This summer the best athletes will meet to compete for fame and glory. With extreme effort, teamwork, and pride, these individuals will do battle to win for those they represent.
No, this isn’t the Olympics. This is Piranga.
On Friday, Sept. 9, teams from several North Tahoe and Truckee area businesses will convene on the field to test their skills and teamwork in a company picnic-style event. This day of competition is called Piranga. The first-year event supports the nonprofit Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS).
Piranga combines family fun, team camaraderie, locally prepared food, regionally crafted brews, and live music to benefit natural resource stewardship throughout the Lake Tahoe and Sierra Nevada region through science and education. At the company picnic, teams of 8 to 10 members will go head-to-head in a lighthearted battle of brain and brawn.
Usain Bolt might be the fastest man alive, but could he dominate in a life-sized game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos? Well, teams from some local businesses, such as Mountain Hardware & Sports, Guild Mortgage, and Tahoe Forest Hospital will vie for top honors.
Michael Phelps might be an amazing swimmer, but could he race miniature bicycles with the speed demons from Truckee Donner Public Utility District and Sierra Mountain Mortgage in a pixie bike race?
Serena Williams may be the best woman tennis player in the world going into the Olympics, but could she compete against GLA Morris Construction, Dickson Realty, or Hallador’s greatest athletes in the wild Lake Tahoe relay?
Sure, famous Olympians make the news internationally, but these local businesses are equally well known in this area. They give back to the community. Pitting them against one another — in the spirit of friendly competition — makes for good fun. The public is welcome to watch and root for their favorite teams as they compete for prizes and bragging rights in this festive daytime event.
The competition continues into the night with the famous Guitar Strings vs. Chicken Wings event, showcasing chefs from Squaw Valley restaurants, each vying for top chef honors, while local bands compete for best band. This will be the fifth year of the wildly successful Strings vs. Wings affair.
All of this activity supports research on Tahoe’s natural environment and the education of locals and visitors alike about the wonders of the natural beauty of Truckee and Tahoe. TINS is a member-supported nonprofit organization seeking to advance the natural history, conservation, and ecosystem awareness of the Tahoe region through science, education, and outreach.
For more information about the events and the TINS mission of science and educating our kids and community about the natural history of the Tahoe region, call (775) 298-0060, or visit TINSweb.org
