Kirkwood, CA – Live music and award-winning chili have become traditional fare at Kirkwood Mountain Resor’s annual Thin Air Chili Cookoff, part of a full lineup of family-friendly events scheduled to take place this Labor Day weekend at the California ski and snowboard resort. Originally intended as a summer sendoff party for Kirkwood homeowners and Lake Tahoe locals, the event has grown to attract chili aficionados from across Northern California and Nevada with a cash prize and bragging rights on the line for the winning recipe.nIn addition to a wide variety of chili recipes to sample, event attendees can taste the latest offerings from regional wineries and breweries while grooving to the music of Mick Martin & the Blues Rockers as they perform on the Village Plaza throughout the afternoon. The action gets underway on Saturday, Sept. 4 from noon to 5:00 p.m. with a $20 admission fee covering both chili and beer/wine tasting. The historic Kirkwood Inn will also be serving its full menu from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. while the recently remodeled General Store now offers a full service deli complete with breakfast options, espresso, sandwiches, salads, pastas, fruit smoothies, ice cream and more.
“It’s sometimes hard to say whether the participants spend more time creating their costumes or their recipes,” said Chip Seamans, General Manager of Kirkwood Mountain Resort. “But the end result is an entertaining, festive atmosphere that serves as a perfect excuse for families to sneak up to the High Sierra one last time before the summer season is over.”
Thin Air Chili Cookoff veterans have learned to work up a healthy appetite by participating in the annual 5K and 10K runs hosted by the Tahoe Mountain Milers and Sage Brush Stompers. This year’s races will mark the event’s 30-year milestone and are scheduled to get underway on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 9:00 a.m. with half-mile and one-mile “fun-runs” also available to ensure options for all ages and ability levels. The 10K trail climbs nearly 1,500 feet and is widely recognized as one of Northern California and Nevada’s most challenging high alpine races attracting elite caliber athletes and recreational runners alike. The 5K course meanders through the beautiful wetlands of the preserved 220-acre Kirkwood Meadow.
Preregistration is $35 and available online at www.race360.com; otherwise, the entry fee is $40 the day of the event with all proceeds from registration fees benefiting the Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department. Registration on race day will be open from 8:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for those looking to join in the fun. Further information can be found by visiting www.tahoemilers.org or by calling (775) 588-2864.
In addition to the races, Kirkwood offers a number of other outdoor activities throughout the weekend such as the resort’s recently expanded Kona Mountain Bike Park offering both cross-country trails and South Lake Tahoe’s only lift-serviced downhill trails along with a fleet of demo bikes available for rent. The resort’s Ropes Course, Climbing Wall and Zip Line are also on offer, as is the 18-hole disc golf course. The new Kirkwood Stables offer horseback riding opportunities for riders of all levels. Kirkwood is also the jumping off spot for world class trout fishing at both Silver and Caples Lakes. The resort’s high-speed detachable quad Cornice Express (Chair 6) will be in operation on Sunday, Sept. 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at a cost of $10 allowing guests to soak in the breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery or take advantage of the newly opened lift-served hiking trails that provide walking trails back to the valley floor.
With the winter season already on the horizon, skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of the savings offered only during the Kirkwood Mountain Sports’ Labor Day sale with discounts of up to 70% available on skis, snowboards, boots, bindings and apparel items. Labor Day will also be the final weekend to purchase 2010-11 Kirkwood Season Passes before prices increase on Wednesday, Sept. 8.