Google choose Squaw Valley to host thier annual employee ski trip. Stanley Chen writes in his blog:

“This week, Google employees were sent in three waves to spend a day at Squaw Valley over Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The Wednesday wave was apparently least popular, as most people opted for Monday in order to make use of a full weekend, in addition to the company-paid portion. It turned out that the Monday and Tuesday folk had to maneuver around large brown patches of dirt, while us Wednesday folk were treated with a blizzard, giving us fresh powder, replenished throughout the day. Unfortunately, that also meant we were going around blind for most of the day. I’m ever so glad I picked up a ski mask after the previous outing. Aside from the windchill, it wasn’t very cold, and I ended up needing to remove a layer.”
They even provided entertainment:
“Each night, they hosted a party featuring three themed rooms, including an undersea room, an ice room, where they had two chainsaw-wielding ice sculptors performing live, and a safari room, where an excellent 80’s cover band played all night, flanked on both sides of the stage by girls in tiger-print bikinis dancing in vine-draped cages. Throughout were various arcade games, the customary free food, bars (two drink tickets provided, you had to pay after that…) and some other more isolated rooms where the geekiest of Googlers could play board and card games. You get one guess where I spent most of the night.”
Big Al writes in his blog:

“Every year, the west coast offices go on a mandatory (yes, that means that to get out of going you need written approval from your director!)”

“That evening we had the most lavish party I have ever been to. You thought Slippery When Wet was good? You ain’t seen nothing. There were 3 themed rooms: the Polar Room was done out all in white, and had large ice-like decorations hanging from the ceiling. There were two guys (who looked like members of the Blue Man Group, but all in white) up on a stage with blocks of ice and chainsaws. They sculpted the ice into chairs, a table, goblets, a bear, a penguin, &c. Techno music blasted throughout the evening. It was unreal.”

“The Jungle Room had a giant plane of water cascading from the ceiling, upon which film clips of jungle animals/plants were projected. There was a fake banyan tree in the middle of the room. During dinner there were contortionists striking amazing poses. After dinner, we danced to an awesome 80’s cover band, whose name might be Tantric Sex. They were absolutely fantastic, and didn’t play a bad song the entire night. There were go-go dancers in cages on the sides of the stage. After a while, Lisa and Tiffany got up and danced in the cages, too! Our office has the coolest people ever. There were rumors that Eric Schmidt was on the dance floor somewhere, but I didn’t see him.”

“The Reef Room had projections of fish on the walls, and videos of undersea animals playing around the room. Everything was done out in blues and greens (with the exception of a couple white couches).”

Sebastian Writes (translated from German):

” In the photos one sees teammates and “Mentor” to mine; Vadim and me on the highest point (Squaw Peek) in 2700m height. Unfortunately Vadim seemed to find the sky more interesting than my skis.”

Jackie Writes:

“I ended up sitting near a bunch of engineers who talked (rather loudly) THE ENTIRE TIME about random nerdy shit. I feel that I might go deaf early from my iPod being on so loud for the duration of the trip. ”

“All in all the trip was amazing. I will work at this company until they tell me to go. They spoil you rotten. They really do. Everything that you read or hear about working here is a lie cuz it’s even better. Larry and Sergey are geniuses- I can’t imagine how they came up with such a brilliant idea. “Well, we have this internet company now. Lets just feed them, throw great parties, and take them skiing… yeah, that will keep them happy and forever enslaved to us… buahahahaha!” I just hope we remain successful for a long, long time… ski trips, free food/booze, and cool young peeps as coworkers are aspects I realize are out of the ordinary and are things I am extremely lucky to experience on a regular basis. Nonetheless, it’s a lifestyle I have grown accustomed to and that I hope perpetuates for the years to come. ”

“They go ALL OUT for us.. like all out. Everything is first class and just leaves you in awe. I had so much fun though dancing the night away to 80’s music and just enjoying all the ridiculousness that surrounded us.”
Well it looks like good times were had by all, only wish we were invited (note to self: get better informants).
Photos:

• Photo’s from the Google Party
• More photo’s from the Google Party

Blog Posts:

• sometimes-i-feel-like-i-have-to-take
• Early to Work
• I’ve been to the ‘mothership.’
• Big Al: Google knows how to throw a party
• Google’s European Ski Trip