Julia Mancuso, coming off gold-winning performances in the super-G and giant slalom Friday and Saturday at the U.S. ski championships in Colorado, has agreed to appear in TV and radio spots promoting the California and Nevada Lake Tahoe license plates. The Tahoe plates help fund recreation and conservation projects at Lake Tahoe, and buyers can still receive two free Alpine lift or Nordic passes to the Tahoe resort of their choice for the current season if they purchase plates through the non-profit Tahoe Fund.

“Julia Mancuso is a remarkable, community-minded athlete who is joining us in an extraordinary cause on behalf of Lake Tahoe,” said Cindy Gustafson, the Tahoe Fund’s chair of the board. “Julia will talk about her love of Tahoe as well as the opportunity for outdoor sports enthusiasts who buy Tahoe plates to get free tickets to enjoy the great snow conditions we have right now.”

Prior to last weekend’s stunning performance, Mancuso, who has won more Olympic medals than any other woman in U.S. Ski Team history, placed fourth overall in the World Cup standings, her best finish since 2008. She posted two wins and medaled in four other Cup events this winter, capping the season with a strong fifth-place giant slalom finish in the final international race on March 18. Julia joins other Tahoe winter sports legends such as JT Holmes, Jeremy Jones, and Daron Rahlves in pro bono promotional efforts to boost Tahoe license plate sales that benefit Lake Tahoe. (Photos) Commercial production featuring Mancuso, a Squaw Valley resident, is expected to take place in the next two weeks.

New Tahoe specialty plates cost $50 in California and $61 in Nevada. Over 96 percent of the money raised by new plate purchases and renewals is returned to the Tahoe Basin, and there is no additional charge for obtaining Tahoe plates through the Tahoe Fund’s Plates for Powder program (tahoeplates.com).

License plate buyers in California and Nevada who go to Tahoeplates.com will receive two tickets to their choice of the participating resorts: Kirkwood, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe (Alpine and Nordic), Sugar Bowl, Squaw Valley USA, Tahoe Donner (Alpine and Nordic), Boreal Ridge, Homewood, Heavenly Valley, Alpine Meadows, Royal Gorge, and Tahoe Cross Country. The free tickets and day passes are valid Sunday through Friday for the 2011/2012 season until supplies run out.

About the Tahoe Fund
The mission of Tahoe Fund is to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. Tahoe Fund supports short- and long-term project-based enhancements to the natural environment and infrastructure of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Fund focuses grants on the core areas of conservation, recreation and education/stewardship.