Quick on slick: A group of local riders hits the ice

Jan. 16, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

BIG LAKE - With speeds approaching 100 mph, snowmachine ice racing isn't for the faint of heart. But unlike many other forms of winter racing, it's not for those with a death wish, either.

In snowcross, bone-jarring wrecks are commonplace.

Downhill skiing and freestyle mountain riding carry the risk of avalanche or spectacular falls.

And anyone who's seen the speed-fueled insanity that is the Iron Dog and Arctic Man competitions knows how risky some of these pursuits can be.

So for those looking for a cheap - relatively safe - thrill, ice racing can be just the ticket.

&#8220It's a blast,” racer Cassidy Nelson said following a recent race on the frozen surface of Big Lake.

Nelson was among around 20 riders who came out Sunday to participate in this year's third weekend of ice races at the lake. The races are staged by the newly-formed Ice Racing Alaska, a Wasilla-based club founded to revive what used to be a highly-popular sport.

&#8220It's been tapering off in the last few years,” said Josh Estes, one of the club's founders.

Along with his father, Mike, and their friend Frankie Harris, Josh Estes said the idea behind forming the club was to get people back into ice racing. With the rising popularity of snowcross, many racers have left the sport in the past decade. But that trend may be reversing, as riders begin to realize the physical and financial costs associated with more dangerous forms of racing.

&#8220It's definitely less dangerous,” Josh Estes said. &#8220With snowcross, there's an ambulance every weekend.”

Insurance costs are lower in the sport, as well, and Estes credited the local Lions Club for helping pick up the sponsorship tab.

Snowcross racers compete on snow tracks with numerous jumps. In ice racing, the track is smooth, with riders using slightly-modified sleds to race around either an oval track or a Le Mans-style road course. Because there aren't the jarring jumps associated with snowcross, the format is also much easier on the machines.

Wasilla racer Bill Wilkes has raced on the professional ice racing circuit Outside as well as competing locally. Taking a break between heats Sunday, Wilkes said ice racing is nice because it doesn't put as much stress on his pocket book.

&#8220We picked these ones up wrecked for $500 bucks,” Wilkes said, pointing to a pair of sleds being run by himself and fellow racer Wayne Wold.

Josh Estes said that the low cost of ice racing is one of the key differences that sets it apart from other kinds of racing.

&#8220I bought my sled new in 2003 and I'm still running it,” he said. &#8220Snowcross, it was two new sleds every year. That's what it took to be in the winner's circle.”

For those wanting to get involved in the sport, Estes said there's just a few simple modifications needed to get any snow machine ready to race. Most racers use short skis beefed up with 10-inch carbide blades.

Tracks are studded with 200-300 steel ice picks, and the suspensions are modified to drop the sleds low to the ground. And that's it.

&#8220A new guy can be on the ice, and be competitive, for $2,200 bucks,” he said.

And once on the ice, there's plenty of room for thrills. With the steel spikes digging into the ice, racers rocket off the starting line.

Curves can be tricky, with riders hanging off the sides of their sleds in order to counter the machine's weight and extreme g-forces that arise in the corners.

&#8220It's a real adrenaline rush,” Estes said.

The format is also fan-friendly, with plenty of parking available at the south end of Big Lake and lots of room for spectators to watch the races and rub elbows with the riders.

Estes said he's hoping to draw more racers into the club, and believes ice racing will again become popular in the Valley.

&#8220We know there's a group of people out there who want to run ice,” he said. &#8220We just have to get them out here.”

And with class races ranging from amateur to professional, Estes said just about anyone can get involved with the sport immediately.

&#8220There's an attraction for everyone,” he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com