AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Have you ever wondered what it's like to ski behind a snowmobile going 90 mph? Every April, gutsy skiers and snowmobilers converge on Paxson, Alaska to compete in a one-of-a-kind team race - the Arctic Man Classic.
You may have never heard of this event before, but it's gaining worldwide attention. Thousands of powder enthusiasts come from all over the world to attend this Spring Break-like event. Competitors include big names like teammates Levi LaVallee and Daron Rahlves (scroll down to see a
Red Bull video of them in action).
The race itself looks a lot like waterskiing, except it takes place on snow. The skier (or snowboarder) launches from the top of a mountain into a canyon. There, in a carefully timed handoff, the snowmobiling teammate passes the tow rope to the skier. The snowmobiler then tows the skier more than 2 miles up a second mountain and across a plateau, where top speeds reach up to 90 mph. After dodging ice and snow spit out by the sled, the skier releases the tow rope and makes the final 1,200-foot descent to the finish line.