Anchorage Daily News

GIRDWOOD -- Once you get past the cognitive dissonance of watching volunteers in short sleeves marshal a snowmachine race -- it was a balmy 48 degrees at the base of Mount Alyeska in the late afternoon -- you can't help but marvel at the punishment the riders take lap after lap.

More than a few riders in the snocross event at the Alyeska Extreme Spring Weekend on Sunday found their way into a depression in the snow just beyond the big jump at the finish line.

Timed right -- or wrong, if you will -- a snowmachine flying off the hill lands hard in the valley to produce a bone-jarring landing, eliciting oohs and ahs from the crowd.

But in a credit to the athleticism of the riders, nary a crash resulted in that area, despite getting severely tossed around.

There were a few spills in other parts of the course -- Robert Graeber wrecked on the run up to the final jump in the pro open race and his engine caught fire -- but for the most part the dozens of competitors made it around fine.

Scott Reierson of Seward was one of the day's big winners, taking first in both the sport open and sport stock classes in his first race back after breaking a vertebra in his back a few weeks ago.

"I was going through a rhythm section and I just got out of line and crashed, flipped over my sled," he said.

On Sunday Reierson won the first heat and main event in the sport stock class. He took checkered in the second heat and main event in sport open.

"Sport open they have bigger sleds, you can go whatever size you want on a 600 (cubic centimeter) motor," Reierson explained. "On a stock it's 440. They're not as fast, you can't go as big on them.

"Definitely you have to be smarter on the 440. You've got to stay inside, work your lines, corner better. You've got to get inside and ride hard."

A pair of familiar names won the women's pro and pro open divisions. Carly and Cory Davis -- progeny of seven-time Iron Dog champion Scott Davis -- rode to victory in the top classifications for men and women.

"Second heat I almost took her off about five times," Carly Davis said after winning the main event. "It was a rodeo. The slush moves around and changes every time you go out there. You've got to be careful your first lap."

Carly Davis, 16, also won the hillcross event Saturday.

"It's been an awesome weekend," she said. "I wish (the season) could go on a little longer."

This weekend marked the end of the competitive racing season for the Alaska Motor Mushers Club.

Daniel Holtry was another double-winner Sunday, taken first in the 120cc open and junior fan 8-11 divisions.

Matt Smelcer took checkered in the veterans class, edging out Scott Davis.

2007 Alyeska Extreme Spring Weekend

Sunday's snocross results

Pro open -- 1) Cory Davis, 2) Brett Turcotte, 3) Robert Graeber.

Pro stock -- 1) Robert Graeber, 2) Nick Axhelm, 3) Nathan Axhelm.

Women's pro -- 1) Carly Davis, 2) Cortni Brown, 3) Amanda Riggs.

Veterans -- 1) Matt Smelcer, 2) Scott Davis, 3) Seth Winaley.

Semipro open -- 1) Beau Bivins, 2) Josh Payne, 3) Aaron Alto.

Semipro stock -- 1) Aaron Alto, 2) Beau Bivins, 3) Josh Payne.

Women's semipro -- 1) Katie Bever, 2) Lynn Walkins, 3) Trina Harrington.

Sport open -- 1) Scott Reierson, 2) Brian Jurenka, 3) Damian Tilton.

Sport stock -- 1)Scott Reierson, 2) Jeremy Jacobson, 3) Michael Dixon.

120cc open -- 1) Daniel Holtry, 2) Vance Prigge, 3) Scott Harris.

120cc stock -- 1)Katriece Kane, 2) Mike Ashley, 3) Tornado Stevens.

Junior 14-15 liquid -- 1) Tyler Tilton, 2) Collin Clayton, 3) Casey Boylan.

Junior 14-15 female -- 1) Kelci Whaley, 2) Kayla Hendrix, 3) Michelle Eames.

Junior fan 10-13 -- 1) Casey Boylan, 2) Brad Connelly, 3) Brandon Tischer.

Junior fan 8-11 -- 1) Daniel Holtry, 2) Scott Harris, 3) Mike Connelly.

Daily News reporter Andrew Hinkelman can be reached at ahinkelman@adn.com.