North American Ski Training Center – Tahoe, CA

Author: Ski NASTC

  • PORTILLO (HEAVEN ON EARTH)

    Time to ski Chile, make this your summer! We’ve been taking groups since 1995. August 11-18 (Aug 10/19 travel), base price $5995

    Portillo, Chile is located 2.5 hours east of Santiago high in the Andes near the Argentine border. Aconcagua is within view when you’re high up on the mts there! Portillo is served by the most modern lifts, whisking you up the sides of the expert, advanced, and intermediate runs. There is something for everyone. With 400 beds and 600 staff, everyone is serious about skiing and about having fun! The resort is comprised of the two sides of a valley which drain into Lake Inca. The fabled Hotel Portillo sits overlooking beautiful Lake Inca. With all the snow of a maritime mt range (like CA) and the equivalent season to Feb (Aug being the 3rd month of the season), we usually ski lots of powder this week.! This is our 24th season in Portillo…we know a good thing and keep going back.  Its the PERFECT venue for an adventure skiing week. Ski, east, sleep, repeat. Throw in a visit to the bar/disco, gym, massage parlor, gym, indoor soccer/hoops, or movie theater and you’re living the dream!

    NASTC Portillo 2017

  • SUMMER FUN ROCKCLIMBING ON DONNER SUMMIT!

    What do you think about when daydreaming summer vacation? Lying on the beach, tennis, canoeing, more time for crossword puzzles? Whatever your pleasure, rock climbing is a fantastic sport to challenge yourself, learn skills to move safely and efficiently over stone, face fears, enjoy breathtaking vistas, and find a new dynamic with friends and family. Rock climbing is very refreshing and satisfying!

    At NASTC we hire only the best guides, with years of experience facilitating positive experiences on the rock, provide new shoes, harnesses and helmets for you, and create a memorable day or half-day for everyone.

    The nice thing is friends and family of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels can climb together! What a unique way to spend time! You can’t say that about most dynamic sports!

    Book your day on the rock or your rock climbing camp now, you won’t regret it. 530-386-2102

    explore tahoe differently

  • SILVERTON, CO 2028

    SILVERTON, CO 2028

    SILVERTON
    Silverton, CO is big mountain skiing at its best. This course is for serious powder skiers, no groomed terrain is available. You ski helicopter skiing type of terrain here in the Colorado backcountry without the expense and take your off-piste/side-country skiing skills to the next level as the terrain demands. Silverton is not your typical resort: you leave all the glitz and hustle of resort-skiing behind. What you get is fresh, untracked powder in a quiet and beautiful setting. While Silverton is a lift-accessed mountain (count it: one lift), there is some hiking involved, especially to get to the really good stashes.
    Do not be intimidated. Silverton Mountain is for advanced AND expert skiers. You must be comfortable on black diamond slopes, in variable snow conditions and hiking 5-20 minutes along ridgelines. All guests need an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe. No avalanche training is required. If you’ve skied some powder before, are in fairly good shape, and are excited to learn, you will enjoy Silverton. Its an amazing experience.
    We stay in downtown Silverton, a 15 minute drive from the mountain (did we mention the “resort” is at the end of a dirt road, after a curvy mt drive up to it?) You will enjoy lovely accommodations and gourmet meals after a full day of shredding around the huge expanse that is Silverton Mountain. We may rent a house and bring/hire a private chef (which do you prefer?)
    You’ll be in a skill/fitness-appropriate group, no more than 5 in your group with your personal trainer and guide. You will get top-notch guiding and personal instruction. On this NASTC course – perhaps more than any other – the terrain AND the staff both teach you. You will improve, its an amazing experience.
    Details:
    -Ski 4 days in private groups with Silverton guide and NASTC instructor
    -Fly into Durango 
    -Option to stay in hotel or private home 
    -Lunch included on the mountain, dinner ala carte together at local restaurants
    (chance we will have a chef along preparing breakfast and dinner TBA )
     
  • NEW! Teen Climbing Camp

    NEW! Teen Climbing Camp

    July 2-3 Summer Climbing Camps for both Youngin’s and Teens! Half day format

    Age 7-12 from 9-noon

    Age 13-17 from 1-4pm

    Price: $175 (includes shoes, harness, helmet, snack and T-shirt)…multi-camper discounts available, please ask when booking.

    To make your reservation, call 530-386-2102 or email [email protected]

    More info

    Click the paypal link to pay and confirm your reservation. You will receive an email with more information from us then.




  • TV ROCK CLIMBING STORY

    Here is an inside look to what your first time rock climbing would be like. Click on the video to watch as we take KRNV (My News Channel 4) sports journalist,Gianna Giorgi, and photographer, Julian del Gaudio, on their very first rock climbing experience. We had a great time introducing them to this very fun and rewarding sport and showing them our Donner Summit playground. We are fortunate to have world class granite right here in Truckee which is the ideal type of rock for climbing. We have access to a variety of climbs with all levels of difficulty. Learning how to climb really is as easy as it looks.

    http://mynews4.com/sports/exploring-our-backyard/exploring-our-backyard-rock-climbing-adventure-at-donner-summit

  • AIARE L1 Avalanche Class This Weekend-Space Available!

    AIARE L1 Avalanche Class This Weekend-Space Available!

    Price $450

    Dates: March 16-18

    Spots Available: 4

    JOIN US this weekend Fri-Sun March 16-18 and get your AIARE Level 1 class done! Get the most important snow know-how you’ll ever have. Each year more skiers are venturing into the backcountry lured by the opening up of resort boundary lines and the promise of pristine powder fields and underpopulated terrain.  However, with more access the risk has never been greater, and the need to know basic safety protocols, rescue techniques, avalanche hazard awareness and management are essential to survival and having a great time out there.

    The AIARE curriculum is a 3-day intensive seminar designed to give you an understanding of avalanche formation, “nature’s billboard” observation skills, the ability to use an avalanche transceiver and probe and how to dig a snow study pit.  This is a minimum amount of know-how if you want to travel, ski or ride in the backcountry or sidecountry safely.  There is time spent daily in the classroom and in the field.

    The goals of the course are as follows:

    • The student will be taught safe travel methods in avalanche terrain including trip planning and preparation, interpretation of the avalanche bulletin, observational techniques for snowpack, weather, avalanches, terrain analysis, safe travel techniques, and decision-making fundamentals
    • The student be will shown how to use various rescue equipment, and companion rescue protocols
    • The student will be taught how to execute mock rescues in the field
    • The student will be introduced to the avalanche triangle, weather, snowpack, terrain and the human factor
    • Attain Level 1 certification upon successful completion

    We will meet at 8:00am at The Cedar House Sport Hotel (Truckee, CA). We will begin promptly with an indoor orientation and classroom work.  Please be on time. Day 1 & 2 we will be in the classroom until lunch with our afternoons in field.  Day 3 we will spend 1-hr in the classroom and the rest of the day in field.  Our schedule will include indoor talks and outdoor fieldwork each day – be sure to dress in layers.  You will have a chance to change into warmer clothes for the field session.  The course runs 8:00am – 5:00pm each day with a break for lunch.  We suggest a bag lunch with snacks and plenty of water.

  • NASTC Photo Gallery: Kicking Horse and Niseko 2018

    NASTCNisekoHoward20181

    Chris, Jill, Howard, Dave, Laura, Jonathan getting after it Day 1 in Niseko, where its been snowing for weeks!

    NASTCKickingHorseFuezBowlPowder

    If you haven’t been to Kicking Horse, join us FEB 3-9, 2019…one gondola, 5th longest vertical in North American, and NO crowds!

    NASTCKickingHorseGroup2018BW

    Chris teaching powder skiing in the beautiful Canadian Rockies…KH is just west of Banff and Lake Louise. Stunning mountains!

    NASTCKickingHorseHeliChrisThinkingPow2018

    So much powder, no rush, helicopter below, good friends and my wife with me, does it get any better than this?

    NASTCKickingHorseHeliJennyChopper

    Clients voted for another run, smiles all around! Full day of deep, cold powder with fantastic people. #loveourclients

    NASTCKickingHorseHeliGroup

    Heliskiing with Purcell in Kicking Horse, BC

     

  • HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SKI JAPAN

    Happy Holidays NASTC Nation!

    We wish you and yours the best!

    There’s so much snow in Japan!
    Last minute gift shopping? Buy a NASTC Gift Certificate!
    We hope you will join us this Holiday Season in Tahoe to improve your turns, or for some guided backcountry skiing, or just to say hi…and we hope you’ll keep doing your snow dance and sleeping with a spoon under your pillow (or wash your car). It all helps placate the snow gods! The resorts are OPEN, and the skiing is good!

    But there is more snow in Niseko, Japan Dec 24 than the last 21 years! It’s a HUGE season in Niseko already, come ski powder with us Feb 23-March 3!
    The travel from the west coast is about like going to Europe for a ski week, not bad! You’ll fly into Sapporo, shuttle 1.5 hours to the resort (which is actually 4 huge, very modern resorts), go to sleep, get up and SKI!  You will ski powder, guaranteed! The storms blast this northernmost island (Hokkaido) practically nightly. We stay in a lovely hotel in the center of the base village, with beautiful rooms, outdoor bathes, and breath-taking view of Mt Yotai.

    This is NASTC’s 4th visit to this land of the rising sun and endless pow….a perfect training venue for advanced and expert skiers!

    During the week you will be treated to a variety of restaurants, sampling all sorts of Japanese cuisine and experiences.

    Imagine a day of ripping through fresh snow, followed by a soak in a traditional onsen (hot spring bath) watching the steam rise as snowflakes fall gently around you and dinner in a cozy traditional Japanese restaurant with sushi, steamy bowls of ramen, Japanese mixed grill and sake to fill your belly.

    After the clinic, consider touring Sapporo for a day, home of the Olympics AND the beer factory (yes, free tasting room). The dollar is strong right now in Japan, make this your year to go and save money.

    Includes: 7 nights lodging, 3 dinners, lift tickets, small group instruction all 6 days at 4 different mountains, ground transport, trip organization, cultural knowledge from local American guides $5995

    Feb 23 – depart the US
    Feb 24 arrive Sapporo’s Chitose CTS airport, and shuttle to Niseko
    Feb 25-Mar 2, 6 days of skiing
    Mar 3 departure day

    Want to check out NASTC’s other 2017-2018 camps? NASTC 2017-2018 Schedule

    If you can’t come to Japan, JOIN US AT Squaw, Iceland, an AIARE L1 or L2 course, or come backcountry skiing with us soon! We have new Avy Savvy, Intro BC, and Peak Descents….CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL SCHED
    We hope you’ll join us at one of these life-changing, magical locations. Give yourself or your loved one the gift of time, the gift of experiences, the gift of taking one’s breath away with awe! Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. …Life is a game: play it; Life is a challenge, Meet it; Life is an opportunity, Grab it! –Happy Holidays NASTC Nation!

    With great gratitude,

    Chris, Jenny and The NASTC Staff
    But wait there’s more: ski tips, ski recs and articles!

    Powder comes in a variety of different flavors from light blower powder to stiff harbor chop. Remember: light is right, be patient, focus ahead, and have a tempo.

    10 best places to find powder stashes at your resort:
    1.Boundary lines and beyond
    2. trees
    3. behind wind blocks, ie man-made fences or natural ridges
    4. underneath ridge crests
    5. peaks, the highest point on the mountain
    6. sides of trails
    7. north facing leeward slopes
    8. hard to get into spots (may have to rapel)
    9. At the end of a traverse line
    10. Follow patrol for newly opened runs (most resorts open terrain in sections, to keep ahead of avalanche control and to farm limited pow)

    For a great powder ski, try to Rossignol Soul 7 HD, your life will be changed forever! Its a great choice for our Japan Powder Ski Adventure Trip! Any try the Hestra Alpine Pro leather Fall Line glove, it will last for many seasons and keep you warm!

    And for your reading pleasure this holiday season, enjoy:
    Dangerous Game
    The Best Slalom Skier in The World

  • LAST MINUTE SHOPPING?

    GET THEM A POWDER SKIING CLINIC!

    Book between now and 5 hours and 39 minutes, and get FREE overnight shipping! Just kidding – but we are serious about the powder skiing part. We’ve got some snow (5″ new) in Tahoe (the skiing is really good!) There is GREAT snow at some other NASTC destinations like Niseko Japan, Kicking Horse, Big Sky (done, that was last week), Iceland, and we WILL definitely have it in time for our March 5-7 Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows clinic.  And stay tuned in, we sometimes add a clinic at Sugar Bowl, a great resort atop Donner Summit!

    NASTC is famous for teaching good skiers how to ski better, is that you? Come join us in one of these All Conditions All Terrain ski camps!

    All our Avalanche AIARE courses are full, however, you can get out and do a 1-day Backcountry  Skiing tour with us most weekends!

    We’ve got Avy Savvy, Intro BC, and local Peak Climbs!

    Email [email protected].

    Have a very Happy Holidays NASTC Nation!!

  • SKI SQUAW, SLEEP AT BASE

    SquawValleyLodge

    SquawStudioHow does this sound: sleep soundly between luxurious 400 thread count European sheets, on fluffy down pillows, waking up to the sound of patrol blasting light new powder? After a big breakfast and a warm cup of joe, walk a mere feet to meet your NASTC group for morning meeting and movement prep/stretching session? Then walk a few more feet outside, click into your skis, scoot over to the lift, and boom you’re being whisked up, up, an away, off for another day of great skiing and instruction at Squaw Valley USA. Lunch back in your lodge, Squaw Valley Lodge, so convenient if you want to change your goggles, socks, whatever :0) Ski more, enjoy an afternoon tech talk, walk over to dinner, and walk back “home” to your room to crash in those luxurious 400 thread count sheets again. More? Ok, get up and do it again, and again. THREE days of this! What are you waiting for? Rooms at the SVL are limited, book now with NASTC, we’ll get you the big discount! MARCH 5-7 $1525 incl 2 nights lodging, 3 days lift tickets&instruction, afternoon tech talk, video review, dinner, swag /// $1125 without lodging