We visited Sugar Bowl on a couple of occasions and the place has a certain likeable quality, but nothing to rave about. The terrain parks were a cut above the rest however with a few learner jumps and some big boy jumps which put the frighteners on when you're 10 feet in the air and wondering what to do next.

Like most Tahoe resorts, Sugar Bowl is blessed by an unusually high amount of California sunshine meaning that light jackets or even long sleeved tops are a possibility as skiing attire during the day.

One advantage to note about Sugar Bowl is that it is easily accessible from the bay area, maybe 30 minutes less commute compared to the big resorts on the Lake's edge. That said though, it didn't feature high on our favourite Tahoe resort list, mostly due to the fact that the terrain is quite bare and open, and we didn't find anywhere that can give you that backcountry feel which you get at other resorts.

Not bad Sugar Bowl, but maybe you need to open some terrain on the backside of the mountain to knock it up a gear.