On Snow Magazine (OSM) Cross Country Returns with Speed at Pine Lake

The debut of the United States X-Country circuit this past weekend in northern Minnesota was a homecoming of sorts for cross-country racing. The natural terrain competition has often been regarded as the truest form of snowmobile racing, and after two successful stints atop the snowmobile racing pecking order, cross-country is poised to come roaring back once again. This past weekend, Pine Lake near the small town of Gonvick, Minnesota kicked off the season at a venue that has been showing the hand of speed since 1987. With nearly 300 entries an more than 220 sleds on tap, it was clear cross country is alive, well and on the charge. Here what is looked like from our vantage point and who won big.

PRO-STOCK: 1- Ryan Simons (Cat); 2. Zach Herfindahl (Cat); 3. Brian Dick (Cat)

PRO-OPEN: 1. Ryan Simons (Cat); 2. Brian Dick (Cat); 3. Zach Herfindahl (Cat)

SEMI-PRO OPEN: 1. Jon Arneson (Cat); 2. Travis Faust (Pol); 3. Tyler Johnsrud (Cat)

SEMI-PRO IMPROVED: 1. Ben Lindbom (Yam); 2. Tyler Johnsrud (Cat); 3. Travis Faust (Pol)

: No lack of direction at the opening USXC race.

: Cross-country has a class for virtually everyone and every sled. Watch for the vintage leaf-spring class to continue to grow, especially in the International-500 race.

: Sharpening wear bars is a bit of a lost art form, but this rider got the job done without the help of a 60-degree jig the old fashioned way…eye ball it.

: Ross Erdman’s Yamaha Nytro was sporting some interesting ‘tweaks” such as this extended front arm in the rear suspension that according to Ross was designed to help improve drive off the line and out of the corners.

: Ben Lindbom prepared before his race with some jams. It must have worked, as he took the win in Semi-Pro Improved Sunday afternoon.

: Snocrosser Justin Tate will campaign the cross-country circuit this winter for Ski-Doo. Justin was one of only a handful of yellow buggies in the mix at Pine Lake and he finished 11th.

: Gabe Bunke was the top placing Polaris in the Pro classes with a 5th in Pro-Stock.

: New man in charge Brian Nelson was like a kid in a candy store once things got rolling smoothing by mid-day Saturday. While there were a few hiccups, it was a well run first event for the former cross-country racing legend.

: You can detect change in the wind when more and more factory brass appear at cross-country races. Ski-Doo Race Coordinator Tom Lawrence and Arctic Cat Vice President of Research and Development Roger Skime were on hand for the inaugural USXC race.

: Corey Davidson showed up at Pine Lake with is Soo-500 sled and looked as if he was going to walk away from the pack for the win until a mechanical forced him to record a DNF instead.