updated duluth national kick starts wsa season
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First Win In Pro Open
In Pro Open, the ailing Morgan didn't even make the final, but his longtime teammate, Carl Kuster (Coldwave Ski-Doo) managed to go undefeated to claim top qualifier, with Ahmasalo ending up second.
At the start of the final, Ipsen again had a great start, but Island was just as good, and in a thrilling moment, both launched off the huge flyaway jump on the downhill, almost touching bars at some 30-plus feet in the air! Ipsen managed to squeak ahead, and started driving away, prompting thoughts of a double sweep.
Duluth's Dennis Eckstrom (AMSOIL Polaris) slipped past Island into second. Knowing fans watched the charge up through the pack of independent Johnny Mold (Preferred Paving Ski-Doo), who had been very impressive, but a problem in one heat had forced him to make the final via the Last Chance Qualifier. Following him was longtime racer Earl Reimer (Coldwave Ski-Doo), who'd been hired by Blair Morgan Racing to primarily contest the Canadian championship. But Earl had been riding exceptionally well all weekend, and started a great charge.
On their way to the front, both Mold and Reimer moved past the likes of top qualifier Kuster and then Island. While Mold stalled a bit there, Reimer took off after second-place Eckstrom.
In a unique moment, as Reimer hunted down Eckstrom to the top the "wall," a rider dismounted right in front of them. As the yellow flag flew, Reimer committed to an outside line while Eckstrom protected the inside. With the downed rider right in Reimer's line, he had to lift and turn in hard in avoidance. Eckstom lifted per the rules as well, but floated just a little wide. In a highly ironic twist as a result of his evasive maneuver Reimer's line put him in perfect position for straight-line acceleration as they passed the downed rider. Now cleared of the yellow "no passing or racing" zone, he hit the trigger while Eckstrom was still completing his turn. Reimer was by and into second.
As if that wasn't impressive enough for the veteran, he then set off after Ipsen, and was literally flying over the massive moguls and gap jumps. With one lap to go and aware of the pressure. Ipsen tried to push just a bit harder and had the proverbial "moment," which cost him a ton of momentum. Reimer used the miscue to shoot past and hold on for a stunning upset win- and his first ever Pro win in a WSA SWC National event. Ipsen still had a great second place to go with his Pro Stock win, and Eckstrom ended in third place.