Squaw Valley Expands World Cup Weekend with Addition of Toyota Ski ProAm Competition

January 23, 2017

While the top women’s alpine ski racers in the world prepare to descend on Squaw Valley March 10-11 for the Audi FIS Women’s World Cup Giant Slalom and Slalom races, another group of seasoned competitors will also be setting their sights on the California resort with the addition of the Toyota ProAm Ski Challenge to the weekend’s festivities.

The Toyota Ski ProAm Challenge will consist of a benefit gala, hosted at the Resort at Squaw Creek on Saturday, March 11, and the head-to-head dual race on Sunday, March 12.  The race is slated to take place on the lower portion of the legendary Red Dog Run, the same course that will challenge the World Cup competitors earlier in the week.

Presented by Toyota Mirai, the automaker’s hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, the ProAm Ski Challenge will benefit two environmental nonprofit organizations, Waterkeeper Alliance and Protect Our Winters.

Waterkeeper Alliance strengthens and grows a global network of grassroots leaders protecting everyone’s right to clean water. Protect Our Winters is a passionate group of dedicated individuals, professional athletes and industry brands, mobilizing the outdoor sports community to lead the charge towards positive climate action.

“The addition of the Toyota ProAm Ski Challenge represents our desire to enhance an already fun and exciting weekend of World Cup activities,” said Andy Wirth CEO of Squaw Valley Resort.  “The event will not only serve as a great complement to the racing action but it will also raise money for two tremendous nonprofit organizations that underscore the resort’s environmental focus.”

Squaw Valley is the home mountain of Protect Our Winters CEO, Jeremy Jones. “I’ve seen definitive changes in the mountains over my career. The urgency to act on climate has never been more apparent than it is right now. Squaw Valley is not only my home mountain, but a solid example of how a business can effectively lead on climate. We are honored to be part of the Toyota Ski ProAm as we continue to mobilize the outdoor sports community to be leaders in the fight against climate change.”

The fundraising component of the Toyota ProAm Ski Challenge will take on a unique technological format, with ProAm team members using their preferred social media channels to solicit online donation “votes” in the week leading up to the event.  Competitors will also be encouraged to work outside their social influence spheres, engaging others to solicit donations on their team’s behalf. See here for the voting page.

The team raising the most money will receive the best handicap in Sunday’s race.  Saturday’s benefit gala will serve as the culmination of all fundraising efforts via a live tally during the course of the evening.

“The Toyota Ski Proam will call attention to the increasing threats to our climate and waterways; threats that put human health and communities at risk.  We are thankful to Toyota Motor Sales and Squaw Valley for helping the global Waterkeeper movement stand up to polluters and protect their local waters” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senior Attorney and President of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Each seven-member team will be comprised of an international ski legend, celebrities, sponsors and paid participants.  In addition to the top race handicap, the team raising the most money will  be able to select which Waterkeeper Alliance campaign receives the money.

Saturday evening benefit gala tickets are be available for $300 each, while Sunday race spots are priced at $2,500 each.  Gala tickets and race spots can be purchased via the Squaw Valley website.

Voted 2016 ‘Best Ski Resort’ in North America by USA Today and 10Best Readers’ Choice, Squaw ValleyAlpine Meadows is an internationally renowned mountain resort in North Lake Tahoe that spans over 6,000 skiable acres. The resort features slopeside lodging at The Village at Squaw Valley®, which bustles year round with nonstop events and nearly 60 bars, restaurants and boutiques.

For additional information on Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, the Audi FIS Women’s World Cup at SquawValley or the Toyota ProAm Ski Challenge, visit www.squawalpine.com.

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About Waterkeeper Alliance
Waterkeeper Alliance unites more than 300 Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates around the world, focusing citizen advocacy on issues that affect our waterways, from pollution to climate change. The Waterkeeper movement patrols and protects nearly 2.5 million square miles of rivers, streams and coastlines on 6 continents. For more information please visit: www.waterkeeper.org.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world’s top automaker and creator of the Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands.  Over the past 50 years, we’ve built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 42,000 people (more than 33,000 in the U.S.).  Our 1,800 North American dealerships (1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.67 million cars and trucks (more than 2.35 million in the U.S.) in 2014 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment.  As part of this commitment, we share the company’s extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About Protect Our Winters (POW)
Protect Our Winters (POW) was started in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones who witnessed first-hand the impact of climate change on our mountains. We are the environmental voice of the global snow sports community, united towards a common goal of reducing climate change’s effects on our sports, our industry and local economies through education, advocacy and community-based activism.  POW was founded on the idea that the collective power of the winter sports community is massive, and if we can all work together, the end result can be revolutionary. Together We Can Protect Our Winters.  protectourwinters.org

About Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows
Voted ‘Best Ski Resort’ in North America for the second year in a row by USA Today and 10Best Readers’ Choice 2017, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is an internationally renowned mountain resort in North Lake Tahoe that spans over 6,000 skiable acres. The resort features slopeside lodging at The Village at SquawValley®, which bustles year round with nonstop events and nearly 60 bars, restaurants and boutiques. With an annual average of 450 inches of snowfall and 300 sunny days, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is known as the spring skiing capital as it provides one of the longest ski and snowboard seasons in Lake Tahoe. Skiers and riders of all ability levels are welcomed by over 65 percent beginner and intermediate terrain, 14 easy-to-navigate mountain zones and a custom app to make the most of every visit. Visit squawalpine.com or call 1.800.403.0206 to learn more.

Media Contact:
Liesl Kenney, Public Relations Director
Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows
530.452.7111 or [email protected]

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