im moving to steamboat next fall, but I lived in tahoe last year..sierra has nice parks, good jumps and a pretty nice pipe. The bashful park there is the place to be(40-60ft). You can also get a season pass to both Northstar and sierra for 299$. I liked Northstar alot. It is just kind of crowded, but go during the week and its fine(good jibs/jumps). Alpine meadows has great terrain, and good sized jumps, but not the best rail and box sections. Kirkwood is amazing for just skiing, probably the best in tahoe. But the park last year wasnt that impressive until spring, when they put in a pretty nice jump line. I havent skied heavenly, but the park looks pretty nice, the pass is just a little more expensive. I would highly recomend sierra, just cause its real laid back, and has good shit to ride all over the mountain.