Good snow means good times outdoors

BEAR CREEK - What a difference a year can make.

“Last year, we had grass here. We basically had grass drags in winter time last year," said Dennis Handschke, the trail boss with the Twin County Riders snowmobile club.

Snow is a-plenty for the 24th-annual Twin County Riders vintage drag races; to the delight of Handschke.

"Finally we get some good snow!” said Handschke. “That's what people look forward to, that live in Wisconsin."

Like vintage sled racer Brian Heldt.

“That one on the end, we call ‘The Beast,’” said Heldt of Athens. “She’s a handful to ride.”

His first time at the Bear Creek tournament, he’s racing just four of the 10 vintage sleds he owns.

"You work 10 months out of the year to enjoy two months of snow," said Heldt, who says this is his first time in the eastern part of the state to race. "The adrenaline rush from the power that these things put out...you know, we're probably getting 40 percent more power than they came from the factory."

And the power is clear, as the sleds jump off the starting line, racing towards the finish.

A slightly slower pace

Sure, it may be slower, but speed on the cross country ski trails is what thrills 9-year-old Tim Turek.

“How fast you can go,” said Turek of Green Bay about skiing. “I like going down the (downside of the) hills, it's fun."

For Jim Carter, it’s been a while since he’s strapped on a pair of cross country skis.

"1986,” said Carter of his last outing. “I skied for a survival program for the Coast Guard. This might be a comedy show here today."

While just getting his skis on after a long absence from the sport is proving harder than it looks, he says it's worth the effort to take advantage of the good snow pack.

"I just got the urge today,” said Carter of Howard. “So I bought the skis yesterday and we're going to give it a try."

Had Tanya Sharp had her way, the Texas transplant would be handling the trails a little bit better this year.

"I wasn't able to ski last year because we didn't have enough snow,” said Sharp of Green Bay. “And yeah, this year, it's just been up and down."

And she hopes the rain in the forecast doesn't ruin what snow Northeast Wisconsin has going for it.