Why is this ultimate American pride event famously known as “The Wildest Richest Rodeo in the West?” We will break it down for you.

Wild.

“There ain’t a bull that can’t be rode and ain’t a rider that can’t be throwed.” Toss aside your city-slicker suit, put on your boots and cowboy up. From the rock ’em toss ’em chaos in the arena to the hoedown at the Jack Daniel’s tent, you’ll need to tighten your spurs to survive this event.

Rich.

Bulls in the chute, cowgirls in miniskirts and beer in hand, does more need to be said? I guess we can mention the contestants are competing for over $500,000 in prize money. This year’s Rodeo will definitely be rich with cash and culture.

Rodeo.

Here, you either “do it right or get off the horse,” literally. Willingly riding a bucking bull or bronco is not easy and those eight seconds could be the longest of your life. Luckily, fans get to soak up the summer evening and relax instead of being tossed around. The only thing we need to worry about is kicking a cow patty after a hot day.

West.

There’s a reason the famous phrase is the “Wild Wild West.” Out West we do things bigger, better and a little different. The Reno Rodeo never disappoints. It’s truly the best in the West.

We will see you there for a bucking good time! For more information visit www.renorodeo.com.

Hot summer weekends are finally here and you can jump into the summer season by enjoying Tahoe’s “coolest” attraction. Lake Tahoe is renowned for its cobalt blue waters, providing a clear view of depths up to 75 feet. And hey, what better way to explore its depths than to skim its surface via paddle? Here’s something unexpected: Lake Tahoe is the largest stand up flat-water paddleboard venue in the country!

“Stand up paddle boarding is one of the most scenic and green ways to take in Lake Tahoe,” said Ernie Brassard, president of the 2011 Quiksilver Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand-Up Paddle Classic, August 13-14 in Kings Beach. “You get a completely different perspective of the lake and the surrounding mountains from the water than you do from the trail.”

The sport continues to skyrocket in popularity, as evidenced by a recent increase in Tahoe rental shops and outfitters, as well as festivals taking center stage during the summer and fall months.

A popular event you won’t want to miss is the Jam from the Dam, July 9, which has participants racing six miles from Commons Beach in Tahoe City to the Waterman’s Landing – a new restaurant and stand up paddleboard shop. Like the Ta-Hoe Nalu, it’s a great opportunity for spectators to demo equipment in a fun and festive environment.

Need equipment? Tahoe Paddle & Oar caters to the canoe and kayak audience with rentals available, including wetsuits and life vests, along with on-water lessons. If it’s a lazy Sunday and you want your paddleboards and beaches all in one place, rentals are available at one of Tahoe’s most well-known beaches, Sand Harbor State Park, located outside of Incline Village. Kayaks and paddleboards are a must to explore San Harbor’s hidden coves, cathedral of massive white boulders and lively beach activities. The infamous white sand is also a great picnic spot!

Click here to watch a video!

It’s a LEAVE sNOw TRACE extravaganza as the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics partners with Tahoe Mountain Sports and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association for an entire weekend of events March 10-13, 2011. 

The award-winning Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is the international leader in sustainable recreation practices. The nonprofit organization teaches children and adults vital skills to minimize their impacts when they are outdoors. Leave No Trace is the most widely accepted outdoor ethics program used today on public lands across the nation by all types of outdoor recreationalists. One of Leave No Trace’s 7 fundamental principles is “Plan Ahead and Prepare,” and Tahoe Mountain Sports and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association continually help Tahoe residents and visitors do just that.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association exists to maintain and enhance the legendary 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail and encourages stewardship through volunteer programs, education outreach, and community partnerships. TRTA staff and volunteers inspire trail-users to adhere to the Leave No Trace principle.

For their LEAVE sNOw TRACE crusade, Leave No Trace, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and Tahoe Mountain Sports have planned the following events to help spread the word of leaving no trace at Lake Tahoe:

• Thursday, March 10 – Tahoe Mountain Sports Sasquatch Sale Benefits the Tahoe Rim Trail Association.The Tahoe Mountain Sports annual spring clearance, the Sasquatch Sale, kicks off with 10% of all profits being donated to the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, all day 10am-6pm.
• Thursday Night, March 10 – Leave No Trace Winter Skills Awareness Workshop: Join the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers at the North Tahoe Events Center in Kings Beach for an interactive program that provides the necessary tools to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Participants will explore the principles of Leave No Trace through hands-on, engaging activities that are guaranteed fun for all ages. Rumor has it that Bigfoot will be there to share some of his secrets on leaving no trace in the wild! Program runs 6-8pm with light refreshments provided, and is free and open to everyone.
• Saturday, March 12 – Kings Beach SnowFest Parade: Bigfoot, the Leave No Trace mascot, hits Kings Beach’s mainstreet for the SnowFest Closing Weekend Parade, joined by the official, decked-out Leave No Trace Subaru and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association Ford F-150 filled with Tahoe Mountain Sports and Tahoe Rim Trail staffers. Parade starts at 11:30am. Watch the action go by at Tahoe Mountain Sports, aka “parade central,” with the judges and the emcee hanging out on their front porch, and the best deals of the season inside with the Sasquatch Sale!

- Lis Korb

Come join our celebration of the great outdoors at the 10th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival Truckee Meadows Tour. The spirit of outdoor adventure in all its glory comes to life on screen through spectacular stories of skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking and much more. Remote locations and stunning scenery make this film festival a must-see for adventurers of all ages and skill levels. Plus, an exciting outdoor adventure raffle offers guests an unforgettable experience.

The adventure begins Wednesday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m.  in John Ascuaga’s Rose Ballroom. All seats are assigned, and tickets are available through John Ascuaga’s Nugget. General admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. VIP seating is also available for $43, which includes one year’s membership in Nevada Land Conservancy.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is the Nevada Land Conservancy’s largest annual fundraiser. Established in 1998, the Nevada Land Conservancy is a private, non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting Nevada’s open spaces and special places for future generations. As the state’s first “Nevada-Born” land trust, the Conservancy meets open space needs by working closely with area landowners, businesses, environmental organizations, and public officials. The Nevada Land Conservancy has protected more than 39,000 acres to date through acquisition, facilitation and partnership!
For more information on Banff or the Nevada Land Conservancy mission, please visit www.nvlc.org or call (775) 851-5180.
-Becky Stock

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in North America, today announced the Stage 1 and Stage 2 race routes for Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe’s first-ever involvement in the race as the official Overall Start is Sunday, May 15 and begins at South Lake Tahoe at 6,300 feet, the highest start elevation in the six-year history of the competition. Stage 1 wraps up in North Lake Tahoe at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, with the Stage 2 Start taking place nearby at Squaw Valley USA on Monday, May 16.

Cyclists will begin at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa on the California/Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe. The peloton will loop past Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course around Heavenly Village, past the starting line again and onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard (Highway 50) through the casino corridor then clockwise around the 72-mile perimeter of Lake Tahoe.

Riders will gain 700 feet in elevation as they wind up switchbacks on the West Shore. Upon reaching the top of scenic Emerald Bay, one of the most photographed places in the world and the first of three King of the Mountain finishes, they will descend 500 feet while exceeding speeds of 40 miles per hour until the flats of Homewood, home to Lake Tahoe’s oldest marina. Athletes will cruise along the historic West Shore, making their way to North Lake Tahoe and the heart of downtown Tahoe City and then onto Kings Beach.

Cyclists will leave the California side of the lake and enter Nevada, the first out-of-state course for the Tour, and pass through Incline Village. The group will skirt by spectacular Sand Harbor State Park and the legendary Thunderbird Lodge along the East Shore at lake level before a long and steady 1,000-foot ascent to Spooner Summit at an elevation of 7,150 feet.

Speeds here will increase to 45 miles per hour as they descend back toward the lake and through the tunnel at Cave Rock. Racers will then pass Zephyr Cove Resort, returning to Stateline, Nevada, the scene of the overall start.

After crossing the state line and back into California at South Shore, the peloton returns to Emerald Bay with its remarkable views and the second King of the Mountain finish. Here some riders may gain separation from the pack before their second descent onto the West Shore.

After passing Tahoe City for a second time, there’s a short ascent to Dollar Point before turning left up Brockway Summit (Highway 267) at North Lake Tahoe to 7,000 feet and one last chance for the climbers to dictate the race outcome with the third and final King of the Mountain finish. After cresting the summit, the lead group plunges down a rapid descent into a hard left turn onto Northstar Drive, where both sprinters and climbers will set-up for a high-speed blast to the finish line at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort. 

The spectator-packed finish line is also home to the Amgen Tour of California Lifestyle Festival, which features a health and fitness expo, cancer awareness education, cycling gear, family activities, bike safety, food and entertainment. Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will also host a Break Away from Cancer Walk on Sunday, May 15.

Upon completing Stage 1, competitors will have ridden a lap-and-a-half around Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in the country, conquering 119 miles and three mountains passes in approximately five hours and a total elevation gain of 5,500 feet.

North Lake Tahoe is hosting the Stage 2 Start of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California at Squaw Valley USA, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, the following morning, Monday, May 16. The action starts directly under the historic Olympic rings at the center of the Village at Squaw Valley with riders peddling the cobbled corridors before turning onto Squaw Valley Road and then descending to the Olympic Flame entrance and a left-hand turn onto Highway 89.

The peloton will follow the picturesque Truckee River corridor as they make their way on Highway 89 toward Truckee and through the two roundabouts near the Interstate 80 overpass. Riders will then turn left onto historic Donner Pass Road before riding the ramp over Interstate 80 and past Donner Memorial State Park, home to the infamous Donner Party.

The pack will continue along the northern shoreline of Donner Lake as they make their approach to the steeps of Old Highway 40 on their way to Donner Summit and the day’s first King of the Mountain finish. With some of the best views of the approaching riders and Donner Lake far below, this spot is sure to jammed-packed with enthusiastic spectators.

From there, athletes speed pass Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, Donner Ranch Ski Resort and Soda Springs Ski Resort and descend into California’s Gold Country via Highway 20 and the finish line for Stage 2 at the Sacramento State Capitol.

“Lake Tahoe is pulling out all the stops to provide cyclists and spectators with an unforgettable experience,” said Tourism Director Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. “This is our golden opportunity to make our mark on the cycling community, and businesses and organizations are eager to welcome the thousands of visitors who will be traveling to the lake, many for the first-time ever.”

“Hosting the overall start in South Shore will not only provide economic impact this year and beyond, but it will also further brand Lake Tahoe as a ‘must ride’ biking destination,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

Beginning with the inaugural race in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California quickly became the most successful race in the United States with economic benefits to the state, global recognition and the level of competition. The race also set records in attendance for a single sporting event in California, as well as any cycling event ever held on U.S. soil, with more than 2 million spectators in previous years.

The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority are spearheading promotional and sponsorship efforts for the Lake Tahoe Stage 1 Start, Stage 1 Finish and Stage 2 Start, and serve on the Amgen Tour of California Lake Tahoe Local Organizing Committee. Stage 1 of the race is presented by Michelob Ultra, and Stage 2 is presented by the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC).

In previous years, the race has drawn some of the world’s most recognizable and respected riders, such as top Tour de France competitors, world champions and Olympic medalists including Lance Armstrong, Tom Boonen, Oscar Freire, Paolo Bettini, Fabian Cancellara, Carlos Sastre, Ivan Basso, George Hincapie, Mark Cavendish and Andy Schleck.

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will cover 800 miles and visit 15 Host Cities for official stage starts and finishes, while other cities along the route also will have the opportunity to witness the excitement of elite professional cycling.  Stages for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California include:

• Stage 1: Sunday, May 15 – South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort

• Stage 2: Monday, May 16 – North Lake Tahoe-Squaw Valley USA to Sacramento

• Stage 3: Tuesday, May 17 – Auburn to Modesto

• Stage 4: Wednesday, May 18 – Livermore to San Jose

• Stage 5: Thursday, May 19 – Seaside toPaso Robles

• Stage 6: Friday, May 20 – Solvang Individual Time Trial

• Stage 7: Saturday, May 21 – Claremont to Mt. Baldy

• Stage 8: Sunday, May 22 – Santa Clarita to Thousand Oaks

- Pettit Gilwee

The teams have been decided and fans in Reno are excited, Super Bowl Weekend is right around the corner!  Join in the celebration of gridiron glory as Downtown Reno presents The Biggest Little Tailgate Party in the World on Saturday, February 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m!

Stake claim to the best spots along Virginia Street with the rest of Reno’s most dedicated football fans and prepare to have some fun!  Entertainment includes cheerleading performances from the Nevada Wolf Pack Cheer and Dance Squads and a marching band exhibition including Damonte Ranch, McQueen, Sparks, Reed and Douglas High Schools.  We’re also looking for super fans wearing their Sunday football finest to participate in the Best Fan Contest!

Looking for more ways to win?  Sign up for a tailgate spot along the street and compete in the Best Tailgate Setup Contest for a chance to win free beer for an entire year—that’s a case of brew per week for 52 weeks!  Tailgate spots are still up for grabs; sign up by January 31 to show the city how pre-game grilling is done!  

That’s not all!  Test those quarterback skills for a chance to become a millionaire!  The $1 Million Dollar Football Toss is back, just bring two non-perishable food items to the Registration Booth on the plaza or any of the participating Chili Cookoff Booths and receive a free entry card.  One lucky fan will get a chance to hit the target and win!  All food donations collected will go to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

Tailgate Party-goers also get the chance to be the judge in a street-side Chili Cookoff between each of the Downtown Hotel/Casino Properties!  Purchase a tasting card for just $10 to get samples at all five different chili booths then vote for the best!  Each booth will have a ballot box and each participant will receive one free entry into the $1 Million Dollar Football Toss drawing. 

Take it from the pros; The Biggest Little Tailgate Party is the best place to pre-game on Super Bowl Weekend!  Join former NFL Players Phil Villapiano of the Oakland Raiders, Conrad Dobler of the St. Louis Cardinals and Tony Hill and Glenn Carano of the Dallas Cowboys out on the street for autographs, photos and more. 

Don’t miss the biggest pre-Super Bowl party in Reno!  Tailgating applications are available at Silver Legacy’s Star Rewards Desk on the main casino floor or online at www.silverlegacy.com under the Casino Promotions page.  For more details call 775-325-7401 or visit any participating Downtown Property’s website.  Celebrate the end of the NFL season with gridiron glory on the streets of Downtown Reno; plan to take part in The Biggest Little Tailgate Party 2011!

- Diana Rogers

After a nail-biting win over Boise St. at home, the Wolf Pack went on the road to defeat LA Tech, leading the Pack to the Kraft Fight-Hunger Bowl in San Francisco January 9, 2011 in AT&T Park!

Wolf Pack fans looking to watch Nevada play in the same park the Giants play in have several flight options available through Reno-Tahoe International Airport. 

With over 1,000 seats scheduled to the San Francisco Bay Area on Friday and nearly 900 seats scheduled on Saturday, Wolf Pack fans can easily score a seat to the big game. The pictured chart of flights below offers all of the available non-stop and one-stop flight options between Reno and the Bay Area. It is important to note that Southwest Airlines, the largest air carrier at Reno-Tahoe International, does not offer fares through travel service web sites like Expedia, Travelocity or Sidestep. Travelers should check airline web sites directly for the latest fares and availability.

 “Reno-Tahoe International offers numerous flights that can help you follow the Wolf Pack to the Kraft Bowl,” Krys Bart, President/CEO of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, said. “With fares as low as $59 each way, it is the perfect time to hop on board a flight and help support the WAC Conference champions as they take on Boston College in the last game of a history making season.”

The2011 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America, will start at Lake Tahoe, one of the country’s most spectacular destinations and nationally renowned cycling meccas. Lake Tahoe’s first-ever involvement in the race will feature more than a lap and a half around the Lake beginning at the Calif./Nev. border in South Lake Tahoe with the Stage 1 finish at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in North Lake Tahoe. North Lake Tahoe also hosts the Stage 2 start at Squaw Valley USA, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

The Amgen Tour of California covers more than 800 miles, traveling between 15 host cities over the course of eight days from May 15-22, 2011. Last year’s date change from February to May allowed the Tour de France-style road race to visit locations that would not have been possible previously, including a visit to Big Bear Lake. Due to the incredible success, the race will remain in May to provide fans with the most action-packed race possible.

The race will wind through miles of beautiful California terrain, beginning with the first-ever visit to Lake Tahoe, a well-known cycling destination and home of “America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride.” The race will travel through some of the state’s most scenic landmarks, with the overall finish in title-sponsor Amgen’s hometown community of Thousand Oaks.

The 15 official stage start and finish communities that have been selected for the 2011 race include newcomers: South Lake Tahoe, North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort, North Lake Tahoe-Squaw Valley USA, Auburn, Livermore, Claremont, and Mt. Baldy, along with return cities: Sacramento, Modesto, San Jose, Seaside, Paso Robles, Solvang, Santa Clarita and Thousand Oaks.

“Whether it’s skinny or fat tires, Tahoe is a passionate biking community,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “Hosting the Amgen Tour of California, the country’s most prestigious bike race, will put us on the map as ‘must ride’ for cyclists while having a significant impact on the local and regional economy.”

“There is nothing quite like riding at elevation – 6,300 feet,” said Andy Chapman, tourism director of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. “These cyclists are going to be pushing the envelope as they make their way up and down mountain passes and not once but twice around the national treasure of Emerald Bay State Park for a grand finish at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort. Equally spectacular will be the Stage 2 Start at Squaw Valley USA with Tahoe’s famed granite peaks making for an unforgettable backdrop.”

Lake Tahoe is recognized for several annual summer biking events. America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride has participants circumnavigate the Lake the first weekend in June. Another chance to circle Tahoe’s 72-mile shoreline is during the annual Tour de Tahoe Bike Big Blue Race in mid-September. Late September brings the Tahoe Century Ride, which starts and finishes at Squaw Valley and features scenic routes and challenging hill climbs. The annual Lake Tahoe Marathon Week offers a bike race around Tahoe’s shoreline the end of September. Furthermore, the annual Death Ride® course covers five High Sierra mountain passes includes both sides of Monitor and Ebbetts Pass,Carson Pass and Turtle Rock Park, north of Markleeville. Tour de Nez offers significant professional stage races in the country taking place in 2 states: Nevada and California; the cities of Reno and Truckee, along the shores of Lake Tahoe, and up the mountains surrounding the resort at Northstar-at-Tahoe every June.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, are spearheading promotional and sponsorship efforts for the Lake Tahoe Stage 1 Start, Finish and Stage 2 Start, and will serve on the Amgen Tour of California Lake Tahoe Local Organizing Committee.

Beginning with the inaugural race in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California quickly became the most successful race in the United States with regards to economic benefits to the state, global recognition and the level of competition. The race also continues to set records in attendance for a single sporting event in the state of California, as well as any cycling event ever held on U.S. soil, with more than 2 million spectators in previous years.

“Last year we witnessed the benefits of moving the Amgen Tour of California to May – better weather, a new, challenging route and more intense competition,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “In 2011 we plan to continue to showcase the beautiful features the state of California has to offer, while also continuing to raise the bar for what it means to be the largest, most important cycling race in America.”

In previous years, the race has drawn some of the world’s most renowned and respected riders, such as top Tour de France competitors, World Champions and Olympic medalists that include Lance Armstrong, Tom Boonen, Oscar Freire, Paolo Bettini, Fabian Cancellara, Carlos Sastre, Ivan Basso, George Hincapie, Mark Cavendish and Andy Schleck.

“The 2011 Amgen Tour of California route is going to result in an exciting and compelling race,” said Lance Armstrong of Team Radioshack. “All of us at Team Radioshack are looking forward to it.”

Returning as the title sponsor for the sixth consecutive year, Amgen will continue to leverage the race to raise awareness and support for people affected by cancer through its Breakaway from Cancer® initiative. A leading global biotechnology company with headquarters in Thousand Oaks, Calif., one of the 2011 race Host Cities, Amgen’s invaluable support has helped to ensure the continued success of the race and impact beyond the sporting arena.

“The 2011 Amgen Tour of California route will deliver new challenges for the professional cyclists and also give Amgen an opportunity to introduce our company and our Breakaway from Cancer initiative to California communities that are getting involved in the race for the first time,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. “We look forward to collaborating with all of this year’s Host Cities to spread awareness about Amgen, our mission to serve patients through using biotechnology to create medicines for people with grievous illness, and the incredible support services that are available free of charge to people affected by cancer through Amgen’s non-profit Breakaway from Cancer partner organizations.”

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will visit 15 Host Cities for official stage starts and finishes, while other cities along the route also will have the opportunity to witness the excitement of elite professional cycling.

 Stages for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California include:

• • Stage 1: Sunday, May 15 – South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort
• • Stage 2: Monday, May 16 – North Lake Tahoe-Squaw Valley USA to Sacramento
• • Stage 3: Tuesday, May 17 – Auburn to Modesto
• • Stage 4: Wednesday, May 18 – Livermore to San Jose
• • Stage 5: Thursday, May 19 – Seaside to Paso Robles
• • Stage 6: Friday, May 20 – Solvang Individual Time Trial
• • Stage 7: Saturday, May 21 – Claremont to Mt. Baldy
• • Stage 8: Sunday, May 22 – Santa Clarita to Thousand Oaks

For further information on the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

I really should’ve taken a picture of the small, perfectly round welt that formed on my wrist. Aside from this blog and the video, it was the only physical evidence of my presence at the Reno Indoor Paintball, Inc. (RIP) studios.

RIP President Lawrence “Larry” Kagawa became a paintball enthusiast in the Army. In his 21-year military career, he experimented with non-lethal military training that involved both laser tag and paintball. He fell in love with the spirit and professional aspect of the sport, and decided to test his entrepreneurial side in Reno, Nevada two years ago.

“Paintball is an extreme sport with the teamwork of a traditional sport,” Kagawa said.

Reno Indoor Paintball, Inc. is the only indoor paintball facility in all of Northern Nevada. Players are as young as 10 and as old as 72.

“He comes all the way from Fallon to train and really gets into it,” Kagawa said of his oldest player.

It hosts tournaments, coaching clinics and is home to the national champs, NV Reign. The squad currently holds the national title for the National Professional Paintball League, and in two weeks the team is headed to Washington D.C. to see if they can retain that honor. Talk about bragging rights. (No pressure. You’re only representing the state of Nevada.)

And that’s not all. Reno Indoor Paintball, Inc. is proud to announce that the Regional Paintball League (RPL) will be visiting Reno July 24 and 25. It’s the first paintball tournament in Reno history! Teams will travel to Reno from San Diego, Oregon, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. The ultimate goal of RIP is to entice the National Professional Paintball League to host its annual tournament in the Biggest Little City.

Immediately following this history-making event, Reno Indoor Paintball, Inc. is supporting the Western States Police and Fire Games.

To learn more RIP or what it takes to be a paintball player, check out the video! Listen closely. You can hear when I get pelted.

 US Bowling Congress Selects Reno to host the USBC Women’s Championships in 2013 and 2014

The additional event bookings will generate 190,000 room nights in Reno Tahoe USA. 

The LA Times didn’t call it the “Taj Mahal of Tenpins” for nothing. While most cities have a bowling alley, Reno Tahoe USA has an entire stadium dedicated to the sport, and it’s the one-of-a-kind facility and community spirit that has enticed the U.S. Bowling Congress to return year after year.

The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) announced Tuesday that Reno has been selected to host the Women’s Championships in 2013 and both the USBC Open Championships and Women’s Championships in 2013 and 2014. This marks the first time in USBC history that both events will take place simultaneously in the same city.

“We are extremely pleased to have been selected as the host city for the 2013 and 2014 USBC Open Championships and Women’s Championships,” said Ellen Oppenheim, RSCVA President and CEO. “We are equally thrilled to continue to build our long-time partnership with the prestigious events. We are looking forward to welcoming participants of the USBC and their families to our destination for several more years to come.”

Approximately 85,000 bowlers from across the United States and several foreign countries including England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Bermuda, Canada, Bahamas and France participate in the Open Championships. Additionally, more than 45,000 guests will visit Reno Tahoe for each tournament. The economic impact for both the additional Open Championships and Women’s Championships in 2013 and 2014 is projected to be $242 million in direct local spending.

“The positive impact of winning this piece of business in 2013 and 2014 will be felt by all of the hotels, restaurants, attractions, and shops in the destination,” said Oppenheim. “It also brings Reno Tahoe the opportunity to continue to host one of the largest events in the country. This agreement demonstrates that the National Bowling Stadium is a first rate venue and bowlers enjoy coming to Reno Tahoe.”

The USBC Open Championship will be held inside the one-of-a-kind bowling stadium with simultaneous competition for the Women’s Championships inside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC). The last time the RSCC was used for a bowling event was in 1990.

Reno is writing a new page of USBC history in becoming the first city to ever host consecutive tournaments. During previous Open Championships in Reno, 106,916 teams (representing more than 535,000 participants) have competed for more than $30 million in prize money. The Open Championships or Women’s Championships have been held at the National Bowling Stadium 11 times in the past 15 years and are scheduled to return seven  more times.

Sometimes a bowler just has to face the music. Why not do it in the National Bowling Stadium?

About United States Bowling Congress:

The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to nearly 2.5 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

About the RSCVA:

The RSCVA is the primary tourism agency supporting convention and tourism business for the Reno Tahoe region.  Reno Tahoe supports unlimited possibilities from outdoor recreation to 24-hour Nevada style gaming and entertainment.  For more information about Reno-Tahoe call 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) or visit www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.