Announcing the 2024/25 Winter Speaker Series Lineup!
Presented by North Tahoe Chamber
12/12/24
Leanne Pelosi's "Unexpected Turns"
Life doesn’t always follow the path we expect—sometimes it zigs when we thought it would zag. In this engaging talk, professional snowboarder and filmmaker Leanne Pelosi shares how she navigated the twists and turns of her journey from transitioning out of a soccer career to pushing boundaries in the backcountry and embracing the duality of motherhood and passion. Through powerful stories of resilience, risk-taking, and community, Leanne offers lessons learned in the mountains that can inspire us all to embrace the unknown, carve our own path, and uplift others along the way.
Event Details
1/2/25
Kimmy Fasani's "Outside Ourselves"
Kimmy Fasani, a professional snowboarder and survivor of stage three breast cancer, shares her profound connection to the outdoors and the ways it has shaped her resilience. A Truckee, CA native, who resides in Mammoth Lakes with her husband Chris Benchetler, Kimmy will discuss how through her personal life’s peaks and valleys—losing both parents to cancer, enduring childhood abuse, facing her own health battle, while balancing motherhood and her career— she has found the mountains to be both a sanctuary and a teacher. Climbing and riding down these towering peaks mirror her personal journey: the climb symbolizing struggle and perseverance, and the descent representing a metamorphosis of release, acceptance, and joy.
Event Details
1/24/25
Greg Hill's "Chapters of Our Lives"
Greg Hill, or the “2-Million Foot Man” as he is known amongst peers, is a wildly accomplished professional skier, guide, filmmaker, speaker, dad, and author. His most recent venture? A bare all look at his life in his newly published memoir, I Could Die At Any Moment. What started as an answer to a question he is often asked - why is living a life of adventure worth the risk? - turned into a deep examination of his life and legacy. It is from this reflective experience that his show was born. On Friday, January 24th, join Greg on his journey of reflection in "Chapters of Our Lives”. Part vulnerability and humility, and part trying to explain, maybe even convince, what drives him to continue this lifestyle, this show is an honest reflection of his life to date.
Event Details
2/7/25
Angela Hawse's "Small, But Mighty"
Angela Hawse, one of very few women excelling as a professional mountain guide, has been in the business of taking folks on trips of a lifetime throughout the world for over 35 years. In 2023, she received the AMGA Lifetime Achievement in Guiding Award for her work. Additionally, she was the 6th woman in the U.S. to become an IFMGA Mountain Guide, the 1st woman to join the AMGA Instructor Team 20 years ago, and is now the 1st woman and the 1st non-European person to serve on the IFMGA Technical Commission. Angela’s show, “Small, but Mighty” will bring you along on her path less traveled which has required grit, passion, determination, compromise and commitment to go the distance, come back and do it again.
Event Details
2/28/25
Dave Nettle's "Patagonia - A Climbers Journey"
Climbing in Patagonia is an alpine climber’s dream...and curse. When the weather is good the sky is an amazing, brilliant blue, the sun warmed granite is perfect and the long, technical routes are world class. But, it’s also where the wind is regularly so fierce it’s called “the broom of the gods” and violent snowstorms blowing in across the Patagonian Ice Cap appear suddenly and rage for days or even weeks at a time.
Join Dave Nettle as he recounts some of his more memorable, challenging and humorous adventures and ascents from 30 years of climbing in Patagonia, including the iconic spires of Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Poincenot, the Central Tower of Paine, and a present day expedition to Torres del Paine.
Event Details:
What is the Winter Speaker Series?
The Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series presented by North Tahoe Chamber is the largest free community speaker series in the country. We host the biggest names in the outdoor industry who share stories about outdoor adventure. We have two simple goals: 1) to inspire and motivate mountain athletes to pursue their outdoor dreams and 2) to raise funds for nonprofit organizations making a tangible difference in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee community.
Get inspired by listening to your heroes tell amazing stories about outdoor achievement. We curate the speakers and stories you need to hear to more deeply connect with your outdoor pursuits and your local community.
Imagine a room full of people that love the mountains just as much as you do. The stories we hear, and the people we enjoy them with, make life in the mountains so much more rich. Come to an event this season and witness it for yourself.
Athlete and event sponsors generously donate products that you can win. We usually see more than $20,000 in gear and prizes for each event.
$1.75 Million Raised
We raise +$75,000 for each non-profit beneficiary. With five non-profits this season and giving on the rise, we intend to raise close to $500,000 this year.
100,000 Views
With thousands of attendees at each event and a huge online audience, we estimate that over 100,000 people have watched the Winter Speaker Series.
19 Years Running
We started in the back room of a small restaurant and bar in Tahoe City. 18 years later, we pack the house at the biggest venue in the area.
"The Winter Speaker Series is about community. Bringing people, family and friends to a slide show is beautiful. People gather to share stories, reminiscing about past exploits while planning the next adventure. One leaves inspired by the dynamism and the quality of the speakers. I look forward to my next mid winter adventure with the fine folks at Alpenglow Sports."
I have had the opportunity to speak at events around the world and nothing compares to the Alpenglow events. It brings out the whole community from kids to elders to celebrate adventure and life. A small town feel with big city audio/visuals that will have you laughing, cheering, and at times teared up. Couple all this with raising significant money for local non profits and you understand why it sets the benchmark for speaker series around the world.
The Winter Speaker Series is so embedded in our community that is has become our culture. I look forward to attending these events and when the opportunity arises to present, I feel like it is the greatest honor. To my knowledge, there is nothing like this steadfast event in the outdoor community that takes place year after year. The art of story telling and adventure is alive and well through the WSS
Telling stories is at the root of human social existence and the Winter Speaker Series is an incredible gathering point to celebrate mountain culture, support our community, and come together as one.
I have been involved in the Alpenglow Sports Winter Speakers Series as a co-founder and presenter since its inception in 2005 and it has been such a rewarding personal experience for me to see how it has grown and flourished as a fundraising event for local non-profit groups while staying true to its roots: To bring folks together for a fun evening of sharing stories and images that inform, entertain and inspire us to seek out our own challenges and adventures.
The Winter Speaker Series in Tahoe is unlike any other slideshow event I’ve participated in. It’s a free event that draws huge crowds of passionate outdoor recreationalists, in person and online, to raise money for local non profits and watch powerful storytelling. Every time I’ve spoken, I’m blown away by the energy and stoke of the crowd. The WSS is not to be missed!
Come to a show
In-person attendees do not need to register or buy a ticket, merely show up and join the fun. Bring some cash for giveaway tickets, food, and drinks. See you there!
Join from home
Every show is livestreamed on Alpenglow Sport’s YouTube channel. Register for the livestream and receive a free entry in the online giveaway.
Support the nonprofits
100% of giveaway ticket purchases go directly to our featured nonprofits. 100% of food and beverage sales go directly to the featured nonprofit.
All about the giveaway
The Winter Speaker Series famously has two giveaways. In-person attendees can buy tickets at the door and win prizes from our athlete and event sponsors.
There are different prizes available for our online audience, who enjoy a separate giveaway with tickets sold online. You can participate in both raffles!
Where do I buy tickets?
Tickets are sold at the door at all Winter Speaker Series events. Giveaway ticket purchases are not required for entry.
Tickets for the online giveaway can be purchased online up until the start of the event. Purchase is not required for entry.
What can I win?
Athlete and event sponsors generously donate products that you can win. We usually see more than $20,000 in gear and prizes for each event. The online giveaway has different prizes!
Double your chances to win by entering both giveaways.
When are winners announced?
Online and in-person winners are only announced during the event. Make sure to show up and dial in to secure your winnings!
100%
of proceeds to non-profit beneficiaries
Support the Winter Speaker Series
If you or your company are looking to supercharge your community contributions, please consider sponsoring the Winter Speaker Series. Title sponsors and event sponsors help keep the Winter Speaker Series free and accessible to all. Our sponsors help us reach more people by supporting our livestream and video creation efforts.
The best way to support the Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series is to come to an event and hug a friend. The next best way is to support our non-profit organizations. Please encourage your favorite local non-profits to apply for Winter Speaker Series sponsorship during our application window. The application window for the upcoming 2025-26 season is from June 1st to June 30th, 2025. Email us at info@alpenglowsports.com for an application form.
If you are looking for a way to give back and don't know where to start, consider joining the Donor Party. The Donor Party is an anonymous group of families and philanthropists who make a per-season contribution for the Winter Speaker Series nonprofit beneficiaries. Each beneficiary receives 100% of the Donor Party contributions; there is no management fee or overhead that cuts into your giving and all contributions are tax deductible. No amount is too small. For donor party inquiries, please reach out to us at info@alpenglowsports.com
If you or your company are looking to supercharge your community contributions, please consider sponsoring the Winter Speaker Series. Title sponsors and event sponsors help keep the Winter Speaker Series free and accessible to all. Our sponsors help us reach more people by supporting our livestream and video creation efforts.
The best way to support the Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series is to come to an event and hug a friend. The next best way is to support our non-profit organizations. Please encourage your favorite local non-profits to apply for Winter Speaker Series sponsorship during our application window. The application window for the upcoming 2025-26 season is from June 1st to June 30th, 2025. Email us at info@alpenglowsports.com for an application form.
If you are looking for a way to give back and don't know where to start, consider joining the Donor Party. The Donor Party is an anonymous group of families and philanthropists who make a per-season contribution for the Winter Speaker Series nonprofit beneficiaries. Each beneficiary receives 100% of the Donor Party contributions; there is no management fee or overhead that cuts into your giving and all contributions are tax deductible. No amount is too small. For donor party inquiries, please reach out to us at info@alpenglowsports.com
Watch the Winter Speaker Series:
Thanks to our Summit Sponsor!
The Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series is a free event, and we're committed to keeping it that way!
Our sponsors, especially the North Tahoe Chamber, help keep the Winter Speaker Series free and accessible to all.
Grateful for our Camp IV Sponsors
Stoked for our Camp III Sponsors
Kudos to our Basecamp Sponsors
With Beverages Generously Provided by
A Good Word for our Media Partners
