Flathead Ski Foundation hosts 'Showcase of Chefs'

The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation is planning its annual gala event “Showcase of the Chefs – Gourmet Dinner, Wine Tasting and Auction” for November 29 at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. The theme for this year’s event is “Celebrating 80 Years of Ski Racing on Big Mountain.”

While the Resort celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, the “Mountain” served as the venue for the first-ever Montana State High School Skiing Championships in 1939, eight seasons before the opening of the Big Mountain Ski Resort, aka Whitefish Mountain Resort.

“Hosting the State Championships in 1939 was an epic story” the Ski Foundation’s executive director Tim Hinderman said. “Eighty-six competitors from 10 schools around the state traveled to Whitefish and then hiked from town up to the old Hellroaring Ski Club cabins — there was no road yet. They spent two nights camped out at the cabins and two days hiking up and racing on what today is Chair Two terrain. And equally amazing — over 400 spectators made the same trek from town to watch this first-time event!”

This year’s Showcase dinner will feature the chefs and entrees from Tupelo Grille, Abruzzo, Wasabi, Whitefish Lake Restaurant, the Boat Club and Three Forks Grille.

Auction items include ski trips, guided fly-fishing trips, collector’s wine and liquor offerings, artwork, jewelry, ski apparel and equipment, gift baskets from merchants all around the valley and many more items.

The Showcase of The Chef’s is hosted each year by the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation to celebrate milestones from the valley’s skiing history and to raise money for the Foundation, Whitefish Mountain Resort Race Team and the Ski Heritage Center Museum of Skiing.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $85 per person in advance, $95 at the door. Tickets are available at Sportsman Ski Haus stores in Kalispell and Whitefish, Great Northern Cycle & Ski, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and online at www.fvsef.org