Snow wasn’t falling, but it was flying on Moose Mountain during the MidWest Extreme Snowmobile Challenge on Friday – Sunday, April 15-17. Bobby Menne of Virginia, Minnesota roars up the mountainside.
On April 15-17, Lutsen Mountains offered the last chance in the MidWest for snowmobilers to test their skills, racing cross country and climbing hills. Racers came from around the region and from Canada to tackle Moose Mountain in Cor PowerSports’ last racing event of the season, the MidWest Extreme Snowmobile Challenge.
Fans had a good time in the sunshine relaxing on the Summit Chalet deck or lawn chairs in the snow. Even some of the racers tackled the hill in T-shirt sleeves.
Although Bobby Menne of Virginia, Minnesota, admitted that wasn’t the best idea. “The fake snow is like ice—it kind of hurts when it hits your skin,” he told the News-Herald after taking first place in the 8-lap Open Class.
Menne also took first in the 10-lap Pro Stock, as well as 2nd in the Snowbike race. Menne said course conditions were great. “I love it up here,” he said, noting that he has come up trail riding many times.
Far left: Casey Pries almost touched the sky in the Pro Factory 600 race, which he won. Above: Taylor Cole gets the green flag, signaling his race is almost finished. Left: Spectators had a great time—and some were as colorful as the snowmobiles!
Marshall Busse of Green Bay, Wisconsin agreed conditions were good. He said he enjoyed the course, which was “snowy and pretty rough.” Busse took first in the 4-lap Junior 10-13 race and in the Junior 10-15 race on his Arctic Cat 500.
Returning for the second year at Lutsen was the Halverson family of TNT Racing of Albertville, Minnesota. Dalton Halverson finished first in the Sport Improved Stock division. Todd Halverson took third in the Vet 30+ class.
Todd Halverson said he was thrilled to be back. “We race all over—Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. This is our favorite place to race. It’s a long, long hill,” he said with a grin.
Overall, it appeared to be another successful event and on their website, COR PowerSports told racers, “Mark your calendar for next year!”
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