craigdailypress.com

Tanner Hankins has had the breaks lately. First came the bad break. He broke his wrist and couldn't ride his snowmobile for three weeks. Then came the good break.

He received an invitation from Ski-Doo to race for them at the World Snowmobile Association's Valcourt National in Valcourt, Canada.

Rob Powers, who announces local World Snowmobile Association races, called Ski-Doo factory officials and talked to them about the Moffat County High School junior.

"They invited me just to check me out," Hankins said. "They just want to see what I can do."

Hankins said he didn't have a lot of pressures to do well, but he has set some high goals.

"I want to get into the finals," he said.

Hankins will compete in the semi-pro division. He will race in the stock and open races. The qualifying races are Saturday, and Sunday will be the finals.

"I'll be racing against 15 other factory guys," he said.

He flew out of Denver this morning. Ski-Doo is providing a sled to race on when he arrives in Canada.

If all goes well, Hankins will become a part of the Ski-Doo team and be a "factory guy."

"I'd travel with the Ski-Doo guys in a semi," he said. "If I'm a factory rider, I have access to the best of everything."

Saturday will be the first race back on a sled since he broke his wrist. Wednesday was the first time back on a sled at all.

"I thought my wrist was going to hurt," he said. "It felt fine."

If Ski-Doo likes what it sees, Hankins could be invited to the Buffalo (N.Y.) National the next weekend.

To be able to compete, Hankins receives most of his support from local businesses, family members and friends. During the time that he is not racing, he learns about the tricks of the trade at his dad's shop, Hangtime Powersports, in Craig.