TAHOE CITY, Calif. — The Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series, presented by the North Tahoe Chamber, continues on Friday, January 2, with Chris Benchetler’s presentation of “Illuminating the Threads of Connection.” Attend the event in person at the Palisades Tahoe Olympic Village Event Center, or tune in via the livestream on Alpenglow Sports’ Youtube channel. Either way the show is free and all ages are encouraged to participate. Doors open at 6 p.m for dinner, drinks, raffle tickets and more, and the show starts promptly at 7 p.m. The nonprofit beneficiary of the evening is Truckee Roundhouse.

The Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series, presented by the North Tahoe Chamber, 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.

Five times per winter, a premier outdoor athlete presents an inspirational tale of adventure, creating a forum for motivation, inspiration and education. For the second show of the 25-26 season, renowned skier, artist, and filmmaker Chris Benchetler is presenting, “Illuminating the Threads of Connection” through which he will reveal how nature, music, and collaboration have shaped his instinctual creative process. From the slopes of Mammoth to designing skis, glowing skeleton suits, films, and collaborations with legendary artists like the Grateful Dead, his journey is a testament to the transformative power of intuition, manifestation, healing, and creative expression—a story that intertwines his early life, passion for skiing, artistry, and the profound lessons he’s learned from nature.

Paralleling Chris’ newly released film, Mountains of the Moon, his show will explore the invisible threads that connect us all, sharing how he healed his mind and unlocked new pathways for creativity. Through stories of resilience, connection, and creation, Chris hopes to encourage us all to awaken the artist within.

Each show is dedicated to a different nonprofit that has been selected through a rigorous application process, and to date, the Winter Speaker Series has raised $2,500,000 for local organizations. Giveaway and bar proceeds, in conjunction with anonymous donations by the Donor Party, 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 up to $20,000 of all in person funds raised at the events, 100% of which will be distributed to the five nonprofit beneficiaries!

Chris’ show supports Truckee Roundhouse, a nonprofit makerspace that supports the teaching, learning, and practicing of a wide variety of crafts, skills, technologies, and arts. Meet the team behind Truckee Roundhouse, and learn more at the event!

Doors open at 6 p.m. so that attendees can engage in unique activations with Arc’teryx, purchase dinner from MOGROG Rotisserie, enjoy beer and Hoppy Hour from Alibi Ale Works, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks at the bar, participate in exclusive tequila and whiskey tastings with Altamar, and purchase raffle tickets.

Thanks to the event and Chris’ sponsors, there will be TWO epic giveaways! 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 show. The remaining four online winners will be drawn and displayed right after the event. All online winners will be contacted via email the Monday following the event.

Enjoy the event in-person at the Palisades Tahoe Olympic Village Events Center on Friday, January 2 at 6 p.m. or livestream from home at 7 p.m. And, mark your calendars for the remaining speaker lineup including skiing icon Mike Hattrup (1/23/26), big mountain skier Johnny Collinson (2/13/26) and cornerstone of the series, local mountain guide Dave Nettle (3/6/26). All event details can be found at Alpenglow Sports’ website.