GRANTSBURG, WI - While temperatures climbed into the 90's on Saturday, one group took to their snowmobiles to stay cool.
That's right, it's called watercross. In Grantsburg, Wisconsin, about 75 miles northeast of the Twin Cities, nearly 10,000 people gathered to watch 94 racers from all across the U.S. and Canada compete in the 37th Annual Watercross World Championships.
There are 150 different levels of classes to compete in but at the end of the three day event, only one is crowned the watercross world champion. But it's more than just a competition for the village of Grantsburg.
"This event for the community is absolutely huge," Rick Quimby said, the executive director of the watercross world championship.
"We have over 50 non-profit groups that benefit from this. We hire church groups, non-profits, Cub Scout groups, any non-profit groups, we hire them to work this event. This is their major fund-raiser for the year."
And it's a sport that Quimby says continues to grow.
"These guys set up their sled in order to be able to hit the water and go about 55 to 60 MPH," Quimby said. "Some of these sleds can go right back onto snow. You see snowmoblies on water, it's a unique sight. They can go just as fast as water as they can on snow."
Snow or sun, summer or winter, it doesn't matter, a snowmobile can do it all.
(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)