The Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup returns to Lake Tahoe this week and big crowds are expected.
The top World Cup men’s skiers from around the world will call Palisades Tahoe ski resort home this week. The competition is part of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Tour. The men’s Giant Slalom and Slalom events takes place at the mountain’s lower level on Dog Leg and Red Dog face.
A year ago, large crowds of spectators at Palisades Tahoe viewed 60 of the World Cup’s best skiers from 23 nations head down the Olympic Valley slopes. This year, Palisades Tahoe is one of only four U.S. resorts featured on the World Cup circuit this season.
The Giant Slalom will take place Saturday (Feb. 24) with the first run starting at 9:40 am and the second run at 1:15 pm. The Slalom competition takes place Sunday, starting at 9:40 am and followed by a second run at 1:15 pm.
On Friday (Feb. 23), the Kick-Off parade is set to begin at 5:30 pm and will celebrate the start of the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup in the village. The participating skiers will lead the way from the resort’s Coffeebar to KT Base Bar.
“We are thrilled to welcome back the Audi FIS World Cup to Palisades Tahoe in 2024,” said Dee Byrne, President and COO at Palisades Tahoe. “This event holds a special place in our hearts. It celebrates the incredible talents of some of the world’s best ski racers while inspiring the next generation of elite athletes.”
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By even World Cup standards, the Palisades Tahoe course can be extremely challenging. In a 2017 for the women’s World Cup alpine event, Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin said “it’s one of, if not the toughest” course venues on the women’s World Cup circuit.”
Combined with its need for speed, courses such as Red Dog can prove daunting for even the top athletes in the start gate.
“You have to be high intensity, high aggressiveness, so that was very special to win there, knowing how tough the course is and how much intensity it requires to win there,” said Shiffrin of her 2017 victory at Palisades Tahoe. “You must be attacking it 100 percent every turn, but you also have to play the terrain smart. There are certain sections that you have to be really tactical, but you can’t take your foot off the gas.”
Mother Nature has been accommodating this week. During a four-day stretch from Saturday through Tuesday (Feb. 20), Palisades Tahoe received 30 inches of snow. The largest ski resort in Lake Tahoe has accumulated 99 inches of snow in February, bringing its season snow total to 225 inches. Partly cloudy and sunny days are forecast for the weekend.
Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) is no stranger to international competition. A renowned ski racing venue that has bred champions since the 1960 Winter Olympics, the resort’s legendary steeps will once again welcome back World Cup racers this winter.
TV BROADCASTS: NBC Sports will have coverage of the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup this weekend, with giant slalom and slalom races live Saturday and Sunday on CNBC and Peacock.
For more information on TV broadcasts days and times, click here.
Steve Schlanger will handle play-by-play alongside 1998 Nagano Olympic super-G champion Picabo Street and former U.S. Alpine Ski Team member Steve Porino. Heather Cox will serve as on-site reporter.
The Giant Slalom is also expected to air tape-delayed Sunday (Feb. 25) on KCRA-3 TV (NBC) from 11 am to noon. The Slalom event should air tape-delayed Saturday (March 2), also on KCRA-3 TV, from 11 am to noon.
GRANDSTAND TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased here. VIP tickets are also available.
Fans can redeem their ticket by bringing the email purchase confirmation with them. At the entrance to the venue, grandstand tickets will be scanned for confirmation on the barcode and fans will be given a wristband.
Fans with tickets for both Saturday and Sunday, will have to go through the scan process each day. Wristbands are not good for multiple days.
PARKING INFORMATION: Parking reservations are required in all parking lots at both Palisades Tahoe and Alpine side of the mountain from Feb. 17-25.
VIP ticket holders receive premier parking within steps of the stadium Friday.
Another option is Park & ride lots that are in Truckee and Tahoe City and offer free shuttle services to Olympic Valley. This is open to both guests and Palisades Tahoe employees. If you choose to use the Park & Ride, you get a $10 voucher to use at select locations in The Village at Palisades Tahoe.
Truckee Location: Tahoe Truckee Unified School District. Service hours are 6:30 am to 5:45pm.
Tahoe City Location: Tahoe City Transit Center. Service hours are 6:30 am to 5:45pm.
FREE CONCERTS, FIREWORKS: The Black Jacket Symphony featuring Marc Martel (the voice behind the worldwide hit movie “Bohemian Rhapsody”) will take center stage Friday at 7 pm with a performance of Queen’s “A Night at the Opera.” Following Black Jacket Symphony, there will be fireworks.
On Saturday, there will be two free shows. At 2:30 pm, London-based DJ 220 Kid will play in the Funitel Plaza. At night, Eve 6 and Ludacris will play on the KT Deck starting at 6:15 pm.
DISCO TUBING: This is a fun activity for people of all ages. The SnoVentures will be the site for tubing at Palisades Tahoe on Friday and Saturday evening. Tubers will hear energetic tunes and see laser lights while flying down (safely) the tubing hill.
The tubing area has a magic carpet, a convenient way to get back up the hill that doesn’t require walking to take another lap.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23
| TIME | EVENT |
| 8am-5pm | Vendor Village |
| 2:30-3:30pm | Poster signing with River Radamus |
| 3-5pm | Apres Ski Party with Rev. Rusty Reams |
| 5:30pm | Kick-Off Parade |
| 6pm | Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup Welcome Ceremonies |
| 6:15pm | Public Bib Draw |
| 7pm | FREE Concert with Black Jacket Symphony featuring Marc Martel |
| 9:15pm | Fireworks |
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
| TIME | EVENT |
| 8am-5pm | Vendor Village |
| 9:40am | Giant Slalom Opening Ceremonies |
| 10am | Giant Slalom Run 1 |
| 12-2:30pm | Apres Ski Party with DJ Carlo |
| 1:15pm | Giant Slalom Run 2 |
| 1:45pm | Giant Slalom FIS Award Ceremony |
| 2:30pm | HEAD World Cup Rebels Apres Ski Party with 220 Kid |
| 3-3:45pm | Palisades Tahoe Athlete Poster Signing |
| 4:45-5:30pm | US Ski Team Athlete Autograph Signing |
| 6:15pm | FREE Concert with Eve6 and Ludacris |
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25
| TIME | EVENT |
| 8am-5pm | Vendor Village |
| 9:40am | Slalom Opening Ceremonies |
| 10am | Slalom Run 1 |
| 11am-1pm | Apres Ski Party with DJ Alex T |
| 1:15pm | Slalom Run 2 |
| 1:45pm | Slalom FIS Award Ceremony |
| 2pm | Free music at KT Base Bar |
