On Saturday, you’ll see rafts full of disco rockers, solo dudes in racing duds and trained teams ripping down the mountain, around the Nordic course, cycling from the Village to south of town and paddling frigid waters.

All this happens each year - rain, snow, shine, wind - in the 33rd annual Pole Pedal Paddle- a Jackson Hole tradition held each year on the last Saturday of skiing at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

The four-event race, where contestants compete either individually or in teams, consists of an alpine ski leg, a cross-country ski leg, a bicycle leg, and a boating leg.

The Pole Pedal Paddle is a major fundraising event for the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club, (JHSC) a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable Alpine, Freeride, Nordic and Snowboard programs to Jackson youth. (Annually, the JHSC must raise over $310,000 to subsidize the cost of program fees and bring affordable snow sports to over 400 athletes ages 6-20.)

You don’t have to be a racer to race! Sign up! Have fun! Support your local ski club and stay for prizes afterward at the Snake River Sporting Club.

Carrie Pennington is the executive director of the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club. When necessary, she rocks a mean one piece.