RUMFORD — With little snow to be found in the state, Black Mountain of Maine’s snowmobile hill climb cashed in Saturday.
The ski mountain drew a large crowd for its fundraising event and had 239 registered racers.
Many said it was the first time this season they were able to ride their machines.
“When I loaded my sled up, a lot of people looked at me and said, ‘Where the heck are you going?'” said Tom Souther, a racer from Livermore Falls.
It was Souther’s first time racing, and he said the adrenaline of the event would keep him coming back.
The event’s eight categories, including two for women, were based on the horsepower of snowmobiles.
Tyler Michaud, who rode an Arctic Cat, took first place in the first race, for the 400- 500-horsepower group, with a time of 18:07 seconds.
Amber Bennett, who rode a Polaris snowmobile, finished first in the 0-600 group, with a finishing time of 17:43.
Black Mountain of Maine holds three snowmobile hill climbs per year; the next is scheduled for Feb. 10.
“The three hill climbs are the mountain’s largest fundraisers that we have,” said Jennifer Leduc, event coordinator.
The third snowmobile hill climb is tentatively set for the last weekend of March, if weather permits.
With the recent above-freezing temperatures, Black Mountain struggled to make enough snow for the hill climb. Friday night temperatures were in the mid-teens, which allowed the ski mountain to run its snow guns on the Nordic tracks.
ecox@sunjournal.com
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- Black Mountain of Maine hosted its annual snowmobile hill climb Saturday with 239 registered racers participating in the event. After a meeting with the racers, the entire group took a run up the hill so they could familiarize themselves with the course. Jennifer Leduc, event coordinator, said the snowmobile hill climbs are the largest fundraisers the ski mountain hosts.
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- Matt Newall, riding a skidoo snowmobile, finished second in the 900 and over catergory during the first race at Black Mountain of Maines snowmobile hill climb on Saturday in Rumford. The event drew in 239 racers who competed in eight catergories based on the horse power of their machine.
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