Resort offers safe snow tubing options

The winter season is in full swing. While some people are ready to face the snow with their snowboards or skis, others find excitement in different activities.

To broaden its winter sports options, the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, 6725 Lee Canyon Road, has added a supervised tubing area to Rabbit Peak, which caters to beginner skiers and snowboarders.

“Snow tubing is an activity that allows people, not just skiers or snowboarders, to come up and participate in an activity set in a controlled environment,” said Kevin Stickelman, president and general manager of the resort.

Snow tubing is made available as part of a multimillion-dollar master development plan that includes plans for 34 additional trails, six additional lifts, upgraded equipment and enhanced guest facilities.

The approximately 400-foot tubing hill will be maintained, groomed and supervised. There are three to four lanes planned on the hill for people to slide down.

The resort plans to offer snow tubing until March.

Advance tickets are available for 90-minute sessions for $20 and includes inner tube rental with access to a specially designed tubing lift.

No outside equipment is permitted in the tubing area.

Tubing is available for children at least 36 inches tall; however, lap rides are not allowed.

Participants are encouraged to dress warmly in layers, wear comfortable winter boots and show up an hour early to get the full one hour of tubing.

The designated tubing area is separate from the ski and snowboard terrain, which allows guests to ride in a monitored area free of stumps and hazards, said Stickelman.

“All sports have some sort of inherent risk,” he said. “We do everything we can to provide a controlled environment and keep participants safe.”’

Having a monitored area has been of particular interest to snow enthusiasts since January 2013, when an 11-year-old girl died on Mount Charleston after her sled hit a metal barrier in an unsupervised sledding and tubing area.

In addition, the resort offers skiing and snowboarding areas and lessons and has food and beverage facilities.

The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the winter season.

Snow tubing is set to be open weekends and holiday periods throughout the winter season. It is also available for private parties and groups on non-holiday weekends.

“We think this is a great introduction for people to get into snow sports,” said Jim Seely, marketing director at the resort. “It’s a family-friendly activity that everyone can try.”

For more information, visit skilasvegas.com.

Contact North View reporter Sandy Lopez at slopez@viewnews.com or 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.