Oh La Niña. How we love thee. Just when we though you'd left us for good it seems as though you've come crawling back for more. It's not even like we even treated you badly. We just used you...over, and over, and over again.

It's the beginning of October and mountain resorts in the Tahoe area such as Kirkwood, Squaw Valley, and Sierra-at-Tahoe along with our favorite Eastern Sierra mountain Mammoth Mountain have already received their first snow dusting.

There was quiet talk about another early winter and with the chance of jinxing it...we're going to go ahead and say that chatter was true. Some resorts have already claimed a November opening, however, with the snow we've seen already, who knows when the first lifts may start turning.

We've been antsy since June so one can imagine the adrenaline that's pumping in anticipation for the first turns of the new season. Time to clean your base, dust off the bindings, and break in those boots - winter is here. Officially. You can start jumping for joy now.

Ah...springtime. A time of hanging up the heavy jackets and busting out the hoodies. A season that calls for sunny park laps, short lift lines, and heavy duty goggle tans. A prime time of year to get your ass to Lake Tahoe...Sierra-at-Tahoe to be more specific.

2011 has provided a ridiculous winter season - with late season storms allowing resorts to stay open later than usual. I was lucky enough to get some days in at Sierra-at-Tahoe before their lifts stop turning and holy shit, was it the best decision I've ever made. This resort is known for its true local vibe, laid back attitude, and endless options of terrain. As if the snow gods were keeping track of the trip, the recent conditions let me take advantage of these options entirely. From a few powder tree runs to hot park laps, I scored it all.

Rather than bore (make you mad with jealousy) you with the details of everything (pow, party time, and parks) I got to experience during this epic trip - I'll give you the basics on how to enjoy Sierra-at-Tahoe on your next trip there.

Powder days: Sierra has some of the sickest tree riding and out of bounds terrain you'll ever dig your board into. When conditions permit - get yourself out The Gates. There are five gates to choose from for the steep and deep and are accessed from the top of Grand View chair. Locals live by these areas so stay out of the way - it's a high possibility you'll get sprayed in the face. If you prefer to stay in-bounds - there's easy access to endless tree runs where all the freshies are hanging out. If you're lucky enough, maybe someone will tell you where Avalanche Bowl or Jack's Bowl is. (...it's on the trail map.)

Park days: It's inevitable, you're going to have some prime park days at this mountain. With small to medium to large, it's as easy as ordering a pizza. Looking to huck yourself? Cruise to West Bowl and find their Bashful Park. The features are progressive, smooth, and endless. Hiding out in the trees, this park is also always protected from the wind. If you are fiending for some hot laps through a shorter park, make your way to The Alley. The jump line on the backside is always banger and there are plenty of rails and boxes to fine tune your jibbing skills on. Don't eat shit though - the chair runs right over this park, prime audience for nasty falls. Not ready to send it? You can pick from their smaller parks that run down Snowshoe and Broadway with set-ups that are consistently getting changed up so you don't get sick of the line you're hitting.


Hot laps: Have the need for speed? There are countless corduroy groomers that are primetime turn-and-burners. West Bowl is loaded with long steep runs as well as numerous runs from the Grand View chair.

Booze and food: When those legs need a little liquid courage or you need a little pick-me-up, The Pub is where it's at, located in the base lodge. This is where you'll feel the vibe that Sierra prides itself on. From live bands, wine-tasting, & local photographers art on the walls to happy hour, delicious sandwiches, and a patio looking out onto the hill; the Pub will get you feeling real nice, real quick. If you're a serious boozehound and can get up to Sierra enough times - I recommend you investing in the Pub Club that gets you your own gigantic mug and cheaper beer prices all season long. If you want to get your BBQ on, the 360 Bar & Grill at the top of Grand View has gorgeous views of the Sierras and Lake Tahoe. If you like to lose your shirt and sunbathe instead of shred (weird, I know) you can drop down to the bottom of West Bowl where it gets nice and toasty and grab a taco.

That's the basics kids. Start planning your trip now. This resort will get you amped on riding, make you fall in love with South Lake Tahoe, and always leave you wanting more. Hence, why I will always claim Sierra my one true love. I may cheat on her sometimes but she's still my number one girl.

Thanks to Sierra-at-Tahoe and their marketing department for showing me an awesome time. I'll be back next season.

Top photo: Out Gate 4
Bottom photo: Bashful park, rider: Devin Morales

As a wise man once said, "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'let's party!'" Of course, that wise man was Robin Williams and who knows if he's ever strapped on a snowboard in the spring, let alone, in his entire life but the man's got a point.

While most kids on spring break are smuggling drugs across the border to Mexico, losing their shoes, going home with strangers, and getting more familiar with the term "Spanglish" - snowboarders across the states are getting some of the best days on the mountain of their lives. Things have gotten out of hand. When people are claiming "too much snow" and doing backstroke to escape the trees in the month of March - you know Mother Nature has gone loco.

The conditions that exist right now are straight up unheard of; with numerous resorts claiming record breaking snowfall that is allowing them to extend their closing dates to late April and some even later. So because of that, we're coming up with a new spring break plan. Ditch the STDs and get the best spring snowboarding you might ever get...ever.

Mammoth Mountain might be the most ridiculous of these resorts. Second. Snowiest. March. Ever.

The amount of options that you have if you are riding there has been known to blow minds. It's a common occurrence to get fresh snow all day after a storm and with this past one dropping 10.5-17 feet in a mere week and a half, you don't really have a reason not to get up there at least once more. Even if another storm doesn't hit - Mammoth makes it a habit of staying open til July 4th and this year they are saying AT LEAST until July 4th with 50-feet of snow at the base. Houses are buried, street signs non-existent, and cars permanently in park in driveways. Bring on the packed groomers and slushy park runs.

More North in the magical land of Lake Tahoe, Squaw Valley also has had record breaking snowfall with a total of 691 inches. They recently announced that they are extending the season until May 30th - as in Memorial Day. Screw the drunken boat rides and disease-filled lake water, you need bluebird runs overlooking the largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada. Squaw is even offering a spring pass for only $199 starting April 4th til they close.

Speaking of Lake Tahoe, why not make it a multi-mountain spring break? Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe have had all-time winters as well. The latest storm dumped 156" on Sierra resulting in 700" total while Northstar has had the biggest winter in 25 years with more than 500 inches of snowfall. The tentative closing date is April 24th so you have the whole month of April to experience what these mountains have to offer: Tons of tree runs, progressive parks, local vibes, and small town party scenes. Shit - Tahoe is only a measly three hours from Mammoth - road trip? Genius.

We realize that California isn't the only state full of incredible late season conditions - we just can't afford to go anywhere else. Rumor is that Colorado probably has some snow and the resorts stay open pretty damn late. Some place called Jackson Hole might have more snow than anyone in the world too...we don't know.

So lose the speedos, tank tops, beer bongs, and bikinis (or get judged and wear them on the hill) - Spring Break 2011 is all about 50-foot bases, goggle tans, and park laps in June. Get yours.

Top photo courtesy of Mammoth Mountain, Pete Morning
Bottom photo courtesy of Sierra-at-Tahoe, Photo Kyle McCoy, Rider Curtis Woodman

Local. Laid-back. Legit. Lovin' it.

Sierra-at-Tahoe is the featured resort in SNOWBOARDER's latest "SPT Certified" episode and the Flow team cruised up there for a photoshoot for their 2010 film, "Witness the Sickness." If you've ever ridden at Sierra then you know that it's impossible not to have an epic time. If you haven't ridden there, you're blowing it - end of story. Quit attending amateur hour and check it out.

This resort is loaded with super fun tree runs that are easily accessible, tons of powder stashes out their backcountry gates, groomers for days, and terrain parks that are so all-time, your grandma will want to drop in.

For Flow's team photoshoot, Sierra's park staff teamed up with the riders to create an entirely rider-driven set up. Scotty Lago, Brandon Reis, and Jeremy Thompson share how it all went down - watch full video...

Spring riding is awesome. Spring riding in Tahoe is more awesome. Get the One Life Crew at Sierra-at-Tahoe, Jamie Anderson's home mountain, in the Spring and you have one ridiculously awesome situation. The girls jack Hannah Teter's parking spot, get a custom built park just for them, hit some street rails down by the lake, and get some pow turns in to top it off. Must be rough being them.

In Kjersti Buass' words:

"In this webisobe One Life ambassadors, Jamie Anderson, Chanelle Sladics, and I go to Sierra-at-Tahoe to ride and film the last days of the season. The best part was, we got to design the features a couple weeks before! Jamie's home resort was an awesome host and built a butter pad and a sick gap jump for us. Enjoy my edit people! One Life, its a movement!" - Kjersti Buaas

Check back every other Wednesday for the latest episode!

Watch full episode...