New season, new puppy: Sugar Bowl welcomes newest member of its family

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Credit: Sugar Bowl Resort

Sugar Bowl Ski Resort is celebrating the newest member of its team.

Meet 8 week old Nova, the resort's new patrol puppy.

Monday was the first day on the job for the black Labrador Retriever. 

Nova will assist the resort's ski patrol team during avalanche rescues.

She joins three other avalanche rescue dogs that are a part of the elite Sugar Bowl ski patrol.

Nova is also the first of two new puppies to join the team.  

On Wednesday the patrol is set to receive the black Lab's litter mate sister, who has been appropriately named "Black Diamond."

The patrol uses the dogs during avalanche search and rescue efforts at the resort and elsewhere in the Donner Summit area. 

The puppies' arrival comes just as Sugar Bowl kicked off its new ski season on Friday amid "amazing" conditions.

Sugar Bowl officials say it was the best opening weekend the resort has seen in years. 

They say 34 inches of snow was on the ground as of Monday and the fresh new powder is making for ideal skiing and snow boarding conditions.