IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP -- Plenty of spills provided thrills for about 1,400 spectators at the Copper Peak Hill Climb Saturday.
Nick Gustafson, 27, of Roseau, Minn., and Joe Van Kalker, 28, of Levering, posted the fastest times in their respective classes (pro stock and modified stock) to share in the honor of King of the Hill.
Matt Tingstad of Bessemer, one of the two kings of the hill last year, had the fastest time in pro mod 700-cc and was second overall.
"Queen" of the hill competing in the 120-cc class was McKenna Miller of Pelkie.
There are four basic classes and the modified classes at Copper Peak: The 500-cc, 600-cc, 700-cc, and 800-cc snowmobiles.
About 50 snowmobilers competed in the event, according to Skip Schulz of Ontonagon, Mid America Snowmobile Tournament of Expert Riders event organizer. The event that had been rescheduled from the previous weekend went on without injuries. About six inches of snow during the week provided ample snow on the ski flying under hill. Early in the event, dirt and rocks were exposed following several competitors' attempts to make it to the top, according to competitors interviewed after the hill climb.
One of about five major hill climbs throughout the nation, Copper Peak is known for the high number of sleds that don't make the top and fall end-over-end to the bottom of the ski flying hill, one competitor said Saturday.
"This is my love, of all the things I do ... and I do a lot of events," Schulz said after the event at Tacconelli's down towne in Ironwood at the awards ceremony Saturday night. "This is my passion. Copper Peak is one of the few snowmobile events in the area and the nation that keeps growing."
Clips from the event are scheduled to appear on an upcoming Discovery Channel episode, Schulz said. Several cable shows also request outtakes of the hill climb, he added.
The event is a fundraiser for Copper Peak Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes the ski flying hill and the Adventure Ride, a chairlift ride to the summit of the peak and an 18-story elevator that takes people up to the top of the largest ski flying scaffolding in the world.
All drivers' fees go to the MASTER's circuit, while the gate, concessions and parking fees go to Copper Peak Inc.
"We do it for the love, Schulz said.
"The competitors love this hill," said Charlie Supercynski, president of Copper Peak Inc. "You won't find an event like this in the entire Midwest. This event brings more money into the county than any other single event ... summer or winter. Half the fans come from out of the area, so it helps the restaurants, lodging and other spots in the area."
About 80 Copper Peak volunteers and about 14 MASTERS staffers work to put on the event.
A 2000 graduate of Hurley High School, Gustafson claimed his first King of the Hill title after competing at Copper Peak five times, although he has won his class in past years. A graduate of Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Gustafson is employed as a test technologist at Polaris, one of his sponsors along with Swartz Enterprises in Hurley.
Gustafson was first in open modified and second in the 800-cc modified class and second in the open stock class.
Like last year, he qualified for the World Championship Hill Climb competition in Jackson Hole, Wyo., the last weekend in March. At the competition, Gustafson did not make it to the finals, but is hoping to this year.
"It's a whole different level of competition," Gustafson said. "They are insanely fast."
Van Kalker also qualified for Jackson Hole. He drives a Ski-Doo snowmobile.
Also qualifying for the world championships was Jess Stanton, 26, of Coon Rapids, Minn. Stanton was first in the 500-cc class and third overall.
It was the first competition for Stanton, who works construction in the spring, summer and fall to begin his racing career.
"It was difficult and steep ... lots of rocks," Stanton said. "It was challenging, as it should be. I'll definitely be back next year," he said.
