• Spectators are invited to attend all three days of the event.
The Star Valley Ridge Riders are hosting the annual Afton Simplot Hill Climb Challenge this weekend in Grover Park. Races run Friday through Sunday and the public is invited to attend the festivities. Races will begin at 8 a.m. each day.
As part of the Rocky Mountain States Hillclimb Association (RMSHA), The Ridge Riders support and participate in racing events throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. Afton’s event has run for more than twenty years. This year’s races offer an event where 60 amateurs and professionals from as far away as British Columbia come to compete for cash prizes.
Derek Mortensen, representing the Ridge Riders, visited with Duke Dance and Dahl Erickson, in an interview on the SVI Radio Network this week. The three discussed the upcoming event, the sport of hill climbing that has grown throughout the decades and the machines that make the sport so progressive and exciting.
“There’s a lot of people that come into town for this,” said Mortensen. “It’s a big event for Afton. It’s a great opportunity for people because there are all sorts of ways to enjoy it. There will be food, apparel, all kinds of different things to get people to come and watch. Burger Barn will be there again. Warren’s Fried Foods is coming. I always look forward to that every year because I have to get my fix. I love it.”
A shuttle is provided for guests to ride from the parking lot at the mouth of the north entrance to Grover Park, off Highway 89, East of Grover. Running continuously from 8 a.m. each day of the weekend until the event closes at night, the shuttle offers free parking and transportation for guests. Tips are welcome. There are bleachers for the public to sit on, or they can bring their own lawn chairs.
“We work to keep it safe, but it’s definitely a competition,” added Mortensen. “The top person in each class is in the money come Sunday” after qualifying runs Friday and Saturday. Racers must clear gates 1 through 25 is top speeds for the win.
“We’ve got some of the best riders in the country from right here,” commented Mortensen. “Sponsored riders from Star Valley and Western Wyoming that compete in this are some of the best of the best. We all like to cheer on our local riders and we get loud on the course when they ride up. It’s always fun to see these guys.”
Sleds have evolved significantly since hill climbing began. Racers didn’t make it to the top of the hill back then. “Back in the day, sleds weren’t as powerful as they are today. Today, they’re using 850 Motors and longer tracks.” Today, racers are not sitting down on the seat. “You’re using a lot of shoulder strength. You’re using a lot of balance, a lot of leg. You’re putting your whole body into it,” Mortensen explained.
He also spoke of the quality of challenge that competitors experience when they come to race in Afton. “This is one of the most fun courses. You always hear that from the riders on the circuit. It’s not as long as Jackson’s course, but they like it because it’s just as challenging as Jackson and they can get their sleds ready [for the Jackson race.]” According to the RMSHA website, the Afton climbs are a “racer favorite…This hill is steep and difficult at best! If you want to see lots of action, this race will not disappoint!”
It takes an army of volunteers to plan and execute the races, including members of the Ridge Riders and officials from the Forest Service. “Not everybody is going to go volunteer to catch a sled on the incline and I think that Star Valley and Western Wyoming have some of the most amazing volunteers across the board. These are a lot of the same ones that are part of the Search and Rescue and the EMS. It’s a wonderful group of people. We love to be on the hill and helping these guys out. Everyone pulls together to make this happen and it’s so neat to see.”
