Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is proud to host the 11^th Annual Winter Wine & Ski Expo. The event will take place on Thursday, February 3, 2011 in the Grand Ballroom at 6:00pm. Experience Reno Tahoe’s best wineries, microbreweries, restaurants and ski resorts at this one of a kind fundraising event!

All proceeds from the Winter Wine & Ski Expo benefit CAN DO MS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) through wellness programs and ongoing research.

“I helped to create this event to fund wellness programs for people with Multiple Sclerosis because I had a good friend with MS,” said Terry Hurt, Winter Wine & Ski Expo event director. “I want the event to increase knowledge of the disease and the programs that help so many people.  My goal is to raise funds and awareness for this amazing program.”

The Winter Wine & Ski Expo is a premier winter fundraising event in the Reno Tahoe area. There will be a silent auction with items ranging from snow gear, to amazing dining, lodging and spa packages! Tickets are available for $55 in advance or $65 at the door. Purchase tickets at www.mscando.org, www.atlantiscasino.com/wineski, Bobo’s Mogul Mouse Ski and Board, Atlantis Casino Gift Shop, or by calling 888-551-7007.

Must be at least 21 years old to participate.

- Ashley Brune

The Black Diamond Demo van is making its annual stop at Tahoe Mountain Sports, unloading Black Diamond skis, boots and ski skins for you to try out for FREE January 10-14, 2011.   

This is your chance to experience the popular Megawatt and Justice powder skis and the just-released, ultralight backcountry skis from Black Diamond’s new Efficient series. Complete the package by slipping on a pair of Black Diamond’s new line of telemark and AT ski boots like the Quadrant! Come by the evening before to pick-up your gear so you’re ready for that first chair in the morning, or call ahead to reserve your demos. Tahoe Mountain Sports is open from 10am to 6pm daily in downtown Kings Beach across from Jason’s.  

To make the deal even sweeter, our free Black Diamond demos coincide with a huge sale on all Black Diamond ski gear. Black Diamond skis, boots, bindings and backcountry gear are all up to 20% off. So whether you want to try or just go ahead and buy, Tahoe Mountain Sports is the place to be for Black Diamond, January 10-14!

-Lis Korb

The Central Sierra Snow Lab on Donner Summit is reporting snow depths of 20-plus feet. That’s 235% of average for this time of year, making North Lake Tahoe one of the snowiest destinations in the country.

And to go along with all that snow, plenty of sunshine and blue skies predicted for the week, as well as clear roads.

Resorts and Towns’ Update: West Shore Café in Homewood, and right on the lake, has reopened under new ownership, and is now open for lodging and dining. Locals are raving about the new menu. The restaurant is open weekends for lunch and dinner, and Thursdays and Fridays for dinner only.

Wax your skis. All North Lake Tahoe ski resorts are open:
Alpine Meadows – open, base of 97 to 170 inches
Diamond Peak – open, base of 70 to 120 inches
Boreal Mountain Resort – open, base of 84 to 160 inches
Donner Ski Ranch – open weekends
Granlibakken – sledding and beginner ski hill are open
Homewood Mountain Resort – open, base of 71 to 121 inches
Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe – open, base of 83 to 127 inches
Northstar-at-Tahoe – open, base of 73 and 116 inches
Royal Gorge Cross Country – open, but closed on Wednesdays
Soda Springs – open, base of 82 to 120 inches
Spooner Lake Cross Country – open
Squaw Valley USA – open, base of 50 to 130 inches
Sugar Bowl – open, base of 86 to 162 inches
Tahoe Cross Country – open, base of 40 to 66 inches
Tahoe Donner Cross Country – 82 kilometers of trail groomed
Tahoe Donner Downhill – open, base of 56 to 72 inches

Events on the Slopes –

• Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point State Park on the West Shore offers cross country and snowshoe trails on five color-coded trails, ranging from one to three miles in length. Trailheads are located on the campground side of the park and on the day-use side of the park.

• Squaw Valley USA is hosting Advanced Ski Clinics Friday, January 7 through Sunday, January 9 for ambitious intermediate and advanced skiers. Taught by Squaw’s top instructors, the daily program is tailored to meet each participant’s needs, utilizing innovative ski techniques and video feedback. Cost is $520/person and does not include lift ticket.

• Celebrate the New Year with National Winter Trails Day Saturday, January 8when the Tahoe Rim Trail Association offers free guided snowshoe treks, for all ages and abilities, and other winter activities at the Tahoe Meadows trailhead off Highway 431, the Mt. Rose Highway, in North Lake Tahoe.

• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort offers a guided Stargazing Snowshoe Tour Saturday, January 8,5 p.m., with star guide and poet Tony Berendsen, President of the Nevada Science Coalition, complete with telescopic viewing. Cost is $50/person and $30/person for kids under 12 years.

• Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe, just outside of Incline Village, is hosting an Avalanche Awareness Training as part of their Slide Snow School Saturday, January 8,2 p.m. This free course offers basic information for the aspiring backcountry enthusiast, including avalanche terrain recognition, as well as terrain selection and travel techniques.

• The Olympic Heritage Festival is returning to North Lake Tahoe with Citizens Against the Clock Saturday, January 15 at Sugar Pine Point State Park on the West Shore. The event puts skiers, of all ages and abilities, on a short cross-country ski course followed by an electronic rifle shooting range. An interpretive tour of the trails, used in the 1960 Winter Olympics, is set for Sunday, January 16 followed by a special showing of “Flame in the Snow.” All events are free.

• Full Moon Yurt Dinners are Saturday, January 15 and Sunday, January 16 at Tahoe City’s Tahoe Cross Country Center. Participants cross country ski and then enjoy an exquisite meal prepared by Douglas Dale of Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique. Tickets are limited and cost $65/person, which includes dining, ski rentals, as well as a trail pass. Proceeds benefit the Winter Discovery Program.

• Alpenglow Sports has partnered with Alpine Meadows Ski Resort to offer the 4^thAnnual Telemark and Alpine Touring Demo Event Saturday, January 15. This event is free and will showcase the latest gear.

Mark your calendar for May 15-16 when the prestigious Amgen Tour of California kicks off for the first-time ever in Lake Tahoe, with Stage One disembarking from South Lake Tahoe and finishing at Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee and Stage Two starting from Squaw Valley in Olympic Valley. For full event information, activities and special discounts, check www.TahoeTourofCalifornia.com.

The North Lake Tahoe Express daily airport shuttle service is available to and from North Lake Tahoe and the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The shuttle runs from 3:30 a.m. until midnight. Fees are $40 per person, one-way, and $75 round trip. Discounts are available for groups of two or more. Reservations are required and can be made four hours in advance.

For a snapshot of upcoming special events, as well as recreational activities of recent scenes, go to www.GoTahoeNorth.com and click on the web video for the North Tahoe Minute.

 - Pettit Gilwee

North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, two hours from the Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from the San Francisco International Airport. For lodging reservations and event details, call North Lake Tahoe at 1-877-949-3286 or visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com. Visitor information centers are located at 380 North Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City and 969 Tahoe Boulevard in Incline Village.

Where is Tahoe taking you this winter? Show the world in full high-definition video quality without the high cost thanks to the new hands-free camera rental program at Tahoe Mountain Sports. 

Take one of two models for a spin: the world’s first full HD wearable camcorder, the ContourHD, or the new ContourGPS, which pair HD video with GPS capabilities so you can track your location, speed, altitude and more.

Show your family and friends those powder turns, that snowmobile ride, your kid’s first sledding adventure or Tahoe’s iconic vistas, all with the amazing, first-person perspective only a helmet camera can provide. Extremely lightweight, easy to use and attaches to your helmet, goggles, vehicle and more!

Cost for 24-hour helmet camera rental is $40 for ContourHD, $45 for ContourGPS. It comes with a 4 GB memory stick and a USB reader that you take home with you to view, edit and save your footage. Choose between a flat surface mount, goggle mount or vented helmet mount. Other mounts available for an additional cost. Repeat renters (who don’t need another memory stick/USB reader) get $15 off.

Here’s a sample of what you can do with the camera!