Return to Winter | Sky Tavern | E81

Amidst a sudden return to winter with 5 to 8 feet of new snow after a 5 week dry spell, on this two-part episode, in the first half the boys cover the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics, seeing a Lake Tahoe Knight Monsters hockey game and field some listener calls on the COR LORD hotline. With big avalanches a near certainty, Pow Bot advises people to be smart during this stormy period, give the snowpack time to heal and abide the F.A.C.E.T.S. snow safety acronym. The second half is a discussion with Christopher Brown and Rick Reed of Sky Tavern, talking about the history of the largest and longest-running community non-profit ski program in America, why the operation recently implemented a no uphill access policy and some exciting news coming for the 2026 mountain bike season.

2:50 – PB drives to Santa Barbara for a surf/mountain bike trip, TW goes to Santa Cruz.

5:50 – Hasn’t snowed in a month but a huge storm is incoming.

7:30 – Skiing on dirt across the American West – one of the worst winters ever on record.

9:30 – Recording at Sky Tavern – discussing uphill policy – no uphill ski access currently.

11:30 – Going to see the Lake Tahoe Knight Monsters in South Lake Tahoe.

13:50 – Going roller skating in Santa Cruz.

15:00 – The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Milano Cortina.

16:12 – Ryan Wedding – Parallel Giant Slalom Olympian who turns Mexican drug cartel kingpin.

19:40 – Breezy Johnson got checkers in the downhill and Lindsey Vonn went wreckers.

20:40 – Czech Republic is now known as Czechia.

21:15 – Nordic skier wins bronze in Nordic skiing then confesses to cheating on his girlfriend.

22:00 – Weinergate – Olympic long jumpers injecting their dongs with fluid for more surface area.

24:30 – Downhill Phil is angry about the ICE CREAM MAN!

26:40 – Boyerman calls in with a report about wolves, localism, volunteering and the Olympics.

29:00 – Localism and giving back to the community – a true requirement of a local.

29:50 – Confirmed report of a gray wolf spotted in Truckee.

32:20 – Gordo talks about localism and people who brag about how local they are.

35:50 – Gordo calls in again – buy Indy Pass or buy the Mt Rose Double Down pass.

39:25 – On a Musical Note – PB recommends songwriter Josh Ritter and Royal City Band.

41:15 – PSA – 17 people have died in avalanches in Europe this season. Slow down and be careful during this next incoming storm cycle.

45:05 – Human factors with avalanches, abide the acronym FACETS – Familiarity, Acceptance, Commitment, Expert Halo, Tracks, Social Proof.

50:00 – Chatting with Christopher “Toph” Brown and Rick Reed about Sky Tavern.

50:45 – Toph grew up skiing Brian Head ski resort in Utah.

53:50 – New man-made snowmaking systems implemented in the last year.

55:45 – Sky Tavern Learn to Ski and Ride Program – longest running youth ski program in the country.

58:55 – Working to get more people involved, reduce costs for members and offer more programs.

59:30 – Is there a season pass that adults can purchase to ski at Sky Tavern?

1:06:35 – Why there is currently no uphill ski access allowed at Sky Tavern.

1:16:45 – Operational season at Sky Tavern is mid-December to mid-March.

1:18:25 – Is there avalanche terrain at Sky Tavern?

1:23:50 – What’s coming up for the summer mountain bike program at Sky Tavern.