Snowmobile Mountain Madness at Gunstock offers riders chance to race a sled up ski trail

GILFORD — Since the snowmobile industry began in earnest during the 1960s, most chances to compete in northern states came only through the design of a specific race course.

For years, racers have gazed at ski slopes during the long winter and wondered what it would be like to race, side-by-side, from bottom to top. Now, that opportunity is here, with the 2026 Snowmobile Mountain Madness event at Gunstock Mountain Resort on Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12.

“If snowmobile owners have ever thought how cool it would be to utilize a ski slope for sleds, they'll have that chance at Gunstock,” said X Racing's Joe Duncan. “On most days, you'd get in trouble with the law if you rode your sled up a ski hill. But on April 11-12, it will be legal at Gunstock.

“We're going to lay out race courses for Hillcross, Snowcross and Sunday Funday classes. Each will offer racers the chance to compete on a unique track designed with fun in mind. I hope guys and gals who own older sleds will bring them to Gunstock for one last round of big fun before we call it a year.”

This will be the first-ever snowmobile race at Gunstock. Racers don't have to be a pro snowmobiler to compete, just have to own a snowmobile and proper safety gear.

X Racing is a sanctioning body for snowmobile racing based in Elk River, Minnesota. X Racing maintains regional race circuits in the upper Midwest and Northeast. It operates on a philosophy of affordable racing, keeping costs to a minimum for families who love sleds.

This spring, X Racing wrapped up its fourth year of Sunday Funday competition in Minnesota.

Snowmobile Mountain Madness at Gunstock Resort is presented by HK Powersports, of Laconia and Hooksett. For more information, visit gunstock.com.