Our first Live On Skis was held on a Saturday. Most people showed up that morning, or late Friday night. In the second year, a lot of people starting coming Thursday night so they could ride Friday before the main ride.

This morning I got calls from several people who left today, so they could ride Thursday, Friday and then go on the big ride on Saturday! Many are taking new sleds as well as old. Why does it keep getting earlier? Because the trails around International Falls Minnesota are some of the nicest in the country! This year has seen some of the best snow in years and temperatures should be in the 20’s – making for perfect riding conditions.

This year we have a couple more events that we will be doing, besides the ride out to the Hot Dog and Hot Chocolate stand. With all due respect to my brothers who belong to People for the Ethical Treatment of Tillitsons (PETT), we will be having a contest on the trail to see who can lob a Tillitson the furthest. We’re also going to see who can throw a slide rails (javelin style) the furthest.

We have the banquet hall at the Thunderbird (very nice and no one in there but us sled heads!) and this year you’ll be able to order of the regular menu – I highly recommend the prime rib.

This year we finally got something that everyone has been asking for: Trail markers! The picture above is what you are looking for, should you get separated from the pack!

Well the vintage guys are really up for the Hall of Fame Vintage Challenge, on Feb 20the. Chatter on the Bull Sessions is great … and I hear they are getting calls every day at the Hall. The John Deere gang leads that pack so far in early registrations. By the way, make your motel reservations yesterday as they are filling up fast for that weekend. The Whitetail Lodge has only the honeymoon suite left!

The Hall of Fame Site has Chamber links to help with lodging. The Rustic Manor, Black Bear and Hearthside still have a few openings.

The Ride With The Champs hats for the riders will arrive soon, the prototypes are really neat. Thanks again to Modine HotDawg Garage Heaters for sponsoring the Ride With the Champs for the 5th year.

I also hear that Raffle tickets for the Jon Carlson donated Polaris 1979 TXL are going well… this is a beautiful vintage original. You can order by fax or phone or mail in the order form from at their website.

The Hall of Fame will also have a big presence at Waconia. They will be bringing Brian Nelson’s Winnipeg – St. Paul winner from 1976 to Waconia along with his leathers and helmet and there will be other J-D sleds coming back to the Hall of Fame Museum after Waconia. Look for the SHOF black trailer in front of the Ballroom and stop in and say hi!

UPDATE: If you are in the area on February 19th, join the guys on the Loose Lugnutz Poker Run. Meet and leave from the Hall of Fame, $20 per hand, play as many hands as you like! This would be a good hsake-down run to make sure you are all set for Saturday!

Just got word that a group of hard core vintage guys are going to take a very long ride – all the way from Winnipeg Manitoba to the big Waconia show!

The idea is that Don Mclennan, Murray Calder and Russell Calder are leaving Winnipeg on January 25th, and planning on making it all the way to Waconia on their vintage Cats. They will
go from Winnipeg to Pembina on day 1, then to Crookston on day 2. Then on to Fergus Falls on day 3 and from Fergus to Waconia on day 4 – following nearly the exact same route as the
original Winnipeg to St. Paul race@

What started out as an idea for a big vintage ride had to be scrapped because of issues with permits, local officials, and other complications. These guys took it on themselves just to
do it for fun.

We’ll be watching from here and reporting on the progress – best of luck guys and man am I jealous! That sounds like huge fun!

Here’s the thread on sledshack and on the Bull Sessions.