The 2017 Arctic Man is going full speed in their annual race.

I traveled down to Summit yesterday to witness the event first hand.

It was a beautiful, clear, spring day in Summit for the start of the 2017 Arctic Man. The weather was actually a concern for many as the Race was actually postponed from it's normal start on Thursday until one day later on Friday to help the conditions settle a bit and make it safer for the racers. The racers seemed to appreciate the delayed start, because according to them, the trails were perfectly fine.

"The temperatures are cold so the snow felt really hard and fast and we're starting to see that soften up. It's really tricky riding for the drivers, the skiers conditions were really clean," said Eric Heil.

"The course wasn't too bad. The temperatures kind of killed the snow," said Troy Conlon. "But, the overall course, they did a good job setting it up and grooming it. Keeping us off an extra day really let it set up better than it was. I think they made the best of what they had."

"The snowmachining really was technical this year," said Eric Quan. "I didn't mind it. It just adds a little challenge out there. There was some ice we had to deal with. But it was very very doable. It makes it a little more different and a little more fun I think."

The race is truly one of a kind as it combines skiing or snowboarding with snowmachine races. The Skier or Boarder starts at a 5,800 foot elevation, they then ski or board down to 1,700 feet in less than two miles, where they then meet up with their partner on snowmachine. The snowmachiner then pulls the skier or boarder 2 and a half miles uphill, reaching speeds up to 85 mph. The skier then separates, where they proceed to go over the second side of the mountain and drop another 1,200 feet to the finish line. Skier Errol Kerr makes it easier to understand what the race is like.

"Just imagine going out on your snowmobile, go as fast as you can, then go find your best skiing partner, and get about a 15 foot rope, then put them behind the snowmobile and go as fast as you can," said Kerr. "And just remember it's a five mile race. The first guy to complete the race the fastest wins. There's nothing else like it. It's a very unique race. It's a point–to–point race. So we start and it's one point to the following point. We don't go around in circles. It's a really unique fun and cool event."

However, it isn't just the uniqueness of the race that makes the Arctic Man special. It's the community made up of the racers, their family, friends, and the thousands of spectators who came to support them.

"It's a great community out here, tons of stuff to see and tons of stuff to do. Nice people everywhere, you can walk from camp to camp," said Kerr. "There's great people out there. It's really a good fun community. And it's really a family event now."

"It's like the Daytona beach of Alaska. It's spring break. This is where, if you own a snowmachine and you're not here, you're just missing out on the winter wonderland of the Gulkana ice fields. It's an amazing place. This is the day that spring always breaks out, and it's a really neat event that combines the skiers' and the snowmachiners' world. And everybody embraces the comradery the whole race. And that's the most dynamic part of this race. Been coming here for 28 years and I've met a lot of great friends. Honestly, the most important thing for us when we get back here is that it's like we're brothers and everyone is back together, including the girls. It's great stuff," Kerr said.

And now that the main race is in the books, it's time to celebrate the event, and look ahead to next year.

"It's a spring experience that you've never had in your life, come out and try it," said race founder Howard Theis. "Because you'll never forget it and you'll keep coming back and coming back. Same time, same place next year. We're gonna change up some stuff, but same place, same time."