Hood River Valley High School sent their best to compete in the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association’s state championship at the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center last Friday. A total of 11 teams made it out from all over Oregon.

The gray jays swooped through the crowded meadow, picking at poppy seeds and sipping chilly cocoa from the ground. The snow was old and cold, icy in some spots and mushy in others. By midmorning, the temperature had risen by 12 degrees. Each team was crowded around their tents as their wax gurus slaved away to give their racers the edge. The 6K skate race took place on Friday. A three-wave mass start and a fast course with a couple of monstrous hills put smiles — or grimaces — on every skier’s face.