Snowcross championship roars into Sudbury

About 500 snow machine racers will be in Sudbury this weekend for the National Snowcross Championships.

The races pit10 to 15 drivers against each other on a snowy course full of moguls and jumps. In some cases, the machines soar 12 metresin the air.

"The racers are very athletic and well trained and professional," race director Ken Avaan said on CBC Radio's Morning North.

Morning North6:01National Snowcross Championships in Sudbury

Snowmobile enthusiasts can take in exciting day of racing in Sudbury. The National Snowcross Championships will be taking place at the Black Stone Golf Course. Ken Avaan is race director for the event. He told us more about this competition.

"The sleds are all designed for this and the guys areall wearing protective tech-vests and top-of-the-line-helmets. It's very seldom that we have injuries."

Buildingthe snowcrosscourse at theBlack Stone Golf Course required trucking in a couple of hundred loads of snow, Avaan said.

The Sudbury event has attracted champion riders from the United States andEurope, Avaan said, but it will also feature races with children as young as four on mini-snowmachines.

"It's a blast to watch," he said.

The Sudbury event also features heated tents withfood vendors wherespectators can go towarm up.

The National Snowcross tour moves on to Timmins on March 7th and 8th.

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