Heavenly is one of the world's leading destinations for snowboarders, with an ever growing percentage of the resort's clientele preferring the ride rather than ski - a much higher proportion than at most other major resorts. Half of all North American riders currently take their main vacations in West Coast resorts.
One of the first of the Tahoe centres to welcome 'boarders (in 1988), Heavenly has continued to invest in snowboard-oriented attractions, activities and events. In 1999 it added two new terrain parks, a new half pipe, and created a new post 'Snowboard Product Manager' in the resort's management structure. The resort owns two snowboard-only retail outlets in South Lake Tahoe.
The two terrain parks are located on the resort's California side. Several additional terrain features are spread throughout the mountain and a pipe dragon is employed to maintain the pipes. A range of events and contests are staged throughout the season to help underline Heavenly's position as a 'boarders mecca. They include half pipe competitions and boardercross.
Around 70% of Heavenly's terrain is groomed nightly, making it a carver's paradise and the resort has added a Bombadiere halfpipe grinder to its already impressive grooming fleet.
