Snodeo poised for huge comeback

MANAWA – Coined “the greatest show on the snow,” the Snodeo is coming back and is promised to be the biggest Snodeo to take place since its start in 2007.
With warmer temperatures and unsavory ice conditions the Snodeo has had to cancel two years in a row; however, the cold temperatures and the ever thickening ice has promised that the show will go on.
This year the event will take place Feb. 15 and 16.
Deb and Dave Sarna, who have been with the Snodeo since its start, said they are hoping to bring some new love and appreciation to the snowmobile industry, which has suffered over the past few years.
“ Dave’s idea is that this has to be a boost for the snowmobile industry,” Deb said. “It’s a place to race your sled. It’s a place to get out there and show what you got.”

This year the Snodeo will see the Decker Triple Crown, which is a race involving Ironwood, Michigan, Wausau and Manawa.
Racers will race in those three locations with points accumulating according to how they place, as well as bonus points for going to each race.
Manawa will be the final location for the Decker Triple Crown with the winner taking home $10,000 in cash and second through tenth taking home cash prizes totaling $7,000.
The race is in honor of Richard and Audrey Decker, former owners of the Eagle River Derby Complex and will feature a five-race series.
“Richard and Audrey Decker were more than just names in the racing community, they were pioneers who transformed the landscape of snowmobile racing,” Dave said. “Their involvement with the Eagle River Derby track was a game changer.”
Dave said they are going big this year in order to make up for the two years they were unable to hold the event. Outside of the Decker Triple Crown there are a multitude of things happening throughout the two-day affair.
There will be two ovals for racing this year, one is a third mile and will be used Saturday by Pro-Vintage Racing (PVR), where vintage snowmobiles race, and the other is a half mile and will be used by United States Snowmobile Association (USSA) Pro Star, which is professional snowmobile racers.

Swimsuit Run
One of the more infamous additions to this year’s Snodeo is the Swimsuit Run.
Deb said when they were unable to get the Rodeo City Riders to join the event; she looked to the Swimsuit Run, which had traditionally been held in St. Germain for a number of years.

The Swimsuit Run will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. and allows both men and women to dress in there swim attire and try to get the top speed on a snowmobile.
The event is being hosted by the Manawa Snodeo and the Pink Ribbon Riders, who raise money for breast cancer research.
You can pledge a donation to the Pink Ribbon Riders to join in the race, Deb said.
There are sign-ups for the race at Kegler’s, Steve and Michelle’s, as well as Bear Lake Resort, all located in Manawa, however Deb said you can sign up the day of as well.

More action

The kitty cat racing will also be back with two organizations joining this year including the Wisconsin Kitty Cat Racers (WKCR) and Wisconsin Kid Snowmobile Racing Association (WKSRA).
Both groups promise to bring in a large amount of spectators, as the championship races will be held Sunday, Deb said.
The radar runs will be held Saturday by the Besaw family and the Wolf River Rangers, people can test the speeds of their snowmobiles with the chance to win prizes.
Come Sunday there will be ice drag races hosted by the Merrill Ice Drag Racers and the Symco Trail Blazers Club, where people will be able to race others and also win prizes.
There will be mini-bike racing and lawnmower racing on Sunday afternoon.
Skydivers will be coming down during the parade at noon Saturday, along with the Little Wolf High School Band.
There will be a number of special ladies at the event including Ms. Wisconsin and Ms. Teen Wisconsin, along with Ms. Snowflake and Ms. Teen Rodeo will all be in attendance throughout the show.
The Snodeo court is also back this year with Queen Alivia Trinrud, Princess Adrianna Trinrud, Princess Avalyn Trinrud and Junior Princess Elizabeth Lamkins.
There will be children’s activities including a scavenger hunt, coloring contest, goody bags for children, the Great Rondini magician and face painting by Ali.
 ”We want this event to appeal to not only snowmobiles guys, but also to appeal to families,” said Deb.
There will also be hot air balloons (weather permitting), a private plane flyover and a quartet singing group.
Dave said there will even be a stuntman crashing a snowmobile through a burning building and lumberjack chainsaw racing.
The entry fee for a day is $20 or $30 for both days. For more information on Snodeo you can head to their Facebook page at Manawa Snodeo or their website at www.manawasnodeo.org.