Snocross roars

By MEGAN HUGHES

[email protected]

Ironwood - Gogebic Community College's Mt. Zion ski hill played host to the Snocross Nationals opener this past weekend, with crowds of people gathering at the hill to watch as five-time champion Elias Ishoel of Norway claimed first place during Saturday's Pro class race, and Swedish rider Gustav Sahlsten took home the $10,000 prize for winning the Amsoil Dominator race on Friday night.

The weather affected the flow of the races, with a lack of seasonal snow, rain on Friday and temperatures reaching 44 degrees on Saturday. The crew at Mt. Zion had been making snow on the hill for several days prior to make the event possible.

Keith Johnson, one of the local committee members who helped organize the event, said that around 260 to 270 racers participated in the national races, with even more coming in for the regionals held on Sunday.

"We had around 60 volunteers per day," said Johnson. "The folks in the Civic Center did amazingly, cooking up food all day long."

Johnson said that from the feedback he has heard from the racers, they were quite impressed with the hill and the effort that went into making the event possible. "We are the only ones that had snow at all, let alone enough to race on."

Johnson thanked Jim VanderSpoel and Nathan Dees for their local efforts to aid the racing in many ways. The two days included many qualifying and final races across a couple dozen classes for youth as well as top professionals.

Johnson was excited about the quality of the racing. "These racers are from all over the world."

Ishoel's first in this past weekend's pro races means he has successfully kicked off his effort to defend his Amsoil title, according to a release from the International Series of Champions (ISOC) Amsoil Championship Snowcross Racing Series organizers.

"I got the hole shot and just made some fast laps in the beginning," said Ishoel in the release. "There were ice holes in the bottom of the track, so it was kind of sketchy. So, I just got into a flow where I could manage the lead."

The release said only a few riders have won as much as Ishoel, who has a long list of championships to his name, including a win in 2014 at the Swedish Championship.

With Ishoel in the lead early, Saturday's Pro class final was a three-way race for the runner-up spot, among Sahlsten, Emil Harr of Sorsele, Alberta, and Kody Kamm, Kansasville, Wisconsin.

Sahlsten is the first racer in Amsoil Champion Snocross history to win the Dominator title in his first race in the Pro class, according to the release. The race was not only his debut into the Pro class, but it was also his first race in the United States.

The Dominator races feature Pro racers going head to head to claim the title.

"The track was very tight, and I knew it was important to be out front in a race like this. I had to make a big move, and it worked out," said Sahlsten in the release.

Locally, Eli Pallin of Mercer, Wisconsin, finished 12th in the 200 Stock ages 6-12 final on Saturday.

The following results are the top three places in the finals of the various race classes over Friday and Saturday. A full list of the results is available at snocross.com.

Friday

Transition 9-13 - 1. Tavin Knudson of Bisbee, North Dakota; 2. Jimmy Stanisich, Eveleth, Minnesota; 3. Victoria Dillon, Zephyr, Ontario.

Sport Lite - 1. Kye Doran of Bracebridge, Ontario; 2. Caiden Pflipsen of Melrose, Minnesota; 3. Ethan Boon of Livonia, Michigan.

Transition 8-10 - 1. Kody Krantz, Scandia, Minnesota; 2. Jack Gelinas, Wyoming, Ontario; 3. Beau Engel, Faribault, Minnesota.

Pro AM Plus 40 - 1. Corin Todd, Otego, New York; 2. Andy Lieders, Wausau, Wisconsin; 3. Adam Johnson, Helenville, Wisconsin.

Junior 14-15 - 1. Wyatt Skogquist, Ramsey, Minnesota; 2. AJ Skogquist, Ramsey, Minnesota; 3. Hampus Hoeglund, Ostersund, Alberta

Sport - 1. Dylan Lebel, Chicoutimi, Quebec; 2. Kenny Goike, Armada, Michigan; 3. Kellen Chapuran, Edina, Minnesota.

Stock 200 (ages 6-12) - 1. Jack Gelinas, Wyoming, Ontario; 2. Kody Krantz, Scandia, Minnesota; 3. Connor Mui, Minesing, Ontario.

Pro AM Women - 1. Inanna Hauger, Boyne City, Michigan; 2. Tausha Lange, Miltona, Minnesota; 3. Cecily Bernaiche, Acworth, New Hampshire.

Saturday

Transition 8-10 - 1. Kody Krantz, Scandia, Minnesota; 2. Tripp Knudson, Bisbee, North Dakota; 3. Bernice Thieke, Chatfield, Minnesota.

Junior Girls 9-13 - 1. Avery Hemmer, Nowthen, Minnesota; 2. Victoria Dillon, Zephyr, Ontario; 3. Bernice Thieke, Chatfield, Minnesota.

120 Champ (Ages 6-12) - 1. Ryan Shimanski, Blaine, Minnesota; 2. Kody Krantz, Scandia, Minnesota; 3.George Boettger, Isanti, Minnesota.

Stock 200 (Ages 6-12) - 1. Jack Gelinas, Wyoming, Ontario; 2. George Boettger, Isanti, Minnesota; 3. Brock Wilson, Cheboygan, Michigan.

Junior 14-15 - 1. Kamden Duffy, Richmond, New Hampshire; 2. AJ Skogquist, Ramsey, Minnesota; 3. Colin Taggart, Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

Pro Lite - 1. Crayden Dillon, Zephyr, Ontario; 2. Baily Forst, Thief River Falls, Minnesota; 3. Adam Ashline, Hartland, Vermont.

Pro AM Plus 30 - 1. Andy Lieders, Wausau, Wisconsin; 2. Corin Todd, Otego, New York; 3. Kurt Bauerly, Milaca, Minnesota

Pro AM Women - 1. Malene Cottew, Vadso, Norway; 2. Inanna Hauger, Boyne City, Michigan; 3. Cerissa Belussum, Petersburg, North Dakota.

Sport - 1. Brady Freeland, Corcoran, Minnesota; 2. Brandon Nelson, Stacy, Minnesota; 3. Domenic Hegman, Princeton, Minnesota.

Sport Lite - 1. Gavin Fleury, Ticonderoga, New York; 2. AJ Skogquist, Ramsey, Minnesota; 3. Kamden Duffy, Richmond, New Hampshire

Pro - 1. Elias Ishoel, Oppdal, Norway; 2. Emil Harr, Sorsele, Alberta; 3. Kody Kamm, Kansasville, Wisconsin.

Junior 10-13 - 1. Jimmy Stanisich, Eveleth, Minnesota; 2. Tavin Knudson, Bisbee, North Dakota; 3. Gavin Brault, Crookston, Minnesota.

Transition 9-13 - 1. Tavin Knudson, Bisbee, North Dakota; 2. Jimmy Stanisich, Eveleth, Minnesota; 3. Gavin Brault, Crookston, Minnesota.