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From the Jackson Hole Snow Devils, a "Little Bit of History" -

"The (Jackson Hole) snowmobile hill climb originated from the ideas of Jim Davidson, Snow King Mountain manager and Snow Devil, Buck Beckett. The winter of 1975/1976 would be the first hill climb race. The original race course was located above what is now Snow King Resort and only went a short distance up the hill. The first hill climb had only 36 entries which consisted of Snow Devil members and the invited Pinedale, WY snowmobile club."

It wasn't until 1986 that the first sled officially went "over the top", a modified Polaris of Ward Barnes. It took seven more years for the first stock sled, also a Polaris, to "Get 'er Done" with Tom Roby.

How far they've come.

Vendors bring out the latest in sleds, riding gear, and other things never seen before...

In it's 29th annual running in 2004, Snow King is now officially the World Championship stop on the RMSHA (Rocky Mountain Hillclimb Association) circuit, with over 400 entrants and four full days of competition. For more than 8,000 lawnchair spectators each day, the giant screen at the base of the hill means you won't spill your Budweiser (your share of the 169 kegs sold throughout the weekend) craning your neck to look up the hill. For another 3,000 more-daring spectators, $8 gets you a bird's-eye-view ride from the chairlift going directly over the hill climb action, and lets you off on top of the hill. Ride back down or walk down directly alongside the action and watch the sleds from only feet away. Be ready to run.

At the end of the day, you're treated with a high-speed ride of your own, shooshing down the 50-degree hill on your butt, and then finally down the Cougar Ski run itself. (We advise you watch out for the steel fence posts at the bottom!)

Friday night moved the action to the Jackson Fairgrounds, for SledX Freestyle competition and highflying backflips under the lights.

Thursday saw action from the first of the non-Pro classes - Masters and Amateurs. These competitors are mostly locals, but do hail from Montana, Utah, and Idaho as well. For some, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to say they tackled "The King"; for others, it may be the start of a long hillclimbing career.

24 competed in the Masters Division, with a dozen posting a time for a full run on the shortened course. Tops for the day was Norris Brown, with the fastest time of any class for the day of 44:69. Second place by only fractions of a second was Rod Kuenheun from Utah with a time of 44:99. Top 5 rounded out with Gil Winters (who also battered his body all day Saturday & Sunday, volunteering in one of the most active upper rock garden areas "catching" Pro sleds with the Hill Help), Pat Pfister and Nolan Crowther.

Also run Thursday was the largest class of the event, the 37 riders in the Amateur division. With this many competitors, it wasn't enough to set a high mark; you had to make the finish line, and quickly. 19 completed the run and posted a time - fastest was Wes Allen with a time of 53:44.

Friday had Stock & Improved Stock, Semi-Pro and Junior classes. The Juniors are great to watch, with 11 - 16 year olds giving it all they have. Three completed the Amateur course, with Matt Schnabl taking top honors in a time of 57:69, followed by Tyler Doucette and Louis Walker. Posting high marks and finishing 4th - 6th were Nick Jensen, Heather Sutton and Seth Martin.

When the Pro Modified & Women took the hill on Saturday for their qualifying runs, crowds came early, bringing tree stands for the best view and bbq's to sustain them through the nearly 8 hours of action, and it was four bodies deep along the fence by 10:00 am. Those that braved the cold temperatures and falling snow were richly rewarded, with action that had riders going up and over the full hill to qualify based on time, and plenty showing "NBN" (Nothing but Net). Many of these were hoping only to set a high mark, get their sled put back together, and come back out for Sunday's finals.

Dawn came too early for many revellers Sunday, as the 216 qualified Pro drivers convened at 7:15 am for finals in 16 divisions. Their reward was 4" of fresh snow at the top of the hill and a clean new run line marked out. The spectators were equally rewarded with 2" of fresh snow at the base, warm blue skies and bikinis a' bloomin. It would be a good day.

First up Stock 500 found six qualified riders. Last year's winner Matt Elliott was not among them, so the race to the top was wide open. Coming out with the High Mark for the day was Dolan Phelps on a Polaris. Second highest mark was set by # 180 Kevin Sherr-Toss, also aboard a Polaris. Brad Sharp, who had settled for 5th last year, moved up to 3rd this time, sweeping the podium for Polaris.

Stock 600 was looking for High Mark to determine a winner as well. Brad Sharp must have learned the line, as he made a speedy run down the hill from his Stock 500 run and turned around less than 10 riders later to take the title in Stock 600. Dolan Phelps stood on the podium a second time, though one step lower this time, and Charlie Lopeman brought the first podium finish of the day to SkiDoo.

Improved 600 Stock saw a win by Ty Free on a SkiDoo, Dustin Haderlie took second on a Polaris, and Brad Sharp in 3rd. (RMSHA allows entry in four classes - But does this guy ever sleep?!)

Mod 600 Division had five qualified competitors, and crowds were thrilled with the first runs OVER THE TOP for the day; in fact, three of them. First place went to Tyler Backus with a time of 1:16:60 for the 1,700 ft+ climb. Brook Beckstom's Polaris topped out in 1:21:92 for second, and Kyle Micku Got 'er Done fast enough for 3rd.

In Stock Masters Division, # 208 David Sharp posted the High Mark in the finals on a Polaris, followed by Lonnie Keller on Arctic Cat, Mark Thompson, Rick Budge and # 12 Con Zollinger on SkiDoos . Rick is the ONLY racer that has raced at EVERY ONE of the 29 Snow King Hillclimb events. At 46 years old, he's absolutely a local favorite. Con's spectacular Crash & Burn earned him $50 from the CNB pool.

Stock 700 lit up the hill next, with Todd Tupper, Scott Barge and Vincent Clark posting Marks high enough on the hill to take the podium climb at the end.

Improved 700 Stock saw #61 Ashley Woolstenhulme go all the way - the only one - with what had to be a painfully rough time of 1:41:49. The upper rock garden was going to be tough this day. Second place went to the High Mark of Scott Barge. Ty Free's ride was good enough for 3rd place, and the net-catch that immediately followed turned out to be worth $50 from the CNB pool as well.

Mod 700 brought eight riders to the line, and only one saw the lights at the top of the hill. #49 Sid Zollinger put his SkiDoo over the top in 1:29:11. High Marked runs earned the remaining podium spots for Gene Kline and Brandon Bowman.

Stock 800 qualified 14 riders to the finals, and competition was wild. #147 Les Keller put it over the top to take the win, while Rusty Johnson and Kevin Kilroy were happy to take their High Marks and ride away safely. Not as lucky were Tom Roby and Dennis Durmas, who took away the memory of vertical ascents and $50 in CNB awards for their equally-rapid decents.

Dennis Durmas' Stock 800 run was scored only at his High Mark - with high marks in crash points from the crowd as well and $50 in CNB rewards. He finished 9th in Sunday's final. Open Mod went much better for him...

Pro Masters Improved Stock brought five familiar names to the finals, with Mark Thompson taking the win. Luckily High Mark was good enough to take the class, because his next turn-n-burn earned him a high-speed ride to the net and $50 in CNB rewards. (See a pattern developing? Few make it to the top, and even the winners can't relax until they are ALL the way down and safe. The catch net was a very busy place on Sunday.) Second and third place climbs were marked for the now-familiar riders David Sharp and Rick Budge. Sharp won the class last year by completing a full climb, but didn't quite get 'er done this year.

Improved 800 Stock brought a rush of excitement, with the first five riders all topping the hill, and at a VERY fast pace. They didn't exactly make it look easy, with the rock garden throwing them around like ragdolls, but they made it look possible. # 5 Rusty Johnson's SkiDoo from mid-pack at 1:14:24 was fast enough to top the podium, followed by Chuck Hogan, Tony Zollinger, Shane Hart and Scott Barge. Ty Free scored only a High Mark worth 6th place, and a $50 CNB. Russell Frisby was up fast enough for third place, but he blew out at gate 13 and his run was DQed.

Crank the motors up even more, and you have the Mod 800 class ready to rip it up. Tony Zollinger's SkiDoo literally screamed up the hill in 1:11:55, followed by Cory Micku in 1:18:24, Parker Brown in 1:23:03, Russell Frisby in 1:27:76 and Dolan Phelps in 1:31:00. #180 Kevin Sheer-Thoss earned $50 for his wild ride down the hill in this class.

Next up was the Improved Stock 1000 class. Jason Crane and Shane Hart topped the hill, followed by High Marked runs of Rusty Johnson, Rick Ward and Norm Hebert.

The Master Mod class brought five to the line, and Rick Ward went all the way this time, stopping the clock in an awesome 1:11:59. Second place climb was posted by Captain Kirk Williamson at 1:15:48. High Mark was good enough for third for Bret Rasmussen.

The Women's class for the day held the question - "Would this be the year? Would they finally have a woman Get 'er done?" Five riders had a shot - And it was not to be. The top two High Marks were within just feet of each other, and a couple of other High Marks had to be measured where a wild ride off into the trees began. The final podium had last year's winner Shilah Dalebout repeating, followed by her runner-up from last year as well Kay Ogren, then Nicole Ellis, up one spot from last year. SO dang close!

Final class of the day brought the familiar "Braaaaap, brrrrrraaap!" of the Open Mod Division riders. 12 qualified to compete on Sunday, six put 'er up and over. Several in amazingly fast runs, determined to throw it back at the rocks as hard as they were dishing it out. First place went to # 13 Ryan Zollinger, in an unbelievable time of 1:07:42. Not to be outdone, only a few riders later, fellow Team Z-Broz' Travis Zollinger put it over in 1:07:84 for second place. Third went to Captain Kirk with 1:09:08, a time that should have won it for him any other day. Fourth was grabbed by Dennis Durmas in 1:10:97, to make up for his earlier Stock 800 disappointment.

The weekend is traditionally wrapped up by having the class winners go Head to Head to determine KING OF THE MOUNTAIN in Stock, Mod & Open, then a KING of KINGS is named.

Want to know who came out on top?... Bettcha do!!! (Stay tuned...)

Thanks to a very young and spry "Team ORC Northwest", for braving the weather, the steep slope, the falling sleds, the all-night parties in room 104 at the Virginian, and the 10 hour drive, to bring us these great photos (and some video we can't quite share on a family-rated site...) You guys are awesome.

For 2005, we suggest the rest of you make hotel reservations early, allow extra time for shopping in Jackson Hole, take in a tour of the Elk Refuge, and bring ear plugs. We have yet to find a "quiet" hotel during this particular weekend... We'll be back to keep trying!