Howdy, fellow powderhounds...

The weather forecast is calling for new snow late this week, so the Powderhound is stoked! Even without it, there are plenty of ways to get outside and have fun in the Tahoe outdoors.

Even if you don't love to ski or snowboard, you can still experience the thrill of charging downhill on snow on a snow tube. Check out our feature on Tahoe snow tubing below.

And two North Lake Tahoe resorts are celebrating their racing history in the coming weeks. Sugar Bowl is bringing back the legendary Silver Belt race, while Squaw Valley is hosting its Raising the Rings celebration.

So make plans to spend some time in Tahoe,

--The Powderhound

Skiing and snowboarding not the only downhill sports you can do in the snow

If there's ever a reason to giggle with glee and smile widely with childish abandon it is while sitting or lying on top of a plastic snow tube, sliding and spinning recklessly toward the bottom of its slippery-slick course.

It's the perfect opportunity to feel young, no matter how old you are. No matter how out of shape you feel. There is little skill -- none necessary -- involved in the activity and minimal physical effort. That doesn't mean your youngster won't burn off the 10-pound sack of sugar he or she has managed to sneak in throughout the day. No, it's likely that after every whoosh of excitement on the effortless and fun downhill ride, junior runs at a full sprint toward the magic carpet to do it all over again, "one more time."

Click here to read the rest of the story

Squaw Valley hosts Raising the Rings celebration

Squaw Valley is pulling out all the stops with this week's Raising the Rings, a series of events both on and off the mountain, with proceeds benefiting a new Olympic Heritage, North Lake Tahoe Ski History Museum and the 2010 Olympic Heritage Celebration.

"When Squaw Valley USA won the Olympic Winter Games bid back in 1955, it was cause for celebration," said tourism director Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. "It was the first return of the Olympic Games to North America in 28 years. The party continues this (week), when visitors will get a taste of North Lake Tahoe's rich Olympic heritage with Raising of the Rings, and later in 2010 with the season-long 2010 Olympic Heritage Celebration."

Click here to read the rest of the story

Get ready for the Silver Belt Banzai with some Silver Belt history

A little bit about the history of the legendary Silver Belt race at Sugar Bowl:
The invite-only Silver Belt race helped put Sugar Bowl on the map in the early days of ski racing. Sanctioned by the California Ski Association, which later became the Far West Ski Association, the Silver Belt race survived from 1940 until 1975 and featured some of the biggest names in skiing... click here to read more

Get ready for the contemporary version of the race:
Sugar Bowl's Silver Belt Banzai is scheduled for Feb. 14 and 15. Qualifying and invited skiers, both men and women, will race for a piece of the $10,000 prize purse, with qualifying skiers competing in heats on Saturday to earn a spot in Sunday's finals.... click here to read more

Sign up for Powderhound and enter to win two Diamond Peak tickets and a stay at the Hyatt

Sign up for the Powderhound Report, our e-mail newsletter that will keep you up to date on what's happening in Tahoe winter sports action. Plus, all subscribers will be entered to win two tickets to Diamond Peak and a two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe.

Some of the topics the Powderhound is covering this winter:

• The Experts Corner. Top advice about everything from downhill to aprés ski, avalanche safety to driving in the snow
• Up-to-the-minute snow conditions
• Contests for lift tickets, free stays and more
• Quick updates on the most current ski events
• And many more!

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