It wasn’t skis and snowboards attracting the crowds to Mount Sima last weekend, but rather the Mt. Sima Uphill Challenge snowmachine race that had competitiors flying through the air.

Hosted by Yukon Yamaha, Saturday’s event had four different machine classes racing on a course through the snow-packed mountain. The new course was designed by park builder Tyler Nichol.

Jason Adams, Yukon Yamaha general manager and organizer of the event, said he met with Nichol on Tuesday to go through the plan for the course and when it was all ready to go, they did a test run of the course on Thursday.

“We went up in the snowcat and came up with our ideas. Where we want the jumps, which direction we want to go,” Adams said.

Adams said he then let Nichol take complete control of making the course for the competition.

The turnout was in par with past years with about 50 competitors, Adams said, but what stood out was the course conditions for the spring event.

“Conditions were the best we’ve had ever and the best event overall that we’ve had yet,” he said. “The amount of snow was the best we’ve ever had for sure. Weather conditions were definitely helpful with the amount of snow. It could be nice and warm and we get away with it. In past years it has just been too icy or too cold or the weather wasn’t quite right.”

The race was structured as an exciting head-to-head format with two racers out on the course at the same time in separate lanes.

It was a double-elimination in each class and Justin Jamieson came out on top in all three of the classes he participated in.

“It wasn’t a cake walk for him, it was good competition,” Adams said, noting Jamieson did drop a race on his way to the three class wins.

Jamieson won both the 600cc and open classes in head-to-head finals against Brandon Cormier.

Jamieson also won the 800cc class beating Joe Chretien in the final pairing. In the 600cc division, Chretien placed third and Jordan Sands placed third in the 800cc race.

In the open division, Matty Wolsnyuk placed third.

Adams said it was a big day for Jamieson who had competed in the event before but never won. Therefore, he said it was an easy decision to name Jamieson “King of the Hill” for top performer of the weekend.

In the snowbike class, Joe Chretien took top spot with Brody Ryckman finishing in second and Jesse Malloch in third.

Paraplegic rider Darryl Tait competed in the event and “put on a heck of a show,” according to Adams.

“He’s my favourite rider by far,” Adams said.

The event last Saturday was also expected to be the last day Mt. Sima was open to the public, but with the extended cold season and snow still on the ground, they extended their opening one week.

Mt. Sima will wrap up the season with a beach party themed event on Saturday.

They have re-vamped the Uphill Challenge course to form an intermediate downhill course and have invited the public to come out and “ride the wave” with prizes going to the fastest times through the course.

Mt. Sima will be offering half day rates for the final ski day of the season.

Adams said they wouldn’t be able to run their event without the support of Mt. Sima as they give them the space to race their machines on an exciting course.

“That part is huge. The fact that we can go there and race our snow bikes up the ski hill is a very unique opportunity and it wouldn’t happen without the full co-operation of Mount Sima and Yukon Yamaha as well,” he said. “We enjoy putting it on. It’s not a money making event, but it’s to get everybody out at the end of the year to have a good time.”