The 17th Annual Nate Chute Banked Slalom and Boardercross kicks off March 19 at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

The competition is held each year in memory of Nate Chute, a well-known local snowboarder who took his own life when he was a teenager.

His father, Terry Chute, organizes the event each year and said the event draws top competitors from around the country, including many friends of his son.

“It was an idea that a lot of my son’s friends had, to do something to honor his life,” Chute said. “A lot of Nate’s friends are in their 30s now. They’ve graduated and have families, but it has become kind of a reunion for them.”

The first day features the second longest-running banked slalom in the country, winding through the lower part of Goat Haunt Snowboardcross course into George’s Gorge.

Races begin at 10 a.m. March 19 with awards at 5:30 p.m. at the Bierstube.

On March 20, one of the Northwest’s largest boardercross events will feature more than 100 riders competing for the title. The races start at 10 a.m. followed by an award ceremony at Ed & Mully’s.

Proceeds from the event support the Nate Chute Foundation. The organizers are asking participants to consider raising money through the Crowdrise crowd-sourcing website in advance of the event, with a goal of $300 per person.

To take part in the fundraiser, visit www.crowdrise.com/NateChute2016/fundraiser/ncfoundation.

Whitefish Mountain Resort and Stumptown Snowboards are longtime sponsors of the event, which also partners with the Craggy Range, MacKenzie River Pizza Company, Great Northern Brewery, the Bierstube and Kandahar Lodge.

For more information or to register, visit www.2016-nate-chute.eventbrite.com.