Reprinted with permission of
the Journal-News
From the JournalNews
By Lisa A. Bernard
HAMILTON — Folks in Hamilton are signing up to go dashing
through the snow — but not in a one-horse open sleigh.
New this year for Ice Fest 2004 is the Great Miami Valley YMCA
Sled Race, scheduled to kick off Jan. 24 from 3 to 5 p.m.
“The idea for the sled race came from Jerry Lanich and uses
elements borrowed from the Iditirod Dog Sled Race, an annual race held in
Alaska,” said Dave Schirmer, chairman of the sled race committee. But in this
race, instead of using dogs to pull the sled, human team members will be
performing the task, he said. Currently four teams have signed up for the
event, which has a limit of 25 teams.
“It’s something we never tried before and it should be
really fun to see the different designs the teams come up with,” Lanich said.
“Who knows? There might be some challenges between local banks or the police
and fire departments.” While speed, strength and endurance are important to
succeed in this event, participants will also need to demonstrate “group
adaptability, decision making, creative thinking and problem-solving skills,”
Schirmer said.
The race course will be approximately 1,200 feet long and
have five stations that will require the sled “musher” (driver), or crew
perform a maneuver or solve a problem. “The stations are designed to test
ability in wilderness survival and group creative thinking,” Schirmer said. The
course will begin on Second Street near the entrance to the YMCA, travel down
to Dayton Street, turning on to Riverfront Plaza, and then turn left in front
of the Hamiltonian Hotel. Sleds will then turn left through the old Mercy
Hospital parking lot and down the alley to finish back at the YMCA, he said.
Each team is to consist of five or more members and because
snow cannot be guaranteed, the sleds will have wheels and be designed and built
by the respective teams. Winners with the top three lowest times will be
rewarded. “The shortest overall time, after all bonus and or penalty times are
figured, will be declared the winner,” Schirmer said.
The race is open to the public and the rules and entry forms
are available at the Central, Fairfield, Fitton Family and East Butler County
YMCA locations. The cost is $25 per sled and $5 per team. The net proceeds will
go to the Hamilton City of Sculpture.
The deadline for entries is Jan. 14 and everyone who enters the race will receive a momento of their participation and winners will receive awards.