Snocross Returns to Duluth After Five-Year Absence

DULUTH, Minn. — A long-time winter event has returned to Duluth. This weekend, after a five-year absence, the Amsoil Snocross National is back. The snowmobiles are out in force and will be at Spirit Mountain through Sunday.

You won’t have to be told that the Amsoil Snocross National races are in town. The roar of snowmobiles of all sizes will be your clue that it’s returned.

There are more than 11 hundred participants of all ages, well, five years and older!

That’s Otto Walli and, as he told us, he’s 6 years old, and believe it or not this is his sophomore year of competitive racing.  He’d already been in three races before we caught up with him. Otto, with a little help from his dad Clint, said “Whatever,  You got second, and a second, and a third.”

2019 was the last time the Snocross visited Duluth. At that time, this race was the kickoff event of the season. Now this race is the final one of the year.

Carl Shubitzke the president of the Amsoil Snocross National says everything is going great. “We kinda knew the beginning of the year didn’t really work. So we wanted to end with the finale here because they have a lot of history here with this event. Having the event here for a long time. and they knocked it out of the park. I mean honestly, it is April, it’s 50 degrees, its sun out and there’s a lot of snow.”

The races are taking place all day Saturday and on Sunday races will take place until about two in the afternoon. This weekend’s races will decide the season-long winners in the seven pro classes as well as the seven amateur classes.

The racers and their families are happy to be back in Duluth and they love the snow conditions at Spirit Mountain.

Looking at the long-term prospects for this sport, it appears it will continue to grow. Just ask Emmersyn Rudy. Do you have any interest in racing in the future? “ Um, yeah. I’ve been asking my dad about it and he’s like, ‘Well let’s see.’”