Press Release

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. October, 2013 - The Force is strong at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, which today announced a new partnership with Burton Snowboards and Lucasfilm. The 2,000 acre resort just outside of South Lake Tahoe will be home to the Burton Star WarsTM Experience, the first snowboard park in the world that features iconic Star Wars themes to introduce children as young as three to snowboarding.

Opening this Winter season, The Burton Star Wars Experience will combine Burton’s industry-leading Learn To Ride hardgoods, teaching systems and Riglet Park features with Jedi Master Yoda’s methods of balance, movement, and control.  At the Burton Star Wars Experience, kids as young as three can learn to snowboard with the help of Burton’s Riglet Reel, a specially designed reel attached to the nose of youth snowboards. Thanks to the Riglet Reel, coaches can tow kids on their snowboards so they quickly learn how to balance, move and control their boards.  Riglet Reel technology combined with Burton’s Riglet Park and Learn To Ride boards, boots, and bindings enhance and expedite the snowboarding process. 

“Our youth programs demonstrate that kids as young as three can start snowboarding if they are provided with qualified instruction that utilizes terrain-based features and equipment designed for beginners,” said Jeff Boliba, Burton’s Global Resort Director. “The Burton Star Wars Experience at Sierra will give ‘younglings’ this tailored experience so they can be successful at snowboarding at a super young age.”

When younglings come to Sierra Resort, they can enjoy two different sections of the Burton Star Wars Experience. The first is a room in the indoor Wild Mountain Children’s Center that will become the Padawan Center – a place for younglings to practice balance training, refuel with hot chocolate and prepare for a galactic experience. The second and centerpiece of the experience is Yoda’s Riglet Park, which will bring the galaxy to life with three themed interactive drop-in nodes that will each be utilized to teach groms how to properly “use the board”.  These nodes will have custom-made chainsaw carvings of Star Wars favorites R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca, Jar Jar Binks, Anakin Skywalker and others.  A carved Yoda will welcome kids into the park, while Yoda’s hand will show maximum snowboard height for eligibility into the park. Once kids successfully navigate Yoda’s Riglet Park, it will be time for them to hit Sierra’s award-winning family Adventure Zone, where kids can explore on magic carpets and user-friendly runs to help build their snowboarding skills.

“We are thrilled to take our relationship with Burton, the world’s leading snowboard company, to the next level. Sierra, Star Wars, and Burton are filling a void for youth in snow sports and at the same time building on our legendary Learn To Ride program. There is nothing like it in the world,” said John Rice, General Manager at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort.

In addition, Sierra Resort and Burton worked together to build the majority of Yoda’s Riglet Park using recycled materials. World-renowned wood carver Bob King shaped each Star Wars character from reclaimed wood while recycled hazard trees milled into boards were used to build each of the learning nodes. Even the foundation support beams were made from recycled scrap metal and old lift tower tubes. One of the nodes will also include a water break hut, which will show how snow turns into water giving groms an introduction into respecting nature, mountain etiquette and the ways of the Force.

The Burton Star Wars Experience at Sierra Resort is a full-day experience and will include the Burton Riglet Reel technology equipment rental, lunch, and plenty of interaction with Yoda and the other Jedi Knights. 

May The Force Be With You.

About Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort: Keepin’ It Real

With 480 inches of average annual snowfall, wind-protected slopes, incredible tree skiing, and 320 acres of backcountry terrain out the Huckleberry Gates, Sierra Resort is a bastion of the authentic California ski experience. For beginner skiers and riders Sierra Resort is home to the world’s only Burton Star Wars Experience, has over 100 acres of dedicated terrain, four beginner-only conveyor lifts, a $39 adult beginner package, and multi-lingual PSIA Certified Instructors. Sierra Resort is the place to learn to ski or ride in Lake Tahoe. For freestylers, a commitment to innovative terrain parks has led to Sierra Resort being recognized by TransWorld SNOWboarding as a Top 10 Overall Resort as well as among the Top 10 Best Parks and Pipes in the nation. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort embraces skiers and snowboarders who want to escape from everyday life and enjoy the simple pleasure of winter in the mountains.

For more information, visit www.SierraAtTahoe.com or call 530.659.7453.

About Burton

In 1977, Jake Burton Carpenter founded Burton Snowboards out of his Vermont barn. Since then, Burton has fueled the growth of snowboarding worldwide through its groundbreaking product lines, its team of top snowboarders and its grassroots efforts to get the sport accepted at resorts.  In 1996, Burton began growing its family of brands to include boardsports and apparel brands. Privately held and owned by Jake, Burton’s headquarters are in Burlington, Vermont with offices in California, Austria, Japan and Australia. For more information, visit www.burton.com.

About Lucasfilm Ltd.

Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully-integrated entertainment company.  In addition to its motion-picture and television production operations, the company's global activities include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, serving the digital needs of the entertainment industry for visual-effects and audio post-production; LucasArts, a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide; Lucas Licensing, which manages the global merchandising activities for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties; Lucasfilm Animation, which is currently producing content for film and television, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a CG-animated half-hour television series; and Lucas Online creates Internet-based content for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties and businesses. Additionally, Lucasfilm Singapore, produces digital animated content for film and television, as well as visual effects for feature films and multi-platform games. Lucasfilm's motion-picture productions include three of the 20 biggest box-office hits of all time and have received 19 Oscars and more than 60 Academy Award nominations. Lucasfilm's television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards.  Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in San Francisco, Calif.

Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.  All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.