2009 Copper Peak Hillclimb Date Set

IRONWOOD, MI - Monday, April 07, 2008 - Copper Peak Ski Flying Inc. Board of Directors along with the Mid America Snowmobile Tournament of Expert Riders (MASTERS) Circuit have set Saturday, February 14th, as the date of the 2009 Copper Peak Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb.

This Snowmobile Hillclimb is considered to be one of the biggest single-day spectator attendance snowmobile events in the Midwest. This past year the event took place the 3rd Weekend in January and saw temperatures below zero. "The event is geared toward our fans, and we feel the cold temperatures scared many people away from the event," commented Copper Peak Ski Flying President, Charlie Supercynski. "The event's success is also built around the fantastic help of our volunteers. From the hillworkers to the gate workers to those handling parking/security, we need that help. It's difficult getting the help we need when wind chills are way below zero," commented Supercynski.

The Copper Peak Snowmobile Hillclimb which was started by Skip Schulz of the MASTERS Circuit has drawn thousands of fans to the Bessemer, Ironwood, Hurley, and Wakefield areas. However the event has not had a "King of the Hill" Sponsor from that area for over 5 years. The major sponsors of this event has come from close to 100 miles away. That being Selkey Manufacturing of Baraga, and Kissell Chevrolet of L'Anse. This past year the hillclimb did garner support from Beacon Ambulance Services, and Powdermill Inn/Resort.

"Every year we hope to pick up a Local Sponsor for either the Pro Mod or Pro Stock King of the Hill, maybe by changing the date to Mid-February and by getting the date out early, we can get a sponsor," commented Schulz.

The date will also not affect the Pro Mod or Pro Stock King of the Hill from qualifying for the World Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb in Jackson, Wyoming. This year the Copper Peak qualifiers for the World Championship, Matt Tingstad and Nick Gustafson, just missed advancing to the second round of the World Championships. The World Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb runs the final weekend in March.

Tingstad, from Bessemer (Mi), won the Selkey Manufacturing Pro Mod King of the Hill at Copper Peak this past January. Wyler, "Wild Man" Miller won his second straight Kissell Chevrolet Pro Stock King of the Hill this year. Miller was unable to go to the World Championships, which opened that invited position to Roseau, Minnesota's Nick Gustafson.

Schulz expects the competition to continue to 'fierce' at Copper Peak, even with the new date. "Every year the 30 drivers that are allowed to compete at Copper Peak get's better and has better equipment," replied Schulz. "While it will be difficult beating the snow conditions we had this past year, it won't be hard getting warmer temps for the fans and the volunteers," concluded Schulz.

The MASTERS Circuit accepts the drivers that competed at Copper Peak the previous year, then if the hillclimb has any openings the openings goes to the best qualified riders. This sanctioning body of the event does have a class for 5 "Sport" drivers to compete. That class is for those that just want to run straight up the bluff. They do not have to drive around the 3 gates.

For more information about the MASTERS Circuit, you can contact Schulz at sschulz@jamadots.com. For information on Copper Peak, whether it is to see this facility via the chairlift and elevator to the top, log on to: www.copperpeak.org. Copper Peak will once again be open for people to ride the chairlift and the elevator up the jump this summer.