Homewood rail jam is Saturday

Homewood Mountain Resort will host the inaugural Homewood Rail Jam on Saturday, March 16. The event will feature a live DJ, a spectator-friendly venue and big prizes from some of the industry’s top brands, plus cash awards for top contestants. Open to men and women ages 12 years and older, the event will take place on a specially-built rail collection installed in Homewood’s Happy Terrain Park above the North Lodge – one of Homewood’s four terrain parks. The convenient location offers spectators the perfect venue to cheer on their favorite competitors. The open jam format allows skiers and riders to squeeze in as many runs as they can, and judges will award points for style and technique. Prizes will be awarded for the top three in each division, and Homewood will also recognize those with the “Best Crash” and “Audience Favorite.” Proceeds from the $10 registration fee will benefit the local mentoring programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County and North Lake Tahoe. Registration opens at 11 a.m. and the competition starts at 1 p.m. For full details, visit http://www.SkiHomewood.com/RailJam.

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Donner Ski Ranch to host Snowskate contest

The 5th Annual Minus 7 Melee Snowskate contest is hitting the slopes of Donner Ski Ranch on Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Witness top riders in this burgeoning sport as they put it all on the line for cash, prizes and best of all: bragging rights. The action begins with skatercross races that pit four riders at a time through a tight course of turns and drops that will determine who can lay the speed down and hold the line. Next, a custom-built snowskate terrain park welcomes the riders to the slopestyle action, complete with hits, rails and boxes. The contest ends with a winner-takes-all downhill race. Kurt Zapata’s Minus 7 Snow Skates is a locally-owned company that has supported the North Tahoe snowskate community from the beginning. For more information contact minus-seven@hotmail.com or check out the Minus 7 Snowskates facebook page.

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Sugar Rush coming to Royal Gorge

Royal Gorge Cross Country Resort will host the Sugar Rush Nordic ski race Sunday, March 17, a 16-kilometer competition on a fast course that begins and ends in the Van Norden Meadow. The Sugar Rush race is the first competition at Royal Gorge since Sugar Bowl Resort assumed management of the cross-country resort, and is a preview of the resort’s plans to bring back the long-standing “Gold Rush” Nordic race next year. Sugar Rush racers start the race on the flat terrain of Van Norden Meadow, climb through rolling terrain to the Village at Sugar Bowl, and descend to a flat finish back at Van Norden Meadow. Recent snow has allowed Royal Gorge groomers to widen the trails throughout the race course, which will leave ample room for racers to pass. The race begins at 10 a.m. Registration costs $35 and is available by phone at 530-426-3871, through royalgorge.com or in person at the start at Van Norden Meadow. For more information, visit http://www.royalgorge.com.

Mt. Rose redefines ‘beer run’

The “Stake Your Claim” amateur freeride competition at Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe will take place in the legendary “Chutes” on Saturday, March 16. The day will also celebrate the Northern Nevada launch of event sponsor Alaskan Brewing Company’s Freeride APA, the brewery’s first release brewed through a sustainable beer-powered process. Spectators will be entertained by raw athleticism, raffles, live music from Decoy and beer sampling. In order to qualify for prizes, athletes have to showcase their athleticism, technical skills and style in an individual freeride run down the Chutes. Each judge has a different background in skiing and snowboarding to ensure the best overall performer is chosen. The overall winner will receive a prize of one half ounce of Alaskan gold, while second place will receive one ounce of Alaskan silver. Additional ski and snowboard prizes will also be awarded in each category. Entry costs $25. All Participants must have a lift ticket or season pass. Pre-register at http://www.skirose.com or sign up day of. Participants must be 21 or older. For more information visit http://www.skirose.com.

Cardio tennis offered by TDRPD

Taught by local pros Zeke Straw and Bill Waters, this fast-paced program combines skills with an aerobic workout for a spring tune-up. It is open to tennis players of all skill levels who are 18 and older. Players must wear indoor court shoes and classes are limited to 12 players a day. Classes last through April 26, from 7:30-8:45 a.m. Cost is $12.50 for drop-in or $50 for a five-day punch card. Call the rec center at 530-582-7720 for more info.

North Tahoe Youth Lacrosse

The North Tahoe Youth Lacrosse program is firing up its season on March 18. The program includes a U11, U13, U15 and high school team. Teams meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Rideout Community Center and North Tahoe High School once the snow melts. Cost is $85 per player, which also covers each player’s US Lacrosse Membership. Participants are required to provide their own equipment. Full sets of rental equipment are available from the Recreation Department for $45. The program is led by Brett McCann, Brad Powell, Dirk Schoonmaker and other local volunteers. To register, call 530-583-3440.