Snowboard race benefits school program

The 13th annual Nate Chute Banked Slalom and Boardercross returns to Whitefish Mountain Resort on March 9-11.

The event raises funds for the NC Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting troubled teens. Through NC, this year’s event will also benefit the Whitefish School District’s Student Assistance Program, an intervention program that focuses on providing support groups for students.

The banked slalom and boardercross event has been a long-standing event in memory of local snowboarder, Nate Chute, who tragically took his own life.

“The goal is to tie the two together,” Jason Forrest, the resort’s Western Region sales representative, said. “It’s a really cool event and the offshoot is that we get to help local kids.”

Terry Chute, Nate’s father, said the NC Foundation has been working in a number of areas regarding suicide prevention, but has put a focus on funding assistance for the school district.

Last year the NC Foundation began assisting with SAP. The program for K-12 students focuses on providing support groups where students can talk and learn life skills for addressing issues they may be facing.

“We really liked the program and it gets at the underlying issues that go with suicide,” Chute said. “We’ve found that working with the school has helped us target our mission of suicide prevention. Young adults are our focus.”

This year’s Nate Chute is also dedicated to Aaron Robinson of Whitefish who lost his life last year while backcountry snowboarding in Chile. The contest is a weekend full of events for both snowboarders and those who want to support the foundation.

Friday a donation dinner will be at MacKenzie River Pizza Co. in Whitefish. Mention the Nate Chute to the server and 10 percent of the entire bill is donated to the foundation.

“Our goal is that a parent with a kid in SAP, but who doesn’t ski, has a way to give back,” Forrest said. “It’s a way to reach a different audience.”

A Friday night party, sponsored by the Craggy Range and Great Northern Brewery, will host two bands at the Craggy and beer donated by Great Northern. A raffle, including a 2012-13 winter season pass, will be held.

This year there is mandatory online preregistration for those participating in the banked slalom and boardercross. To register, visit http://skiwhitefish.com/natechute/. There is a $3,500 cash purse for the open men’s and open women’s class.

Saturday all riders must go to the ticket office by Chair 2 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. to pick up their registration packet. The day features the banked slalom with two rounds down the course. Some 150 riders are expected through the course.

Sunday riders check in by 8:30 a.m. to run the boardercross. The high ollie contest will be held with $50 going to the winner.

After the lifts close Sunday, “A Lap for the Lost” friends and family fun run will make its way from the top of the mountain to Ed & Mully’s in the Big Mountain Village. A “moment of silence and a moment of loudness” will be held in memory of Aaron Robinson prior to the run.

“We could have 200 snowboarders coming down the mountain at one time,” Forrest said.

The event ends with awards on the deck of Ed & Mully’s.