If we are not vigilant, Minnesotans are at risk of drifting into torpor in the deep winter months. After the whirl of holiday gatherings is over we are beset by cold and darkness and the temptation to hide out under a pile of down comforters is hard to resist. Fortunately, we have a force that can help fight off listlessness and triumph over winter’s pall. What force, you ask? Speed.Blazing speed.Indoors and outdoors, Maple Grove is home to two options to help you reach the velocity to leave midwinter woes behind.
Horizontal Tubes
Meet winter head-on at the Elm Creek Park Reserve tubing hill. The tubing hill, recommended for participants four years of age or older, or 36 inches or taller, is designed for safety andmomentum. “Our hill is in the top four in the country in terms of number of tubes and capacity,” says Wayne Iseri, park operations manager. The 10-story hill has twelve lanes with velocities varying from gentle to breathtaking, topping out at 30 mph. “We have two exhilarating descents known as the “Atomic Drop”’ Iseri says, which are fast when ridden individually, but pick up acceleration when ridden in a group. “It’s a blast,” Iseri says. “We get adults here who think it’s mostly a kid thing, but when they get out there with the kids, they have the best time. Next thing you know, [the adults] are bringing their own parties out here.”
Park staff at the top and bottom assure that the hills are used appropriately for the snow conditions, and continuous monitoring of the lift helps speed and safety to go hand in hand. “We have a professional ski patrol trained to handle emergency,” Iseri says, “but there has never been a serious injury on the hill. This is the most popular winter family recreation area in the Twin Cities with a capacity of up to 600 tubers; we offer great rates and a variety of things to do.”
For instance, cross country skiers can pick up speed on the hills with the beginner to advanced trails, and if you and your canine pal want to pick up a gear on your cross country skis, you can try Skijoring on one of Elm Creek’s multi-use trails. “It’s going out with your dog attached to your waist by a harness,” Iseri explains. “The dog runs down the trail and pulls the skier.” Elm Creek’s Snow Sports Academy also offers beginning through intermediate lessons for kids and adults interested in learning to ski or snowboard, and have an instructional program for kids interested in racing. “We teach them racing techniques on a smaller slalom hill to prepare for bigger hills, and then compete against other teams from resorts,” Iseri says.
The tubing hill at Elm Creek Park Reserve is open 4p.m.-9 p.m., Wed–Fri, and 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat and Sun. The hill is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, except for holidays and winter breaks, when the hill will be available 10 a.m.–9 p.m. A two-hour pass costs $15 dollars, but double your fun on Wednesdays and Thursdays, when two people can tube for the price of one. Buy ahead and save $30 when you purchase a ten-visit (two-hour) pass for $120. If two hours aren’t enough, an additional hour of tubing is $3. Passes can be purchased at the Elm Creek chalet.
12400 James Deane Parkway, 763.694.7894.
Verticle Tubes
If 30mph isn’t fast enough for you, or if you just want to tear around somewhere inside so you can forget what season it is outside, ProKART Indoor Racing would be happy to help you get your speed on. “This is not putt-putt go karting like you might see at Valleyfair,” says Scott Ophoven, one of the owners. “It is something you need to get in here to experience; you are driving a machine that is all about speed.” ProKart’s single driver karts are capable of speeds up to 40mph, and while the indoor track might not be full raceway sized, there is nothing small about the thrills and competitive atmosphere.
“Our biggest groups are late teens to adults,” Ophoven says, “but we do get a lot of younger kids too. We have driving schools and birthday parties, and the kids get hooked.” Kids aged eight to 12 must complete a two hour kid’s driving school before taking to the track on their own. The driving school teaches safety, vehicle operation and initiates kids to the flags used for communicating out on the track. Once the classroom session is over the students follow their instructor around the track for three laps to get accustomed to controlling speed and steering.
New drivers age 13 and older get a brief orientation before taking to the track. Every driver, whether first-time driving school graduate or track record holder, receives an email with his or her laptimes and information about events and big races coming up. People who want the “arrive and drive” open racing option should check ahead for track availability (by phone or on the ProKART Indoors (Maple Grove) Facebook page) as the facility offers bookings for leagues, parties and corporate events. “We fit people in, and it usually works out,” Ophoven says, but we host “tons of corporate holiday parties.”ProKART also offers league racing. “Most of our leagues are a group of people who sign up together, and enjoy competing against each other. We get snowmobilers who aren’t getting their snow on the tough winters.” To keep things fresh, ProKART changes the track layout occasionally. Endurance races are offered for drivers wanting to test their stamina and concentration.
“I do as many endurance races as I can,” says 31-year-old Adam Chiodo, who has raced at ProKART for over a year. “You can’t have more fun as a hobby in the winter months.” Chiodo, who has been drag racing on tracks in the summer months since he was 16, is a big fan of ProKART. “The endurance races can be tough,” he says. “Races with more laps really test the limits, and you have to qualify which makes it fun and competitive.” Chiodo has also hosted his birthday party and a business event at ProKART, and says his buddies are hooked too.
ProKART is open Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesday from noon to 9p.m., Thursdays from 11a.m.-10p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11a.m.-11p.m. Drivers can purchase a 30 day license for $10, which can be extended to an annual license for an additional $15. License holders get eight-minute race sessions at the following rates: $18 for a single race, $33 for two, $45 for three, and each additional race costs $15. The driving school costs $75 and includes an annual license (or membership) to ProKART. Contact ProKART for group rates. Helmets and eye protection are required and available for rent.
11700 Troy Lane N., 763.428.1333.
