Canadians hail to Beausejour for power tobogganing championships

Watch as riders from across North America race around the world's fastest half-mile ice oval track at the Canadian Power Tobogganing Championships.

Snowmobilers from all corners of the country are gathering in a town northeast of Winnipeg this weekend to run some laps around the world’s fastest half-mile ice oval track.

The competition has been hosted annually by the Canadian Power Toboggan Championships (CPTC) in Beausejour, Man., for the last 63 years.

In the lead up to this weekend’s competition, racers compete at other circuits, or tracks, across North America. But only the best of the best can make it to Beausejour.

“A lot of our champ drivers, even the local ones, they love this facility,” said Jared Black, CPTC president. “It’s the biggest track on the circuit, and we’re known as the fastest and safest track on the circuit, so they’re very comfortable racing here. They love going fast here.”

As part of its events, the championships see some snowmobile racers reach speeds of up to 170 kilometres per hour.

“We’ve got drivers that drive 30 hours to be here, right? So the circuit’s massive, and to be able to bring people to Manitoba from all over North America, it’s pretty special,” Black said.

“It’s kind of like the Super Bowl’s in town.”

The championships run all weekend, with the winners expected to be announced Sunday evening.