Erica McMillan

King Of The Hill At Marquette Mountain

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MASTERS Snowmobile Races Finish Off Winter in Marquette

snowmobiles-4560Marquette Michigan – Winter events wrapped up this past weekend at the Marquette Mountain Ski Hill with some extreme snowmobile racing by the Mid America Snow and Terrain Expert Racers (MASTERS). The MASTERS racers took over a portion of the ski hill turning it into an uphill drag racing and hillcross terrain course. These high energy events were exciting to watch for ski hill spectators, both on the hill and those enjoying some sunshine in front of the chalet. with various classes for riders of different abilities, ages, and of course machines, both stock and modified.

This particular MASTERS racing circuit competition is one of the two longest running snowmobile races in the Upper Peninsula and thanks to the Ojibwa Casino Marquette Mountain Tri-Fecta a variety of events were held for riders with different levels of experience, ages, and of course machines, both stock and modified.  Riders from four different states were in attendance competing for seasonal titles such as #1 Hill Climber and Top Gun Point Champion. The top 3 drivers in each class also qualified for Pro level titles as well. The weekend’s events featured three types of snowmobile racing: high speed drag, hillcross with it’s gravity defying jumps, and a new addition, the hill challenge.

The new snowmobile hill challenge event that was featured for the first time in Marquette at this year’s event is a brand new sport and was a recent hit at its debut downstate a couple weeks before at Adventure Mountain in Greenland, MI.  The hill challenge combines a little bit of all the skills snowmobile racers employ making it a crowning event for the MASTERS circuit. Skip Shulz, president of the MASTERS racing circuit, explained the new event as a drivers race. Not only must competitors utilize abilities from all the other events but there’s no room for mistakes as riders take jumps, speed uphill, and make tight turns around the gates as they race to the top of the mountain in timed heats.

These high energy events make an exciting finish to the winter for both snowmobile racers and snow sports enthusiasts. Race events can be enjoyed from on the hill or by those enjoying some sunshine and a drink in front of the chalet as winter begins to give way to the warmer days of spring in the U.P.

 

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