Is this crazy or what?

With an estimated 15,000 motorheads looking on, 41 teams competed in five divisions for a piece of the $25,000 Arctic Man Ski & Snow Go Classic purse near Paxson in early April. Here's how it works: A skier equipped with long Alpine speed skis and specialized gear kicks off from a 5,800-foot dome, tucks and shoots down a 1,700-foot slope toward a twisty canyon. As the skier slows on the flats, the snowmachine partner accelerates alongside, hands off a water-skiing rope and tows the skier up another 1,200-foot slope at speeds exceeding 80 mph. At the second summit, the snowmachine veers and catapults the skier forward down the final 1,200-foot descent. The course record of 4 minutes, 17.29 seconds was set in 1997. Above, a snowboarder who entered the competition under the name "Reimi" and John Hoff negotiate a turn. (Photo by Bob Hallinen)

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