STATELINE, Nev. – Guts, glory, and a full tank of methanol – that’s what you can expect this weekend at the Tahoe Blue Event Center as the Xtreme International Ice Racing (XIIR) Series goes all gas with literally no brakes for its second round stop in Tahoe on January 24. To add to the adrenaline-fueled entertainment, locals will also be given a chance to race on the ice.
Anthony Barlow, XIIR Founder and former rider, started the racing series in 2003. Barlow, being from Southport, England, took his humble beginnings as a pro speedway racer, and his love for the ice, and turned them into a year-long sensation.
“I was a Redbull rider from 2004 until I retired last year. The first year, we did seven rounds, and after that, it just boomed,” said Barlow. “I remember we went to Cincinnati, and it was an absolute flop. Then we went to Tampa, Florida, and we had 9,000 people.”
With three premiere styles of racing, who wouldn’t find the extreme sport to be a spectacle to witness? All-terrain vehicles (ATV), flat-track, and speedway bikes capable of going 0-60 mph in three seconds, they zoom around the ice with studded tires, making twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The riders race in heats, and each heat allows four competitors at a time to earn points to qualify them for the final race.
“I like all aspects of it. I like the journey, I like driving and promoting. I love seeing the fans happy, and to watch people race,” added Barlow.
Colby Long, a Central Florida native and motorcycle enthusiast, started ice racing a decade ago and hasn’t stopped since. His love and passion for riding has taken him down many roads of various terrain – dirt, sand, or mountainside, he’s willing to do it all.
Long moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to take his racing to the next level in his sophomore year of high school.
“About 10 years ago, I was at a race, and I was approached by this British guy and he came up and said, ‘Hey, why do you race eight months out of the year when you can race all 12?'” Long said.
Never having raced on the ice, he decided to give it a shot. “I had no idea what I was doing, I didn’t know what it was going to be like riding on the ice, because even in Indianapolis, we don’t get much outdoor ice.” Now, he runs all three premiere classes in one night, one of the only racers in the league to do so.
Long has won four championship titles so far in the series, but aside from his off-roading skills, his greatest highlights are entertaining the crowd and contributing to each community they visit during the series.
“I remember being a young boy, going to motorcycle races, big races, big shows, and you look at these guys like they’re superstars, and we get that. So anything I can give back after a race, whether a kid wants a pair of goggles, or a jersey, we always try to throw it out and give back.”
With six contracted riders, XIIR travels around the entire country and Canada, competing for the championship title. “This year, we’re doing an East Coast championship, West Coast championship and Midwest championship,” said Barlow, and racers participating in the entire series qualify for the World championship.
A unique and popular aspect to the series is when the locals are able to join in on the fun.
“We have local riders that come to race against the pros, and you get to see good battles out of it,” said Long. “We include GO-KARTs, trikes, youth bikes, and all kinds of stuff.”
XIIR encourages all Tahoe locals interested in getting involved, to grab their pitbikes, ATVs, flat-track bikes, or the like, and come compete in the XIIR Series.
Get ready for some nail-biting action this weekend at the Tahoe Blue Event Center. The event offers a family-friendly experience for all ages and starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets to attend are on sale at ticketmaster.com.
To sign up to race as a local or to learn more about the registration rules, visit https://www.xtremeiceracing.com/race-sign-up, or call (636) 795-4773.
For more information about the XIIR Series, visit https://www.xtremeiceracing.com.
