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Table Of Contents Date

Publication

8/26/2014

Sherman's Travel Blog

6/20/2014 5/1/2014 1/27/2014 12/16/2013

Men's Health Avid Golfer Family Circle Vogue

12/2/2013

CNN Travel

9/23/2013

Triathlete Europe

9/20/2013

Capital Public Radio

9/20/2013

RGJ-Online

9/18/2013

KRCA

9/1/2013 8/15/2013 3/1/2013 2/11/2013

Franchise Times Triathlete National Geographic The Wall Street Journal

10/22/2012

Fox News

2/1/2008

Dirt Sports

Title 7 Spots for Beginners to Lean Stand-Up Paddling The 10 Manliest Races in North America In the Pure Air Up There Winter Olympics-Inspired Travel Six Snow-Filled Winter Getaways 15 Lesser-Known Ski Resorts to Check Out This Winter McDonald & Lundstrom Win Ironman Lake Tahoe North Lake Tahoe Hosts Ironman Iron Woman: Reno's Liz Lyles Will Vie for Ironman Lake Tahoe Title on Sunday Lake Tahoe Ironman Triathlon Draws Thousands to NorCal Event Just for Kids Course Recon: Ironman Lake Tahoe Top 10 Emerging Ski Towns Resorts Open Unbeaten Paths Own a Piece of a Karate Franchise and Keep Your Day Job Chasing Baja's Ultimate Dream

7 Best Spots for Beginners to Learn Stand-Up Paddling August 26, 2014 by Jill K. Robinson

The fastest-growing water sport in the world, stand-up paddling (also known as SUP) is an easy sport to learn, despite looking like you need to be a master of balance to even think about it. Sure, balance is an important element, but if you can walk down the street without falling over, you’ll usually be fine. Want to learn the basics on your next vacation? Here are the best places to try it out: Kauai, HI With a varied coastline, plus inland jungle rivers, Kauai is a great place to start out with SUP. One of the best spots for beginners here is the Wailua River, in the middle of Kauai’s eastern coast. Protection from surf and wind means you can focus on your own balance without worrying about other elements trying to throw you off the board. That’s when everything seems to shift into island time. Take a lesson or rent a board from Kayak Kauai. Lake Tahoe, CA With more than 72 miles of shoreline, including sandy beaches and rocky inlets, Lake Tahoe is ideal for visitors to explore from the water on stand-up paddleboards. Online maps offered by the Lake Tahoe Water Trail Association break the 72-mile shoreline into seven segments — perfect for day trips. Rental opportunities abound, and public agencies in California and Nevada ensure good launching spots. Get your south shore rental from South Tahoe Standup Paddle, try SUP Yoga with Balance Bodyworks, or go to camp with SUP with Nicole. Half Moon Bay, CA Half Moon Bay may be home to big wave surf spot Mavericks, but you can stay safe with a SUP session in Pillar Point Harbor , protected from the surf and ocean surge. Paddle as fast or as slow as you like to take in the scenery and local wildlife — think: California sea lions, harbor sealsm and an ever-changing list of migrating birds — while staying safely within the harbor boundaries. Rent a board from Half Moon Bay Kayak Company or Mavericks Surf Shop. (Full disclosure: Our writer’s husband is an owner at Half Moon Bay Kayak Company, but we promise that’s not the only reason she loves it!) Yampa River, CO The Yampa River begins in the headwaters of the White River National Forest and continues on to the Utah border, where it meets up with the Green River. Catch it flowing through the heart of Steamboat Springs for a river stand-up paddle session, involving an inflatable board. The best way to learn how to SUP on a river is with a lesson, where you’ll get the down-low on handling

small rapids and the nature of changing water. We suggest taking your lesson with Steamboat Paddleboard Adventures. Black Canyon, AZ The Colorado River’s Black Canyon is a 600-foot-deep cleft in the basalt of Nevada and Arizona’s desert. The jaw-dropping beauty of the canyon and its jewel-toned water should be experienced at leisure — always a good reason for a camping trip. See how easy SUP camping is with a day trip or overnight with Try Stand Up. Learn the ropes, and you may soon find that you’re planning overnight river excursions close to home. Key Largo, FL There are so many areas in the Florida Keys to paddle that it can seem overwhelming as a SUP destination. Close to Key Largo, Paddle the Florida Keys offers a variety of routes for SUP renters to test their skills. Also offered are eco-tours of the Florida Bay and Key Largo Region. Want to have a bro-tastic day on the water? The “party rental” boards fit from four to eight people. (Pro tip: We think paddling your own board is actually more fun.) New York CIty, NY Stay with me here. Even in New York, it’s possible for stand-up paddlers to get out on the water, and there’s plenty for you to choose from — whether you’re into SUP basics, yoga, boot camp, race training, or romantic twilight paddles. Tourists and locals alike get great views while being out on the water with Manhattan Kayak Company. Remember to bring a change of clothes, so you can go out afterward. - See more at: http://blog.shermanstravel.com/2014/08/26/7-best-spots-for-beginners-to-learn-standup-paddling/#sthash.kRLAHMc2.dpuf

The 10 Manliest Races in North America We found the toughest, most macho courses on the continent By Yelena Moroz, June 20, 2014 When the United States was growing, men performed noble tasks like trekking the wilderness for new land or hunting wild game to feed their families. You too should feel the urge to tap into your manly ambitions—you just lack the time of our forefathers. But if you're into sports like biking, skiing, or running, these intense races can serve as a way to feed your macho needs. From the bright lights of Las Vegas to harrowing winter peaks, the following 10 endurance events embody the ruggedness that is manhood.

Gore-Tex Grand Traverse “We come to worship the church of pain,” tout participants during the pre-race prayer of this backcountry ski traverse that begins at midnight in Colorado. The 40-mile track can take up to 16 hours of combing through the Rocky’s Elk Mountain Range as racers climb more than 7,800 vertical feet through challenging terrain, including Death Path, a steep cliff where losing traction means sliding down 200 feet into a frigid creek. Participants must find their own route to checkpoints and know how to erect a camp within minutes. “Staying mentally alert at 4 a.m. and maintaining Zen with your partner are challenges that are often overlooked,” says Bryan Wickenhauser, race co-director and three-time winner.

Tour d’Afrique North American Epic About 20 cyclers will ride for more than 6,000 miles during the nearly four-month trek from Anchorage, Alaska, to Mexico City, Mexico. (Before you think about signing up, make sure you can cycle at least 60 miles per day for multiple days in a row.) The itinerary includes amazing locales like the remote Alaskan Highway, the Yukon Territory, Yellowstone, Utah’s Canyonlands, the Grand Canyon, Baja’s cactus fields, and old colonial towns in central Mexico. You’ll deal with fluctuating weather and road conditions—one day you’ll be fighting off swarms of mosquitos, a few days later combating dessert dust. By the time you make it to Mazatlan, a round of tequila is in order. (tourdafrique.com)

Escape from Alcatraz Triathalon Find your inner Clint Eastwood by completing San Francisco’s iconic triathlon. Your first feat: a 1.5-mile-swim in the 55-degree waters of the San Francisco Bay adjacent to The Rock. All 2,000 competitors unload from the ferry in less than six minutes, meaning that if you don’t paddle quickly, you’ll get jumped. You’ll then pedal up hills for the next 18-miles—some are so steep that going 2 miles-per-hour will be excruciating—to Golden Gate Park where you start the 8mile trail run. If that’s not bad enough, eventually you reach the deep sand of Baker Beach, where a dreaded 400-step “sand ladder” is in your way before the finish.

The Iditarod Trail Invitational If you don’t have dogs that mush on command, this is the next best thing. You can hike, ski, or bike the 350-mile traverse, and the first checkpoint is 57 miles into barren Alaska. Competitors face subzero temperatures and gale-force winds that could wipe out all visibility. Navigating this frozen land on two wheels might seem crazy, but that’s exactly what men did during the Nome Gold Rush in 1900. Completing one of the most remote and longest winter Ultra races in the world might just give you enough pluck to start training for the 1,000 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon Racing on the Strip is essentially running in a neon-lit block party. Unlike most crack-of-dawn races, the Sin City marathon and half starts at 4:30 p.m.—giving you plenty of time to recover from partying the night before. The weekend-long event comes with admission to the pre-race concert and post-race nightclubs. Because after your race, you deserve to see ladies dancing on VIP tables at Tao.

IRONMAN Lake Tahoe Completing an Ironman is a feat, completing an Ironman more than a mile above sea level is astounding. The Lake Tahoe circuit is said to be the most challenging Ironman race in the world. “Everyone will have more difficult time breathing,” says Keats McGonigal, west coast operations manager for Ironman. “Plus, the total elevation gain on this bike course overshadows the hill profiles at other Ironman races.” Stock up on those gel packs because you’ll be pedaling upward 8,000 feet along the 112-mile bike course. Plus, you can finish the marathon portion like an Olympian in Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 winter games. (ironman.com)

Ragnar Relay Washington D.C. The 200-mile relay is ideal for patriots and history buffs. Exchange points and paths include Fort Frederick, a pivotal landmark during the Revolutionary War; Antietam Battlefield, a spot known for the Civil War’s bloodiest day; and Mount Vernon Trail along Arlington National Cemetery with rewarding views of the Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Memorials. Nature enthusiasts

will have their share of vistas as well—the lucky guy running the third leg will ascend 1,200 feet in just over 2 miles during his 7.8 mile run through Green Ridge State Forest.

Hotter’N Hell Hundred One hundred miles in 100-degree heat sounds downright suicidal—yet, more than 12,000 cyclers choose to test their limits under the Wichita Falls, Texas, sun each year. The race was established in 1982 to celebrate Wichita Falls’ centennial and the tenacity of its early settlers. Here is your chance to find the pioneer within, one who won’t be deterred by stove-top-hot concrete. (hh100.org)

Tuckerman Inferno Competitors of this New Hampshire adventure pentathlon finish by skiing or snowboarding down the 280-degree bowl of the Tuckerman Ravine—a tribute to the American Inferno ski races of the 1930s. The mountain drops 4,300 feet in 3.6 miles, so don’t be surprised if it feels like you’re falling down an elevator shaft. Before you take this legendary slalom, get ready to run 8.3 miles, kayak for 5.5 miles through Class II rapids, bike 18.2 miles, and then hike 3 miles uphill.

The Bourbon Chase When it comes to stamina, Octoberfest has nothing on the 200-mile relay race along Kentucky's Bourbon Trail. (Yes, delicious bourbon awaits you at the finish.) Teams of 12 must alternate running 36 legs, day and night, for about 30 hours through Bluegrass country’s distilleries— including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, and Wild Turkey. The winning team is awarded with tailored gift baskets filled with specialty bourbon, signed by their master distiller.

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Air Up There Searching for a long weekend getaway? Head out to the m o u n t a i n s o f R e n o / L a k e Ta h o e . BY MICHAEL HILLER

You don't need a reason. Grab your clubs, a sleeve of balls, a bottle of sunscreen, maybe

a golf hat (the blue one with the frayed brim and sweat stains is probably in your car trunk). Empty your gym bag. In go four shirts, three boxers, two shorts and a pair of jeans. The mountains don't care how you look. The bears don't care that you smell. You, on the other hand, are about to feel liberated. You're heading up and to the west.

W W W. M YAV I D G O L F E R . C O M

A golf trip to Reno and Lake Tahoe is that rarest of summer escapes, a long weekend that unspools like a miie of kite string tugged by the wind. You'll have to spend a few minutes filing a flight plan - where to stay, who to take - but if its any more tax ing than calling Avis and Uber, you're building a rocket instead of a glider. The best kind of air is mountain air. The best mountain air?

That's easy. It puffs up from Lake Tahoe (elevation 6,224 feet), where it buffs the sky into deep hues of blue and purple and makes the last five holes on Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course look like a jar of crayons. You tell yourself the cobalt sky, the indigo water, the emerald fairways and the lanky sugar pines can't be real. But they are real. And they're spectacular. This is why you take the long weekend.

George Fazio designed Edgewood Tahoe in 1968. Except for some conditioning issues (probably remnants from Charles Barkley's instructional rounds here with Hank Haney), the site of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship each July hasn't lost a bit of its sheen. My favorite hole, the 547-yard 16th, runs down to the lake. Fazio placed bunkers in just the right places (right and left of the landing zones, plus guarding the green), a solitary pine in the wrong place (the middle of the fairway) and the dance floor in the best place of all (adjacent to the lake).

Not a lot has changed since the course was built a half-century ago. Nephew Tom Fazio has tweaked the course since then, improving sightlines of the lake and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but the layout remains the area's best. The town of Edgewood, on the other hand, seems content to remain relatively unchanged since its 1960s heydays. If you're into $12.95 casino buffets, food truck breakfast burritos and grocery store doughnuts, you'll find plenty to like. That time warp has been a drawback for the golf course, whose $240 peak season green fee doesn't jibe with laid-back Edgewood and its drab hotels. To combat that, a new 150-room luxury lodge

is set for construction on the golf course property this season, which means hole Nos. 3 and 9 will have to find new homes.

When you've had your fill of Harvey's and Harrah's casinos, weave your way to the north side of the lake to Incline Village. Where Edgewood Tahoe is all about the lake, the Championship Course at Incline Village is all about the foothills. The air is no less rarifled on the north shore, but the vibe is decidedly more

upscale. So while you might not be smacked by one of Charles Barkley's errant shots, Incline Village resident Annika Sorenstam might give you a tip or two. Robert Trent Jones built Incline Village's Championship Course in the early 1960s, about the same time he was working on Mauna W W W. M YAV I D G O L F E R . C O M

Keas golf course on the Big Island of Hawaii. Both courses share a number of design elements, from flat, saucer bunkers to narrow fair ways to tricky greens that conspire to create l40-plus slope ratings. As good as Edgewood Tahoe and Incline Village are, you'll find more top shelf golf at a bakers dozen of courses less than a half-days drive away. Truckee, a blur of a drive across the Cali fornia border on Interstate 80, has a full plate of good golf. For my money, though, I like to head up to Reno, the "biggest little city in the world," and to Somersett Golf and Country Club, in the nearby foothills. The Tom Kite-designed course is worth any trouble it takes to secure a tee time (have your club pro call the pro at Somersett to set it up). Kite found his rhythm on the back nine, but a few holes on the front will leave you scratching your head. Surveying No. 7 from the tee box, for e.xample, you'll wonder if 500 bunkers arc too many for a single fairway. I'll bet Kite looked back from the green and wondered the same thing, too. OK, so maybe there aren't 500, but you'll get the point when your ball lands in one of them. Zephyr winds pop up from nowhere on the 7,252-yard par-72 course, but the lakes, waterfalls, wooden 86

AV I D Q O L F E R

bridges and those crazy white sand bunkers make Somersett a whole lot of fun.

Limp comparisons between Reno and early Las Vegas arc inevi table, though Reno, which sits at a higher altitude, offers cooler summer temperatures and a jackpot of remarkable quality at mod est costs. If casinos are your thing, head downtown and try your luck at the Pcppermill, fresh from a $400 million expansion, or beeline to the Grand Sierra Resort and its Charlie Palmer Steak,

Reno's first celebrity restaurant.

If you're into the whole locavore thing, you won't do better than lunch or dinner on the patio at Campo, on the riverfront down town. At Campo, chef-owner Mark Estee and chef Arturo Mos-

coso take rustic, Italian-American cooking to a new level, roasting whole hogs, hand-cranking salamis and sausages, rolling pastas a mano, and turning out blistery, bubbly pizzas from a wood-burningoven. For my money, Campo is the best restaurant in town.

So give yourself a break this summer. Plan a long weekend in Reno and Lake Tahoe. They'll renew your spirit without break ing your bank. And since the mountain air is lighter and thinner

(and clcaner), you'll finally hie those 340-yard drives youVe been dreaming about all winter. Even if Charles Barkley couldn't. Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course

100 Lake Pk\vy„ Stateline, NV 89449

775-588-3566, www.cdgewoodtahoc.com

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Winter Olympics-Inspired Travel You can watch the Winter Games on television, but it's easier than you'd think to experience the thrill of victory firsthand at one of these sporty cities. By Maridel Reyes 1/27/2014

The Olympics bring out the flag-waving, Team USA-cheering amateur athlete in almost everyone. Sure, you can watch the Winter Games on television, but it's easier than you'd think to experience the thrill of victory firsthand at one of these sporty cities. Bobsled ride, anyone?

Speed Skating in Milwaukee Game Plan: Pettit National Ice Center is the indoor oval where athletes prepared for this year's Winter Games in Sochi. Every single U.S. speed skater from the last five Olympic Winter Games has competed or trained at the Pettit Center, which also offers public skating every day. Break Time: Built in 1893, the historic Pfister Hotel (thepfisterhotel.com, from $139), located in downtown Milwaukee, is known for its old-world touches, including soaring painted ceilings and an impressive Victorian art collection. For something completely different, The Iron Horse Hotel (theironhorsehotel.com, from $179) is an industrial-cool boutique lodging with 100 loft-style rooms in a converted mattress factory. It attracts everyone from families to business travelers to motorcycle enthusiasts (the Harley-Davidson Museum is nearby).

Bobsledding in Salt Lake City Game Plan: Salt Lake City and nearby resorts hosted the Winter Games back in 2002, and today daredevils can make a reservation for a Comet Bobsled ride ($200 per person, ages 16 and up) at Utah Olympic Park. (Don't worry, a professional will be driving.) In less than 60 seconds, you'll rip through 15 turns, reach top speeds of about 80 miles per hour and experience up to 5 g's of force. The not-so-brave can head to the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center for complimentary admission to the Alf Engen Ski

Museum and Eccles 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum. The former highlights the history of skiing and features a virtual-reality ski theater that mimics what it feels like to "ride" over Mount Superior in Little Cottonwood Canyon, while the latter provides an up-close look at costumes and props from the 2002 opening ceremony as well as gear used by athletes. Break Time: Most rooms at the Newpark Resort & Hotel (newparkresort.com, from $319) have a private hot tub on the balcony, heated bathroom floors and a fully stocked kitchen. Spread out at the wellappointed (stainless steel appliances, a fireplace and a washer-dryer in each unit), spacious Jupiter Inn condos (pclodge.com/properties-park-city-lodging/jupiter-inn-park-city, from $215 for a one-bedroom that sleeps four).

Hockey in Lake Placid, New York Game Plan: Lake Placid hosted the Winter Games in 1932 and 1980, so your first stop should be the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, featuring the largest collection of Winter Olympics artifacts outside the International Olympic Committee's museum, including medals, torches, posters and mascots. Next, tour the Olympic Center, site of the legendary 1980 "Miracle on Ice" hockey game in which underdog America defeated the Soviets. The venue offers public skating sessions, concerts, hockey tournaments and figure skating championships. At the Olympic Sports Complex, thrill-seekers shoot down the combined bobsled, luge and skeleton track year-round. Skiers and snowboarders of all ages can hit the powder at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, the same slopes that hosted racing competitions during the games. Break Time: At the family-owned Wildwood on the Lake (wildwoodmotel.com, from $88) most rooms have a private deck or patio with a water view. If you prefer to be in the center of the action, the Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club (lakeplacidcp.com, from $109) features breathtaking views of the lake and Whiteface Mountain.

Ski Jump in Calgary, Alberta Game Plan: At Calgary's Canada Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Olympics, athletes train at the Ski Jump Tower year-round. While you can't practice there, the family can explore the park's cross-country skiing trails, with varied terrain suitable for all levels. If you'd rather stay indoors, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, also in the park, has 12 galleries with more than 50 interactive exhibits and a collection of 95,000 sports artifacts. The Olympic and Paralympic Games Gallery profiles the three times Canada has hosted the Olympic Games: 1976, 1988 and 2010. Break Time: The Best Western Premier Freeport Inn & Suites (bestwesterncalgary.com, from $138) boasts an indoor pool and water slide, while the Lakeview Signature Inn (lakeviewsignatureinn.com, from $172) offers a wow-worthy amenityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a personal grocery shopper.

Snowboarding in Vancouver, British Columbia Game Plan: Carve serious powder on Cypress Mountain, the same spot where freestyle skiing and snowboarding events were held during the 2010 Winter Games. Even the unathletic can feel like winners at BC Sports Hall of Fame's Vancouver 2010 Gallery, where visitors can stand on an actual medal ceremony podium and strike the ultimate Instagram-worthy pose. Don't forget to peek into BC Place, the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies were held. Break Time: Nestled in a quiet residential street in downtown Vancouver just three blocks from the water taxi, the Sunset Inn & Suites (sunsetinn.com, from $85) features a fully equipped kitchen in each room and free continental breakfast. Watch seaplanes take off and land from most hotel room windows at the Fairmont Pacific Rim (fairmont.com/pacific-rim-vancouver, from $343).

Skiing in Lake Tahoe, California Game Plan: Flanked by rugged mountain terrain and home to 12 major ski resorts (the largest concentration in the country), Tahoe is a year-round draw. Squaw Valley's new SnoVentures Activity Zone has mini snowmobiles for kids ages 6 to 12 and tubing for all. Since the lake never freezes over, you can also kayak; Tahoe Eco Sports offers guided tours ($90) for beginners and rental gear for experienced paddlers. Break Time: Don't let the retro sign outside the Paradice Motel (paradicemoteltahoe.com, from $118) deter youâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the rooms are comfy and cozy. The ski-in, ski-out condos at Red Wolf Lodge at Squaw Valley (redwolfsquaw.com, from $229 for a studio that sleeps four) are steps from Squaw Village's slopes, shops and restaurants. Originally published in the March 2014 issue of Family Circle magazine.

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

Six Snow‐Filled Winter Getaways by Heather Rabkin

Now that winter is in full, blustery swing, we believe it’s high time to plan a seasonal trip to experience the season in full effect. With that in mind, Vogue.com has rounded up six of the most luxurious and snowy spots across the U.S. Whether you’re a ski bunny or just a hot- chocolate aficionado, there’s a snow-filled destination for everyone.

The Lodge at Sugar Bowl

Located just north of Lake Tahoe, the Lodge at the Sugar Bowl is the country’s only snowbound village— the only way in (or out, for that matter) is via gondola, or snowcat. The property’s charming, Bavarianstyle lodge dates to the 1930s (Walt Disney was an investor), and the resort boasts a multitude of renovations this year. The Crow’s Peak chairlift offers unprecedented access to expert-level tree skiing, and a brand-new fitness and aquatic center will debut next year, set to include outdoor hot tubs. sugarbowl.com

Photo: Courtesy of The Lodge at Sugar Bowl

Lake Placid Lodge

The seventeen cabins located on Lake Placid are the epitome of an haute stay in the woods. In the 1880s the site was transformed into luxury campgrounds for railroad magnates and industrialists. These days freestanding cabin features beds with thick, downy mattresses atop frames fashioned from tree trunks, vintage camp photos, and working stone fireplaces. As the only luxury hotel property on the famed lake, the Lodge is the ideal base from which to explore the surrounding Adirondack Mountains.

Dunton Hot Springs

Situated in a former ghost town within the Colorado Rockies, the resort’s hand-built cabins (some by the town’s original miners in the late nineteenth century) have all been luxuriously restored with amenities such as heated slate flooring and Native American textiles. The property also opened a farmhouse this year, which will serve as a winter outpost between the lodging and nearby skiing at Cresto Ranch. Think of it as the perfect pit stop for hot toddies by the stone fireplace.

The Ranch at Rock Creek

Formerly a bustling silver mining boomtown, Philipsburg is now home to the sprawling 6,600-acre Ranch at Rock Creek, an all-inclusive resort. Guests can stay in the Granite Lodge, which is outfitted in all sorts of Western period-authentic details (read: no in-room TVs and no gym). However, the greatest amenities lie in the details, such as the option to go “glamping” at the property’s newly opened Sweet Grass Tent. The canvas cabin has two-bedrooms, a kitchenette, gas fireplace, and cedar soaking tub.

Lumière

Everyone seems to know your name at Lumière Telluride—from the bellhop to the breakfast chef— creating an intimate sensibility for this luxurious destination. The boutique hotel has eleven hotel rooms and eighteen multi-room residences, including the 3,700-square-foot five-bedroom penthouse. For those that dare venture outside of the cushy surroundings, the property offers ski-in/ski-out access to the slopes. In the afternoons there are homemade, après-ski baked goods.

Canoe Bay

The mid-century modern cabins at Canoe Bay provide a smart backdrop at this quasi-camp for grownups. However, in lieu of a dining hall there’s dinner by candlelight, and relaxation time can include popping into the in-room Finnish sauna. The eco-friendly retreat was built with a focus on sustainable design, from the cabins with recycled wood furnishings (designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé) to fireplaces crafted from local stone. Outdoor excursions include ice skating on Lake Wahdoon and crosscountry skiing in the nearby Blue Hills.

15 lesser-known ski resorts to check out this winter By Tamara Hinson, for CNN updated 10:03 PM EST, Mon December 2, 2013

Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe, California Sugar Bowl already has some of America's best tree runs, but this winter several developments are set to transform the area. A new chairlift will provide advanced skiers with easy access to the challenging Crow's Face and Strawberry Fields areas, previously reached only by hiking. The new lift will also connect Sugar Bowl to the largest cross-country ski resort in North America, Royal Gorge. Sugar Bowl's Lodge is one of the coziest hotels you'll find in a ski resort and is accessed via gondola. Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe, California; +1 530 426 9000 Truckee Donner Lodge, 10527 Cold Stream Rd, Truckee, California; 530-582-9999; from $99 per room per night

The weeks leading up to the inaugural Ironman Lake Tahoe were filled with discussion about how difficult the new course would be on the athletes, but the final hours focused solely on the weather conditions. Saturday’s weather in Lake Tahoe featured frigid winds, rain and then snow. The temperature stayed in the low 30s throughout the night, making many athletes nervous about staying warm out of the water and onto the bike for Sunday’s race. Race organisers made the decision Sunday morning to let the swim, bike and run take place as planned. Though the morning was chilly, conditions were better than Saturday and the temperature reached the mid60s. In the end it was Australia’s Chris McDonald and Sweden’s Asa Lundstrom who claimed the well-earned victories. The Men’s Race France’s Romain Guillaume led the men out of the water and into the frigid air with a time of 51:36. Joe Gambles (AUS), Paul Ambrose (GBR), Maik Twelsiek (GER) and Matt Lieto (USA) followed him closely into transition. T1 was unique for an Ironman as even the top pros took their time to ensure that they were properly dressed for the temperatures on the bike. The top men all spent well over four minutes in the transition before taking on the 112-mile bike course. Through the first quarter of the bike, Gambles led the way for a group that included Twelsiek, Lieto and Guillaume. Ambrose, who was originally part of that group, struggled to keep pace and eventually dropped out, citing trouble breathing on the bike as the reason. Eventually, Twelsiek made the decision to break away from the others and had a gap of 1:25 at mile 50. The German held a 90-second lead over Mcdonald and a 6:24 lead over Gambles coming off of the bike. Twelsiek managed to maintain the gap through the first 10 miles of the marathon, but eventually he faded and opened the door for a steady-running McDonald. By mile 14, Twelsiek’s lead stood at only 12 seconds as McDonald was preparing to make the pass. The Australian, known as “Big Sexy” in the triathlon community, took the top spot and didn’t look back. He capped his day off with a 2:59:40 marathon to take the 8:55:14 victory. Despite losing the lead to McDonald, Twelsiek was able to regain some momentum and held on to second position, finishing in 8:57:53. Gambles earned the final podium spot in 9:02:55.

The Women’s Race American Dede Griesbauer celebrated her birthday by exiting the swim in first position in a time of 55:12. The conditions showed in the rest of the women’s swim times, with no other pro exiting the water in under one hour. It was Catriona Morrison who was second out of the swim (1:00:02). Like the men, the women took a significant amount of time in transition before starting the tough bike ride. Griesbauer maintained her position at the front for the first 25 miles, but was being chased by a fast-riding Lundstrom. By mile 41, Lundstrom took over the top spot and held a lead of two minutes over Morrison, with Griesbauer 3:22 back and Angela Naeth (CAN) 4:15 back. Coming into T2, Lundstrom’s lead stood at 1:43 over an even faster riding Jeanne Collonge (FRA). Third into transition was Naeth, who is also known for her strong cycling skills. Lundstrom struggled to find a solid pace early in the marathon and Collonge overtook her within the first few miles. As both Collonge and Lundstrom maintained steady paces in first and second, respectively, Morrison was running the strongest, but with a significant deficit to make up on the faster cyclists. As the three neared the finish line it became evident that Morrison wouldn’t be able to catch the two leaders. It also became clear that Collonge did not have the victory wrapped up. It rarely happens in Ironman that a leader will surrender the lead on the marathon and then get it back, but that’s exactly what happened. As Collonge started her last mile, Lundstrom passed her and excelled to the finish line to earn the Ironman victory. Collonge finished in second, 50 seconds back. Morrison rounded out the top three at 10:03:38. Ironman Lake Tahoe Results Top 5 Men 1. Chris McDonald (AUS) 8:55:14 2. Maik Twelsiek (GER) 8:57:53 3. Joe Gambles (AUS) 9:02:55 4. Kirill Kotsegarov (EST) 9:04:39 5. Kevin Taddonio (USA) 9:09:09 Top 5 Women 1. Asa Lundstrom (SWE) 9:58:53 2. Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 9:59:43 3. Catriona Morrison (SCO) 10:03:38 4. Elizabeth Lyles (USA) 10:08:41 5. Angela Naeth (CAN) 10:10:47

North Lake Tahoe Hosts 'Ironman' By Ky Plaskon (Sacramento, CA) Friday, September 20, 2013

Hundreds of Ironman triathletes swim at Lake Tahoe’s Kings Beach every morning. Will Grant has been here six weeks and spent a lot of money. “I will probably spend by the time I leave here, $3,00 to $4,000, easy,” Grant says. Some 12,000 people are expected to spend $12 million in one week. Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association says the money has been rolling in all summer. “I call it the lycra factor. The lycra factor has exploded, you see them on the road all day long,” Chapman says. Behind the scenes, 3,000 volunteers prepare backpacks, bike racks, tents and provide general athlete support. Ironman Director Keats McGonigal says the race takes community endurance too.

“Keeping people excited year after year when there is traffic impacts and some of the other things that happen on race day can sometimes be a challenge,” McGonigal says. The Ironman has a 5 year contract at Tahoe, but McGonigal says most host communities keep the race coming back for more than a decade.

Triathlete Liz Lyles is projected to be a top finisher in this year's Ironman at Lake Tahoe. Written by

Scott Oxarart soxarart@rgj.com

When Reno resident Liz Lyles competed in her first triathlon in 2001, she rode a mountain bike through the hills of Mission Bay, Calif. Her competitors - decked out in professional bikes, jerseys, gloves, shoes, shorts and helmets watched as Lyles passed them by. "I didn't know anything about road bikes and wheels and aerodynamics," Lyles said. "I got a few expletive comments like, 'Holy ...' as I was passing them on a mountain bike with the most subpar gear you've ever seen." ...

Lake Tahoe Ironman Triathlon draws thousands to NorCal Event expected to bring $8M to $10M to region UPDATED 9:17 PM PDT Sep 18, 2013

TRUCKEE, Calif. (KCRA) —On Sunday, more than 2,500 athletes will stand in the sand of Lake Tahoe's north shore, feeling the cool chill in the air, ready to swim the frigid waters to start one of the most grueling endurance events known – the Lake Tahoe Ironman Triathlon.

The race will include a 2.4-mile swim starting at the Kings Beach State Recreation Area, a 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon. The start Once the gun sounds, the athletes will enter the water, swimming two full laps around the buoyed course.

Then, they exit the swim and complete a lakeside transition to the 112-mile bike course, which covers the Resort triangle. It takes riders to Tahoe City, through the Truckee River corridor, following the Truckee River past Squaw Valley and into the town of Truckee. Next, the course turns south back toward the lake, rolling past NorthStar California and starting the climb to Brockway Summit, a 7,200-foot elevation. The athletes then transition from the 112-mile ride to run a marathon, winding 26.2 miles along the Truckee River. Those three events are raced in that order and without a break. The event ends at Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics. Local impact Officials announced the Tahoe Ironman a year ago. The event sold out within 18 hours. The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association expects 10,000 fans to watch the all-day race. The Tahoe region signed a five-year deal to host the Ironman. "Like paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, biking and of course, skiing, this event is part of the Tahoe area's brand," Chief Marketing Officer Andy Chapman said. "Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working on bringing this event here for two years." The north shore is expecting a huge economic impact. "We are thinking $8 (million) to $10 million alone this weekend," Chapman told KCRA 3. Squaw Resort CEO Andrew Wirth said the event is boosting the local economy during a time that is typically slow. "It creates a huge economic boost, particularly this time of year," Wirth said. "Late September, early October, the interest in the area drops off." The region is reporting a 40 percent increase in hotel rentals, compared to a year ago. Local restaurants and businesses also hope to cash in. "We are ready for it. We are opening a little early for the bloody mary crowd," said Tom Ballou, of the Bar of America in Truckee. "A lot of people have been talking it up. These sports events are a new twist to the area, rather than skiing or water sports." Ironman road closures According to the state Department of Transportation, closures will include: - Northbound Highway 89 from Fairway Drive in Tahoe City to Squaw Valley Road, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Southbound Highway 267 from Northstar Boulevard to Kingswood/Commonwealth Drive in Kings Beach, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Both directions of Highway 28 in Kings Beach, from Fox Street to the Highway 267 intersection, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

- Eastbound Interstate 80 offramp to highways 267/89 and the Highway 89 onramp to westbound I-80, from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Access to residential streets from those listed highways will be closed at several locations, as well. Detours will be available. Caltrans officials advised motorists to drive with caution through the course areas that are open, and to allow for additional travel time.

Read more: http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-sierra/lake-tahoe-ironman-triathlon-draws-thousands-tonorcal/-/12970852/22012038/-/11peuo7z/-/index.html#ixzz2ke2wyzPwÂ

Course Recon: Ironman Lake Tahoe

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http://triathlon.competitor.com/2013/08/photos/course-recon-ironman-lak...

By Susan Lacke Published Aug 15, 2013 Updated Aug 16, 2013 at 12:45 PM UTC 1 of 16 Back to Start

“The Ironman Tahoe swim course is incredibly scenic, with some of the clearest water in the world. You can literally see the bottom in 70 feet of water,” says Truckee resident and Boost Swimming coach Jeff Pearson. The swim, which starts and finishes on Kings Beach, is expected to be between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit on race day.

If the scenery doesn’t take your breath away, the hills and altitude will. Excitement and curiosity has reached a boiling point since World Triathlon Corporation’s announcement of the inaugural Ironman Lake Tahoe. In addition to selling out within 24 hours of opening, social media and triathlon forums have been abuzz with speculation about the difficulty of the course and challenges with altitude.

10/25/2013 12:53 PM

Course Recon: Ironman Lake Tahoe

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http://triathlon.competitor.com/2013/08/photos/course-recon-ironman-lak...

At 6,000 feet, the race boasts the highest starting altitude of any Ironman with plenty of climbing, it may also earn the title of “toughest” Ironman. Triathlete was recently allowed full access to the course, including the closed-off Martis Camp portion of the bike route, as part of a course recon. The 2013 event is set for Sept. 22. Photos: Susan Lacke

Triathlete.com Poll: Would You Race At Ironman Lake Tahoe? Ironman Lake Tahoe Sees 20% DNF Rate Chris McDonald, Asa Lundstrom Win On Chilly Day In Lake Tahoe Tour Guide: North Lake Tahoe

FILED UNDER: Photos / Race Coverage TAGS: Ironman Lake Tahoe

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3/1/2013

Reno, Nevada Photograph by Grant Gunderson, Tandem

3/1/2013 Best For: Mixed groups of hard chargers, beginners, and nonskiers who’d rather do their gambling off the slopes This historic gold-mining town at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains became one of America’s 20th-century gambling meccas before its current reinvention as a hip, outdoorsy city of university students, artists, and, yes, skiers. We know what you’re thinking, but Reno actually is a ski town. Not only is the better-than-you-think Mount Rose 25 miles from downtown, but Reno sits at the northern tip of Lake Tahoe’s constellation of ski areas as well—the densest concentration of ski resorts in North America. There are 18 resorts within a hundred miles of Reno’s international airport. Sure, Reno, population 225,221, still has plenty of casinos and nightclubs that party all night, but think of it as a smaller, more family-oriented Vegas. Set on the banks of the Truckee River, the pedestrianfriendly downtown has seen a much needed revamp worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s now filled with cafes, galleries, and artist’s lofts overlooking the river walk. A-list musicians routinely play at various venues, while those seeking a more classical experience can check out the nearby Reno Philharmonic or Nevada Shakespeare Company. Mount Rose, a 20-minute drive from downtown, isn’t the biggest or flashiest ski area in the region, but it’s less expensive than most, has an excellent beginner program, and its expert area, the Chutes, opened in 2004, serves up a buffet of 1,200-plus-feet, 45-degree, north-facing pitches. It also features the highest base elevation in the Tahoe region at 8,260 feet, helping it escape the rains that can despoil the region’s snowpack. Ask a Local Luke Jacobson is vice president and an engineer at Reno-based Moment Skis. He has lived in Reno for nine years and praises the “young entrepreneurial spirit in the area.” Here are his recommendations. Best Digs Budget: Sands Regency Casino Swank: Grand Sierra Resort Best Eats Cheap: Noble Pie Parlor Gourmet: Campo Best Aprés Spot Lincoln Lounge Best Rest-Day Activity Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake are always must-sees. Favorite Ski Run at Mount Rose When the Chutes is open on a powder day it can't be beat.

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif.—Western ski areas are making it easier for customers to slip off designated slopes and onto backcountry terrain, despite the higher risk to skiers and snowboarders who seek the thrill of unofficial and ungroomed trails. Lake Tahoe's Squaw Valley ski area opened backcountry access atop an experts-only peak called KT-22 last month as part of a pilot program with the U.S. Forest Service to let visitors ski and board "offpiste"—or on uncompacted snow—to Alpine Meadows, a resort a mile away. Sugar Bowl Resort, near Tahoe, has increased its marketing efforts for training to use its backcountry acreage, which it made easier to access in 2009 with a chairlift intended to open up more inbounds terrain. "If you're looking for untracked snow, this is the place to go," David Harake, a 39-year-old scientist from Oakland, Calif., said after he skied a backcountry slope behind Sugar Bowl last month. While no statistics are readily available on how many resorts have made it easier to reach their backcountry terrain, industry officials say such access generally has been increasing over the past decade amid an explosion in demand. In some cases, resorts are being told to create access by U.S. Forest Service officials who in turn are responding to pressure from skiers. "The trend has been clearly to open access to the backcountry, led by the Forest Service," said Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association, an industry group in Lakewood, Colo. "As ski equipment makes it easier and easier to go in the backcountry, the demand is there." But some critics say the resorts aren't doing enough to safeguard customers who venture outside the roped-off slopes, past the so-called gates, where the dangers include avalanches, falls off cliffs and getting lost—and where resorts seldom place ski patrols close at hand. "If a resort takes it upon itself to make their resort a passage to the backcountry, they then have an obligation to make sure those folks are out there in as safe a fashion as possible," said Dan Gregorie, founder and president of the California Ski and Snowboard Safety Organization. A physician, Dr. Gregorie founded the advocacy group after his 24-year-old daughter, Jessica, fell to her death in 2006 while traversing a ridge bordering a wilderness area next to a ski resort. Uniform statistics aren't available on total U.S. deaths and injuries of people skiing or riding into resort backcountry. The number of skiers and snowboarders killed by avalanches in the U.S.—many, but not all, in ski-resort backcountry—roughly doubled in the 2011 winter season from about 10 in 2006, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which serves an unofficial clearinghouse for national statistics.

Ski areas like Squaw and Sugar Bowl say they post warnings about the hazards and take safety precautions, essentially disclaiming liability and putting the responsibility onto skiers. "We want people to know their lives are literally in their hands when they go through that gate," said Mike Livak, senior vice president at Squaw, which along with Alpine Meadows is owned by KSL Capital Partners LLC. Sugar Bowl this season expanded programs to provide training and guides for backcountry travel, in partnership with Alpine Skills International, a mountain-guide firm. "Our adage was: 'Get in the know before you go,' " said John Monson, Sugar Bowl's director of marketing and sales. For years, many ski areas discouraged customers from leaving designated slopes and moving onto backcountry terrain, , although some resorts such as Sugar Bowl have maintained open boundaries for decades. Then more resorts began opening their gates, mostly in the Western U.S. Wyoming's Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, in 1999, was one of the first of the latest wave. Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Mountain Resort opened some in 2004. Driven by demand for backcountry access, others followed. Backcountry slopes have opened over the past five years at places like Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming and Colorado's Telluride Ski Resort and Breckenridge Ski Resort. The number of skiers and snowboarders riding in nonresort backcountry rose 17% to 2.1 million in 201011 from 1.8 million in 2008-09, estimates SnowSports Industries America, a trade group in McLean, Va. In that period, the number using in-resort slopesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;including groomed and ungroomed trailsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;rose 8% to 18.7 million from 17.3 million, it says. Resort officials say they take safety precautions. Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, Mont., requires skiers riding its new lift that accesses a popular backcountry area to carry avalanche transceiver beacons, a resort spokesman says. A Jackson Hole spokeswoman says that the resort placed gates strategically so as not to immediately put skiers into dangerous terrain and that it provides free training in use of avalanche beacons. Heavenly and Breckenridge "encourage our guests to leave the resort only through designated USFS access points, which provide important warnings or the phone numbers of organizations dedicated to snow safety," said Kristen Petitt Stewart, spokeswoman for Vail Resorts Inc., MTN +1.16% which owns both ski areas. An officials at Grand Targhee wasn't immediately available for comment. Some law-enforcement officials say skier rescues have increased after backcountry slopes opened. Sheriff Bill Masters of San Miguel County, Colo., says his department has gone from about five backcountry rescues a year to 20 since the Telluride Ski Resort opened gates into out-of-bounds territory in 2009. He and some other officials say the rescues can be costly, such as when a helicopter has to be deployed, while posing risk to rescuers. Mr. Masters says Telluride has promoted backcountry access without taking enough steps such as assigning a ski patrol to the area. "They provide lift service to allow the customer to go downhill from that point," Mr. Masters said. "They need to take responsibility for their customer." Jeff Proteau, the Telluride resort's director of planning, says the resort put in the gates at the direction of the U.S. Forest Service. A Forest Service spokesman says his agency was responding to skiers wanting legal access to public lands that were closed before. Mr. Proteau says Telluride posts warnings on the gates that tell customers they are at risk and on their own once they leave the resort. "Having those warning signs at the gate really makes people think before they go," he said.