A family tradition

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Like many other sports, Snocross snowmobile racing is a sport in which individuals compete, but it is a family affair.

Nancy Anderl is one of about 10 members of the River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Club that are competing in the World Snowmobiling Association (WSA) Minnesota South Regional Snocross races at the Brown County Fairgrounds in New Ulm.

She is also the sole woman from the area competing in the races.

Nancy Anderl is unsure of how she will do this weekend, because she just got a new racing sled last week -- a 2003 Polaris PRO X 440, a sled that is several years newer than the one she has been using. The new sled has more suspension and power and should put her on the level with the other racers, who race with newer sleds.

But Nancy Anderl is quick to point out that racing isn't just about the power in the snowmobile.

"It's not just the sled -- it's the sled and driver," she said. "You can't expect the sled to do all of the work."

And she doesn't -- Nancy Anderl has been lifting weights and working out -- but the lighter sled helps some too, she admits. Both the lifting and the lighter sled would help her if she chooses to run against the guys.

"It seems like they use more speed," she said, explaining that is something she has seen in her brother's driving, even before he started racing. "Going over the jumps, they get air more and use more speed."

This weekend, Nancy Anderl has chosen to be in the Women's and Women's ProAm events. She has been traveling southern Minnesota racing for three winters.

Since she was 12, Nancy Anderl has been riding snowmobiles, but three years ago, Nancy Anderl went to a Snocross event in New Ulm and got hooked on racing. She decided at that point that she wanted to do it, so she went online and registered.

"I like the adrenaline and being aggressive, cuz you get in trouble doing that on the trails," she said. "There hasn't been much snow, so [I figured] you might as well go where there is snow."

If there isn't enough snow in a location that is holding a WSA Snocross race, organizations either have it hauled in or use a snowmaking machine.

Because Nancy Anderl has become so involved in racing, her brother, Mike Anderl is also racing this weekend.

"I was just a mechanic and worked on her sled, so I though, what the heck," Mike Anderl said. He went to his first race last year, and this year is really his first full winter racing, although according to Nancy Anderl, her brother has always been the more aggressive snowmobiler.

"It's a family event for us," Nancy Anderl said. Parents Tom and Jan Anderl, who live in New Ulm, go with their kids, help them out and cheer them on.

Not only does it bring the family together, but they also get to meet people along the way.

"My sled broke down, so we are borrowing parts from the guy in the trailer next to us," Mike Anderl said, saying that the time racers spend between races is fun as well.

The Anderl family, along with approximately 250 other racers will be at the fairgrounds again today for the third heat, which starts at 9 a.m., and finals, which will begin at approximately noon. Cost to watch the events is $10.