Costumes and a cause

Super Mario, Barbie and more than one attendee of a masquerade ball were among 75 people who came out on a chilly Sunday morning to participate in the 20th annual Ski for Women at Tsalteshi Trails.

The event, held each year on Super Bowl Sunday, has long drawn a colorful crowd of costumed contestants. Tsalteshi Trails Association Administrative Coordinator Jenny Neyman said the costume contest is “probably more competitive” than the skiing.

The top honor, Best Costume, went to a party of eight who were dressed as recognizable characters — and obstacles — from the Mario Kart video games.

RaChelle Gruenberg was Mario, Heather Rinke was Luigi, Becky Hart was Princess Peach and Sara Bundy was the Lakitu who serves as an officiant for races in the Mushroom Kingdom — complete with a sign reading “Final Lap.” Their children were dressed as a selection of road hazards and items — the question block, blooper, bob-omb and banana — represented by Heidi Rinke, Olivia Rinke, Piper Bundy and Sullivan Bundy.

Hart said they’ve wanted to put together a Mario group costume for a long time. Gruenberg said she’s been participating in the Ski for Women for the last seven years; Hart said she’d been coming out for six.

“We take the costume part very seriously,” Hart said.

The two said the event is a fun opportunity to get out and ski with a fun crowd.

“Everybody is so supportive and cheers everybody on. It’s a nice environment for a ski race,” Hart said. “It makes it fun — it makes you want to come out and do it every year.”

Neyman said that the Ski for Women is Tsalteshi’s longest standing annual event, and that the association was excited to see a big turnout as it crossed two decades. “It’s great to see people out enjoying the winter and having a good time at the trails,” she said.

Each year, the event raises money for a women’s cause — in keeping with its original mission of raising awareness of domestic violence. This year, the Ski for Women will support the The LeeShore Center, which provides services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Neyman said it’s exciting for the trails to host the event and support women in the community each year. It’s an opportunity, she said, for the nonprofit trails to give back to a community that has “always been so supportive of us.”

Morgan Aldridge won the 5-kilometer skate in 15 minutes and 30 seconds, followed by Melissa Smith at 16:41. There were three skiers who shared the third-place medal — Ariana Cannava, Kate Cox and Tania Boonstra approached the finish line holding onto one another and glided over as a trio.

Julie Laker won the 5-kilometer classic at 26:55. Sue Seggerman followed at 27:27 and Laura Gerber rounded out the top three at 30:39.

The 5-kilometer drag race, for men looking to support the cause, was won by Nathan and Jamie Nelson, who crossed together at 45:50. They also together won the award for fiercest drag outfit. Ben Wishnek followed at 1:02:11.

20th Ski for Women

Sunday at Tsalteshi Trails

5-kilometer skate — 1. Morgan Aldridge, 15 minutes, 30 seconds; 2. Melissa Smith, 16:41; 3. Ariana Cannava, 17:49; 3. Kate Cox, 17:49; 3. Tania Boonstra, 17:49; 4. Elizabeth Chilson, 18:21; 5. Mikayla Hamlin, 18:45; 6. Leslie Felts, 29:30; 7. Becca Hitchcock, 30:15; 8. Sarah Huot, 30:21; 9. Dallas Voss, 30:58; 10. Olivia Rinke, 32:15; 11. Megan McKay, 33:20; 12. Chelsea Springer, 40:51; 12. Nicole Jensen, 40:51; 13. Esme Fair, 59:08; 14. Melanie Hollon, 59:17

5-kilometer classic — 1. Julie Laker, 26:55; 2. Sue Seggerman, 27:27; 3. Laura Gerber, 30:39; 4. Emily Knight, 32:22; 5. Kelsey Cusack, 32:31; 6. Chelsea Wingard, 33:00; 7. Cherie Taylor, 33:07; 8. Katrina Cannava, 33:10; 9. Cassie Collins, 33:16; 10. Becky Hart, 33:38; 11. Sullivan Bundy, 34:05; 12. Patti Berkhahn, 34:09; 13. Yennhi Tran, 34:21; 14. Shiloh Zichko, 34:34; 15. Piper Bundy, 35:03; 16. Naomi Zichko, 34:34; 17. Rachel Gilliland, 35:21; 18. Rachel Nash, 35:46; 19. Tara Ruffner, 35:55; 19. Cynthia Bybee, 35:55; 20. Nathaly Hernandez, 36:07; 21. DeAnne Ruiz, 36:10; 22. Jannie Hulbert, 37:44; 23. Kali Saxton-Shaw, 37:44; 24. Jennifer Stubblefield, 38:21; 25. Sharon Roesch, 38:23.

26. Sara Bundy, 38:45; 27. RaChelle Gruenberg, 38:46; 28. Brenda Dale, 39:18; 28. Tressa Dale, 39:18; 29. Sarah Rinearson, 39:34; 30. Anna Dunning, 39:36; 31. Beth Swaby, 39:52; 32. Julie Williams, 41:29; 33. Tracie Howard, 41:32; 34. Carolann Barum, 43:05; 35. Sandi Crawford, 43:30; 36. Heidi Rinke, 43:51; 37. Heather Rinke, 43:54; 38. Tammy Strasbaugh, 44:40; 39. Sarah Apsens, 46:47; 39. Kaitlynn Cafferty, 46:47; 39. Ashley Lutto, 46:47; 40. Andrea Kircher, 47:20; 40. Holly Lewis, 47:20; 41. Oriana Tomlin, 49:12; 41. Rachel Grossl, 49:12; 41. Amy Frapp, 49:12; 42. Leonide McKay, 50:10; 43. Clara Nelson, 50:28; 44. Angie Nelson, 50:34; 45. Cynthia McMillin, 53:31; 46. Evgeniya Malakhova, 1 hour, 01:53; 46. Tammy Kottke, 1:01:53; 46. Victoria Trujillo, 1:01:53

5-kilometer drag race — 1. Nathan Nelson, 45:50; 1. Jamie Nelson, 45:50; 2. Ben Wishnek, 1:02:11