Q&A With World Champion Freestyle Skier, Curtis Tischler

At PlumpJack, we’re lucky to have a resident World Champion Freestyle Skier. Our own Curtis Tischler is the Director of Real Estate Sales for The Orchard at The Carneros Inn (a PlumpJack property). Curtis is a former eight year member of the US Ski Team and was a member of the 1997 World Championship Team. He has had more than 15, Top 10 World Cup finishes and was selected for 1998 US Olympic Team. So, if someone told you that you had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Squaw Valley and have Curtis as your personal guide on the mountain, you would probably jump at the chance. Right? If you’re a guest of PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn and you happen to be staying and skiing on a Tuesday, you can sign up (space is limited) to ski with Curtis. On Tuesdays through March, guests who are advanced/intermediate skiers can experience this once-in-a lifetime opportunity. Because we’re so lucky to have Curtis as a part of the PlumpJack family, he agreed to a little Q&A, so our readers can get to know him a little better.

First off, how did skiing become such a huge part of your life?
Many people grow up skiing on the weekends with their family and friends, but to get to the level of skiing that you accomplished requires a lot skill, time, and talent. I grew up in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area and started skiing at the age of two. My parents and family were a huge part of why I was able to become an accomplished skier. By the time I was 18, I was a member of the US Ski Team and competed in World Cup events around the globe. For the next nine years, I skied 250 to 300 days a year by traveling back and forth between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. My success was a combination of hard work, dedication, and some natural talent!

To become an elite skier, what kind of training did you have to commit to?
To become an athlete at a world class level requires a 100% commitment all year around. The ski season never really ends it just keeps going. The strict, regimented routine required by the US Ski Team was one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had. I always look back on my days on the ski team as a foundation for what it takes to succeed in the rest of the world.

Growing up, many people idolize athletes, actors, musicians, etc…Is there anyone who you looked up to who influenced you and helped you achieve success in life and skiing?
There were many people that I looked up to in the ski and outside world that helped me along the way. However, I would have to say that ultimately it was the support of my family that helped me to achieve success.

Obviously you have an affinity for Squaw Valley and the mountain. What makes Squaw stand-out among the other mountains in Lake Tahoe (North and South)? Why should people choose Squaw when there are so many options?
Squaw Valley is a special very place for me personally, I grew up skiing on that mountain and there are very few resorts in the Lake Tahoe basin that can compare. I have been fortunate to ski on almost every continent on the planet, from resort skiing to helicopter skiing, and I can attest that Squaw is the best place on earth when the snow conditions are good!

And, now that you’re spending a lot more time living and working in the Napa Valley, why should people choose the real estate options at The Carneros Inn versus other options in the Napa Valley?
Both The Carneros Inn and the Napa Valley have become world famous destinations. In addition to Lake Tahoe, the Napa Valley is hands down one of the most special places in the state of California. If you haven’t had the opportunity to stay at The Carneros Inn or spend time in Wine Country, then you have no idea what you’re missing! I love this place and the lifestyle…I have found a new passion for food and wine and cycling in the vineyards.

I am sure real estate sales is very different than clocking in at the mountain as your job? What attracted you to the life of real estate sales and how did you end up in the Napa Valley after calling North Lake Tahoe your home for so many years?
North Lake Tahoe is an incredible place for beautiful scenery and outdoor sports, however, after spending most of my life in the mountains, Napa Valley seemed like an oasis from the day-to-day stresses of mountain living. It takes a lot of effort to live in the mountains and deal with the snow, power outages, snow drifts, the cold, the ice, bears, food shortages etc. I have been a real estate broker in California for almost ten years and have owned my own real estate brokerage and have worked with The Ritz Carlton Development Company. Eventually, I found my way to the Napa Valley and became the Director of Real Estate Sales at The Orchard, a PlumpJack /Timbers Resorts Property.

What can guests of PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn expect when they sign up for a morning of skiing with Curtis Tischler?
Guests can expect a fun, one-of-a-kind experience on and off the mountain, totally enhanced by insider information from a lifelong local who happens to be a former World Champion skier. I can introduce guests to the best of Squaw Valley and show them why this place is one of the best ski areas in North America!

Visit us online and click on 'Ski with a Pro' for more information.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Is there a better day than a Sunday to drink a Bloody Mary? I don’t think so. Saturday nights are usually full of action (and sometimes multiple alcoholic beverages), and whether you’ve worked a long weekend or been out for some drinks with your friends, why not unwind and brighten your day with a delicious, tomato-based libation to go along with your lunch at PlumpJack Cafe in Squaw Valley, USA?

As a barman at PlumpJack on Sunday mornings for more than six years, I’ve had my hand in making a lot of bloodies. Our long-standing and locally-famous PlumpJack Bloody is hard to beat. When the ratio of ingredients is just right, there is a spice, a sweetness, and a savory quality that is just sublime. A twang of horseradish and some dark pickapeppa sauce along with green and red Tabasco, fresh lemon juice and Worcestershire bring it all together. If you haven’t tried one, it’s time.

But a few years back, myself, Steve Lamb, and several other PJ associates, started to play with the idea of the Bloody Mary. Our experiments, which involved raiding the kitchen of ingredients and filling the bar with herbs, vegetables, and spices to create new recipes, quickly grew into what we now call “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”

All winter long, from 11:30am to 3:00pm, come in to sample our tasty and creative recipes on our Sunday Bloody Sunday Menu, including our newest, the Mediterranean Bloody, made with pepper-infused vodka, basil, garlic, freshly pureed Spanish olives, tomato and lemon juice, and garnished with a slice of bacon, rock shrimp, and our house-pickled seasonal vegetables. Others include our Michelada de Sangre, the Asian-Inspired Bloody, and the Southern Bloody, all of which stick to our theme of taking famous ingredients from specific geographic regions and incorporating the flavors into a new recipe.

See you next Sunday.

Jake Spero
PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn Barman

For more information call: 530-583-1578 or visit us online.

Hilary Newsom's Valentine's Day Wishes

A few of my favorite things for Valentine’s Day, if I actually celebrated it, would be the following...

An Open Letter to My Husband of 11 Years...

Geoff, I hope you’re reading this?

My darling Geoff,

If we have someone to watch the girls and can spring for a getaway, I would love a trip to The Carneros Inn, where I can indulge in one of my favorite dishes at FARM, the renowned lobster risotto with a glass of Billecart Salmon Rose. The next day, a couples massage at the spa, would be a nice bonus. But if you had staying closer to home in mind, I am always a BIG fan of the ridiculously delicious mussels at Balboa Cafe in San Francisco with a glass of Whispering Angel rose and then a short walk up the street to for dessert to Gamine Restaurant on Union Street for their crepes. Honey, don’t worry if we have to stay in, I’d be happy with a glass of my favorite Cabernet, CADE Howell Mountain, and a cupcake from Susie Cakes on Chestnut street, yes you guessed it, red velvet. I’d like to enjoy these while soaking in a nice bubble bath while reading US Magazine. A girl’s gotta catch-up on her gossip. And if none of the above is happening, you can bake me cake and hide a nice bauble from Tiffany’s in the center.

But seriously, after 11 years of blissful marriage, I don’t focus too much on one silly day out of the year, so if you can’t make this happen on February 14th, you can surprise me on any other day of the year to show your love and affection and I will be just as pleased.

Yours Truly,
Hil