COLUMN: Woody Weekend a major success
The Flathead Valley has been drawing some wild weather cards so far this summer but that didn’t put a damper on Whitefish Woody Weekend V.
Event director Tim Salt says that despite some rain, the show was a huge success and drew 28 beautiful classic boats from across the Pacific Northwest to The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.
More than 1,000 spectators turned out for the show and more than 500 people cast their votes June 18 for the People’s Choice Award.
Salt said it was a very tight race with all boats receiving votes.
The People’s Choice was awarded to “Twin Finn,” a 1959 Chris Craft Continental owned by Jim and Cyndi Atkinson of Chatsworth, California.
The Captain’s Choice Award, voted on by the boat owners, went to “DECO,” a 1930 Dee White Runabout owned by BK Powell of Spokane.
The Commodore’s Award was given to Mike and Barbara Moen of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with their 1960 Chris Craft Sportsman “Coeur d’ Legacy.”
“On behalf of all of the boat captains, thank you to all the dock-walkers who came out and supported the event,” Salt said. “It means a lot to the boat owners to see the tremendous turnout in spite of the rainy weather.
“We would also like to thank those who volunteered their time and docks for card stops on the poker run. It was great to see all the smiling faces so early on a Sunday morning.”
The poker run best time award also went to “Twin Finn” and the best hand was held by Steve and Lisa Schaller of Portland aboard “Cote D’Azure.”
“Finally, we would like to thank The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and their wonderful staff for being great hosts of the event,” Salt added. “The lodge treated the boat owners to that great Whitefish hospitality and once again demonstrated their commitment to community events.”
Next year’s event is set for June 23 to 25.
June 18th’s Ride 4 Life participants enjoyed a cool, calm day for their bike ride to benefit the Nate Chute Foundation.
The event was organized by Patrick Malone in memory of his closest cousin Richard Thomas who took his life in October 2013.
Malone estimates that approximately $1,200 was raised for the Nate Chute Foundation, founded in 1999 in memory of snowboarding standout and instructor Nate Chute who took his own life after graduating from Whitefish High School in 1999. The nonprofit foundation is dedicated to reducing suicide among young people through education, mental health counseling, reducing substance abuse and assisting young people in crisis.
Malone mapped a 64-mile bike route in recognition of his cousin who died at age 64, as well as Malone’s own age, also 64.
In his follow-up letter to the Inter Lake Malone said, “Nate was only 19 when life left him — too young to know what might have been.”
Youth suicide rates in Montana are nearly double the national average and for more than 40 years Montana has ranked in the top five states for suicide rates.
According to the Nate Chute Foundation’s website, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services attributes the high rate to ready access to firearms, alcohol, social isolation, and a stigma against depression.
All proceeds from Ride 4 Life endow the Richard Thomas Memorial Fund within the Nate Chute Foundation. If you wish to donate, make your check payable to the Nate Chute Foundation, 722 Aspen Grove St., Whitefish, MT 59937.
Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.