By: Kayla Anderson for LIVE.WORK.PLAY. Magazine Spring Issue 2025

The Tahoe Sierra’s incredible outdoor environment acts as a hub for some of the top races and sporting events around. Here are some ways to stay fit, have fun, and make new friends this summer: 

All Summer Long: Tahoe Bike Races

From June’s America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride and the Lake Tahoe Mountain Bike Race to the brutal Tour of the California Alps Death Ride and Rose to Toads (the point-to-point mountain bike ridge that traverses the entire East Shore with an 8,000-ft. elevation gain) later in the year, Tahoe has a lot of exciting and challenging two-wheeled centric races this summer. Northstar California also hosts a series of downhill mountain bike races at its resort with awards given to the top men, women, and juniors in their respective divisions. Check out a calendar of events on the Bike Tahoe website: https://biketahoe.org/calendar-of-events-races/

For women rippers who aren’t so much into competing but want to progress in mountain biking in a fun, inclusive, and supportive way, check out the Dames of Dirt. These Reno-Tahoe women rider base meetups encourage making new friends, discovering new trails and getting some inspiration along the way. 

June 21, Aug. 9, and Sept. 12-14^th: Tahoe Paddle Racing Series

Want to see how good of a paddleboarder you are against others? Then the Tahoe Paddle Racing series is the perfect way to gauge your abilities on the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe. Put on in conjunction with the Tahoe Waterman Foundation and Waterman’s Landing in Carnelian Bay, the race series kicks off with a fun Paddle Jam short race June 21st, then a downwinder August 9th, and ending the season with the big 22-mile lake crossing September 12-14th (if the weather cooperates). For more information about this summer’s paddle events, visit https://www.tahoewaterman.com/races. 

June 23-29, 2025: TERC Circ(umnavigation) of Lake Tahoe

Join the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center to circumnavigate Lake Tahoe in the name of science. This kayaking event, called TERC Circ 5, takes place over seven days, starting Monday, June 23 and ending Sunday, June 29. Many people have paddled Tahoe’s shores, but this event is unique in that you get to follow 6-13 miles of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline each day with TERC staff and researchers to see, share, and learn about Lake Tahoe’s ecology, geology, and its emerging challenges. Each day the locations vary; for more information visit https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/events/kayak-lake-tahoe. 

July 2-4, 2025: Local Heroes 4^th of July Celebration

Incline Village goes big for Fourth of July, with all kinds of events coming on the schedule as we get closer to Independence Day. Thursday, July 3^rd will have a lot going on for residents and visitors of all ages. The day kicks off with a flag raising ceremony and pancake breakfast with our local fire department and ends with a flag retirement ceremony at dusk. After the flag raising ceremony, kids can take part in the Kids Bike Parade rolling alongside local heroes and Incline High School will also be hosting a 3-on-3 Highlander Pride basketball tournament. http://ivcba.org/events/local-heroes/

July 19-20, 2025: B4BC Skate the Lake

The 21^st annual B4BC Skate the Lake is coming back July 19-20^th where people skate/bike/roll 28 miles along the West Shore together (from Sugar Pine to Palisades Tahoe and back down to Tahoe City) to help spread awareness and information about breast cancer in this fun, endurance based event. Skate the Lake kicks off on Commons Beach in Tahoe City on Saturday, July 19^th with live music, a raffle, yoga, and more all day long before the big skate the following day. 

Aug. 9, 2025: The Marlette 50k and 10 Miler

August 9^th is a day of East Shore trail runs, with the Spooner Lake 5k and 10k on the docket as well as the big Marlette 50k and 10 Miler will be going on at the same time. The Marlette 50k starts at Spooner Lake and follows 31 miles of beautiful trails along the ridgeline, passing Marlette Lake and offering up panoramic views of Big Blue. The Marlette 10 Miler is an out-and-back run starting at Spooner and heading to the south side of Marlette Lake on the North Canyon Trail, offering stunning views of Snow Valley Peak and the canyon. https://tahoetrailrunning.com/marlette-50k/ 

Aug. 17, 2025: 14^th Annual Lake Tahoe Sharkfest Swim

While sharks don’t technically exist in Lake Tahoe (card sharks, maybe), this annual swim event held at Sand Harbor gives participants the chance to see dramatic rock features and possibly other things in Lake Tahoe’s crystalline waters. This one-mile swim starts at the beach next to the boat ramp and finishes at Sand Harbor’s main beach on the south end of the park around the bend. This event is for experienced open-water swimmers only who can comfortably swim one mile in a pool in under 40 minutes. https://raceroster.com/events/2025/99656/2025-lake-tahoe-sharkfest-swim

Sep. 13, 2025: XTERRA Lake Tahoe

For those who truly want to test their mettle, XTERRA Lake Tahoe will put you in your place. This classic backcountry triathlon course starts with a 1,500-meter swim in Lake Tahoe followed by a bike ride up Tunnel Creek, and then a run along the Flume Trail. https://www.xterraplanet.com/event/xterra-lake-tahoe

Photo credit: TERC

Originally published in the Sierra Sun, 06/17/2025, Written by Eli Ramos

On Friday’s Lunch and Learn hosted by the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF), mountain town representatives from Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming spoke about their successes and lessons in housing.

The three speakers were Jason Dietz, director of housing for the town of Vail, Colorado; April Norton, director of Jackson and Teton County’s affordable housing department in Wyoming; and Carissa Connelly, housing director for city of Ketchum and Blain County Housing Authority in Idaho. Each of the speakers acknowledged how mountain town living and housing differs from most places, and the unique challenges faced by tourism impacts, weather and construction.

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Originally Published with UNR School of Medicine

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Nevada, Reno, is thrilled to announce the commencement of open enrollment for its diverse array of enriching educational programs tailored for adults aged 50 and above. With a mission to foster continuous learning, OLLI invites individuals to embark on an educational journey filled with stimulating lectures, engaging interest groups, dynamic outdoor activities and much more.

Designed to cater to the diverse interests and passions of its members, OLLI offers an unparalleled opportunity for individuals to explore new horizons, deepen their knowledge and connect with like-minded peers in a vibrant learning community. From literature to history, technology to the arts, there’s something for everyone at OLLI.

At just $85, an OLLI membership unlocks a world of educational possibilities, providing access to a wide range of lectures, interest groups, outdoor activities and special events throughout the membership year. Members can immerse themselves in thought-provoking discussions, enjoy enriching experiences both indoors and out, discover new hobbies and cultivate friendships that last a lifetime.

“We’re excited for OLLI’s open enrollment membership year for fiscal year 2026,” said Dolores Ward Cox, executive director at OLLI. “It’s a chance for adults 50 and older to engage in meaningful, lifelong learning in a community that’s welcoming, vibrant and fun. From thought-provoking lectures and hands-on workshops to group hikes and outdoor adventures, OLLI is more than a program—it’s a place where curiosity is celebrated, friendships grow and learning feels like a true joy.”

Open enrollment for OLLI membership began on June 1, 2025, and interested individuals are encouraged to sign up early to secure their spot in this vibrant community of learners. The membership year starts July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

For more information about OLLI and to register for membership, please visit olli.unr.edu or call (775) 784-8053.

I had a call this morning from Reno advertising guru, Mark Curtis, inviting me to tell, in five hundred words or so, how I got into portraying Mark Twain. Mark might possibly include this brief exposé in his impending coffee table book, One of a Kind (Part Two), due out right around Thanksgiving. I was happy to assure Mark that such a request would make for an enjoyable undertaking…

In 1983 I had the best job in the world, a job my father thought should be illegal, that of a morning radio host on the Valley Island of Maui. I was off the air at ten o’clock and riding a wave at ten after. I had everything a Maui Boy could ever want, except skiing. 

So I booked a cabin at Lake Tahoe for five days and was so excited I could hardly sleep that first night. But it snowed five feet overnight and my little cabin was buried. I made the mistake of opening the front door and it took me an hour to get it shut again. I thought it was the worst stroke of luck to ever befall this Maui Boy, but in fact it was the best…

I played darts for two days, then my elbow gave out, so I sat down and picked a book off the coffee table, The Complete Essays of Mark Twain. I had cabin fever by then so my brain was soft, and that seed was planted in fertile ground. The next thing I knew, fast forwarding a little, I was lecturing at Leningrad University in Russia in a white suit, and they were treating me like an elder statesman. They even let me climb inside Sputnik Two, but I’m getting a little ahead of myself.

As it took them five days to plow up to where I was snowbound, I did not get to ski, but I accrued some more vacation time and returned to Tahoe for another chance. In a now much appreciated God Wink, a lady riding up Ski Incline with me in the chair asked what I did. I told her and she put her hand on my arm…

“I’m starting a radio station up here at Tahoe, how would you like to host the morning show?” I took a look over my right shoulder at that beautiful blue lake, and in the next two weeks I would trade my surfboard for a brand-new pair of skis. That providential chairlift ride would springboard me to a rewarding 37-year career portraying Mark Twain in Nevada schools, across America, into Europe, and yes, even into Russia. How lucky is that?

Thank you, Mark Curtis, for inviting me to be a small part of your big coffee table book, and I wish you every success. I shall purchase of copy myself, if Big Daddy Lerude will float me a loan… 

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 06/13/2025, Written by Laney Griffo

It’s a classically beautiful Lake Tahoe summer morning at Nevada Beach, a morning where the lake is so still that it looks like glass, the air is crisp but the sun is beginning to warm my skin and the sand, as I struggle to pull my kayak off my car’s rack.

I look around at the dozens of other people there, also unloading their kayaks. They do it with such ease, that I know it’s old hat for them and I try to mimic their confidence, as if I’m also accustomed to handling my unwieldy boat. I’m nervous to be a novice around such experienced kayakers but there is no need to feel that way. As soon I drag my boat to the water’s edge, several people come to greet me, ask about my kayak and even offer me a donut.

While I’m joining for just the day, most people gathered on the beach that morning are on day six of their seven-day trip around the lake. Since 2020, a group of kayak, science and Lake Tahoe enthusiasts get together to circumnavigate the lake by kayak. The annual event, organized and led by UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, acts as a fundraising opportunity for the organization, as well as a bonding and educational experience for participants.

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Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 06/12/2025, by TAMBA

Tahoe boasts over 200 miles of trails across the region, and attracts thousands of avid recreationists every year who are keen to explore the area’s stunning natural beauty and rugged terrain. The range of trails on offer cater for all types of trail user, from those taking in the views on foot, to others seeking that rush of adrenaline on two wheels.

It’s fair to assume that if you’ve enjoyed a trail in Tahoe, the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association, or TAMBA, has played a role in building or maintaining it. We’re a local non-profit trail-building organization that exists in large part thanks to the thousands of dedicated volunteers who are committed to giving back to the Tahoe trails they love. Last year, from May through October alone, TAMBA volunteers gave nearly 6,000 hours of their time to Tahoe trails across 850 volunteer trail work events, and we’re excited to offer even more opportunities to get involved in 2025.

TAMBA was built on the ethos that trails are for everyone, so if you love trails and want to get dirty keeping them in the best shape they can be, we’ll bet we have a dig day for you this season. Check out our list of hot projects this season and join us for a day in the field. There’s no better way to give back to the Tahoe trails you love!

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Photo provided: Tahoe Daily Tribune