Cuyuna Lakes Annual Ice Fishing Contest & Scorpion Homecoming 2022

February 5, 2022

Promotional Materials

Pandemic Adjustments

Due to the on-going pandemic, expect several changes over prior years.

• No large on-ice warming tent. Bundle-up and be sure to wear sturdy boots (with cleats).

• No Scorpion merchandise. Only 2022 Homecoming buttons will be available for purchase ($5).

• Scorpion awards ceremony at 2:00 PM, ice fishing awards at 3:00 PM.

• No post-event Scorpion open house.

Scorpion Homecoming is an informal meetup. Attend at your own risk.

Homecoming Overview

… where it’s not about the sleds, it’s about the people.

Join hundreds of Scorpion fans for the 18th annual Scorpion Homecoming & Ice Fishing Contest, brought to you by the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce and the Sno-Serpent Snowmobile Club.

The 1970-71 rally stripped teardrop designs are your 2022 Scorpion Homecoming feature sleds!

Given the ongoing pandemic, the event will be modestly different from prior years (see above). For a recap of prior events, browse the Scorpion Homecoming launch page.

Scorpion Homecoming is a casual, free and fun meetup. Sled registration is completely complementary. No formal provisions are being made for swap or race activities. (No racing allowed.) Attendees are however encouraged to support the event by purchasing an ice fishing raffle ticket (excellent prizes awarded - need not be present to win), patronizing the concessionaires and purchasing an 2022 Homecoming button.

All Scorpions, as well as Scorpion-manufactured brands are welcome, including Trail-A-Sled, Sno-Ro, Sears, Sno-Craft, Brut and Massey-Ferguson.

Machines need not run to be displayed.

And don't forget to sport your Scorpion-themed apparel!

Need more information? Use our Contact form.

Scorpion Homecoming is an informal meetup. Attend at your own risk.

Homecoming results

Scorpion Homecoming a Frigid Success

Approximately 95 home-grown Scorpions were found on Serpent Lake this past Saturday for the 18th Annual Cuyuna Lakes Ice Fishing Contest and Scorpion Homecoming. In addition to those attending the ice fishing contest, 200 Scorpion fans rode-in on their favorite machines for the two-hour meet-up. Several swappers were also on hand, to buy and sell parts for the ever-collectable Scorpion brand. The Scorpion Traveler award went to gentleman who came all the way from North Carolina, to attend the event. With an ambient high temperature of only 12 degrees, snow flurries, and a strong wind, it was one of the coldest Homecoming’s ever, with wind chills well into negative territory. Shout-out to all the Scorpion fans who came-out to brave the elements, and show-off their Scorpions.

Special thanks to the Sno-Serpents Snowmobile Club (Rob Geske and John Taylor) and the Antique Snowmobile Society, both of which went above and beyond, for the event. Also, big-time thanks to the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce (Courtney Condon), Oars-N-Mine (Don Brown), Crosby-Ironton Courier (Joan Hasskamp), KKIN (Tom Martin), etc. Thank you! Look for a repeat event on February 4, 2023.

Nineteen awards were presented, in the following categories.

Honorary Awards

Sno-Serpent Award, Ryan Hopkes, Zimmerman, MN, 1965

Chamber’s Choice, Ryan Hopkes, Zimmerman, MN, 1966 H300

Scorpion Traveler, Doug Simmons, Hickory, NC, 1320 miles

Eileen Harrison Memorial Award, Amanda Peters, Crosby MN, 1973 Stingerette

Era Awards

Trail-A-Sled Original

Runner Up, Tom Besch, Kasson, MN, 1970 Stinger

1st Place, Ryan Hopkes, Zimmerman, MN, 1965 H260

Trail-A-Sled Restored

Runner Up, Ryan Hopkes, Zimmerman, MN, 1970 Stinger 340SS

1st Place, Dave Klein, Cold Spring, MN, 1971 Super Stinger

Scorpion Original

Runner Up, Peter Erickson, Thief River Falls, MN, 1975 Super Stinger

1st Place, Greg Sasik, Outing, MN, 1975 Whip 400

Scorpion Restored

Runner Up, Amanda Peters, Crosby, MN, 1973 Stingerette

1st Place, Jerry Garner, Blaine, MN, 1974 Super Stinger

Custom

Runner Up, Kyler McCoy, Clearwater, MN, Multi-Year Custom

1st Place, Kirk Anderson, Crosby, MN, 1969-71 Mark III

Feature Sleds

Honorable Mention, Don Maslowski, Little Falls, MN, 1970 Mark II

Honorable Mention, Scott Tolve, Elk River, MN, 1970 Mark III

3rd Place, Greg Greely, Crosby, MN, 1971 Mark II

2nd Place, Matt Matich, Brainerd, MN, 1970 Mark II

1st Place, Cam Kmecik, Zimmerman, MN, 1970 Mark I

2022 homecoming Button

Liability Disclaimer

Scorpion Homecoming is an informal meetup. Attend at your own risk.

ice fishing details

For details regarding the ice fishing contest, including information regarding prices and raffle tickets, please visit this link https://bit.ly/3fiHa4c

Important Announcements

Weather Information

• Overall weather conditions look good, with a slight dusting Saturday morning and a high of 19F. Bundle-up and be prepared to be outside, most of the time.

Ice Condition Updates

• Although the Minnesota DNR has verified the lake’s ice thickness, automobile drivability on Serpent Lake remains extremely poor. Even well-equipped 4x4 trucks are typically not venturing-out on the lake. It’s the worst we’ve seen. The unusual combination of intermittent heavy snows and slush have made a real mess of things for vehicles. These same factors have made it nearly impossible to create any reasonably large area of on-lake plowed surface, for parking. As such, we strongly encourage participants to park along the numerous nearby city streets and ride their sleds into the event, or toboggin-in their fishing gear, as the case might be. See map below.

Scorpion Homecoming is an informal meetup. Attend at your own risk.

Social Media Guidelines - ice fishing

Before, during and after the even please post actively with Instagram handle @cuyuna_lakes along with hashtags #cuyunalakes and #cuyunalakescontest

LOCATION

Crosby, Minnesota is located on the eastern edge of the Brainerd Lakes Area (115 miles north of Minneapolis, 90 miles west of Duluth, 15 miles northwest of Brainerd). Crosby's Memorial Park on the northwestern shores of Serpent Lake (Highway 210).

Homecoming Details

Agenda

• 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ~ Set-up & Registration

• 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM ~ Display

• 1:00 - 1:30 PM ~ Judging

• 2:00 PM ~ Awards Presentation

• 3:00 PM ~ Conclusion

2022 Feature SleDS

For 2022 we are featuring the black-hooded teardrop designs of 1970 and 1971. These two model years showcased the iconic red and white rally stripes that defined an era for the former locally based snowmobile manufacturer, Scorpion Snowmobiles. See the mural on the south side of the Deerwood Bank building (Deerwood, MN) for a terrific example of these classic machines. — Perhaps Scorpion’s most memorable hood design, the fiberglass teardrop was a staple of the company for five years running. With smooth retro-styling, the teardrop is just as cool now, as it was back then. — Whether original or restored, if you have one, regardless of condition, bring it out and show it off! (And you just might win a trophy!)

Media Coverage

[Pending]

Social Media - Scorpion homecoming

During the event, please actively post with the hash-tag #scorpionsnowmobiles #scorpionhomecoming using Instagram handle @scorpionsnowmobiles and check-in on Facebook under the place name "Scorpion Homecoming." It all helps to get the word out!

Judging

A more formalized judging process will continue for 2022. Scorpion Homecoming is independently judged by experts within the antique and vintage snowmobile hobby - the Antique Snowmobile Society (A.S.S.).

Trophies

An large number of trophies will be distributed at the 2:00 PM on-ice awards presentation.

Parking and Traffic Flow

On-ice parking is strongly discouraged this year. See Important Announcements section of this page for last minute information.

Display Area

A dedicated display area will be set-up adjacent to the ice fishing area on Serpent Lake just offshore from Memorial Park. Although welcome, no formal provisions are being made for swappers (and no fees are accessed).

A dedicated area for feature sleds will be set-up near the display area entrance. Please place all features in the designated area.

The display area is reserved specifically for Trail-A-Sled, Scorpion and other brands directly manufactured by such. Other antique and vintage brands are welcome (but are asked to please set-up around the perimeter of the display area).

Local ride-in sleds are encouraged!

Lodging

For lodging and dining information, see the Chamber's web site. Extensive alternative lodging is also available in the Brainerd Lakes area, generally 16 miles southwest of Crosby-Ironton on Highway 210.

Photography Disclaimer

Scorpion Homecoming is an open and active meetup. Your presence at the Homecoming implies consent to permit Scorpion Online to photograph, record, film or videotape your likeness and to publish it on our web site and other publications for artistic and non-commercial promotional purposes. By your presence, you agree to release Scorpion Online from any liability resulting from publication of your likeness. Requests to remove a particular picture bearing your likeness will be honored on a best efforts basis.