One of the largest cross-border events in the Sault Ste. Marie area is just weeks away, but concerns about Canadian participation this year are surfacing.
The International 500 Snowmobile Race usually attracts thousands of spectators, volunteers, and racers to Sault Michigan for a week filled with thrilling races and other activities.
This will culminate in the 57th running of a 500-mile snowmobile race, taking place on a one-mile-long ice oval.
Drivers can hit speeds up to 120 miles per hour, which has led some to call it “NASCAR on ice.”
Last year, the event drew around 6,900 spectators, making it one of the largest crowds in I-500 history.
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Snowmobiler racer in the I-500 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. (Photo supplied by Ryan Kostanowicz)
However, as political and trade tensions between Canada and the U. S. persist into the new year, Canadians are traveling south less frequently, leading to a noticeable drop in border traffic at Sault’s International Bridge.
Ryan Kostanowicz, who serves as the Canadian liaison on the I-500 Board of Directors, mentioned that the race depends significantly on button sales and volunteers from Ontario side of St. Marys River.
While he’s uncertain how many fans from Canadian Sault or northern Ontario will attend this year’s event, Kostanowicz remains hopeful.
“A big group of our flaggers are from Sault, Ontario, and we’ve got other volunteers from there who help out in a big way,” he said. It’s an international affair for sure. I don’t think people realize how much Canadian involvement there is in this race.”
Kostanowicz noted that he has faced some criticism from locals in Ontario for being part of an event that mostly benefits an American city’s economy.
But he clarified that the bond between their two communities-often called “twin Saults”-should overshadow any recent political or economic noise.
“Long before any politics were involved, Canada has always had a huge part in putting this on,” he said. “We’re sister cities. We rely on each other.”
“Race fans are going to be race fans – they’re going to go wherever. We keep politics out of it. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but we’re going to keep doing the best we can do to put on the best show we can.”
Although there hasn’t been a shortage of snow recently, temperatures have been relatively mild-which isn’t ideal for crews trying to freeze down the racetrack oval.
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The ice oval at the I-500 Snowmobile Race in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. (Photo supplied by Ryan Kostanowicz)
Kostanowicz seems unbothered by these conditions as it’s something they’ve learned to adapt to over time.
“We’ve moved more snow than I want to think about,” he laughed. “We’re in a holding pattern with the weather but we still have time left. We’ve had to build a track in ten days or less before; doing it again isn’t out of question.”
Kostanowicz shared that many attendees at Michigan’s event often venture into Ontario where they stay at hotels and shop around.
He hopes that trend continues this year since he considers it more important now than ever before.
“We rely on each other more than people realize , and there’s an economic benefit to both sides,” he said. “[Spectators] will cross over into Canada for visits , and some may return later – whether it’s for skiing trips , snowmobiling , or fishing trips.”
The International 500 Snowmobile Race takes place from Feb.1-7 in Sault Ste. Marie , Michigan.
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