, so I'm good with those.