Nate Chute racers compete under blizzard conditions

Nearly 90 competitors from Whitefish and places far and wide braved blizzard-like conditions and a tough field in the 10th annual Nate Chute Hawaiian Classic snowboard competition March 14-15.

Known in the snowboard community as a laid-back, friendly contest, the Nate Chute was created to memorialize the tragic death of Whitefish teen Nate Chute. It has since grown into the largest regular snowboard competition in Montana, and one of the most popular of the year at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

The event consists of a banked slalom race on Saturday and a boardercross on Sunday. The two races take place on the north side of Big Mountain. Both days saw 88 competitors, with more than 40 in the Open Pro Men's class on Saturday alone.

Local and national sponsors, led by Stumptown Snowboards, provided a host of snowboarding-related prizes, as well as a total cash purse of more than $3,000.

Men's Pro/Open — Hugh Black

Women's Pro/Open — Jes Ford

Men's 21 and over — Ben Newsome

Women's 15 and over — Janessa Vandette

Men's 15 to 21 — Jared Cynch

Boys under-14 — Baylon Connoly