After all the hype, speculation and brand-changing, the time has come to fire the engines and wave that familiar green flag.
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 inaugural season of competition on Saturday and Sunday, December 11-12, at the beautiful Burke Mountain Ski Resort in East Burke, Vermont.
Spectator gates will open at 10 a.m. each day, with racing getting under way at 11 a.m. 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 weekend will be available for an extra $10.
With 2010 regional champion Bobby LePage returning to ISOC, several athletes have their sights set squarely on the 2011 ECS titles. Led by pre-season favorite Mathieu Morin, of Val-D’Or, Quebec, these riders on all three major brands have trained for months and are on new sleds. Fans of Ski-doo, Arctic Cat and Polaris will have stars to support as a new seasons revs up.
Those same fans will witness the start of a new era in northeastern snocross, as ECS unveils their own style of racing and freestyle entertainment. 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 Freestyle Tour.
New this season are the Saturday and Sunday Featured Events, showcasing various classes throughout the season. The Saturday Featured event at Burke (Sport Super Stock) will be sponsored by our friends at Woody’s Traction & Control, while Sunday’s feature (Jr. 10-13 380 Fan) will be sponsored by the great folks at AMSOIL.
Some of the other Pro division riders fans can expect to see compete at Burke include St.. Johnsbury native Lincoln Lemieux, former champions Jason Boron and Danny Poirier, factory-supported Minnesota natives Matt Piche (Polaris) and Matt Pichner (Arctic Cat), and New York natives Jason Stone, Corin Todd and Michael George.
In the talent-laden Semi-Pro division, fans should keep their eyes on athletes like Lucas Brunelle, Cody Flach and Joey Stock 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. Average annual snowfall exceeds 200 inches, providing plenty of powder days from mid-December through early April.
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 in1970, 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, visit www.skiburke.com.
East Coast Snocross, presented by Woody’s Traction and AMSOIL, is the new 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 snowbelt, while also cultivating new talent for tomorrow’s factory-backed Pro teams.
For more information, go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com.
