With ISOC’s National opener at Duluth now in the books, the time has come to fire the engines and wave that familiar green flag here in the northeast.
Snowmobile race teams from around New York and New England are packing their bags and loading the trailers, as officials at East Coast Snocross (ECS) prepare to kick off their second season of competition on Saturday and Sunday, December 10-11, at the beautiful Burke Mountain Ski Resort in East Burke, Vermont.
Spectator gates will open at 10 a.m. each day, with early qualifying rounds already in progress. Admission is $15 per day for adults, while children age seven and under will be admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes valid through the entire weekend will be available for an extra $10.
With 2011 ECS Pro champion Mathieu Morin returning to ISOC, several athletes have their sights set squarely on the 2012 ECS titles. With no clear-cut favorites, these riders on all three major brands have trained for months and are on brand new sleds. Fans of Ski-doo, Arctic Cat and Polaris will have stars to support as an exciting new seasons gets under way.
Fans will notice a few minor changes this season, most of which will make things easier to follow and each day even more exciting. Each day will feature the top Pro and amateur riders competing for points and purse, along with two shows by the high-flying Rave-X Outer Limits Sled Freestyle Tour.
New this year is the ECS Rookie of the Year program, awarding a cash purse and prizes to the top first-year rider in our Pro division. Points will be earned towards that honor in every Stock and Open final. Some of the Pro division riders fans can expect to see compete at Burke include St. Johnsbury native Lincoln Lemieux, former champion Danny Poirier, factory-supported Minnesota natives Matt Piche (Arctic Cat) and Dylan Martin (Polaris), last year’s rookie sensation Corin Todd (Arctic Cat), along with talented rookies Chris Ackerman (Ski-doo) and teammate Michael George (Ski-doo).
In the talent-laden Pro Lite division (formerly known as Semi-Pro), fans should keep their eyes on athletes like Lucas Brunelle, Jesse James Bonaduce and Andrew Bailey as they battle the competition all weekend long. Add some great racing from the Sport, Women, Junior and 120cc (kids ages 4-10 on a separate small track) divisions, and Burke promises to deliver one fabulous weekend full of fun and excitement.
With 45 trails serviced by four lifts (two Quads) on 250 ski-able acres, Burke Mountain offers a variety of terrain for all ages and ability levels. Ski racers know East Burke as home to Burke Mountain Academy (BMA), one of the nation’s premier ski racing schools. Founded by Warren Witherell in 1970, BMA has an unparalleled record of success in producing National Team and top performing college ski racers. To learn more about all Burke Mountain has to offer, be sure to visit www.skiburke.com.
East Coast Snocross, presented by AMSOIL and Woody’s Traction, is the sanctioning body for snowmobile racing in the northeastern United States. As the eastern affiliate of the International Series of Champions (ISOC), ECS runs a regional circuit intended to keep grass-roots snocross racing healthy in this part of the snow belt, while also cultivating new talent for tomorrow’s factory-backed Pro teams.
For more information, go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com.
