Hibbert Takes Gold at Winter X Games
January 31, 2010
Hibbert walks away with gold.
Ten years ago, then semi-pro racer Tucker Hibbert, 16 at the time, shocked the snowmobile racing world by beating a star-studded field in his first pro race at the Winter X Games in Vermont, claiming a gold medal in the made-for-TV event.
Sunday, the racer from Goodridge, Minnesota, reiterated that, as an adult, he’s the most dominant racer in the sport. He absolutely destroyed the competition, winning by more than 48 seconds in the 20-lap final. In doing so, he earned his fifth X Games gold medal in snocross, including the last four in a row, and his ninth X Games medal overall.
Heat 1 of qualifying had Ryan Simons taking the holeshot and he was followed by Cory Davis and Dan Ebert. Davis quickly passed Simons to move on to win Heat 1. The top 5 racers to move on to the final from this heat were: 1. Cory Davis 2. Ryan Simons 3. Tim Trembly 4. Dan Ebert 5. Levi Lavallee.
In Heat 2 of qualifying, Tucker Hibbert took the holeshot and never looked back. By lap 7, Hibbert had a twelve second lead on the field. On lap 19, Bobby Lepage used the 18-foot Talladega turn to pass Colby Crapo for the final transfer spot. The top 5 to advance in Heat 2 were 1. Tucker Hibbert 2. Brett Turcotte 3. Paul Bauerly 4. Matt Piche 5. Bobby LePage.
Heath Frisby Wins X Games Gold
January 29, 2010
Longtime freestyle stalwart Heath Frisby of Bellevue, Idaho, broke through Friday night with an incredible Tsunami Back Flip to earn the ESPN Winter X Game gold medal in the Next Trick competition.
Frisby, 25, has been an innovator in the sport, developing tricks and generally being a leader in freestyle circles. But he’s never had a very good X Games showing, settling for bronze medals that last three years in a row.
On Friday night, in front of a huge crowd at X Games 14, the competition started out with a huge trick referred to as a heart attack back flip by Sweden’s Daniel Bodin in round one, earning a 89.33 score from the judges. The other eight competitors all took their best shots in round one, but when it was over Bodin held the lead with one round left.
One highlights of the first round was an attempt by the incomparable Paul Thacker at a no hand back, using a remote control to handle throttle duties on his snowmobile. It didn’t turn out great – he did a woodpecker on the dash while in the air, then landed very hard and snapped his head and neck backwards. It looked like mega-whiplash, but he rode away.
Winter X Games Snocross Preview
January 28, 2010
The ESPN Winter X Games kicks off today in Aspen, Colorado, and this year the event features five made-for-TV events.
The biggest and most historic snowmobiling event at Winter X 14 is, of course, snocross, featuring the best pro riders trying to chase down a gold medal on live national TV. Cat-riding Tucker Hibbert goes in as the odd-on favorite, after winning every pro final he entered last season and 7 of 8 so far this year on the ISOC national circuit. He’ll be going for his fifth gold medal, and fourth in a row.
Preston Pride Hillclimb
January 25, 2010
The Preston Pride Hillclimb was held on Friday and Saturday, January 22nd and 23rd, just outside Preston, Idaho. 
This was the 18thyear of this hillclimb and this year was especially challenging. Organizers Shawn Atkinson and Bret Rasmussen did an outstanding job. The only thing that did not go off like clockwork was the weather. Most of the hillclimb took place in almost white out conditions. The blowing snow tripped the finish line lights so many times that Matt, at the top of the mountain, built a snow shield around them and solved the problem.
The entire RMSHA staff is to be commended on a job very well done.
But the harsh weather did not cool the hot racing action. Over 150 racers took on the mountain.
Past world champion, Amy Zollinger won all three women’s classes and took home a triple crown for Arctic Cat and the Zollinger Race Team. This is the second triple crown she has won and the only lady to ever accomplish this.
Vinnie Clark won the 1000 stock class and the Stock King title. He rides for Ski-Doo. Vinnie is a past world champion and comes from Valemount, BC, Canada.
Last years Stock King from the World Championship from Jackson went on to continue his winning streak. Tom Roby won Improved Stock King here at Preston. He also rides for Ski-Doo and hails from the Jackson, Wyoming area.
Mod King this year was a racer out of the Boise, Idaho area, Erin Beukelman. Erin rides for
Polaris and was the 2007 Jackson World Championship Improved Stock King.
The Preston Pride Hillclimb was filmed by BAM Film Productions for the TV show “Sledding The West”. It will be featured in their upcoming episode on sledding in Southeast Idaho. For airdates visit: www.sleddingthewest.com.
The next race on the RMSHA circuit is Bear Lake on February 5th and 6th. For a complete race schedule and more information on the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association, please visit: www.rmsha.com.
Hibbert Reasserts Himself At Canterbury
January 22, 2010
Lessons in survival: Don’t get between a momma bear and her cubs; don’t tug on Superman’s cap; don’t try to take food away from Warren Sapp; and don’t antagonize Tucker Hibbert.
The Arctic Cat racer known as T Train steamrolled the competition Saturday night in rainy conditions at Shakopee, Minnesota’s Canterbury Park, grabbing an early holeshot and winning in truly dominating fashion – crossing the finish line 32 seconds ahead of second-place Dan Ebert to claim his 51st victory in national snocross racing.
Hibbert suffered his only defeat of the past season-and-a-half a couple of weeks ago at the ISOC national near Salt Lake City, Utah. He entered this weekend ultra-determined, and it showed. He entered the final as the number one qualifier, and made a mockery of his competition in the final.
Off the starting line, the co-holeshots went to Polaris’ Brett Bender, who rocketed through the first turn on the outside, and Hibbert, who used a more central line. While Bender got caught up in some loose snow, Hibbert got traction and rocketed into the next set of turns. In the pack, Ebert traded paint with some other competitors and emerged in third.
It took another lap for Ebert to move past Bender, but his efforts to chase down his mentor proved very much in vain. Lap after lap, Hibbert gained one or two seconds over the rest of the field, leaving everybody far, far behind. Four laps into the 20-lap final, Hibbert’s lead was 4 seconds. Four laps later, the lead was 8.5 seconds. Four laps after that, the lead was 13.8 seconds – and growing.
While other racers tired, Hibbert got faster, slicing through lapped traffic with ease. Four laps later? The lead was now 22.3 seconds – and still growing. Ebert, the winning of the cross-country Red Lake I-500 one week earlier on his No. 60 Arctic Cat, ran a very solid race, and outran a very talented field to claim second, but he was no match for Hibbert.
Bender similarly held third through most of the race and earned podium exposure with a third-place finish. Polaris racer Levi Lavallee held fourth through most of the race but couldn’t hold off a late challenge by Ski-Doo’s Tim Trembley, the winner at Utah who claimed fourth with two laps left and held the spot to the finish. Lavallee ended up fifth.
The rest of the top 10 were Ross Martin (Pol), Emil Ohman (Doo), Corey Davis (Cat), Robbie Malinoski (Pol) and Matt Judnick (Pol).
The Pro Open final will be run Saturday at Canterbury.
In Semi-Pro Stock racing Saturday night, Logan Christian of Fertile, Minnesota, took the victory on his Arctic Cat. Combined with his second in this class at Duluth, third at Milwaukee and foruth in Utah, Christian is setting himself up well in the points race in this class. Justin Broberg finished second, followed by Dylan Martin and Matt Pichner.
Photo essay from Eagle River
January 22, 2010
We’ve posted a 31-photo slide show from last weekend’s Eagle River World Championship Snowmobile Derby on our Photos page. Go to the top nav bar and click on photos to find these racing and behind-the-scenes images.
MWR Season Opener
January 20, 2010
Action Packed Racing From McCall, Idaho
The MWR season opener took place January 16th and 17th in McCall, Idaho. Colby Crapo took three class wins including Pro Open. Justin York won Semi-Pro Open and little Konnor May won the Champ Class on his 120. BAM Film Productions was there to film the races for the TV show “Sledding The West”. www.sleddingthewest.com
Here are the complete results:
CLASS: SCOTT – USA PRO OPEN
ENTRIES IN CLASS: 7
2 130 Willie Elam Buhl, ID CAT
3 625 Logan Halford Idaho Falls, ID DOO
4 432 Rylie Hogue Klamath Falls, OR POL
5 987 Stephen Edwards Lake Stevens, WA POL
6 163 Pat McLam Moscow, ID CAT
7 38 Tuffy McDonald Priest River, ID DOO
CLASS: WESTERN POWER SPORTS PRO SS
ENTRIES IN CLASS: 8
2 130 Willie Elam Buhl, ID CAT
3 625 Logan Halford Idaho Falls, ID DOO
4 987 Stephen Edwards Lake Stevens, WA POL
5 38 Tuffy McDonald Priest River, ID DOO
6 163 Pat McLam Moscow, ID CAT
7 432 Rylie Hogue Klamath Falls, OR POL
8 55x Rob Kirsch McCall, ID CAT
Dan Ebert wins USCC Red Lake I-500
January 17, 2010
Dan Ebert powered across the finish line to win the USCC Red Lake I-500 today in Thief River Falls, Minn.
Arctic Cat racer Dan Ebert won the Pro 600 class in the 2010 United States Cross-Country (USCC) Red Lake I-500 today. He covered the 505-mile course in 8 hours, 11 minutes, 35 seconds. Gabe Bunke (8:13:42) finished second on a Polaris 600 Rush and Ryan Huston (8:16:22) finished third, also on an Arctic Cat.
Matt Schulz Earns Historic World Championship
January 17, 2010
Schulz hoists the coveted Snow Goer Cup after winning the World Championship.
The Eagle River World Championship Snowmobile Derby is always about history, but Matt Schulz’ victory Sunday at the famed Derby track truly was one for the ages.
By winning in dominating fashion with a green-to-checkered run, Wausau, Wisconsin’s Schulz became:
- The first Wisconsin driver since Dale Loritz in 1995 to keep the Snow Goer Cup in its own state.
- The first Polaris driver to win the World Championship since Steve Thorsen claimed the title in 1978.
- The second second-generation driver to win snowmobiling’s premier race – following his uncle and lead mechanic Al Fenhaus, the 1993 champion, much like Terry Wahl followed in the footsteps of his uncle Dave Wahl.
- The comeback racer of the year. A year ago, Schulz showed up at Eagle River wearing a halo – he broke his neck the previous weekend at the USSA oval race in Plymouth, Wisconsin, and was forced to watch the World Championship race – without turning his head.
Schulz was fast all weekend, claiming the fast time in Thursday’s trials and winning his heat and semi-final in Saturday’s qualifying. The only time he was beat on the track was in the Friday Night Thunder Program, when a clutching issues relegated him to second behind three-time champion PJ Wanderscheid.
Matt Schulz was flawless in the 25-lap final, and collected $20,000 for the effort.
Sunday, the roles were reversed. Schulz clutching was dialed in perfectly, as his Larry Rugland Motorsports-powered mod rocketed off the starting line and into turn one ahead of a star-studded field that included four ex-champions that had claimed a combined 10 world titles (Jacques Villeneuve 3; Wanderscheid 3; Gary Moyle 2; Brian Bewcyk, 2).
Wanderscheid settled into second, with the surprising Jason Lavallee claiming third for several laps. He was followed by an angry pack in the early going, with Dan Fenhaus on his heels, Malcolm Chartier in fourth and Dustin Wahl in fifth.
Deep in the pack, the two former champs who started in the back row after qualifying through Sunday’s last chance qualifier, Villeneuve and Moyle, tried to fight through traffic. By lap six in the 25-lap final, Villeneuve was up to seventh in the 12-lap field.
Front Row Is Set: Snow Goer’s Exclusive Odds On The World Championship!!
January 16, 2010
At Snow Week and later Snow Goer magazine, we’ve put together fictional odds for the World Championship race for many years. Here’s the text from this year’s Tip Sheet, based on results from Saturday’s qualifying. It tells you who made the final, our odds and a comment on each racer. Special notes: Two more racers will qualify for the final in a Sunday LCQ race: challengers include Gary Moyle, who burned down in a semi final; Nick VanStrydonk, who’s sled quit while leading; and Jacques Villeneuve, who came back from a first-lap tangle to run some of the fastest laps of the weekend, but fell short of qualifying by a couple of sled lengths. Enjoy:
THE LEAD:
Racers have been dreaming of this day all year. They’ve been honing their skills, tweaking their sleds and training for their moment to shine in this, the 47th running of the Eagle River World Championship Snowmobile Derby. There are so many potential great stories here today, but only one racer will leave this event as the World Champion.