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The Ely Watercross Association is bringing “The Fastest Show on H2O” back to the Longbranch for their 19th year of racing.
Local racers, along with the International Watercross Association, will be entertaining crowds with two full days of sanctioned snowmobile watercross racing.
The event brings in roughly 80 racers from Minnesota and surrounding states who are fighting for not only weekend podium positions, but season points as well.
The weekend’s events start Friday, Aug. 9 with a “Run What You Brung” exhibition from 4-7 p.m. Anyone who has had that itch to try watercross will be able to sign up and try out the official race track during this exhibition time.
Drivers must be at least 14 years old and sleds must pass a safety inspection including: a tether, life jacket, helmet, and 20 foot rope with buoy. Cost for the “Run What You Brung” event is $20 for as many runs as you can fit in. Drivers under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign a consent form.
Official IWA racing will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday with the start of qualifying heats for Semi-Pro and Pro drivers in the oval racing competition.
Drivers will race each other in three or four man heats running four to five oval laps per race. This is a fast paced, high octane form of racing full of high speeds, wipe outs, bumping and rubbing and the occasional sinking sled with racers battling to qualify for Sunday.
Racing continues Saturday evening with a jump competition and a Lemans obstacle course.
Following racing, stay and enjoy meeting racers in the pits and check out the snowmobiles while waiting for the musical entertainment. Saturday evening will end with a rocking outdoor concert featuring “Aftershock.”
Sunday racing will continue at 11 a.m. with semi and quarter finals before the grand finale of the eight lap Pro Open final race.
Fans can cheer on local racers as they fight for those coveted podium spots.
The drawing for our split the pot raffle will be held at noon on Sunday and one lucky racer will be presented with the Brian Arnold Bobber Award.
Enjoy concessions all weekend from Wilderness Woodfire Pizza, EHS Senior Class Taco in a Bag, Studio North Grill, Frozen Tundra, and the Longbranch Bar. Sled Diva will be onsite with their clothing and other merchandise along with other vendors.
A scavenger hunt will be held each day for the kids and prize giveaways for watercross trivia will be held throughout the weekend.
Weekend wristbands which include the Saturday evening concert are $40. Day passes are $25. Concert only passes are $15. Kids 12 and under are free.
