HELENA, MT - Thunderstruck rider Randy Swenson found out first.

He surprised the Thunderstruck gang one night at the Hillcrest Hotel in Revelstoke, BC.  Swenson had been nominated for the Best Rider In A Snowmobile Film for his performance in “Thunderstruck 7” and “Thunderstruck 7” was also nominated for Best Film. Every “Thunderstruck” film ever produced has been nominated but none has ever won. It was Slednecks, always Slednecks.

But 2009 was different. “Thunderstruck 7” came home with both awards this year—Swenson for Best Rider and TS7 as Best Film.

“For both Randy and I it was intense and amazing,” Jim Phelan, Thunderstruck owner and producer, said. “You should have seen the celebration hugs and high-fives when Randy told everyone. We sat there in awe at our hotel until 2 a.m. I knew ‘Thunderstruck 7’ was a great film and I knew if ever we were going to beat Slednecks this could be the film to do it. And it was.”

Swenson and many others had amazing riding sections in TS7. Both Swenson and Brad Story rode their turbo snowmobiles up record-breaking, rock-lined chutes in terms of distance and vertical feet traveled. Both men climbed chutes more than 2,500 feet tall.

“They were dots from the helicopter,” Phelan said. “I knew they could do it, they are two of the best in the world.”

As Thunderstruck prepares to release TS8, one might ask if they in it for the awards this year? “I am sure we will be nominated again,” Phelan said. “But it is not about that for us. We are all great friends. Being in front of the cameras means having fun, playing hard and being surrounded by those who can take care of you in a sticky situation. It is about friendship and adrenaline. It is about Thunderstruck.”

For more information on Thunderstruck Films, log on to www.bigskyx.com.