What are good beginner and beginner-intermediate runs at Heavenly Lake Tahoe?

Question

I am going with one beginner snowboarder and I am beginner-to-intermediate myself. We are spending 1.5 days at Heavenly and the resort is huge, so I want to make sure we spend our time wisely and not get hurt ;-)

Answer 1

Without a definition of beginner, this is a hard question to answer. I would definitely not describe Big Dipper as a beginner run!

If, by beginner, you mean somebody who rides a chair, is turning in both directions but maybe having trouble smoothly linking turns then, in California the First Ride, Patsy's and Powderbowl chairs will give you access to Poma Trail, Patsy's, Maggies and Mombo.

If those are too easy, Ridge Run (off of Sky and Canyon chairs) is a long, wide blue groomer without too many challenges (there is a short, steeper bit just where the chairs gather).

In Nevada, from the Gondola, Big Easy chair offers access to a couple of short, straightforward trails. For a step up, Tamarack chair gives access to Orion which is similar to Ridge run - long, easy blue.

Off the beaten track a little is Olympic Downhill (access from Olympic chair). It's another long lazy blue designed for cruising. Easiest access to Olympic is from Comet chair or Stagecoach.

Have fun!

Answer 2

Heavenly is great. There are lots of intermediate runs, especially on the Nevada side if I remember. Try
The California Trail, 49er, Comet, Orion and
Big Dipper.

Answer 3

if you're a beginner, look into getting lessons. instructors are typically certified, at least where i worked, and we help you to perfect your form and can answer questions.

they work with you to teach you the best ways to board and which hills are the best for your ability level. call ahead and see if you can learn about the lessons that heavenly lake offers. idk anyone who took a lesson and regretted what they learned. have fun!

also, if you're not into taking a lesson, just grab a trail map. they're color coded with green circle being the easiest, blue squares being intermediate, black diamonds being expert and double black diamonds for very experienced riders only. take note of the fact that the hills are graded in relevance to that hill only. what might be a black diamond at one hill could be considered a blue square elsewhere. so always take a warm up run or two down a green circle just so you're ready and get a feel for their snow.

Answer 4

Very nice place to ski i skied there about a month and a half ago. you can probably ski about anything on the california side its nice my grand parents skiid it. nothing is very very difficult but they didnt have much snow and most recently theyve been dumped on so it should be fine just stay on the groomed runs.

Answer 5

the big dipper run