Speed on the Water – Jan/Feb 2018

words and photos Jason Johnson

CHILL SESSION The boaters who gathered to explore the trails of Wyoming’s Snowy Range during the International Snowmobile Rally hosted by Saratoga Hot Springs Resort were treated to an exceptionally cool experience.

David Collins (top)

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or the past four years, Dr. Michael “Doc” Janssen has recruited his boating friends to join him for a little fun on the water— frozen water that is—during the International Snowmobile Rally hosted by Saratoga Hot Springs Resort in Saratoga, Wyo., at the end of January. And for the first time this year, Janssen, who owns an Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats SV 53 and a 29-foot canopied Outerlimits raceboat amongst his many other “toys,” convinced his friends at speedonthewater.com to join many of his fellow performance boaters from all areas of the country as well as a bunch, as in the Team Gotta Go/Minions bunch who won the event’s costume contest, from Canada.

Not sure what to expect, the five-person speedonthewater.com crew from California—

Speedonthewater.com team member Loana Dominguez had a great time riding around Wyoming’s Snowy Range, as did many of the others who attended the event (top).

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International Snowmobile Rally

SARATOGA’S FINEST Nestled between the Snowy Range and the Sierra Madre Mountain Range along the Upper North Platte River, Saratoga Hot Springs Resort in Wyoming, is a charming rustic retreat with amenities ranging from teepee-covered natural mineral hot springs and a health spa to the Silver Saddle Restaurant and soon-to-expanding Snowy Mountain Brewery. In the winter, snowmobile rentals and tours can be arranged. And in the summer, the trails can be tackled on ATVs, and the outdoor activities from fishing, horseback riding, hiking, golfing and more, are endless. fairly novice snowmobile riders as one might expect—had a fantastic time exploring the trails in and around Medicine Bow National Forest, soaking in the mineral hot springs at the charming resort and catching up with familiar faces from Florida, Michigan and Virginia while meeting some amazing people from Denver, New York, Toronto and elsewhere.

Along with the crew of Outerlimits owners, including Team Gotta Go’s Dave and Dawn Scotto, Burton and Yvette Kirsten, John and Thanks to its rustic charm, attached microbrewery, hot springs and pool, Saratoga Hot Springs Resort (right) is a remarkable venue for winter and summertime activities.

Participants in the International Snowmobile Rally took in some amazing sights during the two-day poker run.

International Snowmobile Rally

Randy Sweers (bottom right)

Nate Dominguez, the most experienced snowmobile rider of the California-based speedonthewater.com team, had fun tearing up the trails in Medicine Bow National Forest (top). Also the biggest thrill seeker of the bunch, he was the only one who had to use a shovel (below). His blunder was modest compared to Randy Sweers’ tree-hugging crash (bottom).

Julie Tokar, Mark and Nancy Tuck, and Rich Sezsnat, other performance boaters who own Cigarettes, Fountains, Nor-Techs and more joined the fun. As did several company representatives such as Tony Canale of Canale Marine and Sonic Boats, Dan Kleitz of Outerlimits, Randy Sweers of FB Marine Group and Rusty Williams of Performance Boat Center.

Including Janssen—who rides a snowmobile like he drives a raceboat, fast and on rails—the entire team at Saratoga Resort organized a smooth, fun-filled event with terrific hot lunches on the trails Friday and Saturday, fantastic dinners each night and excellent beer courtesy of the resort’s accompanying Snowy Mountain Brewery. Offshore racing fans know that name as it adorned Janssen’s world-championship raceboat for a few years.

As enjoyable as it gets for an activity in 10- to 20-degree weather, the two days of snowmobile riding (especially the second one with Todd Welter leading the way) provided many highlights—and some low points for several participants who 37

SPEED ON THE WATER

Nate Dominguez (event jerseys)

From left: Each day’s on-the-trail lunch was surprisingly great, and “tour guide” Todd Welter (red and black Ski-Doo) took excellent care of everyone on Saturday.

With event jerseys on to brave a brisk Sunday morning soak, the team enjoyed a final dip in the hot springs. The folks who took home the “trapperstyle” animal hats earned a one-of-a-kind prize.

took the trail less traveled right into a tree or had to dig out of several feet of powder. To be sure, many of the blunders from the fourth annual International Snowmobile Rally were captured via smartphone photos to prove it.

“This room is filled with a bunch of snitches,” one of the speedonthewater.com team members said following Saturday’s dinner and awards party that ousted several people who wrecked their sleds, ended up stuck in a tree or were too hung over to make it back out on the trails Saturday. You know who you are.

Speaking of Saturday evening’s gathering, it was a post-event awards party like none other.

Between the news of a college scholarship endowment being set up through the event, which got a much-deserved round of applause, and several speeches followed by a ton of goodhumored awards presented in the form of broken parts, shovels, saws, framed polar bear pictures and even a mixture of well-earned “trapper-style” hats—check out the photo (below, right) of all the winners. Thanks to Janssen’s donation to a local foundation, he had a unique assortment of decorative head pieces to hand out.

The speedonthewater.com crew needs to thank Doc and all of his friends, family members and staff who pitched in to provide a wonderful time and a “boating trip” assignment unlike any the team has ever experienced. In comparison to dozens of different poker runs, rallies, fun runs, etc., speedonthewater.com has covered, the event was near the top of the list in terms of organization, entertainment and the fact that it provided a fun and different way to get together with a great group of people from around the world.

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