The Edge of Chaos: Prepping for Jackson Hole World Championships

Since they first laid eyes on the hill at Snow King in Jackson Hole, Wyo., Ski-Doo hillclimb racers Jay Mentaberry and Blaine Matthews knew they’d be racing snowmobiles there. From the moment their eyes open in the morning, this pair of racers want to be on a sled chasing their ultimate goal each season: Conquering the Jackson Hole World Hillclimb Championship. It’s the crown jewel of snowmobile hillclimb racing and, according to racers, the gnarliest ride you'll ever attempt or witness from the crowd. And it takes a special kind of crazy to attempt to make it to the top – Here’s their journey to Jackson Hole.

The path to the top proved as treacherous as ever in 2022, with a brand new course littered with stumps and rocks along with the usual rutted up, trenched out tracks. Even with the added challenges, Mathews was able to put a noticeable gap on the field to capture the World Championship Crowns in both 900 and 1000 Stock classes. He also earned a third-place finish in the Open Stock and Open Mod classes. Mentaberry turned in several strong runs to the top, and was rewarded with a third-place finish in the 1000 Stock class.