Posted By LeAnn Wallace
Two weeks ago a lack of snow postponed the 18th Annual Amsoil Duluth National Snocross at Spirit Mountain and even now there's not enough snow for practicing.
That's driving riders from all over the world to the only place in the Northland that has enough snow for the riders to train.
"We're the only track open in the United States. All the top teams from the World, including Sweden, Japan, Norway, have been here this week, Canada and the US testing for Spirit Mountain."
Steve Scheuring, owner of this track in Aurora and manager of the Amsoil U–S Air Force Makita Power Tools Snocross team, says the week before the big race is a hectic one.
"It's pretty much like a bomb has gone off in here. We work from 7 in the morning until 9 at night every single day."
"Mechanics are going crazy trying to get the sleds 100–percent and make changes that we need to make."
Robbie Malinoski is new to the team this year and says Duluth historically draws quite the crowd.
"It's neat because every body's into it, I'm a snowmobile fan, they're into watching race, I'm into racing, and it's a cool little deal."
He was nice enough to give me a ride to see what all the hype is about.
Since it was my first time snowmobiling they went a little easy on me but looking behind me on that track I definitely wouldn't want to be hitting some of those jumps.
"It's like the closest thing to being a bird and flying you know, I'm out on my sled and I'm jumping 70, 80 feet in the air," says Levi LaVallee.
LaVallee has been snowmobiling since he was seven years old and is among the racers that are using Planet X's track for practice.
A native of Longville Minnesota, LaVallee says he always looks forward to Spirit Mountain's big race.
"It's kind of been a tradition now like all my friends all come to the race to cheer me on, it's very cool."
Nearly 1,000 racers will be gearing up over the next week for the big race...and although the event was postponed, many racers say they'll be more prepared than ever to hit the track.
"It's going to be some good racing. It was kind of a bummer it was canceled and postponed but hopefully the track and everything will be better for a really good race," says Malinoski.
The Amsoil Duluth National Snocross event has been canceled twice before...once for fog, and another time for lack of snow.
But the snow guns are out and the forecast is looking good for next weekend's race.
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