2003 Canadian Open WSA Snocross Race

The 2nd Canadian Open snocross snowmobile race took place in Winnipeg on December 13 & 14 in 2003. It was sanctioned by the WSA, World Snowmobile Association and held at the  Assiniboia Downs race track. A  capacity crowd attended, cheering  on the field of professional snocross racers.

Photos from the event follow.

One of the features of the 2003 Canadian Open was Blair Morgan’s return to the track after spending months in a back and leg brace as a result of a terrible motocross accident in June, 2003. Walking for just a month before Winnipeg’s annual snocross event, Morgan was working hard to get in shape. The snocross superman used super willpower to fight the pain to keep on competing!

Blair Morgan - 2003 - Canadian Open snocross race

Pro Stock National — Morgan took first in all 3 qualifying rounds and was passed at the checkered flag in the final, for a second place finish by a ski length.

In the Pro Open Morgan completed the three rounds of qualifying with a fifth and two first place finishes. After a crash in the final, he ended up with twelfth place.

Carl Kuster, #47c, long-time member of the Blair Morgan snowmobile Racing Team, carried away the checkered flag for the Pro Open National snowcross final. Coming into the final in the coveted pole position, he had completed qualifying with a third, a first, and a second in his snowcross races.

Carl Kuster #47C - Canadian National snocross race 2003

Michael Island, #8, member of the Ski-Doo X Racing Team, finished fourth in the Pro Open National snowcross event, after a fifth, second and sixth in qualifying. He didn’t make the LCQ to get into the Pro Stock Final after a fifth, fourth and second in qualifying. Island rides the Bud Light Ski-Doo below.

Michael Island on the Bud Light Ski-Doo 2003

Below, over the first tabletop of the Pro Stock Final, is Shaun Crapo, #3, who was filling Tucker Hibbert’s shoes with the Arctic Cat factory team. Crapo took first by a ski-length in the Pro Stock National after finishing his three rounds of qualifying with two firsts and a second.

Shaun Crapo - 2003 Canadian Open snocross race

In the Pro Open Crapo finished in seventh place, after qualifying round finishes of first, third and fifth place.

Kent Ipsen, #40, leads Kurtis Crapo around the corner in the switchback below. Ipsen finished 14th in the Pro Open National. He didn’t make it into the Pro Stock National final despite having finished the qualifying rounds with a third, fourth, and a first.

Kent Ipsen, #40, Canadian Open snocross race

Dennis Eckstrom, getting up front for the Amsoil/Scheuring Speedsports team on his Polaris, had a good weekend in Winnipeg. Eckstrom took second in the Pro Open National final, after two third place finishes and a ninth during qualifying. In the Pro Stock National he ended up in ninth in the final, having qualified with two seconds and a third.

Dennis Eckstrom leading with his Polaris through a snocross switchback

2003 Canadian Open Pro Stock snocross final

Trevor John, #85, Canadian Open snocross race 2003

Start of a snocross event at Canadian Open snocross race 2003

T.J. Gulla in Canadian Open snocross 2003

Photography by Linda Aksomitis, 2003.