Paul Thacker

Thacker: State of the SnoMo Union

// March 3rd, 2010 // News

This ain’t Paul Thacker’s first rodeo. He’s been around the block before—wearing all sorts of hats and helmets. Chances are Thacker has walked a mile in your shoes.

The unusual arc of Thacker’s career—college (Concordia, Minn.), then minor-league hockey (center forward, Anchorage Aces), then six-plus years as a banker (AK district manager, Wells Fargo Financial) moonlighting as snowmobile racer and freerider, and now, hallelujah!, professional freerider (two time world-record distance jump holder)—sets him apart from most of his SnoMo bros. Actually, college alone accomplishes that, but it’s all part of a unique journey nonetheless.

Today no one can say that the 34-year-old Thacker hasn’t paid his dues. He flipped early and continues to do so often despite one ghastly wreck that would’ve killed a lesser soul. So Thacker has earned his place as one of the sledding community’s elder statesmen and one of its sideburn-sporting spokesmodels.

So how is it, Paul Thacker, that snowmobiling’s stock is blowing up while the world financial markets tumble? Sled Man Talking caught up with Thacker by phone this week from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to try and make sense of the market incongruities. Of course, the conversation ranged further afield to topics including Thacker’s new Polaris contract, his possible return to snocross, world-record distance jumps, living with the Burandts, and working smarter, not harder.

EXPN: Hopefully you’re participating in regular jazzercise classes and water aerobics at the hotel to stay in top form while in Mexico?

Paul Thacker: “Nope. This is the last bit of R&R before the season. So I’m doing as little as possible. Occassionally though I’ll move from the pool to a pool-side lounge chair.”

Are we nuts or is it true that snowmobiling is blowing up, and all of a sudden? “It’s true. There’s a lot going on in the snowmobile world period. It just seems like everyone’s interested in snowmobiling right now and with the new XFS Tour and the updgraded Monster-Slednecks Invasion Tour you’re seeing legitimate upwardly mobile activity right there.”

“With the XFS, I’ve actually been involved with it as far as talking ideas and sponsorships, and we’re hoping it’ll become what the Dew Tour is for the moto guys: The X Games will still be the big to-do, but where we’ve got four or five other stops that are televised qualifier-type deals. It used to be you raced or you filmed. Those were your two options. But that’s changing now. You don’t necessarily have to be a racer to be a pro snowmobiler anymore, and the manufacturers are definitely starting to notice too.”

“Still, all we’ve had so far is the X Games—it’s the Super Bowl for professional snowmobilers. There’s nothing that compares to it at the moment. But hopefully all this will new action will catapult us into the mainstream of action sports, because we’re not there yet.”

You just inked a new deal with Polaris. Explain? “It’s actually my first-ever real sled contract. I’m ecstatic. It’s huge for me and once we get more freestyle/freeride guys out there doing it, it’ll open the door for other guys to get on board with the same thing.”

Thoughts on the expanded Monster-Slednecks Invasion Tour? “They’ve been trying to do this for years now, and we’ve done a few, but by partnering with ISOC and hitting all the National Snocross events this is our chance to knock it out of the park. Then hopefully we’ll be able to start popping these things off in greater multiples, and creating more opportunities for more riders to step up.”

Plans for another world record distance jump? “We’re going to do another one, yes. Ideally I’d like to do it before X Games, before the New Year. I’d like to get a new record established.”

X Games is invite-only this year, and you’re not on the list. Not yet anyway. Thoughts? “I’m mixed on it. Hopefully I’ll be in there, but I would like to see qualifiers take place either way. But with freestyle it was hard to make the events worthy of being X Games qualifiers. You can make a case for 10 or maybe 15 guys, freestyle wise, but I don’t think you’re going to miss anybody. In freestyle moto it’s different because there’s 25 guys who are amazing. We’re not at that point yet, but I think we will be someday. As far as the race scene, it’s really not that hard to find your 20-plus best snocross racers. I don’t think there’s going to be any talent left behind there. But it’s also nice to see underdogs getting in there, race or freestyle, which maybe you’re not going to see this year. In years to come though, hopefully some worthy qualifiers will be in place to keep things spicy in that regard.”

You got your start in sleds as a racer. But you’ve made your mark as a freerider. Are you thinking of crossing back over, ala reverse Levi LaVallee? “I started racing snocross in Alaska in 2000, but I basically grew up freeriding in the mountains. I raced my first Snocross National in Duluth as a semi-pro in ‘04, and then did the pro class in ‘05, ‘06 and ‘07. In ‘04, I also got my first segment in Turnagain Hardcore and Slednecks, and that’s also when we started doing the world-record jumps in the mountains.”

“But I might be racing a little snocross again this year. With my Polaris deal, I can race pro vet and pro stock—but I won’t have a mod. So I’m thinking, yes, I’ll give it a try and bang some bars with the boys again. And with the XFS, there’s interest in getting guys in all three disciplines, like Levi, and maybe I can fit into that category too.”

When will you be re-united with your monster Monster truck? And what’s that beast called anyway? “The truck, trailer and sleds live at my parents ranch between Billings and Bozeman, Montana. I’ll be picking it all up in another week or so, then heading to Duluth for the first National event and Invasion Tour. … I don’t really have a name for it. It’s just my girl. She; the big ol’ girl.”

Mostly in the Lower 48 this winter? “Yes, pretty much all the time between and X Games with the exception of a brief trip home to AK before heading down to Montana.”

“I’ll spend the majority of December and January in Colorado. Actually, I’ll be a fulltime roommate of the Burandts, Chris and Sandy. Sandy’ll probably have me cleaning the bathrooms and vacuuming. But I’m ready.”

Burandt’s on Arctic Cat and you’re with Polaris—will that create any tension? “I don’t think it’ll be a problem. He knows my sleds are better anyway. Wait, don’t quote me on that. Seriously. I’m hoping to be staying with them…”

Thanks to Todd Palin, the free world has been made well aware of the Iron Dog race. Any interest there? “I’ll do the Iron Dog when I can’t jump anymore. I’ve never really entertained the idea, actually. Those guys are gnarly. It’s cold and long and miserable. I like to be able to warm up between sessions, you know. I’m a fair weather snowmobiler.”

OK, so what else is going on? Seems like you’re holding out on us?! “I’ve got some amazing, amazing stuff coming up after the New Year. I’ve had to sign confidentiality agreements and all that stuff. So, no, I can’t talk to you about it.”

Reality show? “That idea has been kicked around, but no. This is way cooler than that.”

How long ago was it now that you were a banker… who also rode sleds? “It’ll be two years next month that I haven’t had a real job. And, you know, I’ve never boasted to be the best rider in the world, but I’ve always thought of myself as one of the smartest. … I am the only one of us I know of who has a college education. And I think all that’s helped me to bring a totally different mindset to the sport. I think being a little bit older or more mature has helped with that too, and it’s probably why more and more younger guys are coming to me for advice.”