"Jammin 4 Tash" to honor local snowboarder who died from leukemia

Sierra-at-Tahoe is holding "Jammin 4 Tash" on Saturday, January 20 to honor the late Natasha "Tash" Sagucka who died from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on November 4, 2017 at the age of 24.

"From the time she was two years old till her last days on this earth she found peace, love and light on the mountains," was stated on Sagucka's obituary. "She thrived from the energy of slashing through the trees and sliding on the rails just perfectly."

The Sierra-at-Tahoe snowboarder and former employee competed in USASA (United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association) events from 2000-2007, and now the last USASA event of each season will be dedicated to the young woman who was born to snowboard.

The 2018 event will be held on Broadway Trail at the resort 15 miles west of Lake Tahoe. A Rainbow Rail terrain park feature was made in her honor and will be incorporated into the setup. A cash purse of $1000 has been donated by Natasha’s mother, Margaret Sagucka, in memory her involvement with USASA.

USASA Members are invited to participate in honor of this young lady. Sierra invites all interested to register; entry fees for non-members is $45.

Registration will take place in Solstice from 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m on the morning of the event. A portion of the proceeds go to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society Cancer Research for A.L.L to support further research of diseases such as Natasha’s.

The rail jam will take place at the bottom of Broadway near the west end of the Solstice Plaza – great for spectators. The morning of Jan. 20 will be dedicated to the age group skiers and snowboarders who are USASA members. USASA Members can pre-register at usasa.org. The afternoon will be dedicated to the open rail jam. If you are a skier or snowboarder competing in your age group in the morning, you are more than welcome to also sign up for the open rail jam in the afternoon. It is a separate entry fee. The afternoon is all an open rail jam and there are no age distinctions.

The day will end around 5:00 p.m. with a combined awards ceremony featuring a huge participant raffle sponsored by the USASA South Tahoe Series and Sierra at Tahoe partners.

Tentative timeline is as follows:

Morning Registration for all competitors 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Solstice Cafe
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. - Practice for USASA age group competitors
10:15 a.m. - Riders meeting for USASA age group competitors, top of course
10:30 a.m. - Start
Wrap up USASA age group competitors by 12:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. - Practice for Open Rail Jam Competitors
1:30 p.m.- Riders meeting for Open Rail Jam Competitors
1:45 p.m. - Start
Wrap up of Open Rail Jam competitors by 4:00 p.m.

If finals are needed they will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.