2017 USXC I-500 Winnipeg to Bemidji Race held February 8, 9 and 10
Tue, 02/14/2017 - 10:03am
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Racers make a fuel stop in Gonvick on the last day of the race
The I-500 Cross Country race ran through the area in a flash. The final day was on Friday, February 10 and Zach Herfindahl took home the honors in the Pro 600. Zach had a tribute to Hunter Houle on his helmet during the race. Hunter was the young man who died in a pre-race event on Pine Lake last month. The race started out in Canada on the first day and the temperature was brutally cold -22 degrees. There were a few fingers and faces that had frost bite.
The race started in Winnipeg and went to Thief River Falls the first day. The second day the race went on a loop from Thief River Falls back to Thief River Falls at the Casino. The race had to be changed as the snow condition toward Willmar, had to be canceled. The third day the race went from Thief River Falls to Bemidji where the awards were presented that night. On the third leg of the race to Bemidji there were fresh ditches, rolling hills and tight woods for the racers to get through.
The top ten finishers in the Pro 600 were Zach Herfindahl, Arctic Cat; Ross Erdman, Arctic Cat; Aaron Christensen, Polaris; Re Wadena, Arctic Cat; Brian Dick, Arctic Cat; Ryan Trout, Arctic Cat; Gabe Bunker, Polaris; Taylor Bunke, Polaris; Dillan Dohrn, Skidoo and Erick Christienson, Polaris.
Three women completed the 3 day 525 mile race from Winnipeg to Bemidji. Taking first place was Savannah Landrus, Arctic Cat, 2nd place Jolene Bute, Arctic Cat and third place Jill Tangen, Polaris.
Matt Feil, a senior who attends Bemidji High School ended up in 14th place in the Pro 600 despite having trouble with his sled. He has ties to the Feils in Shevlin.
Derek Frie took first place in the Sport 600 Stock class despite breaking his hand during the first three laps in the Thief River Falls run.