(L-r) Ruth Macdonald of Blue River Elementary, Cleo Coates of Raft River Elementary, Michaela Nesterski of Blue River, and Sienna Foster-Henderson of Raft River compete in the Grade 1 Girls race during a cross-country ski race day held at Blue River on Thursday, Feb. 20. Students from Vavenby Primary and Raft River Elementary also took part.
Left: Mike Wiegele smiles as he watches the youngsters demonstrate their racing skills. The Blue River heli-ski operator was a major sponsor of the event. Other sponsors included Blue River Sledz and Kinder Morgan.
Right: Charlie Guinn holds his arms up as he takes first place in the Grade 3 Boys race. The Blue River youth is Mike Wiegele’s grandson.
Below: Raft River Elementary Grade 4 students (l-r) Claire Arduini, Cassidy Tucker and Vienna Wadlegger stride for the finish line during cross-country ski races in Blue River on Thursday, Feb. 20. Students from Vavenby Primary and Blue River Elementary also took part. This year’s races were dedicated to the memory of Andy Aufschnaiter. The Blue River resident had been a principal organizer of the event before passing away last year from cancer. Many of the youngsters collected pledges for the fight against cancer before the event.