Cascade Mountain To Host Badger State Games Jan. 31-Feb. 1

Cascade Mountain, located along the I-94/I-90 corridor near Portage, in central Wisconsin, is hosting the Badger State Games Saturday, Jan. 31, and Sunday, Feb. 1. It's your chance to compete against Wisconsin's and the Heartland's finest skiers and snowboarders, or you can just chill and watch some amazing athletes perform.

The event is open to all ages and out-of-state residents as well, except if you're an Iowan. No Hawkeye's allowed. Iowa has its own winter games, which are held at Sundown Mountain near Dubuque.

Competition categories for both citizen - limited racing experience - and masters - racing experience - will be 10 and under, 11-14, 15-18, and 19 and older. The slopestyle event will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, and a rail jam is slated to take place Sunday at 1 p.m. Both skiers and riders will compete in the events.

Early registration begins on Jan. 26 online. You can register by mail prior to that and at the event the morning before the competition begins, but you pay a higher price for that last minute registration. Participants also are required to purchase a Cascade lift ticket as well. You can buy a two-day discounted ticket if you are competing both days, and each athlete will receive a buy-one, get-one-free lift ticket for a future visit at Cascade. Past years have produced some heated competition.