DOWNHILL DEVELOPMENTS FOR CALIFORNIA'S SKI RESORTS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS HAVE PROGRESSED AT A BREAKNECK PACE.

Byline: Richard Irwin Staff Writer

As the West Coast experiences a colder-than-usual fall, California ski resorts are looking forward to an abundance of snow this winter. And if it materializes, they'll be ready, having invested heavily in capital improvements to attract skiers to the slopes.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Lake Tahoe area, which is emerging as one of North America's premier ski areas. A new base village is under construction at Squaw Valley in the hope Tahoe can become a complete ski destination.

Intrawest, one of the world's most reputable resort developers, is investing $250 million in a 13-acre pedestrian village. When completed, the village will include 640 homes, as well as 80 shops and restaurants at the base of the mountain.

Remember the huge parking lot at Squaw? It's now a gaping hole. Construction workers are busy building underground parking for 250 cars, 139 homes and 19 shops and restaurants in the first phase of the project, slated to be complete in December 2001.

``The intent of the village is to create a place that promises to be the heart of Squaw Valley and the North Lake Tahoe region,'' said Tom Jacobson, vice president of resort development for Intrawest Squaw Corp.

If you've ever been skiing at Whistler in British Columbia or Mount Tremblant in Quebec, you're probably familiar with the world-class ski resort that has become Intrawest's trademark.

To make up for the lost parking and construction, Squaw Valley Ski Corp. has remodeled the Opera House Cinema in the far east corner of the parking lot into a new guest-services center. The center will provide rentals, ski school, retail and ticket sales.

A new six-passenger detachable chairlift also has been installed to carry skiers to the top of the mountain. The Far East lift replaces the Papoose lift, and will offer faster and easier access to Snow King Peak and a widened Easy Street trail. Squaw Valley has spent nearly $3 million to create the new Far East Entrance for skiers.

Meanwhile, the Squaw Valley Lodge has added a new wing with 40 units at the base of the mountain. The Resort at Squaw Creek has spent $3 million on a new spa at the luxury resort. The project doubled the size of the spa and fitness center from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet.

Intrawest has been busy at Mammoth Mountain, too. The resort, which is in the early stages of an extensive makeover, spent $11 million over the summer to install its first high-speed, six-seat chairlift and new snowmaking equipment in the Juniper Springs area. The new Doppelmayr chairlift will replace Chairs 15 and 24, trimming six minutes off the ride time.

``The new Eagle Express six-pack at the Juniper Springs base area will make access to the mountain more convenient ... especially for guests at Juniper Springs Lodge and Sunstone, our premier slopeside resort properties, located just steps from the lift,'' said Rob Perlman, executive director of marketing.

A new temporary base facility will house ticket sales, sports school, first aid, lockers and restrooms. A full-service bar and restaurant will be able to handle up to 150 skiers.

Snowmaking was added to trails that link Juniper Springs with Canyon Lodge and the Main Lodge. The addition of snowmaking will permit access to the mountain early in the season.

In addition to the on-hill improvements, the Mammoth Mountain Inn has built a new outdoor pool and spa. Construction will continue throughout the winter on a new restaurant and bar at the top of Mammoth Mountain. The dining room will be enclosed behind the glass walls of Mammoth's Gondola station at 11,053 feet, offering diners a spectacular view of the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Since 1997, Mammoth and co-owner Intrawest have invested more than $75 million in mountain improvements. Intrawest plans to spend $500 million over the next five to 10 years to create new lodging for 10,000 more guests. The projects will include new base villages and retail centers.

Intrawest isn't the only developer investing heavily in winter sports in California, however.

A surge in development has been experienced in South Lake Tahoe, while closer to home, significant improvements have been made at Wrightwood and at the San Bernardino resorts.

South Lake Tahoe has ambitious plans for two new hotels and the largest capital improvement program in Heavenly Ski Resort's 45-year history. A new gondola marks the beginning of a four-year, $250 million Park Avenue Redevelopment project.

The new eight-passenger gondola will carry skiers and snowboarders directly from the downtown area to the top of the mountain. It will serve as the cornerstone of the redevelopment project, providing skiers direct access from more than 5,500 rooms in the downtown area. This is sure to be welcomed warmly by anyone who has endured transit on Heavenly's school-bus shuttles.

``This project represents a major step forward in the redevelopment of downtown South Lake Tahoe,'' said Dennis Harmon, Heavenly's president. The total project encompasses 34 acres downtown, and will include two new hotels, an ice-skating rink, a multiplex cinema and a shopping village.

The new Doppelmayr gondola is scheduled to open in mid-December. Traveling 2 1/2 miles in 12 minutes, the gondola will be California's longest. With 138 cabins, it will boast the largest carrying capacity of any gondola in the state.

The top station is located at 9,156 feet of elevation just off Von Schmidt trail. Skiers can access two new intermediate trails, as well as the rest of the resort's 4,800 acres of skiable terrain.

A new ski-school area and a 14,000-square-foot midstation observation deck complete the $20 million capital improvement program. Next summer, Heavenly plans to build additional lifts, plus a new lodge and restaurant at the top of the gondola.

Kirkwood has replaced the Cornice Chair with a high-speed quad chair. The Cornice Express will carry skiers up to the top of the mountain in four minutes. For beginning skiers, Kirkwood has upgraded the Bunny Chair from a double to a triple chair, increasing its capacity by 300 riders per hour.

The Red Cliffs rental shop at the base of the mountain has been remodeled, gathering all ski and snowboard equipment in one place. Guests will also be able to purchase lift tickets at the rental counter.

The former Red Cliffs Snowboard Center has become the Kirkwood Children's Center. The facility will house day care and children's ski school registration.

A family snow play area will open next to Chair 1. A handle tow will carry tubers up the hill. Children can also race trays, make snow sculptures and take a ride on a snow volcano.

Kirkwood has purchased eight new snowcats to groom even more of the mountain this winter. Two have winches, allowing them to groom the advanced runs on the upper mountain.

In other Tahoe improvements, Northstar at Tahoe has added 200 acres of expert terrain with four new trails and a new express quad chairlift. The new rental shop at the base is also much larger.

Mount Rose-Ski Tahoe has built a high-speed six-passenger chairlift. The new lift will whisk skiers from the main lodge to the summit in 3 1/2 minutes. The resort also invested $1.3 million in new snowmaking equipment, which will cover 25 percent of the trails. The snowmakers should allow Lake Tahoe's highest base elevation resort to open earlier.

Sugar Bowl spent the summer expanding its snowmaking capability. The resort's snowmaking now covers 20 percent of the mountain, guaranteeing good early season conditions.

Sierra at Tahoe bought a new pipe cutter machine capable of building a half pipe twice the size of conventional half pipes. In addition, a new terrain-park specific snowcat will help groomers build better-shaped tabletops, berms, hits and other terrain elements.

Alpine Meadows is upgrading its terrain park and half pipe, and plans to build a broader cross course. The resort purchased a Super Scorpion, the latest in half pipe shaping equipment.

Just outside Los Angeles, Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood spent almost $2 million on improvements this summer. All capital projects focused on reducing the hassles of skiing.

New sales windows and information kiosks have been added to shorten ticket lines at the base areas. If you've ever stood in hourlong lines at Mountain High, you'll appreciate the new windows.

The West base lodge has been remodeled to provide easier access, and the deck has been expanded by 30 percent to offer more seating. Guests can take the resort's new shuttle up to San Andreas Grill, an upscale restaurant.

On-mountain improvements include two new handle tows at the half pipes. The new lifts will help in training and competition.

Snowmaking has been expanded by 20 percent, and a new glade skiing area has been added to the upper western part of the mountain. The area adds more than 50 acres of terrain, but since it is not patrolled, it is recommended for experienced skiers only.

Big Bear Mountain Resort has added a super pipe with 17-foot-high walls. Snowboarders and skiers will really be able to grab some air with the new pipe.

Elsewhere on the mountain, the new Quiksilver Terrain Park is being built where Gold Rush used to be. In addition, the Outlaw Terrain Park has been redesigned for intermediate and advanced snowboarders and skiers.

With nearly 60 percent of Snow Summit's clientele snowboarding, the Big Bear resort is adding a new super pipe. The new super pipe replaces the existing West Why half pipe. The new pipe is 15 feet tall with a 17-foot radius.

Snow Summit's new East Why Park will include rail slides, fun boxes, picnic tables and barrels so that riders can test their abilities.

Snow Valley Mountain Resort has improved its snowmaking systems to yield more snow if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate this winter. Skiers will also find a new restaurant at the small resort in Running Springs.

IF YOU GO

How California's ski resorts rank, according to Ski magazine:

1. MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN: Lift ticket: $54 (up from $52). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.mammothmountain.com.

2. HEAVENLY: Lift ticket: $57 (up from $54) Phone: [phone]. Web: www.skiheavenly.com.

3. SQUAW VALLEY USA: Lift ticket: $54 (up from $52). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.squaw.com.

4. NORTHSTAR-AT-TAHOE: Lift ticket: $52 (up from $49). Phone: [phone]. Web. www.skinorthstar.com.

5. ALPINE MEADOWS: Lift ticket: $52 (up from $50). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.skialpine.com.

6. SUGAR BOWL: Lift ticket: $50 (up from $48). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.sugarbowl.com.

7. SIERRA-AT-TAHOE: Lift ticket: $48 (up from $46). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.sierratahoe.com.

8. KIRKWOOD: Lift ticket: $49 (up from $46). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.skikirkwood.com.

9. SNOW SUMMIT: Lift ticket: $39 (up from $34). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.snowsummit.com.

OTHER MAJOR AREA RESORTS:

--BIG BEAR MOUNTAIN: Lift ticket: $35 (up from $32). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.bearmtn.com.

--MOUNTAIN HIGH: Lift ticket: $35 (unchanged from last season). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.mthigh.com.

--SNOW VALLEY: Lift ticket: $34 (up from $32). Phone: [phone]. Web: www.snow-valley.com.

CAPTION(S):

9 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Skiers at Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe will be able to reach the top of the mountain in a new gondola before racing down the region's steep runs, right.

(3 -- 4 -- color) Daredevils at Mountain High, below and left, will find $2 million in improvements at the Wrightwood resort, most designed to speed up lines at the base of the mountain.

(5 -- 6 -- color) Kids learn quickly at Mammoth Mountain, which has long been a family-friendly ski destination. The resort, which has always boasted outstanding terrain, left, is in the midst of a massive makeover.

(7) Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe is in the midst of its most extensive capital improvements since it opened 45 years ago.

(8) Skiers at Mammoth Mountain will find new snow-making equipment in the Juniper Springs area as part of $11 million in improvements made at the resort over the summer.

(9) Snowmaking has been improved by 20 percent at Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood. In recent years, nature has been fickle in the Southern California mountains but is supposed to be plentiful this season.

Box: If You Go (see text)