Local snowmachine guru starts first freestyle league in North America

March 9, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Local snowmachine guru Dane Ferguson is blazing a trail, so competitors like him can fly through the air.

The sport of snowmachine snocross is booming, and Ferguson is hoping some of that attention steers over to freestyle - a brand of competitive snowmachining in which riders can take massive jumps, fly through the air and perform a variety of tricks.

The 26-year-old lifelong Alaskan has formed a league specifically for freestyle riders, and has formed an allegiance with such racing alliances as Wasilla Racing Lions.

The league - AK Racing Freestyle - is the first of its kind anywhere, Ferguson said. Riders in the league have been competing at the AK Racing Motopark throughout the winter.

On Saturday, Ferguson said a handful of riders will hit the jumps at about 12:30 p.m. Among those competing Saturday are Jason Semler, a local product, and Sam Carver, who finished fifth in freestyle in the 2007 X Games, extreme sports competition.

Freestyle currently has sort of a cult status in snowmachine circles. It's gaining popularity, but has nowhere near the recognition to that of the more established snocross racing.

Until now, freestyle events have been reserved for intermissions of snocross competitions. But Ferguson wants freestyle to be a main event, and not just a sideshow.

Ferguson said the basis of his plans are twofold.

First, he wants to give recognition to the sport.

Now when Ferguson or another freestyle rider is searching for a

sponsorship, he said, a potential sponsor has no way to gauge the success of the competitor. Ferguson said when he talks to sponsors, they ask what place he is in.

&#8220Nobody can take a place if you don't have a league,” Ferguson said.

Second, he wants aspiring riders to get on their sleds, and get involved.

&#8220There's a myth or theory you have to be crazy or dangerous,” Ferguson said.

But in reality, the average rider with the average snowmachine can participate.

Ferguson sees the league as an outlet for young riders with X Games aspirations. Before this winter, Alaskans would have to head down to the Lower 48. If a rider didn't take first in a bunch of competitions, Ferguson said, it's hard to justify the costs.

But now, he said, there is opportunity to break into the sport.

Ferguson and the architects of AK Raceway Motopark have built a series of jumps on the lot that sits off Vine Road in Wasilla. The jumps are made of wood and built on heavy metal rails. The landing pad is made up of lots and dirt and snow.

The league itself is split up into multiple classes, just like snocross. The classes include pro, semipro, sport, veteran and womens.

According to information provided by Ferguson, the sport and veteran classes, participants hit a pair of 30-foot jumps. There is a snow jump that is 30 feet, and a competition ramp that is 10 feet tall with a 42-foot table.

A table is a big flat surface at the height of the jump, preventing riders from falling to the base of the course.

In the semipro, pro and women's classes, riders normally use a 55-foot kicker, and a 65-foot competition ramp.

A kicker is a curved jump specifically designed to give the rider more altitude than distance.

Competitors hit the snow for a 90-second run, Ferguson said. There are three judges, and each participant is scored on a scale from 1-100. Riders are graded on attributes such as overall sled control, variety of tricks, trick duplication, style and how they react to the crowd, Ferguson said.

Ferguson said beginners don't need special equipment or a brand new sled to hit the freestyle jumps. The only thing that really matters is suspension, but all sleds break down over time.

To join the freestyle league, riders must pay a one-time fee dependent on the class. Each competitor is also required to be a member of the Wasilla Racing Lions Club. The $100 membership includes insurance.

The course is also available for beginners to practice on, Ferguson said. Normally weekends are best.

For more information about AK Motopark or AK Racing Freestyle, see www.akracing.com.

There are four dates left on the AK Racing Freestyle schedule.

Ferguson said he hopes more recognition will lead to the chance of obtaining great sponsorships, something he said is necessary to alleviate the costs of maintaining the jumps at the park. He estimates an expense of about $5,000 a month. That price tag includes the cost of fuel for the bulldozer he uses in the construction of the jumps, and the wood used to build the jumps.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@

frontiersman.com.