Skiing near San Francisco and women’s skis.....

As usual, my plans for a second ski week have been thwarted, this year through lack of time. :( However, I will be going to San Francisco for a couple of weeks with work so am hoping to fit in a couple of days on the slopes. :D I don't really want to drive and accommodation for one seems to cost a fortune, however I've found a couple of companies (snowbomb.com and bayareaskibus.com) that run day trips to various resorts. Has anyone either heard of, or preferably used either of them?

Secondly resorts.... On the dates that I could feasibly go, I would have a choice of:

Heavenly
Alpine Meadows
Northstar
Sierra @ Tahoe
Sugarbowl
Squaw Valley (possibly, depending on exact dates)

Which would people recommend for a confident (on piste) intermediate?

Thirdly, skis.... As I'll only be doing a couple of days it's not worth the hassle (and cost) of taking my own so will need to hire. My own skis are Salomon Fever 152s, which I like, however don't feel particularly stable at speed (though this could just be my technique....) :oops: I was thinking of replacing them in the next year or so hence this could be a good opportunity to demo a couple of pairs and see what I think.

I'm 5'6, about 10-10½ stone (depending on chocolate consumption) and ski mainly reds. I want something that will still be suitable as I advance and also is going allow me to go off piste in the future as I'm hoping to take some lessons. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance :D

Lynn

Lynn, I've skied Squaw, Sierra@Tahoe, Heavenly, Alpine Meadows and Northstar. Years ago mind you ) All of those, have intermediate terrain. Squaw is probably the area with more advanced terrain. Tons of intermediate skiing at Heavenly. Northstar is probably the closest to San Francisco. For Heavenly you need to go round the lake!

I think (based on my stats) you're skis are a bit on the short side. I'd go up towards 160. Look at skis like Fischer Koa 73 or 78, Dynastar Exclusive Active, K2 T9 Burnin Luv or the Scott Maya for some ideas.

Thanks Bandit - much appreciated :D

Like you, I had to go out to SFR regularly and did a number of ski trips to Tahoe on the end of my business visits. Frankly, from the Bay Area, a day trip would be a bit like a day trip from the UK to the Alps! I used to do 3+ days of skiing, otherwise the whole thing wasn't really worth it. We always drove, although you could fly from San José to Reno you still had to transfer from Reno to Tahoe and it took just as long as a drive. Tahoe is a big lake, so if you're coming from the north (flying) then I'd go for Beaver Creek, but if you're driving from the south (out of SFR) then I'd go for Heavenly. Last day of the business trip, we'd swap our hire car for a 4x4 (remember, your corporate contract may not cover you for a private hire) and then get an early start. On the way back, you should be able to drive back to SFR International with time to spare for a 16:00+ flight home, but anything earlier might be pushing it. The Heavenly website is good and the ski area is pretty big, with lots of intermediate runs. We used to stay at one of the base areas, rather then in Heavenly town centre or by the lake, and walk to the lifts.

I am due out there in about 10 days time.

For local info tickets/rides etc from the bay area there is a group called skipals -bay area- found them to be really helpfull.

Goggle skipals and away you go.

Forgot to mention a company called Sports Basement for hire of Skis etc, from what I gather they have a good rep also v cheap 7 days ski hire $50 example