Whitefish snowboarders take overall titles in Classic
A pair of Whitefish snowboarders stood atop the podium with palm tree trophies in hand after two days of fierce racing last weekend at the 16th annual Nate Chute Classic.
Kaili Hagen won the womens open division and Hugh Black took the top spot in the mens open.
Nearly 100 racers converged at Whitefish Mountain Resort to compete in the banked slalom through George’s Gorge on Saturday. On Sunday, racers rubbed elbows and aired over rollers on the hard and fast boardercross course down Goat Haunt.
A final sharp turn at the bottom of the cross course dubbed “carnage corner”ate up racers all day as ruts formed in the soft snow of the lone south-facing gate.
Hagen and Black were dominate all weekend against the stacked field. Both placed first in the banked slalom and second in boardercross for the overall title.
Winners in each division split a $4,000 cash purse and took home a palm tree trophy crafted by welding students at Whitefish High School.
Guy Zoellner of Coram took first in the Old Joes division for racers over 35 years old. He won both the slalom and boardercross.
The race weekend has been a long-standing event in memory of local snowboarder, Nate Chute, who tragically took his own life.
Competitors raise money leading up to the event to support the NC Foundation, which funds the voluntary Student Assistance Programs in the Whitefish and Columbia Falls school districts. The Foundation also sponsor the Youth Suicide Prevention Program which provides counseling services to suicidal youth.
This year’s fundraising efforts topped $13,000, far exceeding the goal of $10,000.
To learn more about the NC Foundation visit www.natechutefoundation.org.
OPEN WOMEN
1. Kaili Hagen, Whitefish
2. Maria DeBari, Glacier, WA
3. Anna Bengston, West Glacier
4. Katy Kelly, Whitefish
5. Michele Calabreta, Whitefish
6. Lisa Slagle, Whitefish
7. Kelly West, Foley, AL
8. Samantha Veysey, Bellingham, WA
9. Heidi Farmer, Fernie
10. Rebecca Baker, Grand Rapids, MI
11. Erin Belmont, Hamilton
OPEN MEN
1. Hugh Black, Whitefish
2. Baylon Connolly, Kalispell
3. Austin Smith, Golden Colorado
4. Matt Sadler, Whitefish
5. Brett Bacon, Kalispell
6. Tim Amish, Hamilton
7. Kyle Cremers, Bozeman
8. Kameron Barge, Whitefish
9. Ben Newsom, Whitefish
10. Chase Matteson, Kalispell
11. Scott Alsbury, Kalispell
12. Jeffrey Heinrichs, Whitefish
13. Earl Reynolds, Whitefish
14. Markus McCrorie, Kalispell
15. Terrance Wallace, Creston
16. Dillon Sleichter, Whitefish
17. Ben Rostocki, Billings
18. Bobby Syvertson, Boone, NC
19. Brent Day, Whitefish
20. Chad Cremers, Bozeman
21. Dylan Parr, Whitefish
22. Jacob Prestegaard, Whitefish
23. Jesse Horst, Whitefish
24. Joel Anderson, Whitefish
25. Jonathan Kiraly, Huntington, NY
26. Kyle Daugherty, Polson
27. Kyle Duty, Whitefish
28. Mac Gordon, Polson
29. Mike Brodie, Whitefish
30. Riley Johnson, Lewiston
31. Sean Robinson, Whitefish
32. Tyrel Bacon, Kalispell
AM Women 15+
1. Zoe Vernon, Bellingham, WA
2. Jacqui Shaffer, Bellingham, WA
3. Daisy Keller, Whitefish
4. Missy Simula, Vancouver
5. Gabby Beaudin, Bellingham, WA
6. Emily Lewis, Kalispell
7. Calli Toth, Kalispell
8. Kelly Medler, Hood River
9. Maureen Miller, Whitefish
10. Emilie Scollan, Whitefish
11. Kristy Overman, Whitefish
12. Melany Rostocki, Bozeman
13. Jade Sherman, Kalispell
14. Carmel Johnston. Whitefish
Old Joes 35+
1. Guy Zoellner. Coram
2. Tyrel Johnson. Columbia Falls
3. Jason Forrest, Poquoson, Virginia
4. Jay Moore. Bozeman
5. Jeremiah Martin, Col. Falls
6. Todd Farmer, Fernie
7. Billy Drye, North Carolina
8. Augie Conkle, Whitefish
9. Rocky Kramer, Kalispell
10. Seth Axelson, Kalispell
11. Ben Croft, Missoula
12. Matthew McQuilkin, Missoula
Men AM 21+
1. AJ Torres, Billings
2. Nathan Vanderven, Port Townsend, WA
3. Matt Caudle, C. Falls
4. Eric Kanter, Camarill, CA
5. Zach Farbstein, Whitefish
6. Elliot Marcille, Wilmington, NC
7. Willie Parriman
8. Michael Kassner, Columbia Falls
9. Rob Jones, Washington D.C.
10. Adam Rivers, Tuskaloosa, AL
11. Cody Guy, Whitefish
12. Logan Gregory, Seattle
13. Derek Abbott, Sun Valley,
AM Women 8-14
1. Marin Farmer, Fernie
2. Peyton Ortt, Calgary
3. Eila Ortt, Calgary
AM Men 8-14
1. Mark Anderson, Whitefish
2. Daylan Axelson, Kalispell
3. Talon McCarver. Kalispell
4. Casey Conkle. Whitefish
5. Kyle Strom, Whitefish
6. Andre Strom. Whitefish