Over 1,600 Treasure Valley Students Set To Compete In Bogus Basin’s School Race Program

Bogus Basin School Race Coordinator John Foley has a big weekend ahead. After months of emails, phone calls, coordinator meetings and late night planning sessions, the Boise resident and long-time race program volunteer is ready to welcome more than 1,625 Treasure Valley students to the mountain on Saturday for the launch of the 2018-19 School Race Program.

The program is a showcase for how Bogus Basin achieves its nonprofit mission to make recreation accessible, affordable and fun for the entire community.  Events are coordinated primarily by volunteer advisors, most of whom are schoolteachers who commit Saturdays so that their students can have an opportunity to experience skiing or snowboarding.  Students receive discounts on lift tickets and downhill equipment rentals, and free Nordic equipment rentals.  From its humble beginning more than 50 years ago, the program has now expanded to include students from 86 high schools and middle schools throughout the Treasure Valley.  Skiers and snowboarders at all levels are encouraged to represent their schools in a series of friendly competitions over six weekends.

New this year:  an electronic timing system that will enable parents and students to download an app to get live results for their race.  Funds to purchase the system were donated by an anonymous community member. Participants will choose from four different skill levels:   Expert, Advanced, Intermediate and Novice.

“We are very excited about this season with the addition of the new timing system and race courses for all ability levels” said Foley.  “We also have over 120 students signed up for Nordic racing, a record year.”

Races will be held every Saturday in Bogus Basin’s Bitterroot Basin from January 12th through February 16th.  Students who participate in three or more races will be eligible to compete in the annual Dottie Clark Memorial Races on February 21st and 22nd.