Battle on Ice

Looking for the ultimate winter sport? Snocross combines the speed and thrill of motocross with the flat-out blast of snowmobiling. Forget skis, snowboards, pucks and sticks—this is one snow sport you don't want to miss.

Racing high-performance snowmobiles at speeds up to 60 mph, riders tear through tight turns, banked corners and obstacles. And with jumps up to 30 feet tall, riders can travel up to 130 feet before hitting the ground.

Many of the same riders who compete in motocross and supercross events during much of the year bring their motorcycle-racing skills to the snow track during the winter season. If you love speed, competition and riders grabbing lots of air, you have to check out Snocross action.

The Team

Levi Lavalle #108 – Born 8/31/82 Longville, MN
As a young boy, Levi and his Family enjoyed trail riding together. After a few years, he became quite good and quick. His dad heard about a local cross country race, and Levi eagerly entered, finishing close to the top. After a few years of running cross country, he started in Snocross. He was so nervous for his first big show in Duluth that he was sick all night before his race. But after that first race, he began competing—and winning—regularly. Levi won two gold medals at Winter X in Freestyle and Speed and style. He also won the silver in Snocross in 2005.
 

TJ Gullan #44 – Born 3/20/81 Jericho, VT
TJ, a motocross rider, got his start at 16. His father bought him a sled to keep him in shape for motocross and occupy his time during the winter. They headed to local races that season, had a blast and never looked back. TJ won the stock championship in the 2005 and 2007 seasons. He missed the Pro Open championship by one point last season in Pro Stock. The 2007 Winter X Games brought him a bronze in Snocross.
 

Brett Bender #19 – Born 12/7/86 Boston, NY
Brett claims the sport of snowmobile racing has been in his blood since birth. As a child, he was always around snowmobiles. At 12, his father took him to a local race where they bumped into a friend who was racing a Ski-Doo 440 in the Pro-class. Brett was invited to race the friend's sled in the junior division. He competed that day, bought a Polaris soon after and has been racing ever since. He raced the eastern circuit , eventually gaining a Polaris endorsement. He has been with the WPSA national tour ever since.

Brett is in his first season of Pro. He finished 2nd in Semi Pro Stock and 6th in Semi Pro Open last season. He is the son of team manager Tim Bender.

Bobby LePage #244 – Born 11/13/84 Hermantown, MN
Bobby began racing anything he could get on at an early age. Snowmobiles seemed to be a natural, since he is from Duluth—home of the biggest Snocross kickoff races of the season.

In 2005, Bobby was involved in a life-threatening accident at Canterbury, after a snowmobile landed on him at the landing of an 85-foot jump. Bobby spent 28 days in a coma with severe head trauma but eventually recovered, coming back to win in his first race a year and a half later. He made the transition to Pro Stock and Semi Pro Open this season. He also finished 2nd in Semi Pro Open points and third in Semi Pro Stock points last season.

Chris Kafka #991 – Born 12/12/86 Stratford, WI
Chris has been racing for eight years. He began by using his dad's drag racing sled (he counts his father as the number one influence on his race career). This season's goal is to stay consistent and take home the championship at Geneva.

His most memorable moment in racing was winning the Semi-Pro Open Final at New York. Major racing accomplishments include winning the World Championship at Eagle River and the Friday Night Thunder at Eagle River. Hobbies include wakeboarding, riding pit bikes, dirt bikes and mountain bikes. Off season, he lifts weights and does cardio, riding mountain bikes and dirt bikes as often as he can to stay in shape.

He describes his pre-race ritual as follows: Click my heels together three times and say, "There's no place like home!" Crew members are Glen Kafka and Jeff Leffel.

 

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