By: D.L. Stern
Producer/Writer, Alaska State Troopers
Series Premiere Wednesday October 14 10P et/pt

I'd only heard stories of Arctic Man before getting the chance to actually attend this year. The stories made me think of Mardi Gras or Sturgis, or some combination of the two - only with snow...and snowmachines. Being there delivered on the promises I'd heard in these stories, with one exception, I was one of only about twenty people there (cameraman and handful of Troopers) out of over 10,000, that wasn't drinking.

The "Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic" is an annual event held in Alaska's Hoodoo Mountains just north of the little town of Paxson. The four day event which includes various snowmachine-related competitions culminates in perhaps the world's most unique and exhilarating downhill race. The main event features an intensely fast race where snowmachiners and downhill skiers team up. The skiers start at the top of the first mountain then literally link up with their snowmachine-riding partners at the bottom, getting pulled at speeds of up to 90 mph over mountains and valleys, until finally being released for the final stretch of the race. As thrilling as the race is, I quickly got the feeling that the race itself is not the only reason most of the over 10,000 spectators travelled great distances to come to Arctic Man.

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