Each year, thousands of skiers and snowboarders from around the world take to California’s Lake Tahoe area to experience its dozens of ski resorts and famous dense “Sierra Cement” snow. Some of those skiers choose to explore the region’s extensive backcountry terrain marked by deep snowpacks, high-alpine bowls, and low-angle tree glades. About two hours south of the lake, in the Bear Valley area, sits one special organization that helps the area’s backcountry skiers stay safe in one of the best backcountry regions of North America.
Founded in 2014, the Nickolay Dodov Foundation (NDF) has spent more than a decade providing Tahoe and Bear Valley skiers with avalanche safety education. With a mission to “provide free avalanche safety educational outreach to youth and all-age snow sports enthusiasts” and “to prevent avalanche fatalities and injuries, avalanche safety education is essential,” the NDF has been one of the Sierra’s most impactful organizations for skier safety.
Related: Bear Valley, CA, Hosts 10th Annual Nickolay Dodov Slopestyle, Eyes $10,000 Fundraising Goal
Since its founding, the NDF has been campaigning its “Know Before You Go” program and other workshops, promoting avalanche safety to skiers before they ever set foot in the backcountry. According to the foundation, it has taught more than 30,000 ski and snowboard athletes, middle school, high school, and university students, coaches, teachers, parents, and all-age mountain enthusiasts, making it the leading provider of free avalanche education in Northern California.
The NDF was founded by Natalia and Alex Dodov after their son, Nickolay, lost his life in an avalanche while heli-boarding in Haines, Alaska. Natalia and Alex established the foundation to honor his legacy through education, awareness, and community support. They both volunteer their time to schedule and travel, bringing the necessary equipment to each event. They have also put together a team of 10 professional avalanche educators for the foundation’s interactive workshops.
Despite being located two hours south of Lake Tahoe, the NDF team often travels to resorts closer to the lake.
Related: How to Avoid and Survive an Avalanche
One of the foundation’s most popular events is its slopestyle fundraiser. Held annually at the Bear Valley Mountain Resort over the past 11 years, the fundraiser and slopestyle is a community-driven event with a friendly terrain park competition, raffles, food, and other activities. All proceeds from the competition entry fees, donations, and raffle tickets go directly to the NDF to help it continue to provide free avalanche education in the Sierra.
For over a decade, the Nickolay Dodov Foundation has worked to keep the Sierra’s backcountry skiers educated and safe when it comes to avalanches. The foundation has played an enormous role in the community and is beloved by its locals. For skiers visiting Lake Tahoe or Bear Valley, a workshop with the Nickolay Dodov Foundation supports an organization that loves skiing and gives back to one of the community’s most beloved teams.
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