The Eagle River World Championship!

 Friday, January 19 – Sunday, January 21, the 61st Derby is on!

 In honor of the 70th Polaris Anniversary being held August 16-18, 2024. We would like to highlight some of the World Champions who live or have lived in Roseau County or were driving the Polaris snowmobile to win the prestigious race.

The 1977 World Championship start of the race at Eagle River, Wisconsin. The top ten finalists for the world championship event included

Polaris Race Team members (on the right), Jerry Bunke, Brad Hulings, and Steve Thorsen.

 The World Championship Derby Complex in Eagle River Wisconsin, considered “The Snowmobile Capital of the World”, hosts oval, snocross, and vintage racing. The World Championship Snowmobile Derby is not only the largest and most prestigious snowmobile competition in the sport, it is one of the highest-ranking winter sports events in the Midwest and is recognized around the world.

“Eagle River” is known as the Indianapolis 500 of snowmobile racing. The Derby attracts more than 40,000 spectators annually. Fans travel from all over the United States, Canada and beyond to watch more than 500 international drivers race their high-tech snowmobiles at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour on a solid ice oval track. For over 50 years, the race has been held on a fully contained, half-mile banked oval track located in the heart of one of Wisconsin’s most popular resort areas., Eagle River.

The Polaris snowmobile and Roseau County residents hold claim to many Eagle River Derby World  Champions!

1964 winner of the “World’s First Snowmobile Derby, Stan Hayes

15-year-old Stanley Hayes was driving an experimental Sno-Traveler from Polaris Industries.

The next eight years would be run by a variety of other snowmobile brands, including Evinrude, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat and Yamaha

Polaris Race Team legend Bob Eastman of Roseau, MN is the 1973 Eagle River World Champion!

A lack of snow failed to ruin the 1973 championship derby on Sunday, January 21.

Eastman drove his sled to victory lane not on ice or snow, but on a sawdust race track!

A fan favorite, Eastman’s trophy presentation in Victory Lane was received with thunderous applauding from the crowd!

The top ten qualifying drivers for the finals in the 1975 World Championship 

Back row, left to right, Gordon Rudolph, Sam Sessions, Ed Schubitzke, Stan Hayes, Larry Coltom, Front row: left to right: Jim Adema, Don Omdahl, Giles Vileneuve, Larry Rugland, and Jim Bernat.

1975 World Champion

Jim Bernat

Bernat, living in Roseau, MN since the early 1960s, known as “Smiling Jim”, was a Polaris Race Team member since 1968.

Jim took home the world championship trophy on a Polaris 650 factory race sled.

1977 and 1978 Champion

Steve Thorsen

Polaris Race Team driver, Steve Thorsen from Fergus Falls, MN was the second driver to win back-to-back championships.

Fun fact: 1977 was the first year of the Polaris IFS rather than the leafer suspension.

1990 World Champion

Dave Wahl from Greenbush, Minnesota driving a Ski-Doo , wearing Bib #74,

Dave and his brother Durmont established Wahl Brothers Racing in 1981, after the closing of Arctic Cat and the break-up of Team Arctic. Their shop was located in Thief River Falls, MN. The team switched to racing a Ski-Doo twin track in 1987.

1996 and 1997 World Champion

Dave Wahl

Dave Wahl, Greenbush, Minnesota driving a Ski-Doo to victory

In 1985 Wahl Brothers Racing relocated their business to their hometown of Greenbush, MN.

1998 World Champion

Terry Wahl

A resident of Greenbush, MN, Terry won his championship title on a Skidoo Champ 440 sled.

Terry is the nephew of Dave Wahl and son of Durmont Wahl. Terry joined Wahl Bros. Racing in 1993 as a team member.

Since 1998 Wahl Bros. have been racing for Team Polaris. “It has been an exciting change that has produced a World Championship Title in the Mod 500 Class, among other prestigious victories in oval races on Polaris race sleds.”

2010 World Champion

Matt Schulz, Wausau, Wisconsin

Matt was the first Polaris driver to win the Championship since Steve Thorsen in 1978.

2012 World Champion

Nick Van Strydonk, Tomahawk, Wisconsin driving a Polaris with an engine built by former Polaris racer Larry Rugland.

Nick was just 21 years old.

2017 World Champion

Bib # 13 Nick Van Strydonk, Tomahawk, Wisconsin driving a Polaris, won the 30-lap feature by almost

leading from start-to-finish!

2018 World Champion, 2019 World Champion, 2020 World Champion, 2021 World Champion

Photo taken in 2021

Blaine Stephenson!

Blaine Stephenson from St. Cloud, Minnesota takes home FOUR championship titles on a Polaris race sled back-to-back-to-back-to-back!

Blaine is a professional ice oval snowmobile race driver for Wahl Bros. Racing, Greenbush, Minnesota and Polaris Racing.

The 2022 World Champion

Jay Mittelstaedt, La Valle, Wisconsin Driving a Polaris

Fun Fact: Jay met his now wife Paige Decker at the Eagle River Race Track, which was previously owned by her extended family, so they decided to have their wedding at the facilities.

Eagle River is set to thrill with the 61st World Championship Snowmobile Derby

See you at the races

Researched by Carmen Przekwas, References: Roseau County Historical Society, Warriors of Winter, The Legend of Polaris, Mike Hetteen, Polaris Post Company newsletters, Starfire Kids, Snow Goer, Wahl Bros. Racing, World Championship Derby Complex, Photos: Randy Larson, Karolyn and Bob Eastman Collection All Rights Reserved