Spring shenanigans SEASON’S BEST ON-MOUNTAIN EVENTS

Spring in Tahoe brings retro duds, pond skims, dummy downhills and general shenanigans with some of the season’s best on-mountain events. Here’s a look at what’s coming up from March 22 to April 5. We’ll have details on more spring events in our next edition. Dates subject to change due to weather; check schedules in advance.

Spring Shenanigans To Come

April 8 | Banked Slalom, Sugar Bowl

April 8 | The Vertical Drop, Kirkwood

April 8 | Subaru Winterfest & Banked Slalom, Boreal

April 8-9 | Pond Skim & Rail Jam, Northstar

April 15 | Kirkwood Slush Cup

April 15 | Snow Golf Tournament, Palisades Tahoe Alpine

April 16 | Billy Dutton Uphill, Palisades Tahoe

April 22 | Pond Skim, Sugar Bowl

April 22 | Kirkwood Rail Jam

April 22 | Tiki Pond Skim, Sugar Bowl

May 13 | Cushing Crossing, Palisades Tahoe

Ability Challenge

Ability Challenge is a peer-to-peer fundraiser that raises both funds and awareness for Achieve Tahoe’s programs. Ability Challenge culminates on March 25 with an on-hill celebration at Palisades Tahoe Alpine Meadows. | achievetahoe.com

Pride Day

Heavenly Mountain Resort will host its first-ever Pride Day on March 25. Details TBA. | skiheavenly.com

Pain McShlonkey Classic

Wax up your snowblades, dress up in outrageous ski duds and come to Palisades Tahoe on March 25 for a day to celebrate legendary skier Shane McConkey. The annual event coincides with International Snowblade Day to create an epic day where Shane fans around the world get involved in this irreverently hilarious day. | shanemcconkey.org

Sierra Skogsloppet XC Fun Ski Race

This fun race at Tahoe Donner XC Ski Center on March 26. Various race lengths are available for all ages and abilities. This is a freestyle race and a classic track will be set for those wishing to classic ski the race. | tahoedonner.com

Family Downhill Ski Challenge

Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort hosts this free, fun family event on March 26 at 12 p.m., a matched-time competition raced by family teams. In this giant slalom race, the time that counts is the difference between the first and second runs. | tahoedonner.com

The Mothership Classic

This event is pledge-driven, held each spring on the KT-22 chairlift at Palisades Tahoe. Participants gather pledges. Then, on March 26, participants will challenge themselves to hot lap KT-22 as many times as possible from first chair to last on skinny skis, retro snowboards, mono skis, snow blades, etc. Nostalgic ski attire is encouraged. | highfivesfoundation.org

Nordic Skier X

ASC Training Center offers SkierX on March 25. This is a fun short course with bumps and jumps. There is a stadium race for 10U and younger and a 1k course for everyone else. | asctrainingcenter.com

Gunbarrel 25

Heavenly will host its popular annual event on March 25 to see who can make the most laps on Gunbarrel. The event starts at 10 a.m. and is limited to the first 100 competitors. | skiheavenly.com

Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill Festival

This premier SkiMo competition on March 25 and 26 at Diamond Peak is a family-friendly event. Competitors race to the top of the mountain using whatever human-powered method they prefer – skins, snowshoes, running shoes, etc. – then ski, snowboard, snowshoe or run back down to the finish line. The event will also include ski boot races, live music, an awards ceremony and more. | diamondpeak. com

Methodology

This snowboarding competition on March 25 and 26 at Sierra-At-Tahoe features a banked slalom concept and adds a new element with a special feature before the finish line, allowing riders to shave time off their run with their best Method Air. This event is for everyone, with both men’s and women’s classes in four age groups. | sierraattahoe.com

STIR-FRY

On March 31, Boreal Mountain will introduce STIR-FRY, for Asian American Pacific Islanders and other community members gathering to celebrate culture through snowboarding. | rideboreal.com

The Sugar Bowl Uphiller

Calling all ski tourers and splitboarders to Sugar Bowl Resort on April 1. Rack up as many human-powered laps to the top of Lincoln as you can in a day, all without the help of a chairlift. Skin for the win or just skin for fun; all uphillers are welcome. Costumes recommended. | sugarbowl.com

Heavenly Pond Skim

On April 1, Heavenly Mountain Resort will host its annual pond skim on the California side. Details TBA. | skiheavenly.com

Dummy Downhill

Diamond Peak hosts its signature spring event, the 21st annual Dummy Downhill on April 1. Participants build a dummy on skis or snowboards that is launched off a jump while spectators watch as characters fly down the hill or crash hard. A panel of celebrity judges will evaluate the dummies. | diamondpeak.com

Subaru WinterFest

Sierra-at-Tahoe welcomes back Subaru WinterFest, on April 1 and 2. This one-ofa-kind music and mountain lifestyle tour invites friends, family, skiers, snowboarders and music fans alike to bask in their love of adventure and all things winter. | sierraattahoe.com n