More in Delails...

1. Who is the festival meant for?

- The festival is organized for those who have had a snowmobile for a couple of years but they use it only for local rides. The problem is that they do not know where, how and with whom they could safely do it.
- The festival is meant for those who have never suffered from or have already recovered from all types of snowmobile-and-vodka-beer-drinking disease.
- The festival is for serious snowmobile riders, addicted to long-range trips.
- The festival is meant mostly for those who are looking for new vivid emotions and communication within diverse company of like-minded people.

We do not recommend you to take part in the Open Karelia 2010 Snowmobile festival if you are:
- a person who rides a snowmobile only when it involves drinking vodka. It’s not the kind of an event for you.
- a dare-devil or racer. We’re are not a suicide club. We don’t recommend you to take part in it, if you cannot sensibly assess your posibilities. All tracks can be passed calmly as well as aggressively. All tracks are natural and complicated.
- a person who has just bought your snowmobile and haven’t really ridden it yet. This event might be pretty hard for you. But if you’re interested, we have some offers for you, too.
- a professional sportsman, who is turbed on only by a stopwatch. It’s not going to be a professional race, only a festival.

2. The mission of the festival.

First of all, we are looking for easy live communication within those groups of people who hardly meet during other events.
We want the beginners and those riders, who are used to riding alone, to join us. Each region has this problem, and we faced it all last year.

One of the main goals is of course the exchange of experience. This year we try to organize a masterclass of various tricks, together with finnish sportsmen. In a couple of weeks we’ll announce if it will take place or not.
We would like to advertise tracks in Karelia and attract more people to them. Karelian tracks are even more interesting and exciting than those in some other parts of Russia.
Cultural tourism is also one of the missions we pursue. The region of Karelia has always been attractive for tourists (Ladoga, Onego lakes, villages, Kizhi, etc.), we want to point out the possibilities of travelling with a snowmobile.

The festival is mostly for snowmobile riders, not spectators. The race in Petrozavodsk pursues the goal to popularize this sport and movement in general, and to make a show as well.
We want the festival to be held for riders, not sponsors or organizers. We don’t refuse their help, but our riders deserve and shouldn’t lack attention.

We don’t want the festival to be big and crowded (100-200 people), for the goals we have differ much from the goals of big events. Some day we may organize a festval bigger than this one, but now not more than 40-50 people.

3. Why these areas in Karelia?

Olonets region offers a range of various beautiful tracks, which can become as popular as finnish tracks one day. The snow cover is even harder than in the area of Petrozavodsk.
Moreover, this place is 140 km closer to central cities of Russia, than Petrozavodsk.
Also, the festival will take place in Pryazha and Medvezhyegorsk regions of Karelia.

4. Concerning the format of the events within the festival.

This is going to be the sixth snowmobile race. Every year we succeed in some way, and move forward according to the conclusions we draw, we grow up and the level of our work changes with us.
Last year there were some mistakes in the aspect of safety, but we will not make the tracks easier, because there are other ways out. We have taken it into account this year, and now we use new ways of marking the tracks.
There is going to be special regulations, limiting some road hogs in speed.
The format of the festival will help its participants to find an activity for everyone. One can compete, or just enjoy the ride.

The Prologue track.
Now it’s a straight line, but can be changed to a circle, in order to make it safer.
A straight line is a track with almost no turns, but of course a forest road, not a highway.
Your main task is to aim for the track, keeping the snowmobile safe.

The Country-Cross
A really complex track. First, there is an orientation circle, where the organizers show the track and its features. The circle is almost 55 km long. Riding this circle twice will count for your total time. There might as well be the third additional circle, 30 km.
The track is interesting for confident sportsmen.
For beginners it can be also interesting because of its beauty.
The track can be ridden for time results, or for pleasure.

The Team Race
A 270 km long straight line track along very picturesque scenery. There are some really scary areas, which caused some near death experience last year.
That is why we mark the track even more thoroughly, and there is going to be a guide, who will help, prevent or limit your actions. But remember that the competition is a team race.
And again, if you are not ready for a hard play, you can easily enjoy a free ride out of the competition.
 

Speedway
A special track for those who want a show, horsing around and having fun.

24 Non-Stop
An outstanding track, only for some very self-confident men, who understand what they are doing.

A Kizhi ride
Just a beautiful ride to a very beautiful place.