Announcing the 19th Annual Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series Season

 Five adventure packed shows, five inspiring speakers, five nonprofits supported

Tahoe City, CA —Alpenglow Sports is excited to announce the lineup for their 19th annual Winter Speaker Series season. On Thursday, December 12th, the series will kick off with professional snowboarder and filmmaker, Leanne Pelosi , and the nonprofit organization, the Scotty Lapp Foundation. The series continues with pioneering snowboarder, and cancer survivor Kimmy Fasani (1/2/25), acclaimed skier and author Greg Hill (1/24/25), climbing, mountaineering, and skiing AMGA guide Angela Hawse (2/7/25), and the cornerstone of the series, renowned local guide and mountaineer, Dave Nettle (2/28/25). While their stories are unique, this unbelievable group of mountain athletes promise to deliver shows that are equal parts adventure and human experience.

The Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series is an eagerly anticipated winter tradition for North Tahoe’s adventure community. With over 3,000 attendees annually, as well as a dynamic and global live stream component, the 19-year-old Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series has become one of the premier North American forums for adventure storytelling and community gathering.

Five times per winter, a premier outdoor athlete presents an inspirational tale of adventure, creating a forum for motivation, inspiration and education. Past speakers of the Winter Speaker Series include Lynn Hill , Hilaree Nelson , Jeremy Jones , Emily Harrington , Cody Townsend , Alex Honnold , Adrian Ballinger , and more. The series runs from December through March at the Olympic Village Event Center at Palisades Tahoe. Every show is FREE to the public and all ages are encouraged to attend.

Each show is dedicated to a different nonprofit and to date, the Winter Speaker Series has raised over $1,775,000 for local organizations. Giveaway and bar proceeds, in conjunction with anonymous donations by the Donor Party, traditionally raise up to $75,000 per show  for a hand-picked, local nonprofit organization.

For the 2024-25 season, the nonprofit beneficiaries include the Scotty Lapp Foundation , Lake Tahoe Waterman Association , Courage Project , Headwaters Science Institute , and TAMBA. Broadly, this group of organizations provides access to community, outdoor recreation opportunities, and educational programs. From a community gathering place in a skate park to an adaptive paddling program to youth mental health support to equal access to science education in our school system to trail building/maintenance, the common thread is accessibility for all and as a result, these programs are incredibly life changing for so many within the Tahoe Basin. Every show will offer an opportunity to interact with the people behind these organizations and learn more!

To further support the nonprofit beneficiaries this season, the Tahoe Fund has committed to be a matching donor for the series. As a result, the Tahoe Fund will match $19,000 of funds raised in-person for the series, 100% of which will be distributed to the five nonprofit beneficiaries! This opportunity bolsters one of the ultimate goals of the series to be a meaningful partner for nonprofit organizations in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

Every show this season will have food available for purchase from MOGROG Rotisserie , a wide offering of drinks at the bar thanks to Alibi Ale Works , and Best Day Brewing , and two incredible giveaways as a result of the generosity of athlete sponsors and event sponsors. One giveaway is designed for all in-person attendees, while the second is for viewers tuning in from afar via the livestream offering. The prizes for each giveaway are different and attendees can participate in BOTH. All winners will be drawn at the event. Just prior to the show, all in-person giveaway winners and three online winners will be chosen. The remaining seven online winners will be drawn, and posted, after the show ends. All online winners will also be contacted by email.

Head over to Alpenglow Sports’ website to check out event details, and to learn more about the presenting athlete and the nonprofit beneficiaries of each show. You will also be able to access the livestreams via each event page. Please know that no registration is required for access.

About Alpenglow Sports:

Alpenglow Sports is an original California Mountain Shop that has been providing locals and visitors with inspiration, local knowledge and the best gear to enjoy the great outdoors since 1973. Based in Tahoe City, we take pride in being community, socially and environmentally responsible to ensure Lake Tahoe stays one of the best places to play, visit, and live in California.

About the Winter Speaker Series:

The Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series is an eagerly anticipated winter tradition for North Tahoe’s adventure community. With over 3,000 attendees annually, as well as a dynamic and global live stream component, the 19-year-old Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series has become one of the premier North American forums for adventure storytelling and community gathering.

The Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series blends two goals: 1) to inspire and motivate mountain athletes to pursue their own outdoor dreams and 2) to educate about, and raise funds for, non-profit organizations making a tangible difference in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee community.

Five times per winter, a premier outdoor athlete presents an inspirational tale of adventure, creating a forum for motivation, inspiration and education. Past speakers of the Winter Speaker Series include Lynn Hill, Hilaree Nelson, Jeremy Jones, Emily Harrington, Cody Townsend, Alex Honnold, Adrian Ballinger, and more. The series runs from November through March at the Olympic Village Events Center at Palisades Tahoe. Every show is FREE to the public and all ages are encouraged to attend.

Each show is dedicated to a different non-profit that has been selected through a rigorous application process, and to date, the Winter Speaker Series has raised over $1,775,000 for local organizations. Giveaway and bar proceeds, in conjunction with anonymous donations by the Donor Party, raise up to $75,000 per show for a local non-profit organization.

About the Donor Party:

The Donor Party arose in 2017 when Winter Speaker Series founder, Brendan Madigan, was approached by a community member who wanted to show his support by anonymously donating $2,500 to each of the five non-profits represented that season. Since then, The Donor Party has grown to over 75 engaged locals responsible for a massive community philanthropic effort. The result is a collective, game-changing impact that has made a difference in the fabric of the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee communities. To date, the Donor Party, in combination with the Winter Speaker Series, has raised over $1,775,000 for local organizations.