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6 • ARCTIC MAN • 2016 • www.ArcticMan.com BY MELISSA DeVAUGHN W hen this year’s Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic gets underway, there will be at least one racer who has been part of the ac- tion for the last 25 years at the starting line once again for race number 26. Anchorage’s Eric Heil, and his driving partner Len Story, have been part of this crazy, talent-rich race since before it became known the world over. In fact, Heil and Story are among the winningest racers of Arctic Man, sharing five-time cham- pion status alongside professional skier Marco Sullivan and his driving partner Tyler Aklestad. “We never left the game,” said Heil from his home in Anchorage, where he has managed to stay competitive among the professional skiers who dominate Arctic Man today. While the pros are out training 24-7, Heil is in Anchorage, working, raising his family and skiing like a fiend whenever he can fit in the training time. “We started in 1990 and it’s still a very invigorating event for us,” said Heil. “Now that it attracts bigger names, we are more determined than ever to stay involved.” What started as a $100 bet between friends in a bar back in 1985 has become one of the biggest snowmachining and skiing events in Alaska. Race director and founder Howard Thies said he is excited about this year’s competition and confi- dent that the race will happen – last year, only the women’s ski division got to make their runs before the race was called off due to poor weather and safety concerns. As a result, the leftover purse from last year’s unraced events is still up for grabs. “This year is 31 years of Arctic Man, and we have a lot of names coming to race,” Thies said. “We have $204,000 in prize money and the men’s ski division top prize is $61,000. It’s going to be an exciting race.” Every year, Arctic Man becomes a thriving metropolis in the Hoodoos, with a giant swath of cleared snow turned into a makeshift parking lot. It’s a city built on camaraderie between snowmachiner, and skier and snowboarder – a partnership built on trust from years of racing together and depending upon each other for safety. ArcticManartistry:Wheretrustandloyaltymatter IFYOUGO FOLLOWING THE RACE If getting to Arctic Man just isn’t an option – maybe the budget is limited or you can’t get the time off of work – don’t worry. There are many ways in which you can follow the race from the comfort of home. Radio station KZND-FM 94.7 will be announcing times and places to the crowd on site, and hopefully communications will allow it to extend beyond just the venue. There will also be Facebook updates in the morning and evening – search the Arctic Man page at www.facebook.com. GETTING THERE The spectacular Hoodoo Mountains are the venue for this annual event, which attracts nearly 15,000 spectators each year. To get here from Anchorage, follow the Glenn Highway to its intersection with the Richardson Highway, at Glennallen. Turn left (north) on the Rich- ardson for approximately 82.5 miles. From Fairbanks follow the Richardson south. Follow the Richardson for another 62.5 miles past Delta Junction. General GPS coordinates for the Arctic Man campground are 63°12’7.21”N, 145°30’35.30”W. SNOWRIDER FILE A snowboarder and driver race to the release point near First Aid.