FVSEF hosts three days of junior ski racing this weekend

The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation will be host three days of junior ski racing at Whitefish Mountain Resort this weekend. The event this year includes a night slalom race.

The event, sponsored by Sportsman Ski Haus and the Base Lodge Clinic of North Valley Hospital, is scheduled for Jan. 5–7 and will be for male and female competitors ranging in age from 12 to 15. These races are part of the nationwide U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association SSA Series and will be qualifying races for Regional Championships to be held in March.

The events are sanctioned events within the Northern Division of the United States Ski & Snowboard Association, which includes all of Montana and parts of Wyoming and South Dakota. Competitors for these events will be coming from Anaconda, Big Sky, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula as well as the Flathead Valley.

The United States Ski & Snowboard Association is the governing body for all amateur ski racing in the United States, as well as the U.S. Ski Team that will be competing at the Winter Olympics next month in Korea.

On Friday, Jan. 5 there will be a first time ever Night Slalom Race on Ed’s Run starting at 5 p.m. Night Slalom races are extremely popular in Europe where they take on a carnival-like atmosphere complete with live music and cheering crowds. On Saturday, Jan. 6 and Sunday, Jan. 7 there will be Giant Slalom races on Ed’s Run starting at 10 a.m. All race courses are accessed by Chair 2 and can be easily viewed from the Upper Base Area near Ed and Mully’s Restaurant.

Up to 20 local junior skiers representing the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation will be competing, including 2017 Bruce Erickson Award winners Colter Upton and Amy Eddy.

Volunteers are needed for a number of on-hill as well as administrative duties during the upcoming races. All volunteers will receive a lift ticket if needed for race course access on race days as well as a complementary lift pass that can be used anytime later this season.

FVSEF is a nonprofit community-based organization that promotes athletic, academic and personal excellence for Flathead Valley youth through participation on the Whitefish Mountain Race Team. The Ski Foundation is also developing the Ski Heritage Center to preserve and promote the rich and colorful history of skiing in the region.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Tim Hinderman at 406-885-2730 or tim.hinderman@fvsef.org.