ALS Black Woods Blizzard Tour Does Not “Surrender” to Lack of Snow

25th Anniversary fundraiser adjusts and pushes forward.

Snowmobile trails across the area are closed or have limited amounts of snow, making tough sledding impossible sledding.

For some people it is just an inconvenience, but if you are putting together a snowmobile tour fundraiser, it could be a backbreaker.

But, not so, say those putting on one of the area’s biggest annual events.

Thursday, the Blackwoods Blizzard Tour was at Skyline Social and Games in Duluth.  Organizers had to be flexible and improvise for the yearly ALS fundraiser. It is the 25th anniversary year and there were big plans to make it bigger and more successful than ever.

But, rather than have the event hit a tree, organizers made a sharp turn and moved part of the fun and games inside to replace several days of riding the trails and winding through the woods.

It started Wednesday night at Black Bear Casino and will still make its way to Fortune Bay Casino Thursday and Friday night. It is former Minnesota Twin Terry Steinbach’s 25th Tour. He said the snowmobile team would not be deterred.

“In a perfect world we want to ride. A to B, B to C, C to A, but we have to deal with what mother nature gives us, so obviously we have no snow out there,” said Steinbach.

“Many charities would probably scrub the event, but the people here said, ‘Heck No. We’re going to make the Games of the 25th Anniversary Ride.’ We’ve got some bowling, we’ve got some axe throwing, we’ve got some duckpin bowling, we’ve got some skeet ball. Tomorrow we’re heading up north, we’re going to do some curling!” Steinbach said.

In spite of the lack of snow, the “Never Surrender” tour had fifteen new riders join the effort this year. Steinbach said the entire effort not only raises money, but helps fund research and testing, and lifts spirits and raises hope.