TAHOE CITY, Calif. –  While the sport of cross-country skiing may have appeared on people’s radar for the first time following the 2026 Winter Olympics, it has long been part of the fabric of Lake Tahoe. For the first time, people who are just dipping their toes into Nordic skiing and those who have been skiing for years can come together at the Inaugural Tahoe Nordic Expo. 

The expo, scheduled for Saturday, April 4, will be held at Tahoe XC in Tahoe City. The day is packed full of activities, including clinics, food and drink, and a panel discussion recapping the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Cup. 

“I started the Expo to bring the Nordic community together in an intentional way,” said Elyse Sara, founder of the event. “There’s so much passion for cross-country skiing in Tahoe, and I wanted to create something that connects people across experience levels, disciplines, and abilities. It’s about celebrating the sport as a whole and the community around it.”

The event will include a race-curious clinic with Martin Benes and a backcountry clinic with Jared Mannien. There will also be a laser biathlon relay. Organizers have planned for the clinics to be on-snow or hiking, depending on the snow levels. 

“We scheduled the event for early April to allow the athletes on the panel the space to focus on their competitive season. The question of snow was always part of the conversation, and here we are now,” said Sara. “The good news is that the Nordic spirit isn’t dependent on snow – it’s about movement, community, and a shared love for the sport. We’ve designed the day to work just as well without snow, featuring dryland training, clinics, and experiences (like a laser biathlon relay) that will create a meaningful and memorable day for all participants.”

The panel will feature American Olympic XC champion Kikkan Randall, 19-time Paralympic medalist Oksana Masters, local Olympian JC Schoonmaker, two-time Olympian Julia Kern, National Championship winner Annika Malacinski, and Telemark skier Jaz Taylor. The panel is moderated by 4x Olympian and the head coach of the Bridger Ski Foundation Pro Team Andy Newell. 

“My hope is that people leave feeling inspired and more connected – both to the sport and to each other,” said Sara. “The athlete panel is a big part of that, giving people a chance to hear directly from Olympians and World Cup athletes in a really accessible way. Beyond that, it’s about wrapping up the season with a sense of energy and carrying that momentum forward – keeping that Nordic spirit going into the off-season and beyond.”

To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.tahoenordicexpo.com/.