TAHOE CITY, Calif. — The team at Alpenglow Sports announced the lineup for their 20th annual Winter Speaker Series, presented by the North Tahoe Chamber. On December 5, the series will kick off with pioneering local climber Emily Harrington and the nonprofit beneficiary, Truckee Dirt Union. The season continues in the new year with rad artist, filmmaker, and skier, Chris Benchetler (1/2/26), skiing icon Mike Hattrup (1/23/26), big mountain skier and paraglider Caite Zeliff (2/13/26) and cornerstone of the series, local mountain guide Dave Nettle (3/6/26). Five incredible speakers, five engaging shows filled with equal parts adventure and human experience, and five hand-picked, local nonprofits supported.

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 20-year-old Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series has become one of the premier North American forums for adventure storytelling and community gathering. The 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, nonprofit organizations making a tangible difference in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee community.

Each show is dedicated to a different nonprofit and to date, the Winter Speaker Series has raised nearly $2,500,000 for local organizations. Giveaway and bar proceeds, in conjunction with anonymous donations by the Donor Party, traditionally raise up to $100,000+ per show for a local nonprofit organization.

In addition, for the 20th anniversary, the Tahoe Fund has generously committed to match $20,000 of all in-person funds raised at the shows, 100% of which will be distributed to the five nonprofit beneficiaries supported. The continuation of this partnership bolsters one of the ultimate goals of the series to be a meaningful partner for nonprofit organizations in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

For the 2025-26 season, the nonprofit beneficiaries include Truckee Dirt Union, Truckee Roundhouse, Lake Tahoe Waterman Association, Headwaters Science Institute, and Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association (TCCSEA) respectively. Broadly, this group of organizations provides access to community, outdoor recreation opportunities, and educational programs. From more connected and accessible mountain biking trails to increased craft, technology, and arts education opportunities to an adaptive paddling program to equal access to science education in our school system to the growth of cross country ski and mountain bike programs available for all user groups, the common thread is accessibility; 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 incredible people behind these organizations and learn more!

The series runs from December through March at the Olympic Village Events Center at Palisades Tahoe and via livestream on Alpenglow Sports’ Youtube channel. Every show is FREE to the public and all ages are encouraged to attend. At the shows, enjoy food available for purchase from MOGROG Rotisserie, a wide offering of drinks at the bar thanks to Alibi Ale Works, and two massive giveaways thanks to the athlete and event sponsors.

The in-person raffle will be for all attendees who purchase tickets at the event, while the online giveaway is for all tuning in from afar and anyone who purchases online tickets. The prizes for each are different and you can enter BOTH! All in-person winners and the top three online winners will be drawn right before the shows. The remaining four online winners will be drawn and displayed right after the events. All online winners will be contacted via email the Monday following the events.

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.