When you take two of Teton Valley’s favorite winter pastimes and combine them, it’s sure to make for a fun and unique experience. The Skyliners Motor Club, Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association (RMSHA) and Grand Targhee Resort have teamed up to bring the first hill climb event to the west side of the Tetons. The Crazy Horse Hill Climb will take place Saturday and Sunday at the resort.

“It’s looking great, we’re way excited,” said Skyliners president Wade Kaufman on Tuesday about the course.

The racecourse will be setup under the Dreamcatcher lift starting at the base of Targhee. The course will run on the Sweetwater and Big Thunder trails. Kaufman said the bottom part of the course will be kind of like a SnoCross course, then the second half climbs on the steeper part of the mountain. Spectators will be able to watch the event from the base area, the Trap Bar deck, from the chairlift and skiing along the racecourse.

The course will be built to RMSHA standards and include gates and sections the riders must clear in the fastest time.

Kaufman said spectators could expect to see racers finishing in about one to two minutes and reaching speeds anywhere from 80 to 100 mph.

The event is also expected to be a big boost to the local economy.

“This event has the potential to be the largest weekend in the valley, annually,” said Kaufman. He pointed to the World Championship Hill Climb at Snow King in Jackson, Wyo., which brings in an estimated 10,000 people.

“I foresee this in the future bringing in 4-5,000 people in a single weekend,” he said.

He’s even gunning for a little friendly competition with Huntsman Springs and the Fourth of July celebration.

Kaufman said many of the big names on the circuit are expected to show up. Local racers on the circuit too, like Rob Kincaid of Victor and Dave McClure of Swan Valley along with Charise Cook are ready to take on their backyard hill.

There’s also a locals’ class they’re calling “Run What Ya Brung.”

Any local who wants to take a stab at the course on their own sled can sign up for Sunday’s local’s race. Kaufman said anyone interested should check out RMSHA rules as well as the International Snowmobile Racing Association rules for specifics on modified sleds for what is and is not allowed. All participants will have to sign a waiver. Qualifying races begin Saturday at 8 a.m. At 9 a.m., the Dreamcatcher lift opens to skiers and riders. The lift will close at 4 each day and racing is expected to end around the same time. Finals start on Sunday at 8 a.m. with the locals class at noon and the “Pro Dash for Cash” at 2 p.m. There will also be a junior race division for youngsters on 120 cc motors.

This race is expected to be the biggest yet, in terms of entries on the RMSHA circuit. There are 500 entries with most individuals racing in multiple events.

“I think racers are curious about this new venue,” said Kaufman. “Targhee is a great venue and has a great reputation with snow and skiing. The snow load and elevation is a huge attractant to people in the later part of the season. Targhee has plenty of snow.”

Director of Marketing for Grand Targhee Ken Rider said ,they are excited about the event as well and are calling it a bonus weekend. Closing weekend was April 19-20, and then the lifts shut through the weekdays, but are opening up for a bonus Saturday and Sunday.

“It will be a fun weekend,” said Rider. “There might even be fresh snow.”

Kaufman said the sport of hill climbing has gained popularity in the last few years. Garth Kaufman, a valley native and former pro on the SnoCross circuit is helping design the course. He’s the head mechanic for pro racer Tucker Hibbert. Tucker’s father Kirk will also be at the event. Kirk designs suspensions for Arctic Cat snowmobiles.

“The valley has a really great heritage of snowmobiling in the community,” said Wade Kaufman.

The weekend will also feature demos of next year’s snowmobiles. People will have an opportunity to test them out in the Rick’s Basin area of the resort.

Volunteers are still needed to help in a variety of ways. To help contact Kaufman at 307-413-2057 or Bob Tomb at 307-413-4807.

Here are the basics you need to know

Admission: $5 a person or $20 a family. Free for Grand Targhee season pass holders or those who purchase a lift ticket.

Parking: Limited parking will be available at the resort with one lot reserved for racer trailers and the other partially reserved for camping. The Targhee Shuttle will be running from Driggs up and down the hill. The Victor shuttle will not be running.

Skiing: A combination of ski runs will be groomed for skiers and riders. A pass or ticket is needed.

Music: Bootleg Flyer will be performing a concert on Saturday night beginning around 4:30 p.m.

Viewing: Bring your lawn chairs; ample viewing will be available to spectators.

Locals Class: Sign up for the “Run What Ya Brung” division at noon on Sunday. Just familiarize with the rules established by International Snowmobile Racing Inc.

Camping: Overnight car camping and RV’s will be allowed in a designated area. No tents allowed.

Supporting the schools

The Skyliners motor club was formed to help preserve and enhance motor users access to public lands, said president Wade Kaufman

“We’re purely about maintaining trails and access into national forests, that’s why we exist,” he said.

But in order to keep the club functioning, they hold races like the hill climb; snocross during the Great Snow Fest and grass drags in the fall. A portion of those proceeds, they donate to the Parent Teacher Organization in the school district.

“We feel like it’s necessary to donate a percentage here locally to the community,” said Kaufman. He’ll be handing over a $800 check this week, from funds generated by earlier events. After the hill climb they’ll make another donation.

This article appeared on the Teton Valley News website on April 23, 2014.