The River Valley Dutchmen held their annual Snowmobile Hill Climb Saturday at Golden Gate Campground. Roughly 130 riders registered in over 17 different vehicle divisions. In each division, riders competed in head to head in a drag race to be first to the top of a steep hill. The distance from the start line to the finish line was 660 feet.

Dutchmen club vice president and chairmen of the hill climb event Tyler Schmiesing said, depending on the type of snowmobile, riders could reach up to 70 mph before crossing the finish line.

The annual hill climb is an over-three-decade tradition of the Dutchmen. Schmiesing said he’s been attending for over 28 years and the traditions goes back before his time. The snowmobile races bring in many local spectators and riders, but the draw came from the surrounding states as well.

Some of those taking part in the races visited from Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas. This year saw an especially high turnout.

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The junior hillclimb riders line up for the 120 cc class. This was the second year the River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Hillclimb featured a 120 cc class. Ages 4-11 were allowed to compete to encourage the next generation of snowmobile riders.

Schmiesing said in 2022, around 90 riders registered for the event and this year saw around 40 extra competitors. He believed the higher numbers were to get the word out about the hill climb.

This year also benefited from favorable weather. The days leading up to the hillclimb saw subzero temperatures, but on race day the temperature started at 10 degrees Fahrenheit and continue warm into the 20s. Since the races took place in a valley, the wind was not a factor.

The hill climb also featured a wide age range of riders. Riders as young as four years were able to compete in the junior classes, while some as old as 64 took up the challenge.

In terms of competition, the 600 Trophy series was one of the most popular divisions. The 600 trophies were won by Steve Gieseke of New Ulm.

Gieseke said it was exciting to win, but said the best part was he won the competition on his wife’s snowmobile.

His snowmobile broke down before the competition, forcing him to borrow her sled, complete with a pink stuffed animal tied to the front.

Geiseke had told his wife before the race he wasn’t sure her sled was fast enough. He was pleased to be wrong.

Arguably, the most important rider class was the junior division. The 120 cc class featured the next generation of snowmobile riders, kids ages 4-11. The Dutchmen introduced the 120 cc class last year and it immediately became one of the most popular. Several riders were eager to introduce their kids to the sport in hopes they would carry on the tradition for another generation.

In the 120 cc division, the snowmobiles lack the horsepower of adult sleds. It was a challenge for the vehicles to make it up the steep hill, making for an exciting competition.

In the end, 7-year-old Lenny Braulick won the 120 division. Braulick has been riding for three years and said it was relatively easy getting up the hill.

Asked what the secret is to win the hill climb, young Braulick said “keep your head down.” This was strong advice as many of the race winners kept their heads low to reduce drag going up the hill. Many of the younger riders had a habit of turning their heads during the race to check out the competition, ultimately slowing them down. Braulick was able to win by keeping his head forward and focusing on the hill in front of him.

The Flying Dutchmen Snowmobile Hill Climb is the work of several volunteers working to set up and maintain the hill. Schmiesing said around 40 volunteers were needed to host the event.