Hood River Valley Nordic was joined by Summit, South Bend, Redmond, St. Mary’s Academy, and Corvallis at last Saturday’s Teacup Classic race, hosted by St. Mary’s Academy. The morning brought numb fingers and rosy cheeks, the sky was clear, it was a cool 7 degrees, and no wind was present.

The day began with the girls 5k interval race; the boys followed. The course was a combination of fast downhill and slow grueling climbs. With temperature fluctuating heavily, the shade was 13 degrees, while the sunny spots were 25 degrees or warmer, making the waxing difficult and speed inconsistent.