While Mother Nature has not provided Twin Cities’ snow-sport enthusiasts with much more than a dusting of snow, Canterbury Park will nonetheless host the 16th AMSOIL Championship Snocross Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13 thanks to multiple snow-making machines churning out massive piles of race-perfect snow using 2.5 million gallons of well water. The course, complete with jumps, moguls and tight turns, is built on the horse track in front of the grandstand making the Shakopee, MN facility, with both indoor and outdoor seating, the premier stop on the 18-race snowmobile Supercross series stretching from December to April.
Canterbury Park has been host to snowmobile racing for three decades. While natural snow is a welcome addition, it has never been the primary source of snow for the race course.
“This certainly has not been a typical Minnesota winter but the colder temperatures the past week have allowed us to make snow,” Snocross President Carl Schubitzke said. “We are building a competitive course that will provide snocross enthusiasts with a spectacular weekend of racing.”
More than 300 riders will be competing in the 45 races scheduled over two days. The international cast of racers includes both professional and amateur men and women ranging in age from 4 to 45.
Racing begins at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 12 and 8:55 a.m. Jan 13, continuing throughout each day. Several Pro division titles will be determined in the evening programs which begin with 6 p.m. opening ceremonies.
“These are the best snocross riders in the world,” Schubitzke said. “High-flying action at top speed is what snocross is all about.”
General admission ticketing begins at $20 for Friday and $25 Saturday. Two-day passes and reserved seating options are also available at tickets.canterburypark.com .
Pro Racers with Minnesota connections include Evan Daudt of Remer, Ryley Bester of Prior Lake, Daniel Benham of Deer River and Travis Kern of Aitkin. There are also several Pro division race teams from Minnesota including Skogquist Race Team Ski-Doo from Ramsey, Cottew Motorsports Polaris based in Princeton and Hemmer Motorsports Polaris in Nowthen.
More information about Championship Snocross and the Pirtek Snocross National at Canterbury Park can be found at snocross.com .
