Where Culinary Magic and Tahoe's Heartbeat Collide
Nestled amidst the breathtaking wilderness of... Read Article
Escape the chaos and crowds at Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Incline Village's community-owned resort with affordable tickets, well-groomed runs for all ages and abilities, and some of the best views of Lake Tahoe in the region. In an industry dominated by profits, Diamond Peak takes pride in putting their community above all. For example, if you come here more than a couple of times, the staff and even some of the local regulars will know you on a first-name basis.
Diamond Peak strives to create a safe, fun and welcoming atmosphere for everyone who comes through. They offer affordable ticket prices, group and private lessons to help ease riders into more challenging progressions, and fun community events and clinics.
And how could we talk about Diamond Peak without mentioning the iconic views or their lovable mascot Penguin Pete?
I talked to Paul Raymore, marketing manager, and Jaclyn Ream, marketing coordinator, to get more insight into Diamond Peak Ski Resort, their incredible community and upcoming events. Below, you can read their thoughtful responses and learn why you should put Diamond Peak on your Tahoe winter itinerary.
Skiing down Crystal Ridge. Photo by Ryan Salm, courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
What are you most excited about for the upcoming season at Diamond Peak?
Paul: We tend to wait a little bit longer to open than some of the other Tahoe resorts because we like to open with premier conditions from the top of Crystal Express to the base. When the conditions are ideal, our groomers can really get in there to meticulously provide groomed runs for our skiers and snowboarders to enjoy. If we get lucky and Mother Nature cooperates, we can open additional terrain on some of the other runs or even off-piste, which is a huge bonus.
We’re definitely excited about opening day this year as we have upgrades to our snowmaking system as well as a brand-new snowcat that we purchased. Both of those will help ensure that we have premier and consistent snow conditions all season long, which is something that I think we've become known for around Tahoe. We really take pride in our high-quality snowmaking, and our grooming team takes pride in providing a consistent snow service throughout the season.
Those investments will help with the consistency of conditions throughout the mountain and ensure our customers enjoy their experiences here. We also have a new backcountry gate that we officially opened at the top of the resort. Riders who are looking to access the backcountry can now do so at Diamond Peak, right outside the resort boundaries.
We want our riders to come fully prepared to be in the backcountry and realize they are leaving resort boundaries and all of the built-in safety precautions that come with being at a ski resort. We want to emphasize the importance of education and proper gear needed to travel safely in the backcountry. We’re excited to offer this new feature and hope everyone enjoys it!
Snowmaking at the base of the resort. Photo courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
What makes Diamond Peak so unique in comparison to other local resorts?
Jaclyn: Diamond Peak is known throughout the region for being a great place for families and beginners, but what a lot of people don't know is that we also have amazing glade skiing. The resort is easily accessible from the parking lot, and we also offer a shuttle service for busy days. We host a lot of fun events and clinics and are proud of our welcoming local community vibe. And of course, our views!
A snowboarding lesson on the iconic Crystal Ridge. Photo by Chris Bartkowski, courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
Why is Diamond Peak a top destination for beginners and families?
Paul: In terms of learning the fundamentals and progressing to more advanced levels, we pride ourselves in being recognized for our family-friendly and beginner-friendly lesson programs here at Diamond Peak. Often, we have entire families enroll in lessons, and we have taught generations of skiers and snowboarders here. It’s a great way to build lasting memories, skill development and confidence in young or new riders.
We offer a wide variety of private and group lesson options for all levels, ages and desired goals. For our youngest skiers and snowboarders, ages 3 to 6, we offer a Child Ski and Ride Center with their own dedicated learning area and magic carpet. These classes are fenced off from the rest of the resort to ensure they get to learn in a safe, welcoming, and fun environment.
For first-time riders, we have them start their lessons in another designated learning area, and then have them progress to gentle bunny slopes once they feel comfortable getting on a chairlift. For these, we offer youth (ages 7 to 12) and adult (over 13) group lessons as well as private lessons for a more personalized approach.
We have great terrain for beginners and intermediate riders looking to make progress, and they can do that in lessons or on their own. As our resort sees fewer crowds, our riders can enjoy a pressure-free environment, which can help them mentally ease into more challenging terrain. As well, our groomers work tirelessly to ensure our runs have safe and consistent conditions that are ideal for our riders to practice on without worrying about snow imperfections.
Jaclyn: I would also like to mention our Trail Progression Chart, which is located on the side of our trail map. This is a fun way to check off your progression runs and to see your progress. It’s a great way to keep our riders motivated!
Diamond Peak is fun for all ages and abilities! Photo by Chris Bartkowski, courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
How would you best describe the community at Diamond Peak?
Paul: The community is what really makes this place special and stand out from other resorts. As we’re community-owned, we really strive to place customer service and experience above profits.
We also see multi-generational families come up here to ski and snowboard. Here, we have families where the grandparents learned to ski back when it was called Ski Incline. They taught their children to ride here, and now that generation is teaching their kids to ride here. We see a lot of families call this place home, and we take a lot of pride in providing them a safe space to grow.
Also, the fact that we’re here in the mountains and right near Lake Tahoe, we appeal to a lot of outdoorsy and active people. Not only do they place an emphasis on health and fitness, but they are very welcoming and love to offer advice. It all helps to add to the friendly and upbeat, energetic vibe you get here at Diamond Peak. Certainly, most of the ski resorts here in the Tahoe region, I would say, are full of friendly locals and staff members. But here, if you come through a couple of times, we will most likely get to know you on a first-name basis, and you’re guaranteed to make great friends and memories!
We also host a variety of events and clinics throughout the year and encourage people to attend. Some of our clinics include the Skisters Women's Clinics and Seniors (ages 55+) Clinics. They're a great way to improve your skills and meet our community.
Diamond Peak has a warm and welcoming community, as seen here in the Seniors Clinic. Courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
Diamond Peak is also well-known for having incredible views of Lake Tahoe. Where can you find the best views?
Paul: Our panoramic views of the lake are certainly a main reason people choose to ski here for the first time and one reason why they keep coming back!
Certainly the number one spot to see Lake Tahoe would be from the top of the mountain on Crystal Ridge Run. This is the classic view that you will recognize from many of our marketing and social media photos. You will definitely see a lot of photo sessions and selfies there!
I also always recommend that people visit Snowflake Lodge for lunch or an après ski drink. The ski deck offers panoramic views of the lake and serves as a great place to take a break. You also don’t have to be an intermediate or advanced rider to access this place.
You can even get views of the lake from our beginner-run Lodgepole and the sundeck of our base lodge. We are definitely blessed with some of the best scenery here in Tahoe, wherever you choose to go!
Diamond Peak boasts incredible views throughout the resort. Photo by Chris Bartkowski, courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
What exciting updates do you have for the upcoming 2024-25 season?
Jaclyn: We’re thrilled to offer a new 3 Day Flex Pass this season, which comes with three lift tickets that are valid any three days you like. They can be used any day you like, including during the holidays and weekends. This pass offers a lot of flexibility and is on sale at a special price through Cyber Monday.
Right now, our regular season passes are on sale at pre-winter prices through December 20 for those who want to commit to a season pass.
Paul: We also have an interchangeable parent ticket, which can be very convenient when parents want to switch turns for childcare duty while the other skis or snowboards. It is the same price as a regular adult ticket, and all the parents need to do is ask for the interchangeable pass at purchase or pickup.
A snowboarder enjoying fresh powder. Photo by Ryland West. Courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
Diamond Peak is also well-known for their events. What are your favorite events?
Paul: We have a lot of fun events here at the resort, and you don’t even need to be a skier or snowboarder to enjoy them! For example, Ullr Fest is an annual evening event that celebrates all things winter. You can enjoy a torchlight parade and bonfire right here at the base. And the event benefits the Diamond Peak Ski Team.
The Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill Festival is also a community favorite. It’s a family-friendly SkiMo competition – basically an uphill race to the top of the mountain and fun ride down. Everyone comes dressed up in costumes, and it’s just a great time. We encourage everyone to participate in any way, whether that’s joining the competition or cheering them on and celebrating at the base.
Dummy Downhill is our big spring event and another community favorite. People build dummies on skis or snowboards and launch them off a huge jump. Everyone in the base area is celebrating and cheering the participants on. It’s a great way to celebrate the last days of the season!
Jaclyn: We also love to celebrate birthdays! We offer free lift tickets on your birthday, and if your birthday falls on a day outside the season we have a special day where we celebrate Unbirthday Day.
A couple enjoys the views and beverages from the Snowflake Lodge. Courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
Diamond Peak is also committed to practicing and encouraging sustainability measures. Can you tell us more about that?
Paul: Diamond Peak is not only a community-owned resort, but also falls under the umbrella of IVGID, the Incline Village General Improvement District. IVGID is the local government entity that owns and operates the resort, and they operate under the Waste Not mission, which encourages and provides programs for sustainable practices. We collaborate with that team to try to bring in the best sustainability practices here.
In the past, we've also worked with external organizations that have consulted with us on sustainability options, whether that was STOKE certification or the National Ski Areas Association’s Sustainable Slopes Program. Being in the outdoor business, we certainly realize that sustainability is a key issue both for our industry and our customers. So, we are always trying to do what we can to ensure that we have winter and great skiing and riding conditions for future generations to enjoy.
Want to go?
Visit Diamond Peak’s website for more information, tickets, lessons, and upcoming events.
Sunset as seen from the Diamond Peak webcam. Courtesy of Diamond Peak Ski Resort.
About the Author Kirsten Alexis
Kirsten is an outdoor adventure enthusiast, writer and photographer. You can typically find her hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing and checking out new spots to share in the Tahoe Donner region. She has been lucky to call Tahoe her second home since she was a child and aims to inspire people to experience Tahoe and fall in love with the beauty and adventurous spirit of the region through her blogs and content. 
