Funnyman Kevin Nealon, a “Saturday Night Live†legend and celebrated actor of “Weedsâ€, is set to hit MontBleu in Stateline on Feb. 13 at 8pm.
Tickets are $25/$40/$50. To purchase tickets, call (775) 588.3515 or go to Ticketmaster.
By Lindsey Sine, USSA
STONEHAM, Quebec — And so, one chapter ended and another began for U.S. Snowboarding Thursday as Graham Watanabe (Sun Valley, ID) took second and Shaun Palmer (South Lake Tahoe, CA) third in their final shot for Olympic qualification during a snowboardcross World Cup in Stoneham. With his second place, Watanabe locked up a spot co compete on the largest athletic stage in the world – the Olympics.
“I don’t even really know how to summarize it,” Watanabe said. “It’s a confirmation of everything I have worked for. It’s not the end all be all, but making it to the Olympics is a difficult task, especially with a team like ours, and achieving that goal is a big step in achieving a bigger goal in my snowboarding, which is to be the best I can be.”
But, it was not all smooth sailing for Watanabe. In qualifications he went down on his first run. The pressure was on for the second run with Watanabe needing to qualify in order to be considered for the Olympics. With some heavy concentration and focus, Watanabe came through to not only qualify, but post the fastest qualifying time.
“That made it interesting for today because it added more pressure for myself. I wondered if I could continue it or if I had used up all my gusto in qualifiers,” Watanabe.
The gusto remained, though, with Watanabe advancing each heat with excellent riding.
Watanabe was also a member of the 2006 Olympic Team, but under interesting circumstances. Sent to Italy as a wax tech after he failed to qualify, Watanabe was plugged into the Olympic lineup when a teammate was injured during training. Watanabe said he feels like this time he belongs in Vancouver.
“I felt like I was Olympic caliber in 2006. I had raced all season against all those same people. But I also felt like I had teammates who were better suited for that position and it took injuries for me to get in there,” Watanabe said. “But this time I feel like I belong there. I put in several years of progress and consistent riding in the top group.”
Palmer, a legend of the sport, marked the third World Cup podium of his career as he rounded out the top-three Thursday. He needed at least second to make the Olympic Team.
With the final event out of the way, the U.S. Olympic Team for snowboardi, ng will be announced Monday.
Stoneham, QuebecJan. 21, Snowboardcross
Men
1. Pierre Vaultier, France
2. Graham Watanabe, Sun Valley, ID
3. Shaun Palmer, South Lake Tahoe, CA
4. Drew Neilson, Canada
5. Mike Robertson, Canada
–
9. Ross Powers, Okemo, VT
10. Alex Deibold,
11. Nick Baumgartner, Iron River, MI
19. Nate Holland, Squaw Valley, CA
23. Jonathan Cheever, Saugus, MA
30. Mick Deirdorff,
32. Jason Smith, Basalt, CO
35. Pat Holland, Squaw Valley, CA
Women
1. Maelle Ricker, Canada
2. Helene Olafsen, Norway
3. Dominique Maltais, Canada
4. Sandra Frei, Switzerland
5. Mellie Francon, Switzerland
–
16. Faye Gulini, Salt Lake City
17. Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, Girdwood, AK
Nan Bostick’s “From Gaslight Ragtime to Electrified Swing Time†is Feb. 5 at 7pm at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Admission is $5.
Nan Bostick
Bostick will present her history of ragtime program in the local schools Feb. 1-5.
The event is sponsored by Tahoe Arts Project.
By Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee
Fed up with delays in the kidnap case against Phillip and Nancy Garrido, a judge in Placerville today booted defense attorney Gilbert Maines as Nancy Garrido’s lawyer and ordered the case to move forward.
Maines said he would continue his fight to represent her, adding that Garrido wants him as her attorney.
But the judge instead appointed Stephen Tapson as the attorney to handle the case.
Lake Tahoe remains the most popular ski destination, taking the top spot on the Orbitz Insider Index for the third consecutive year.
Orbitz Index – Top 2010 Ski Destinations:
1. Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
2. Breckenridge, CO
3. Park City, UT
4. Vail, CO
5. Winter Park, CO
6. Aspen / Snowmass, CO
7. Jackson Hole, WY
8. Mammoth, CA
9. Killington, VT
10. Durango, CO
After a break in the morning, storms continue this afternoon and evening in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe, delivers his ski report for the day.
By Josh Kosman and Mark DeCambre, New York Post
The drama at ski resort and Winter Olympics venue Whistler Blackcomb may go beyond the competition related to the Games.
Sources tell The Post that creditors holding $1.4 billion of debt on Whistler owner Intrawest are planning to foreclose on the company within the next week and a half, casting a shadow on the resort, which will host the alpine events of the 2010 Olympics. “It will probably happen within 10 days,” a source said.
By Kathryn Reed
Tonight the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce will unveil its rebranding campaign for the 3-year-old entity.
“We are going to try to do a better job of communication with our members and the community,†chamber President Patrick Atherton told Lake Tahoe News.
Going forward the chamber wants to better articulate its message, explain what it does and show-off how it is helping the community. Chamber officials have said they are going to let all media on the South Shore know what’s going on. This hasn’t always been the case. Press releases in the past have only been sent to the media who belong to the chamber and phone calls have not always been returned promptly.
At tonight’s gathering at Edgewood Tahoe from 5:30-7:30 the new logo will be officially unveiled. It was released to the media this morning.
The chamber is also going to promote its abbreviated name — Tahoe Chamber – which is in line with its web address, www.TahoeChamber.org.
For more information about the chamber, call (775) 588.1728.
By Kathryn Reed
STATELINE — Grades are important, but what makes these four young women standout among their peers is the complete package.
“These extraordinary young women truly deserve this recognition,” South Tahoe High Principal Ivone Larson said. Larson was speaking about Sandra Zepeda, Catherine Kushner, Rachel Kaufer and Alexis Holmes.
On Wednesday, the four seniors were honored by Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe as Young Women of Distinction.
Sandra Zepeda, l-r, Catherine Kushner, Rachel Kaufer, Alexis Holmes
The lunch at Harrah’s Tahoe brought out a throng of representatives from the high school as well as relatives of the honorees. Larson introduced each of the girls, highlighting their academic careers and what the future may hold for them.
Zepeda credits her mother for teaching her important life lessons. She credits her father for teaching her that accomplishing her dreams should be at the top of her list.
“Photography is not just her passion, it’s her calling,” Larson said. “It’s her dream to be the people’s photographer.”
Zepeda also has an interest in becoming a pastry chef.
Larson spoke of Kushner’s 4.29gpa. She rattled off a slew of music related accomplishments that Kushner has achieved. Kushner is also the senior class president and in the S Club.
“I know when I graduate I want to join a group like this and make a difference in the world,†Kushner said upon receiving her award.
Going to South Africa was a life-changing trip for Kaufer, Larson told the group. It was from that experience that Kaufer decided to pursue a career in journalism. Her goal is to cover political and environmental issues.
Kaufer thanked her family, saying, “Without their constant encouragement, I wouldn’t be where I am.”
Holmes has followed in her family’s footsteps when it comes to athletic achievements. She has lettered 12 times — the most she could.
She wants to write screenplays for Hollywood, be a professional golfer and live in Lake Tahoe.
“You are a legend in your own time,” Larson said of Holmes.
Just in time for the world to celebrate prime snowboarding season, Destineer announces the imminent release of Triple Crown Championship Snowboarding for Wii starring Hannah Teter of South Lake Tahoe, Gretchen Bleiler, and Lindsey Jacobellis.
The game features three of the national snowboarding team’s biggest female athletes in their natural element, strapped onto snowboards that are rocketing down mountains or pulling off physics-bending tricks in the halfpipe. Teter, Bleiler, and Jacobellis have captured title after title in events like the X Games, US Open, World Championships, and the Winter Olympic Games along with awards and accolades for their sportsmanship, activism and all-around domination of the snowboarding world.
Gold medalist Teter says in a press release about Triple Crown Championship Snowboarding, “We are all friends yet are super competitive, especially when we are riding against each other at contests around the world. Triple Crown Championship Snowboarding lets gamers everywhere test themselves against us in fun re-creations of our specialty events. The game being on Wii allows you to do maneuvers to challenge riders like me.”
Triple Crown Championship Snowboarding puts these amazing women front and center, sharing the spotlight with the top two male snowboardcross riders Nate Holland of Squaw Valley and Seth Westcott in Snowboard Cross, Halfpipe, and Slopestyle events.
With a nail-biting sensation of speed, players can choose to master the mountain and ride with the best using traditional Wii controls or use the Balance Board for an extra layer of riding simulation. Triple Crown Championship Snowboarding is priced at $29.99 and will be released exclusively for Wii in February.