Snowmobile skipping
Encyclopedia
Snowmobile skipping, snowmobile watercross, snowmobile skimming, or water skipping is a sport and/or exhibition where snowmobile
racers hydroplane their sleds across lakes or rivers.
, exhaust, spark plugs, and replacing the fuel. The front of the sled is pitched upwards like riders commonly do in deep mountain powder snow.
1st annual World Championship Snowmobile Watercross was held in July 1977 and it has been held annual on the third week of July since. The first race was simply held to see who could make it the 300 feet from the island on Memory Lake to the shore. Most didn't, but the winner did go about 500 ft. In the years following, racers became more skilled and the machines more powerful. Today they race both drags and ovals with an eight-lap championship run. Over 100 racers compete in the various classes. The Classes range from the beginners' Stock Drags to the top Pro-Open Ovals Class. Competitive watercross is run by two main circuits. The IWA (International Watercross Association) operates mainly in the Midwest, while the EWA (Eastern Watercross Association) operates in the Northeastern States. The eastern group makes only left-hand turns and the Midwest group only right-hand turns.
In most cases, participants in watercross strip their snowmobiles of all non-essential parts—including the seat—in order to save weight.
, and have a buoy
tethered to their sleds. If for some event the rider and sled do not complete the course, the rider releases the buoy from the snowmobile so that it floats to the surface and marks the sled for retrieval. Watercross competitions, as with any other motor sports, have ambulance and rescue crews nearby in the event of an accident.
While it is possible to skim over the water with a stock snowmobile, the practice is dangerous and illegal in some states. In February 2006, a Massachusetts man died in New Hampshire after sinking into the water during a failed skimming attempt. In July 2010, a 40-year old man died in Anaktuvuk Pass
while attempting to skim across Eleanor Lake. The practice of “skimming” is illegal in Minnesota and New Hampshire. In Wisconsin, there are places where skimming is encouraged, and some businesses rely on it to attract customers, for example at Bauers Dam in Conover, Wisconsin
.
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
racers hydroplane their sleds across lakes or rivers.
Basics
Watercross consists of crossing water while riding a snowmobile, which is possible because snowmobiles have wide tracks for traction and flotation in the snow. If one hits the water at an acceptable speed (5 mile per hour per 150 pounds (68 kg) of weight) and keeps the sled's throttle open, the track keeps the snowmobile on the surface of the water without sinking. If the rider backs out of the throttle or the sled bogs or floods out, the sled will sink. A sunk sled is able to be revived by cleaning water out of the carburetorCarburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
, exhaust, spark plugs, and replacing the fuel. The front of the sled is pitched upwards like riders commonly do in deep mountain powder snow.
History
The Grantsburg, WisconsinGrantsburg, Wisconsin
Grantsburg is a village in Burnett County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,369 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Grantsburg.-Claim to fame:...
1st annual World Championship Snowmobile Watercross was held in July 1977 and it has been held annual on the third week of July since. The first race was simply held to see who could make it the 300 feet from the island on Memory Lake to the shore. Most didn't, but the winner did go about 500 ft. In the years following, racers became more skilled and the machines more powerful. Today they race both drags and ovals with an eight-lap championship run. Over 100 racers compete in the various classes. The Classes range from the beginners' Stock Drags to the top Pro-Open Ovals Class. Competitive watercross is run by two main circuits. The IWA (International Watercross Association) operates mainly in the Midwest, while the EWA (Eastern Watercross Association) operates in the Northeastern States. The eastern group makes only left-hand turns and the Midwest group only right-hand turns.
In most cases, participants in watercross strip their snowmobiles of all non-essential parts—including the seat—in order to save weight.
Safety
Watercross competitions are held during the summer and the participants wear life jacketsPersonal flotation device
A personal flotation device is a device designed to assist a wearer, either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat.Devices designed and approved by authorities for use by...
, and have a buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
tethered to their sleds. If for some event the rider and sled do not complete the course, the rider releases the buoy from the snowmobile so that it floats to the surface and marks the sled for retrieval. Watercross competitions, as with any other motor sports, have ambulance and rescue crews nearby in the event of an accident.
While it is possible to skim over the water with a stock snowmobile, the practice is dangerous and illegal in some states. In February 2006, a Massachusetts man died in New Hampshire after sinking into the water during a failed skimming attempt. In July 2010, a 40-year old man died in Anaktuvuk Pass
Anaktuvuk Pass
The Anaktuvuk Pass is a mountain pass located in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in North Slope Borough in northern Alaska...
while attempting to skim across Eleanor Lake. The practice of “skimming” is illegal in Minnesota and New Hampshire. In Wisconsin, there are places where skimming is encouraged, and some businesses rely on it to attract customers, for example at Bauers Dam in Conover, Wisconsin
Conover, Wisconsin
Conover is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,137 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Conover is located in the town.- History :...
.