By Jackson Bartlett

Ski and snowboard season is close to being in full swing and with temperatures starting to drop in the Reno-Tahoe area, the resorts and students who frequent the slopes are priming themselves for the winter.
University of Nevada, Reno students have a multitude of options for skiing and snowboarding that cater to various economic and mobility levels.
Boreal Mountain Resort in Soda Springs, California offers $15 discounted Friday lift tickets for students with valid student identification. However, Boreal is 41 miles away from the campus and while that distance might be a setback for some, junior Sam Kenton said that it is still his best option.
“Mountains like Boreal are great,” Kenton said. “It sucks to drive that far, but it’s super affordable. I’m still paying less, all told, even after getting gas.”
Other resorts, such as Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, are closer to the campus, at roughly 27 miles away. There are round-trip shuttles that leave from the Atlantis, Peppermill, Silver Legacy, Circus Circus, El Dorado, and Grand Sierra Resort casinos to Mt. Rose between Dec. 20 and Jan. 3.
Pricier resorts, such as Northstar California Resort and Squaw Valley Ski Resort, offer other forms of entertainment including food, shopping, rock climbing and slacklining. UNR’s Winter Sports Club frequents these two mountains as they offer Olympic-grade facilities and runs.
“I love Northstar,” said junior Wesley Anderson, “It’s expensive, but the grooming in the park is unbeatable. I can ride [deep powder] and [groomed runs] in the same day, then kick back in front of a fire by the skating rink at the end of the day and have a beer. How can you match that?”
Jackson Bartlett can be reached at rhernandez@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.