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.

Squaw Valley: Home of the 1960 Winter Olympics for good reason

• Projected opening date: Nov. 20

• Daily adult lift ticket: TBA; last season’s was $83

The flame from the 1960 Olympics still burns at Squaw. Photo/Kathryn Reed

• What’s new?: Right off the top, Squaw begins the season with a new chief executive officer, Andy Wirth, who succeeds Nancy Cushing. The wife of late founder Alex Cushing will remain as chairman of the board.

Squaw excels as a ski resort for big kids and real kids, with the latter touting an overhaul of the Belmont Park section into a children’s fun zone including a snow fort and kid-friendly bumps and whoopty-dos.

In addition, the ski resort is expanding its night skiing capability with improved lighting in the Riviera terrain park and halfpipe.

The resort has also added a “gates” ski clinic designed to enhance a rider’s all-around skills in slalom and Giant Slalom

Also on board is a new ski demonstration center and shop, conference center at the Olympic Village Inn, renovations to Squaw’s base lodge and an overhaul to the ground floor of the Gold Coast Lodge.

On the slopes, improved snowmaking and new state of the art grooming machines provide the finishing touches to a world-renowned resort.

• What’s special about Squaw?: The resort boasts legendary terrain that’s enough to stimulate Olympic skiers and guest service worthy enough to call it an Olympic resort.

• Last year’s snow total: 560 inches

• Lift hours of operation: 9am to 9pm (weekends); 9am to 7pm (weekdays) from Dec. 19, 2010, through March 27, 2011

• Skiable terrain: 4,000 acres

• Number of lifts: 33

• Vertical feet: 2,800

• Directions: Head north on Highway 89 and turn left at the Olympic torch and follow the Squaw Valley road that empties out to the resort.

• Website

— Compiled by Susan Wood