Founder

Elyse grew up cross country skiing at Lapland Lakes in Northville, NY and later competing on her high school Nordic team.

Her career brought her to Los Angeles, where she became a producer, creating commercials for Fortune 500 brands and working with celebrities including Stanley Tucci, Deepak Chopra, and Anthony Bourdain.

Elyse continued to pursue her passion for Nordic skiing by racing in the Methow Valley Ski to the Sun Marathon, skiing in Ruka, Finland (a bucket list item!), and becoming a PSIA Level 1 XC Instructor. She’s excited to bridge her two worlds and curate a Nordic event that will inspire new conversations and passions.

Advisor

A Nordic Task Force Chair and Examiner for PSIA Western, Rik has been teaching XC skiing for nearly 30 years.

As a revered member of Lake Tahoe’s Nordic community, Rik is also a Masters XC and Biathlon racer, US Biathlon Coach, and an IBU World Cup Biathlon Range Official.

Fun Fact: Rik is a Sierra forest ecology nerd.

Advisor

Jared Manninen is an artist and writer who’s lived at Lake Tahoe since 2005. He works in the outdoor recreation industry in Tahoe, and he's an avid cross-country skier, hiker, and naturalist. His art, photography, and writing not only reflects his appreciation for Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains, but his overall love of outdoor adventure. You can see his latest work at JaredManninen.com, TahoeTrailGuide.com, and YouTube.com/@JaredManninen.