The two best areas in Tahoe are Kirkwood and Sugar Bowl (in that order). Snowfall is everything in the Sierra due to the tendency to ice up between storm cycles, and these two areas have it. Kirkwood is higher, deeper and bigger, but Sugar Bowl has a great combination of freeway accessibility and a friendly vibe. The patrol is also not afraid to open steeps and there are plenty there. If you stick to the gate-controlled terrain, you can often find nearly untracked pockets on a powder day at 1pm. For the intermediate, there is a good selection of groomers, but you will get bored with those after a day or so. The best terrain is under and to the right of the Lincoln lift and under and to the left of the Disney lift. With powder there is enough in those two zones to keep you happy all season.
Funny. Sugar Bowl for intermediates and beginners?
Ever skied Perko's or taken the PR to Megan's, Silver Bullet Face, East Gully, Middle Palisade or West Palisade? Obviously not.
I'm an expert off-piste skier with 35 years experience in the Sierra (averaging 30+ days a year and approximately 20,000 feet a day)...I go to Sugar bowl to ski the expert terrain not found anywhere locally...I mean, if you want to ski expert terrain with ruts and moguls, go to Squaw.
I have to disagree with the other poster. Beg / Int, sure but there are some super steeps out at the bowl. Go check out the Palisades and see if that is hairy enough for ya.