Speeding through the snow.

Speeding through the snow.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

Around the County is a presentation of Peterson Farms, Inc., www.petersonfarmsinc.com.

ROTHBURY — Winter decided to show up later than normal this year, but now that it’s finally here snowmobilers are taking advantage of the one of the snowiest seasons we’ve had for awhile.

Snowmobilers are speeding through the snow each weekend at the Double JJ Resort, which is the ideal venue for snocross racing and cross country racing, said event organizer Kevin Nowaczyk of West Michigan SnoX LLC, which is Michigan’s only snocross and cross country racing circuit.

Local racers in Team Irey include dad Brad Irey (second from left) and sons Conlan “Moose,” (at left), Logan and Jordan (at right).

“We set up a 7-mile course across the Double JJ property and neighboring properties,” Nowaczyk during last Saturday’s (Feb. 20) cross country race. “We run two timed 30-minute motos. Whoever has the most laps in the 30 minutes is the winner of that moto. We have it broken down into different classes and have kids racing.”

“It’s a fun time,” said Nowaczyk who races in the cross country event.

Kevin Nowaczyk organizes the event.

The snocross races, which take place at the rodeo area of the resort, are more geared for spectators as riders gain spectacular air on the jumps.

“Cross country you’re covering ground — you’re going distance and you’re timed,” he explained. “Snocross is against other riders and you’re going on the same lap — basically like a NASCAR race or car racing. Snocross is similar to motocross where you’re doing jumps and you’re getting air. There is some crashing going on.”

“Snocross is a dangerous sport, we try to be safe with all of our safety gear — tech vests, helmets, neck braces, knee braces and shin guards. You’re still in a dangerous situation on a sled. We can be as safe as we want, but there are still some episodes,” he said.

“This is our first cross country race this year,” he said of last Saturday’s event. “Due to the lack of snow we had over the last couple months, we finally got some and were able to do the cross country race today.”

There were three weekends of snocross races prior, and four more are scheduled — Feb. 27 and 28 and March 13 and 14. The last race March 14 is the state finals.

The racing was delayed this year due to the lack of snow during most of December and January. “We need Mother Nature to cooperate a little earlier in the season.”

“We started out with the snocross, and cross country kind of branched out from it.”

“The only other circuit where you can do cross country is in Wisconsin and Minnesota,” he said. “Last weekend, we had two different families from Pennsylvania here.”

“This is a closed course — you don’t have to worry about head-on traffic coming at you. You can pretty much ride past the capabilities of your snowmobile in a controlled manner without injuring or hurting other families on the trail.”

Nowaczyk, who lives in Holland, Michigan, said he got into the sport because his kids started racing.

“We try to have a family environment,” he said. “We want people outside enjoying the outdoors in the winter time.”

Nowaczyk gets a lot of help organizing the event from his own family — wife Tracy, daughter Amber and son-in-law Nathan.

“The amount of acreage they have here at the Double JJ makes for a phenomenal cross country course. The terrain they have here is amazing.”

For more information, visit michigansno-x.com or visit the West Michigan Sno-x LLC Facebook page.

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