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Palisades Tahoe's 'Wiggle' Is The Best It's Ever Been

Originally posted on Powder | By Matt Lorelli | Last updated May 19, 2025 12:42 PM ET

Whether you call it a Wiggle, a Snake Run, or just plain fun, this spring, Palisades Tahoe, California is sporting one of the best skier-made runs ever created.

For those out of the loop, a Wiggle is an unofficial ski run created by thousands of skiers and riders descending the same line over and over again. As each rider passes through, the turns get deeper, the walls get steeper, and the fun increases.

Palisades skiers have created a Wiggle in Shirley Bowl adjacent to the Shirley Express lift for years, but there's something magic about the long and deep track created this season. It's unclear why this season's Wiggle turned out so well, but the buzz surrounding the run has permeated to social media.

As a regular Palisades skier, I sampled the Wiggle during the latter portion of the month of March and throughout April. It was fun to ski during these months, but varying temperatures, fresh snow, and a desire to ski other terrain led me to opt for other experiences.

I had to leave town for a couple of weeks at the beginning of May, but yesterday, May 18, 2025, I finally experienced this season's Wiggle in primetime conditions.

Temperatures plummeted below freezing the night before, and the resort woke up to a surprising 1-3 inches of snow at higher elevations. The Wiggle had been slightly refreshed, but the high May sun angle and temperatures creeping into the low 40s by the early-afternoon created a smooth surface with the perfect speed for Wiggle madness. I forgot to pack my GoPro (oops), but I took no less than six laps down the Shirley Wiggle throughout the day. I simply couldn't get enough.

The Level 1 SuperUnknown crew took a party lap through the Shirley Wiggle a couple of weeks ago. The walls have gotten significantly deeper since they filmed this clip, but it shows just how much fun one can have in the Shirley Wiggle this spring at Palisades Tahoe.

Tap or click the video below to watch.

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As you can see in the clip, the Wiggle turns are spaced in a way that allows skiers to throw a big slash on the berm, catch a slight burst of air in the transition, and then carve a big slash in the opposite direction. It's as fun and as addicting as it looks on video.

As of yesterday, May 18, 2025, some of the Wiggle walls have been carved out to an astounding six feet deep, and with a week left of operations, I wouldn't be surprised if they stretch to seven or eight feet before all is said and done.

The deeper the better, I say. The combination of yesterday's soft, but not sticky spring snow, and the ever-increasing size of the berms, allowed me to ski the Wiggle as fast as I wanted. It was easy to dump speed and easy to gain speed. Just want you want for a Wiggle lap. It was one of the highlights of my season, let alone this Spring.

As the word continues to spread about how much fun the Wiggle is at Palisades Tahoe this season, one can only assume its popularity, and the number of skiers riding it on a daily basis, will continue to grow.

Palisades Tahoe is the only ski resort still open in the Lake Tahoe area, but The Spring Skiing Capital's days are numbered. Weather and conditions permitting, Palisades plans to remain open for daily skiing and riding through Memorial Day, May 26, 2025.

Kudos to my fellow Palisades Tahoe skiers and riders. Our work on the Shirley Wiggle deserves to be celebrated. It's not everyday that thousands of skiers create the perfect Wiggle. This year, we did.