High School Seniors and their Parents are looking at what College or University they want to go. For some the deciding factor of where to go came down too…where the Snow is and where they can ride their Snowmobiles when classes and homework is done.
It was all the snow the Keweenaw gets that attracted the current President and the incoming President of the Michigan Tech University Sledheads.
“The winter here at MTU helped me decide to go to Tech,” Trent Seorum states. Seorum will be graduating shortly in the Electrical Engineering program. He comes from the Frankenmuth/Saginaw area, where he stated they usually don’t get a lot of snow. “I’ve been coming up here since I was 5.” He is ending his term as President of the Sledheads shortly.
Justin Kurncz, from Gaylord, will be the incoming President of the Sledheads. Kurncz is in the Mechanical Engineering Program. He has one more year at MTU.
While both Kurncz and Seorum state that the Engineering Programs at MTU was the main reason to go to Tech, they both acknowledge that the opportunity to Snowmobile was the ‘frosting on the cake’ to go to MTU.
“The winters here was a factor in my decision to come here,” Seorum replied.
‘We get snow in Gaylord, but a lot more here. I grew up racing Dirt Bikes my whole life. I love riding snowmobiles. I’ve been around Powersports my whole life,” Kurncz states. “Through the Sledheads I can continue to promote the Powersport environment. It’s my passion during school.”
Both are proud to be a part of the MTU Sledheads. An organization that has been around for close to 20 years. They have around 100 paying members. Members are mainly current students, however they have some Alumni of MTU and the Sledheads that remain members.
The Sledheads go snowmobiling on and off trail. They have a Charity ride to Big Bay to raise money for a local organization. The club rents out a hotel and has fun!
Part of the fun is ‘trash talking’ amongst each other when it comes to what snowmobile they ride. It’s not just the current sleds that members ride, Seorum states they have a group in the club that has Vintage sleds.
“I have 3 Vintage sleds. I know one member that has that many and maybe more,” Seorum comments.
It’s not just their passion to snowmobile that brings the Sledheads together. Many live together or in one of the 3 houses they have in Dodgeville.
With the help of the University, the club rents out their own heated Garage for members to work on their sleds. “Milwaukee Tools supports us with tools,” explains Seorum. “It is one of the benefits of the $30 per year membership. Members also get a T-Shirt, free access to the Sledheads Heated Garage and the tools, Membership Card gets them a Discount at the local snowmobile Dealers.”
Both Seorum and Kurncz would like to go into the Powersport business after graduation. Seorum has already worked at Polaris and Kurncz is looking at working for BRP, the manufacturer of Ski-Doo and Lynx Snowmobiles. BRP also has Can-AM Side by Sides and ATV’s, along with Sea-Doo Personal Watercraft.
MASTERS WINTERNATIONALS 2021 Sigma Tau Gamma Hill Jockeys helping sled
While the Sledheads don’t have any organized competition amongst each other, they do rent out the Dirt Bike Track at the Range Snowmobile Club for a fun, ‘run what you brung’ Sno-Cross. They are looking at having their own class at the Feb 4th-5th MASTERS-Vollwerth’s Meats WINTERNATIONALS Snowmobile Hillclimb.
“It will probably be a Vintage Class,” Seorum states. “We’re looking at helping with clearing the brush along the cut in the hill at Whealkate.”
The MTU Sledheads would run on Saturday, Feb 4th at the WINTERNATIONALS Hillclimb.
While Whealkate Bluff would be a ‘fun’ challenge for the Sledheads, the real challenge they face is getting the word out to attract new members. They put up flyers around campus and contact other MTU Organizations to let those with a snowmobile know about the group.
They meet every Wednesday Night at 6:00 in room 406 of the MEAM Building. “We usually get between 25 and 30 members to attend the weekly meetings,” according to Seorum. “It is still difficult to get the word out to join the Sledheads.”
They also have a Facebook page. Search MTU Sledheads.
You will also be able to talk to members at the Feb 4th Vollwerth’s Meats WINTERNATIONALS Hillclimb in South Range.
Till than it’s time for Seorum and Kurncz to study, go to class, than head out to do some RIDING!
{ 0 comments… add one now }