The 18th Annual Nate Chute Banked Slalom and Boardercross races are set for mid-March, but the Nate Chute Foundation wants competitors to get a head start on fundraising.

Last year the races raised more than $13,000 through Crowdrise, a crowd sourcing website for nonprofits, and this year the foundation is challenging competitors to each raise $300 and beat last year’s mark early.

Shane Moulder, Nate Chute Foundation board member, competitor and foundation spokesman, said the past three years have seen great success with fundraising events surrounding the event thanks to partners Whitefish Mountain Resort, Stumptown Snowboards, The Craggy Range, MacKenzie River Pizza, Bonsai Brewing Project, The Bierstube and Kandahar Lodge.

“If we can engage just 43 out of our 130 annual competitors to each raise $300 we’ll have met our goal of $13,000 through this particular fundraiser.”

Moulder also said the foundation will reimburse the entry fee for every competitor that raises $300 or more prior to the races.

The Nate Chute is the second longest-running banked slalom race in the United States and the third longest in North America. March 18 will feature a banked slalom through the lower part of the Goat Haunt SBX course into George’s Gorge. Saturday’s race also sets the seeds for the following day’s race. Sunday, March 19 features one of the biggest boardercross races in the Northwest, with more than 100 riders competing on a course that consists of jumps, banks and rollers.

The foundation was founded to honor the memory of Whitefish High School graduate Nate Chute, who took his life in August of 1999. The Nate Chute Foundation provides assistance for suicide prevention programs, mental health counseling and student assistance programs in schools in the Flathead Valley, including Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Bigfork, Lakeside and West Valley.

To join the fundraising team or to make a donation, visit www.crowdrise.com/NateChute2017/fundraiser/ncfoundation. For more information on NCF and other upcoming events, visit www.natechutefoundation.org or https://www.facebook.com/ncfoundation/.