Publisher’s note: Lake Tahoe News is providing a glimpse into what skiers and boarders can expect at Lake Tahoe area resorts for the 2010-11 season.

Sierra-at-Tahoe: Friendly vibes and fun rides provide the smiles

• Projected opening date: TBA

• Daily adult lift ticket: TBA; last season’s was $69

Pillows of powder on Castle at Sierra. Photo/Provided

• What’s new?: Sierra-at-Tahoe throws out the red carpet again with two new conveyor lifts for beginning skiers and boarders going to the top of Broadway on a 700-foot-long rug over expanded beginner terrain.

It’s easy to make sense of playing on the slopes as Sierra adds to its long list of deals – with computer alerts going out announcing the latest including private lessons, T-shirts, food, preferred parking and demo equipment up for grabs.

• What’s special about Sierra?: This ski resort is long known for its homespun guest service. During the storms, the best kept secret is finding wind protection at West Bowl and some of the finest tree skiing in the West. Stashes can still be found hours after the virgin powder falls and sometimes the next day.

Terrain includes high-speed cruisers and split groomed and ungroomed runs on powder days, allowing all riders access to the conditions of their choice. For behind the gates and freestyle snowboarding challenges, Huckleberry Canyon and nationally known snowboard parks including the South Shore’s only superpipe spawn the likes of Olympic boarders such as Hannah Teter.

• Last year’s snow total: 550 inches

• Lift hours of operation: 9am to 4pm weekdays; 8:30am to 4pm weekends and holidays

• Skiable terrain: 2,000 acres

• Number of lifts: 12

• Vertical feet: 2,200

• Directions: Head west on Highway 50 to Twin Bridges and turn left on Sierra-at-Tahoe Road to the resort.

• Website

— Compiled by Susan Wood