OSM USA 7.3

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SCENE IT? WWORLD’S LARGEST POWERSPORTS SHOW

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RIVER RAILING

Ribbons of water form frozen, untracked serpents during the dead of winter in the Midwest snowbelt. Each winding and twisting their way through spruce swamps, and seldom seen stretches of wilderness.

Rider: Josh McFaddin Photographer: Ian Krahn Location: La Salle River, Manitoba, Canada

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SPOOLED With one gentle nudge the Genesis Turbo sends a shockwave of thrust through the cords of the Camoplast® Back Country™.

Location: West Yellowstone, Montana Photographer: Pat Bourgeois

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60 FEATURES 30 60 48 78 SCENE IT

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL SNOWMOBILE, ATV & POWERSPORTS SHOW

TIME TRACKS GRAND PRIX

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BOONIES AND BACK R GOING DEEP AND CROSSING OVER

CLASH OF THE BORDER BEERS SHOP MOTIVATION 4

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COLUMNS 10

DRIFTS RICHARD KEHOE

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WINGING IT WITH LEVI LEVI LAVALLEE

110 FLOAT BOWL PAT BOURGEOIS

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INDUSTRY NEWS SUDOKU WORD SEARCH HONEY OF THE MONTH TAKE 5 PATENTED SHOP HUSTLE 5 MINUTES WITH… MUFF OF THE MONTH INDUSTRY 411 LAST GASP

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VOLUME 7 NUMBER 3

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Contributing Writers: Levi LaVallee, Jason MacDonald, Matt Clark, Tyler Swarm, Suzy Stenoff, Darren Desautels, Ross Antworth, Jacob Travers, Jordan Hammack, Richard Kehoe, Tendra Crossman, Mike Blakoe, Matt Clark, Logan Gamble Subscriptions 1-888-661-7469 or info@osmmag.com

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Head office address is PO Box 551, 27083 Kennedy Road Willow Beach, ON L0E 1S0, Canada. Telephone 1-888-661-7469. Printed in Canada by LoweMartin Group, Dollco Division. • Copyright 2016 OSM Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. Subscription rates for magazine $19.00 per year, $29.00 for 2 years. $37.00 for 3 years.

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THOSE WHO KNOW CHOOSE

DAYCO APP Find parts faster using state-of-the-art technology. Look up your machines belt with the Dayco App. The app includes belt specs, part numbers, a Where to Buy feature and training. Download the free mobile app at daycoapp.com

PROUDLY BUILTT ON THE SAME ME SOIL SOI YOU RIDE RID ON

What Belt are you? Download the app to ďŹ nd out!

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drifts drifts RICHARD KEHOE

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US AT OSM AND SNOWMOBILER TELEVISION!

W

e’ve seen the first dusting of snow in many parts of North America, and the first race has been penned in the record books.

The next few weeks always fly by, leading up to the Christmas Holidays and New Years, and the festive dinners and family gatherings will be here before we know it. Our office has been especially busy with noise from everything snowmobile, visiting museums, attending shows, races and swaps. It’s been a very exciting countdown to winter. Take advantage of any time off you might get; sneak out to the garage; invite your neighbor or a buddy; stud your sled; clean your sled; put a Bourgeois style

windshield on it for the frigid January rides, the clock is ticking and snowmobile season is almost here… fingers crossed for a White Christmas!!

Around the shop, we’ve already been preparing for the season with new sled builds and arranging our blowup Santas on the front lawn. My wife had me out ahead of the game this year, the trees up, decorations done, and lights are hung... Other than labeling a few trail pass permits that have been on my desk, and a changeover to winter sneakers on the big diesel, there’s only one thing left to do, and that’s to wait for the snow to fall.

Our biggest and most exciting news that we were thrilled to share in November

was our recent purchase of Snowmobiler Television. We plan to incorporate our passion and excitement, (not to mention our humor) of sleds, directly into the production of STV in 2017. If you think the pages of OSM are entertaining, wait until you see what’s to come in 2017 with STV. I would like to welcome Phil Molto and Brent Geerlings to the OSM Crew.

We are The Sport and The Lifestyle, For Snowmobilers, From Snowmobilers.

Until our next issue, I hope the snow piles up where you are, and you get a chance to get out and ride. Remember, nothing says, ‘I love you’ for the Holidays like a snowmobile belt, saddle bags or a taller windshield...

THE LEADER

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TUCKER’S NEW TEAMMATE Are you lucky enough to be sitting in the plush Hibbert hauler next season, and taking in the ultimate snocross experience? You won’t know unless you enter the Ultimate Race Experience Sweepstakes this winter. All you need to do is sign up, and then watch the winningest racer in snocross history battle it out on the national snocross tour. Every race weekend, a winner will be selected to receive cool, autographed Tucker gear. Then on the final race weekend of the season in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the grand prize winner will be drawn. The prize pack includes an all-inclusive VIP trip for two to the Canterbury National Snocross next season (2018), where you’ll hang out with the team, receive complete Arcticwear riding suits, and be the envy of race fans everywhere. For details and to sign up, direct your browser to www.arcticcat. com/ultimate-race-experience/

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02 X-GAMES ATHLETES ANNOUNCED The first round of invited snowmobile athletes to compete at the 2017 Winter X-Games have been announced. While many names on the list are familiar, the introduction of Snowbike racing to the fold will undoubtedly open the door to new faces for snowmobile fans. Here’s the athlete line-up as of this writing.

Snocross: Logan Christian, Tucker Hibbert, Elias Ishoel, Ross Martin, Kyle Pallin, Adam Renheim, Corin Todd, and Tim Tremblay // Best Trick: Heath Frisby and Colton Moore // Freestyle: Cory Davis, Heath Frisby, Levi LaVallee, Colten Moore, Joe Parsons, Brett Turcotte // Snocross Adaptive: EJ Poplawski, Mike Schultz, Paul Thacker, Jeff Tweet, and Jim Wazny // SnowBike: Axell Hodges, Brock Hoyer, Robbie Maddison, Ronnie Renner, Reagan Sieg, and Jackson Strong

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HE WAS ONE OF US The snowmobile community shared a heavy heart this past October, as we learned of the passing of Polaris co-founder, David Johnson, he was 93. David, along with his cousins Edgar and Allen Hetteen, founded Polaris in 1954, and while it was often Edgar who was in the public eye, it was David and two co-workers who created the first Polaris snowmobile; a simple machine built to help him and others traverse the deep snows of northern Minnesota and enjoy the outdoors. From that moment on, David would forever be part of the very fabric of Polaris. Never one wanting to be in the limelight, David represented the true spirit of hard work, dedication, and respect.

He spent most of his years at Polaris behind the scenes, working on product engineering and manufacturing, and treating Polaris employees as his equal. Born and raised in the Roseau community, it remained home until his final days, and Polaris always remained his passion. He worked for the company until 1988, although he continued to visit the factory floor for many years following, mostly on a weekly basis, and he was inducted into the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 1999. David is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanor, and their children, Rodney, Mary, Mitchell, and Aaron. To read more and watch a video tribute to David, visit our website www.osmmag. com. The entire staff at OSM would like to give David heartfelt thanks for his vision and passion, and our hearts and prayers go out to his friends and family. God’s speed David.

In this season’s first issue we put out a call for your best and most ridiculous riser shots. You know the kind we’re talking about. Twisted steering post, no windshield, hooked bar ends, and home brewed 15-inch riser tack welded at each end.

We have a group of teens up the road always jumping their 1991 Indy 400 over Old Man Johnson’s road approach, and we’ve laid down a few beads of slag on that buggy’s wellworn steering post more than few mes. Congrats to our first two readers to “rise” to the call. Seen some “ape hangers” in your area? Snap a few photos and send them to our editor at editor@osmmag.com and if your photo is published in a future issue we’ll send you a limited edi on “OSM Got Riser” t-shirt for the effort.

There’s a vertical steering post and then there’s this. Stand up brah?

OCT 20-22, 2017 • TORONTO INTERNATIONAL CENTRE This fine Wisconsin “riser” specimen is tall, wide, with meticulous wiring.

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ERX MOTOR PARK TO HOST SNOWBIKE X-GAMES QUALIFIER

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With the word that Winter X-Games would host a snowbike class for 2017, questions immediately followed as to who would compete in the all-new competition. We did some digging, and got in contact with Ron Dillon who is the man behind the upstart National Snow Bike Championship Race Series. If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry, neither had we despite learning the circuit hosted a 6-race series last year with stops in Idaho, Montana, and Minnesota. While X Games has already announced a short list of invited athletes, others will be selected from an upcoming qualifier event to be held at ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minnesota, December 17-18. Long time sports promoter and X-Games snowmobile kingpin Joe Duncan is helping Dillon organize the event. The weekend will kick off with the X-Games qualifier from 12:00pm – 4:00pm; followed by a dash for cash at 5:00pm, where competitors will race for $5,000 cash. There will be more racing on tap Sunday, with a full round of the National Snowbike Championship series. If you’re interested in competing, drop an email to sportorganizer357@gmail.com. Fans can visit erxmotorpark.com for a complete schedule and ticket information.

Photo by: Matt Halseth

05 MOTORCYCLE SUPERSHOW IS COMING Don’t miss the ‘BIG ONE by the AIRPORT’, The North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW, the only motorcycle show you’ll need to attend...

Mark your calendars now January 6-8, 2017 at the International Centre. Special Guests Dog and Beth Chapman will be live on Friday January 6th, get an autograph, from DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER at the show!

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See live freestyle shows by Team Empire. Visit the Century of Motorcycles Exhibition, a remarkable display with a brilliant array of various vintage collector bikes. Check out the Largest Custom Motorcycle Cash & Awards Program, the Canada Cup Championships, where established Motorcycle Buildersfrom across North America will meet up to compete for $Cash$ and trophies! See new motorcycles in huge corporate and dealer displays, check out everything new from Harley-Davidson. Over 1000 Motorcycles, over 500,000 square feet of everything in motorcycling, giving enthusiasts exactly what they’re looking for in a Motorcycle Show!

06 CAMLESS FOUR-STROKE Two-stroke engine advocates love the simplistic design of the fire-on-every-stroke engine.

With no valves and associated cam-train elements required, two-stroke engines are lighter and more compact than their four-stroke counterparts. However, that could change if a new technology developed by the Swedish company FreeValve continues to show promise. The heart of the technology is a pneumatic valve which doesn’t require such things as a camshaft, cam drive, timing gear, a throttle body, or direct injection system.

Because of this, the engine is much more compact, lightweight, touts less complexity, and produces more power per displacement than its more traditional four-stroke counterpart.

This is more than just futuristic dreaming; prototypes do exist, with the most recent being a working example unveiled at the 2016 Guangzhou auto show. Manufactured by Qoros, the automobile manufacturer featured a 1.6 liter, 230-horsepower engine they call the Qamfree, nestled into a fully operational automobile.

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news WWW.BOYESEN.COM

AIR POWER PERFORMANCE AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS

07 MOTORFIST GETS DIRTY The kids in Idaho Falls are at it again, as the upstart Motorfist brand is ready to make even more powersports inroads with the launch of their dirt line of outerwear. The move will significantly expand Motorfist offerings, with gear that’s custom tailored for motorcycle, ATV, and side-by-side enthusiasts.

Included in the first product launch, which commenced in mid-October, are four jacket and pant combinations that look great, and serve up highperformance functionality. You can expect to see the dirt line of Motorfist gear in dealerships by March, 2017. To learn more visit www.offroad.motorfist.com

KNUTSON SETS HER EYES ON A BEACH 08

THE BOYESEN ADVANTAGE. HAND-CRAFTED FOR YOU. CUSTOM REED PETALS BUILT TO YOUR SPEC CARBON ROTARY VALVES COMPLETE INTAKE PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS INTAKE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND KITS REPLACEMENT REED PETALS PERFORMANCE REED PETALS

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ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

@boyesenracing

After 33 years as a loyal Polaris employee, Marlys Knutson, External Relations Manager, has announced her intent to retire at the end of the year. Marlys has been a constant force at Polaris, especially when it came to snowmobiles. An avid enthusiast, she has worked tirelessly with snowmobile clubs, associations, and organizations to promote the sport in a positive way, and give recognition to the thousands of volunteers who have helped to build the infrastructure and trail system. Her contributions to Polaris are many, including the daunting task of planning the bi-annual Polaris dealer meetings.

“Polaris and snowmobiling have been my passion for more than half of my life,” said Knutson. “The lifelong friendships I’ve made around the globe are special, and it’s been my pleasure to work together with the best team in powersports, and watch the tremendous growth and diversification of Polaris. While I am moving on to the next phase of my life, I hope to continue to be involved with the snowmobile community.”

While her official role at Polaris will end at the close of 2016, Marlys has already been asked to stay onboard and assist with several key events in 2017, including Snow Shoot, the Minnesota United Snowmobiler’s Association Winter Rendezvous, and the International Snowmobile Congress. However, Marlys’ role as the key point of contact for snowmobile media will be left in the capable hands of Donna Beadle. Donna has been the media relations point person for Polaris off-road the past several years, and has worked closely with Marlys on many snowmobile related projects during her 11-year tenure with the company.

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RED BULL CLIPS WINGS OF SNOW BOUNDARIES

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The buzz and excitement surrounding last winter’s biggest and most talked about snowmobile race of the season, Red Bull Snow Boundaries, wasn’t enough to save it from the financial cutting room floor. Despite being one of Red Bulls best executed first time events, and the talk of the entire snowmobile community, it joined a long list of Red Bull events that lost funding for the 2017 fiscal year. ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minnesota, the host venue for last year’s race, attempted to pick up the ball from Red Bull and execute the event with limited Red Bull funding. However, a lack of financial industry support forced ERX owners to forego the daunting task of hosting such a race on a limited budget.

CAT, AXYS & E-TEC PERFORMANCE! - Pipes - Y’s - Big Core Barker - Trail Silencers - Clutch Kits TEAM ARCTIC RIDER RICH DALY WINNING AGAIN!

Photo: IMAGE PRO RACING

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Let the MAD SCIENTIST Rich Daly help you get the most performance out of your Cat, Polaris or Ski-Doo this Winter, Call Today!

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As we were digging through the CJ Ramstad archives this past fall, we came across this photo of the Johnson Pegasus when it was on display at the Waconia Ride In of January 2003. The dramatic, golden dipped Johnson was just one of many speed sleds that were built by manufacturers during an era where everyone wanted to own the title of “World’s Fastest Snowmobile”. If you were at Hay Days this September, you may have seen this machine on display.

Since we love power and speed, we did a little more digging to get the inside dirt on the Pegasus. There were two Pegasus speed sleds built, and the first was painted Johnson green, but never made an official speed run due to stability issues. The second “winged horse” however, did make an official run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1971. Powered by two 150-horespower, V-4 Johnson outboard motors, while spinning a special compound Goodyear track, the Pegasus blasted the “flats” with a speed of 140.625mph, easily besting the previous record of 125.9mph. The sled was driven by Dick Hansler of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and is currently owned by Bob Sell of Pennsylvania.

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STATE OF THE ART TRAINING The days of swapping plugs and cleaning the main jet are long gone. Today’s snowmobiles, ATVs, and sideby-side vehicles feature advanced technology, often requiring special tools and advanced training to diagnose and repair. Recognizing that technologically advanced vehicles require equally advanced training for the men and women who work on them. BRP announced the official opening of their new, state-of-the-art technician training institute in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The new facility will train dealers and their employees to maintain and repair all BRP vehicles, engines, and accessories.

BRP manufactures seven product lines sold in over 100 countries through 4,200 dealers, and the new facility is the newest one of five that covers the BRP dealer network across five continents.

WORD SEARCH

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SHOP MOTIVATION COMPILATION OF SEASONS 1 THROUGH 3

Alexander Keiths Budweiser Busch Light Carib Coors Banquet Coors Light Corona Dragon Stout Labatt Blue Landshark Lager Miller Lite Modelo Molson Canadian Old Milwaukee Pilsner Red Stripe Sleeman India Pale Ale SOL Steam Whistle Tecate Victoria

osmmag.com

onsnow

Honey of the month

1983 SRX V-Max 540 Third Times a Charm

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Honey of the Month

NAME: COLOR:

Yamaha SRX V-Max 540

________________________________________________________

Black and Red _______________________________________________________

tall x 107.5” long x 39.3” wide DIMENSIONS: 37.8” __________________________________________________ DISPLACEMNET:

535cc liquid-cooled two-stroke ________________________________________________

Japan BIRTH DATE: Hamamatsu, __________________________________________________ AMBITIONS:

___________________________________________________ To white wash the demons of the 1981 SRX

NICKNAMES:

Mad Max ___________________________________________________

FAVORITE MOVIE:

Empire Strikes Back ______________________________________________

FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOW: Knight _____________________________________ Rider

suit for Robo Cop IF I WASN’T A SNOWMOBILE I’D BE: The _____________________________ splitters and long runs on frozen lakes.

TURN-ONS: Log ____________________________________________________ Recall notices and no shows TURN-OFFS:_____________________________________________________ DARK SECRETS:

________________________________________________ In the early 1980s Yamaha was on a roll, producing a string of snowmobiles that eventually

would propel the manufacturer to the market share leadership position. A key player in this rise to the top was the SRX. _______________________________________________________________ A formidable race weapon in the 1970s, the liquid-cooled 440 was blazing fast with styling to match. In 1981, this high_______________________________________________________________ revving engine was lowered into an all-new snowmobile dubbed the “Black Bullet”. The aggressive, all-black SRX was and _______________________________________________________________ continues to be viewed as one of the most beautifully styled snowmobiles ever built with low and lean angular lines, pop-up _______________________________________________________________ headlight, and handlebar mounted gauges. But despite the good looks, the performance of the 440 was plagued with issues. _______________________________________________________________ It was fast as hell, but the peaky motor, due to aggressive porting was a basket case. Several attempts were made to _______________________________________________________________ “improve” the engine but ultimately most were recalled and the engines were in many cases destroyed. To “fix” the issue, _______________________________________________________________ Yamaha planned for a much improved 1982 SRX with a 500-cube motor to address the lack of low-end torque and provide a _______________________________________________________________ much wider powerband. The sled was also slated to have a host of other changes including cooling system, exhaust system, _______________________________________________________________ and much more. Prior to the fall of 1981, Yamaha had the hype machine running at top-speed, producing brochures, press _______________________________________________________________ releases and photos of the all-new SRX 500. There was only one problem, the sled never showed. Turns out the planned _______________________________________________________________ 1982 model that undoubtedly was put on an engineering and testing fast-track was still bothered by a host of issues. _______________________________________________________________ Finally, in 1983, redemption came. After apologizing for the 1982 no show, Yamaha hit the snowmobile magazines with a full_______________________________________________________________ page ad carrying the headline, “Keeping it Locked Up for a Year Made it a Whole Lot Meaner”. Indeed, it did. Now carrying the _______________________________________________________________ Vmax name badge, the snowmobile touted a 535cc liquid-cooled twin and was deemed the “fastest Yamaha ever on two skis”. _______________________________________________________________ To this day, the “phantom” 1982 SRX 500 has never been officially mentioned again by Yamaha, but some early test and _______________________________________________________________ race units have surfaced and are now in the hands of collectors across North America. _______________________________________________________________ ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

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winging it LEVI LAVALLEE

MONDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Tailgating with my wife Kristen…SKOL!

Former Minnesota Viking wide receiver Chris Carter dropped in for a photo bomb.

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he thing I like about writing this article is that I get to go back through my photos on my phone and remember what I’ve been up to over the past month. All I can say is I’ve made the best of things with summer trying to hang on, and Old Man Winter being a bit stubborn with his arrival.

This past summer, we all heard the big news that Summer X Games will be at the new US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in 2017. We were invited down for the press release announcing the Summer X Games move, and had the opportunity to check out the facility before the first event was ever held in the stadium. They had lunch set up in a VIP area, which I was pumped to see firsthand. About a month and a half after that, I got a text from Tim Reed at X Games asking if Kristen and I would like to come out for the first Monday Night Vikings Football game at the new stadium. “I have tickets to the owner’s suite if you would like to join us?”

It was a hard decision, but we opted to take him up on his offer. Shocker right?!

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After being escorted to the “Owner’s Suite”, we were greeted by a man and a woman who asked for Kristen’s and my shoe size. “Chose from these styles of Minnetonka slippers, and we will have your size available for you to pick up at halftime.” Free tickets and swag, what could be better?!

As we stood waiting for the server, more and more people began to join us in the suite, and two of those on the guest list were legendary Viking’s players Chris Carter and John Randle. Anyone familiar with the Vikings knows these are two legends. Needless to say, I was geeking out!

As the players came out onto the field, we all grabbed a seat to watch the game.

As my wife and I posed for the obligatory “couples selfie” we were photo bombed

by Chris Carter in the owner’s suite!

Crazy right!? But it gets better!

A little after that, fellow Red Bull Athlete Ryan Decenzo (professional skateboarder) and I were asked to go to center field for the halftime show, where

Big doors for big guys.

osmmag.com

onsnow Sidelines…it’s a long jump to the other side…hmmm?!

they would be recognizing Summer X Games coming to the stadium next summer.

As the last few minutes of the 2nd quarter wound down, we stood in the tunnel at the edge of the end zone. The Vikings scored a touchdown right in front of us, and it was awesome to see how fast all of these massive players really are! Imagine a bull dozer, an excavator,

The view from the 50-yard line.

and a front end loader moving as quick and nimble as a cat, that’s what it’s like.

The other thing I noticed was how far it was to the other side of the field! Every time I see a football field, I think about the snowmobile distance jump we did. It still blows me away to know we jumped the full length of a football field and then some!

Halftime came and we made our way

Our first couple of sleds have arrived. I’m so ready for winter!

out onto the field. I was overtaken by the moment and how amazing it was to look around the sold out US Bank Stadium.

I played high school football, and I remember how playing under the lights on Friday night would get me jacked up, but the energy the stadium had was incredible! I can only imagine what it’s like to play in that atmosphere! The amazing thing is next summer, my fellow

We were there for the game, but when I saw this display, it got my immediate attention.

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winging it LEVI LAVALLEE

LEVI LAVALLEE Does the guy in the middle make this photo great?! Ha ha.

Summer X Games athletes are going to get that opportunity! How awesome is that?!

Fall is always football time, but for us it’s also time to get all snow related things buttoned up before winter. Some of the things that happen here at the LaVallee Compound are too good not to share, so I included a few photos to give you a taste.

Although it has been a great fall to finish up projects, I’m ready for some cold and snow! We started getting our new sleds, and it immediately made all us to really start thinking snow. Before long, it will be here and the fun will begin!

Telling them to watch out for the trench across the dirt bike track wasn’t enough I guess. Evan had to experience it firsthand.

So that’s where all the power comes from. The guys are always trying to find unique places to put their Red Bull.

It was the deer hunting opener in Minnesota while I was running the dozer.

When you say you’ll help someone with their truck, confirm that the frame is not rusted through before putting it on the hoist.

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Welcome to a land of snow Over 680 miles of perfectly groomed trails One of the longest SNOWmobile seasonS A world of discovery

Live the Northern attraction

Eeyou Istchee Baie-James is a tourism region of Quebec

Plan your trip now!

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Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show The big one hit like a tidal wave this past October, as snowmobile and off-road enthusiasts from across North America made the trip to Toronto to take in the largest indoor show anywhere. The crowds were jammed, the freestyle and racing was intense, the buzz was deafening, and new products were everywhere! Here’s a look at just some of what you may have missed, and mark your calendars now for next year’s show – October 20-22.

Snow was still several weeks off, but that didn’t stop some folks from experiencing a preseason ride courtesy of Arctic Cat’s new virtual reality riding experience.

Planning this winter’s snowmobile trip or next season’s ATV or side-by-side adventure was easy with associations, clubs, resorts, and tour operators from virtually every corner of North America in attendance.

New products were a big part of the Toronto Show and the folks from Marlon were swamped with questions about their all-new sled deck design. Learn more about the new Xplore truck deck elsewhere in this issue.

Polaris packed in riders as they took a closer look at the new iron for the upcoming season.

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Of course the latest issue of your favorite snowmobile mag was available at the show, along with new hats and t-shirts. The throwback trucker hats were especially popular, and to dress up your own head, visit us online at www.osmmag.com to get yours.

A new indoor expo area was added to this year’s show, and it was there where you could try your hand at Ford’s all new 2017 F-150, with Pro-Trailer Backup Assist. The system makes backing up trailers with precision easy, even for first timers. Our own Matt Clark gave the system a try, and was backing up trailers like a boss in just minutes.

Ross Benson from Hygear Suspension was on hand, making sure riders were well suspended for the season with their Twisted Spring kits and their all new Dual Pressure FOX Float upgrade kits. Look for a ride review of this new technology online, later this winter.

BELOW: Looking for a trailer…yup Toronto show had you covered with several manufactures showcasing big displays and taking custom orders. Our buds from Legend were there and Editor Bourgeois was drooling so much over the quality and features, he ordered up a new rig right on the spot.

ABOVE: The show floor was crushed on Friday and Saturday, so much so that we could hardly take photos. We were fortunate to snap this picture of the Ski-Doo booth early Sunday morning, before the show attendees swarmed the new 850 Ski-Doo models.

ABOVE: More than just a show, the Toronto event is the place to hang with friends, catch up and tip a few cold ones. Donna Hudson, Sherry Ware, Mike Ware, Jeff Edwards, and Darryl Hudson were doing just that as we found them near the beverage stand on Saturday.

ABOVE: Scott Spark of Royal Distributing (second from left) generously gave each OFSC District a donation for all their hard work and dedication ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3 for the sport.

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ABOVE: The freestyle show was moved indoors this year, making it even easier for fans to meet the riders, snap a few selfies and get an autograph. Keith Sayers (left) and Cody Elkins put ink to paper after a show on Friday afternoon.

ABOVE: If riding in Ontario, Quebec, or New Brunswick is on your list, this was the place to be, as every provincial region was in attendance, handing out maps and insider advice on where to ride this winter.

RIGHT:The Dayco 120 snowmobile races were also held indoors, and after the racing concluded on Sunday, all of the riders and their families gathered for awards. The 120 races have become a signature of the Toronto show, and for many of the families involved, it’s a great chance to catch up and socialize before the winter racing season begins.

One thing is for certain, the Toronto Show never sits still, and always keeps looking for ways to make the show not just bigger, but a better experience. Moving the freestyle, 120 races, and ATV pulls inside is testament to this commitment.

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The new CKX Titan snowmobile helmet from Kimpex gets our nod as the hottest and most innovative new product at this year’s show. You can find a deeper dive on the design in this issue’s buyer’s guide, and we will be riding with the new lid this winter.

We were fortunate to drop by the booth to find Kimpex big hitters Marie-Josée Turcotte (far left) and Michel Côté, (far right) who gave OSM staffers Matt Clark (middle left) and Darren Desautels (middle right) a personal run down on the features and benefits of the new lid.

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ABOVE: It was Sidewinder heaven at the corporate Yamaha booth and interest was high!

ABOVE: There was so much new to see that we nearly unknowingly walked right by this new exhaust system from Arnie’s Cat House.

The unique design cycles exhaust gasses through the can twice, which according to Arnie, allows them to make the system incredibly light, while still delivering a boost in power, without creating an excessively loud exhaust note. We hope to sample this system for ourselves this winter.

RIGHT: Kubota was a newcomer to the Toronto show, and they were ready for snow, as demonstrated by this well-equipped RTV.

Glenn Welch (far right) of BITEHARDER was a busy man all weekend, singing the virtues of his stud sharpening tool and his all-new, portable wear bar sharpening system. Check out this issue’s Shop Hustle to learn more.

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Traction is always on the minds of snowmobilers and the gang from iGrip. The easy to use screw-in stud system had the attention of more than one passerby.

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ABOVE:Camso, formerly known as Camoplast, had a gorgeous display in the main hall that included not just replacement snowmobile tracks, but also showcased track systems and their new snow bike conversion system.

ABOVE: Things were all wet…or should we say dry at the Klim booth where show attendees were given a chance to shove their hand into a jug of water to illustrate the waterproof, yet breathable capabilities of their gear.

BELOW: Another new product that especially caught our eye was the new Performance Stud Stars all-aluminum backer. The one-piece design is machined from aircraft grade aluminum, and Mitchell Moore and Glenn Gregory were eager to get a few of our test sleds equipped with the lightweight, easy to install backer for this season.

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ABOVE: With a suggested retail price of just $3,299 CAN, the Irbis T150 snowmobile attracted crowds all weekend, and it wasn’t just for the leopard skinned beauty perched on top. The sled appeared to be much improved over the version that debuted at the show last year, and our crew is making plans to rally a halfdozen of these mid-sized sleds this winter.

RIGHT: Our pals at FXR made sure everyone was best dressed for the weekend, including the parking lot attendants.

ABOVE: There was still big action outside this year, including available test drives in several all-new 2017 Dodge RAM trucks.

ABOVE: There was a steady stream of fans coming and going from the all-new indoor event center, where there was always some sort of motorized action taking place.

The MBRP crew had plenty of eye candy in their booth, including this tricked out jeep, complete with an MBRP exhaust…naturally.

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Ontario Snowmobile Oval Racers had a kick butt display featuring vintage racers, both in near original form, and many more highly modified. If you haven’t seen modern vintage racing yet, add it to your bucket list.

BELOW: The vintage display was back, and this year it had some very “big” sleds on display…none bigger than this converted antique car, once used to deliver the U.S. mail.

ABOVE: Of course there were many more traditional vintage sleds on hand, courtesy of the Antique Classic Snowmobile Club of Canada.

ABOVE: You won’t go hungry at the Toronto show. Along with several food vendors, courtesy of the International Center, there were also smoked meat vendors hawking their goods, and the smell alone was enough to make people pony up for a few slices of smoked goodness.

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ABOVE:This rotary Wankel powered Sno-Fury was perhaps, one of the rarest sleds on display.

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NEW WEEKLY SHOWS STARTING IN JANUARY VISIT WWW.SNOWMOBILERTV.COM FOR STATIONS AND TIMES IN YOUR AREA

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The move indoors didn’t slow 120 racers down one bit.

Cody Elkins gets inverted during a backflip trick combo.

BELOW:While the racing was more of an exhibition, you couldn’t tell that to the kids. You could cut the tension at the starting line with a butter knife.

ABOVE: With no cold, wind, rain, or snow to slow things down, the indoor racing, pulling, and freestyle shows went off without a hitch, and were performed like clockwork.

Nothing happier than a group of snowmobilers, regardless of age.

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This year’s freestyle crew was nothing short of world class, featuring (from left to right) Heath Frisby, Keith Sayers, and Cody Elkins

ABOVE: A couple of the go fast boys in the 120 circuit send out a warning to Tucker Hibbert and the rest of the current modern day pros…we’re coming.

ABOVE: Fans just can’t get enough of the charismatic showman Heath Frisby.

ABOVE: Got studs? Yup we found a few at the Woody’s booth – From left to right, Larry Tiede, Katie Zawacki, and Phil Smith.

BELOW: You never know what you will see at the Toronto Show, and a great example of this unexpectedness was this custom bike, built exclusively for Shania Twain for concert performances while in Las Vegas. If you missed it, you can check it out this January during the North American International Motorcycle Super Show, January 6-8 at the International Centre in Toronto.

ABOVE: With lots of tickets ordered early, the lines to get into the show were considerably easier to manage this year, but they still kept pouring in with surging consistency.

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ABOVE: Who wouldn’t want shuttle service from their car to the front door, especially from this well-dressed trio? Special thanks to Stephen Hannah, Darren Desautels, and Brandon Meddick for their shuttle service driving duties.

On Snow Editor Pat Bourgeois dropped in from Minneapolis, and was photo bombing wherever the opportunity arose. Here he’s with Jared Heshka of MBRP and Mark Freeman of 408.

BELOW: The crowds were packed all three days, making this show a snowmobiler’s nirvana.

ABOVE: For those having to park a good distance from the main entrance, Kubota and FXR stepped up to offer door to door shuttle service.

Resting the dogs, grabbing a cold one and fueling the beast.

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Future riders were trained in the OFSC Driving Training course during the show. Looks like the future of the sport is in good hands.

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take 5

1972

The industry was bustling in the very early 70s, after several consecutive years of blockbuster sales, the landscape was littered with manufactures and they were all vying for piece of the proverbial sledder pie. Performance and dependability was what everyone wanted, and the manufacturers tried hard to deliver with snowmobiles and bold marketing claims. In this issue’s Take Five, here are five advertisements from 1972.

MERCURY

With model names like Lightning and Rocket, the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin manufacturer, long known for their legendary outboard boat motors, entered the snowmobile market with guns blazing. In 1972 the hot new sled from Merc was the Hurricane, but it wasn’t until they introduced the Twister series did the brand make a performance statement that not only talked the talk, but also walked the walk.

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SKIROULE

While early Skiroule sleds looked much like other snowmobiles of the day, the 1972 RT was much different. Designed by an independent Canadian designer named Tony MacKeen, the new look Skiroule was low, sleek, and touted a design that was years ahead of other sleds of the time.

Featuring exposed rear shocks and unique angular cutout where the hood and belly pan met, the 1972 Skiroule was arguably one of the first snowmobiles to truly embrace design as part of the overall engineering process.

CHAPARRAL

Despite the sheer number of manufactures during this time, very few were located within the mountainous terrain of western North America. As ironic as this may sound today, given the success of the deep snow segment, Chaparral was perhaps the biggest of the western players. Based in Denver, Colorado, the company was a late-comer to the party. The 1972 model year was Chaparral’s first, and part of that first-year offering was the now iconic Firebird SSX racer which featured an Indy car inspired independent front suspension.

SCORPION

Based in Crosby, Minnesota, by 1972 Scorpion was one of the biggest snowmobile manufacturers in the industry, rivaled only by Arctic Cat and Ski-Doo. Even Polaris and Yamaha were selling less models than Scorpion.

Testament to this fact is this bullish ad for the 1972 Scorpion Stinger, calling out the competition and besting them in what they deemed “in every test category with the functions you want”.

SKI-DOO

By the 1972 model year Ski-Doo had already been manufacturing snowmobiles for 14 seasons with incredible success. In fact, their ‘72 line featured 24 models ranging from the Elan to the triple-cylinder, 797cc Blizzard race sled. 1972 was also the year Ski-Doo introduced a rotary valve Rotax engine in the Blizzard 440 racer, an engine design that would chart the future for Ski-Doo power for decades to come.

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Grand Prix Not for Everybody

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he early 1970s was both an amazing and unstable time in the snowmobile industry.

The sudden popularity boom of the sport saw nearly anyone who could weld, fabricate, or

assemble a simple snowmobile, jump into the fray as a “manufacturer”. As a result, the landscape was littered with snowmobile models, many of which barely lasted a couple of years at best. In hindsight, this vast array of snowmobiles has become a vintage collector’s dream, especially for those looking to find, restore, and show a

sled that few have ever seen before.

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time tracks Grand Prix

For most of these manufacturers, the formula was very similar. Develop a tunnel and/or chassis, mold a fiberglass hood, and outsource the remainder of the components from vendors who were busy building and supplying parts for other “larger” manufacturers. For this reason, it wasn’t unusual to find similar engines, clutches, chain cases, suspensions, and tracks on many different makes and brands.

This was the case early on for Boatel, a Minnesota based manufacturer who was known for its houseboats, pontoons, and trailers. Located in Mora, Boatel looked to diversify its summer lineup with snowmobiles, and like other makers at the time, their first model, the Ski-Bird, was a collection of known snowmobile parts, resulting in a rather “traditional” sled for the time. But with the market bursting with makers and options, Boatel took a bold step in 1970 when they decided to build the “ultimate” snowmobile named the Grand Prix.

Unlike the “build what we got” mentality that most small manufacturers were employing at the time, Boatel went allin with the Grand Prix, delivering every possible option imaginable, all wrapped up in a sleek design and all aluminum chassis. In fact, the Grand Prix was so over the top that the marketing campaign embodied the fact by boldly proclaiming that it “Wasn’t for everybody”.

Debuting in 1970, the Grand Prix was more of everything…except weight (at least that’s what the marketing brochures

“…this was the sled of more…in every way.”

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Grand Prix

“…it was far more expensive than any other snowmobile on the market” claimed). Claims the Grand Prix was 60-pounds lighter than other competing wide track models may have been grossly exaggerated, based upon ride reports from the time. The Grand Prix was quieter; had more traction, thanks to a 20-inch wide Gates polyurethane track; stopped quicker; had more top speed; more fuel range, thanks to a built in auxiliary fuel tank with a total capacity of 5-gallons; and of course, more convenience. Yes, this was the sled of more…in every way.

Power in year one came in either a 744cc (45hp) or 434cc (28hp) Rockwell JLO engine. In model years 1971 and 1972, only a 339cc CCW (30hp) was found under hood.

Perhaps the most unique feature of

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the Grand Prix was the butterfly style steering, with pull levers for both stopping and accelerating. There was under seat storage, a padded dash, electric start, full gauges, lighted switches and even a cigarette lighter…smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. Every Grand Prix also included a custom fit cover that was color coordinated to match the rich gold and chrome color of the sled.

Yes, the Grand Prix was rich in style and performance, and the Boatel factory was targeting riders who wanted the best of everything. Just like owning a luxury car, Boatel was betting that upper echelon of snowmobilers would want the same in their sled. With a retail price of $1,850, it was far more expensive than any other snowmobile on the market

by as much as $500 for an equally competitive model.

The added cost however was backed by an equally unprecedented warranty that covered “damage from any cause, including racing and accidents.” Labor wasn’t covered nor was the engine, which was “covered by an excellent engine manufacturer’s warranty” according to factory pamphlets of the day.

Boatel knew this wouldn’t be an easy sell, but they went after large, well established dealers with the same message, telling them their margins and profits would be much greater when selling the Grand Prix.

It looked good on paper, and the sled looked equally great on snow,

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Grand Prix

“riders who wanted the best of everything” but the performance level failed to live up to expectations, and while some sledders did plunk down the added cash for the luxurious Grand Prix, the culmination of poor winters, constantly improving models from the much larger manufactures at a fraction of the price, and a failure to live up to performance expectations saw Boatel exit the snowmobile business in 1971. Glarco Inc purchased all remaining Grand Prix models from Boatel, and renamed the sled the GP Mark II (due to trademark issues). Glarco sold the GP until the 1975 model year, when presumably the existing supply of GP units dried up and the oil embargo of 1973-1974 put a pinch on the entire industry.

The Grand Prix shown in these photos is owned by Barry and Debbie Hoffman, who could be considered part of the Boatel family since both once worked at the Boatel factory, along with several other family members.

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Emmitt M. Tucker, Medford Oregon Power Driven Snow Vehicle Patent Number US 1,810,505 Patent Date: June 16, 1931 The desire to overcome the grips of winter, and to develop an easier way to travel over, or through its snowy depths, is something mechanical dreamers have long pursued. And while the modern snowmobile is the cream that has risen to the top, early inventors had other ideas on how to best accomplish the task.

In the late 1920s, the automobile was starting to experience mass acceptance. Thanks to Henry Ford and his Model T, the automobile was no longer just for the rich or the elite, it was quickly becoming a car for everyone. As more and more folks purchased their first car, the tinkerers and dreamers were right there with them, and it didn’t take them long to start to transform those early cars into over-the-snow vehicles.

Many of these early conversions were developed out of necessity, by those who lived in remote snowy areas or on farms in the far northern reaches of North America. Emmitt Tucker, from Medford, Oregon, may

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have been such a man. His patent for a power-driven snow vehicle shown here, was first applied for in March of 1928, and like many “snow conversions” of the time, his vehicle was designed to operate year-round.

What makes the “Tucker” vehicle interesting is the screw drive propulsion system. While most snow vehicles feature a track system, the Tucker uses a giant, center mounted screw drive, powered through what appears to be a traditional automotive engine and gearbox.

Unlike other conversions of the time, which required the removal of tracks and skis in the summer months, the Tucker appears to employ a conversion system that simply raises and lowers the wheels of the vehicle. In snow conditions, the front and rear wheels are raised, and a single, oversized center-mount ski is found in the front, while the screw drive is supported by two outside skis.

LEFT: Conversions weren’t limited to just cars, as this ‘ready for anything’ Ferguson tractor illustrates.

ral ABOVE: There were actually seve the snow-vehicle conversions during is late 1920s and early 30s. This one gh throu ing plow , tank a to more akin over it. the snow, rather than skimming

s was RIGHT: Getting around in rural area g little never easy, with roads often bein ions more than two-track trails. Convers Arps the by , Bird w Sno like this Super onsin, Corporation of New Holstein, Wisc ths. mon er wint the g durin helped

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shop hustle

Sharp Thinking BITEHARDER 12v Carbide Grinder Tool

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R

emember when the only tools rolling around in the rear trunk of your snow buggy was a spark plug wrench; a piece of yellow rope; a few cheap open ended wrenches; a rusted screwdriver; a parধal roll of duct tape; and several well used spark plugs? As the industry evolved, so too have our tools and accessories. Sure, you may sধll have a plug wrench, (although when was the last ধme you actually used one) and of course, duct tape will never go out of style, but now most tool kits are highly specialized, and in some instances sadly, rather sparse. Yet, we came upon a new tool that has become a must have in our burgeoning tool roll - the BITEHARDER Carbide Grinder. Overkill you say? We thought the same unধl we gave this compact grinder a go last winter. Ađer just a few minutes of throwing sparks and hiষng the trail, we were sold. There are few things beħer than honing a flat top ribbon of white with fresh carbide runners, and with the BITEHARDER Carbide Grinder, that is exactly what you get…every day…no maħer where you ride.

osmmag.com

onsnow Weighing in at an impressively lightweight 689g (1 lb. 8.6 OZ), the BITEHARDER 12v Grinder was made to be carried onboard, and allows you to sharpen your carbides using the power from your snowmobile’s ba ery. Developed by true snowmobilers, the guys over at BITEHARDER thought of everything. First, they kept things simple. The tool literally has a power cord and an on/ off switch. No fancy switches/dials or plas c parts to freeze and break. Next, the overall construc on is solid, the kind of quality you feel when picking up that expensive cordless drill at your local big box store. An aluminum housing is precision machined to feel oh-so-good in your hands, and it allows you to get your carbide runners sharp from nearly any angle, yet is compact enough to store in the smallest of tool pouches, handlebar bags, or rear storage areas.

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The tool comes complete with a fused ba ery connector cable which features a universal connector and an 8-foot extension cord, more than enough to reach your wear bars, no ma er where your sled’s ba ery might be located. When you’re ready to sharpen your ride, simply plug the BITEHARDER in and flip the switch. Not only does the tool allow you to sharpen your bars virtually anywhere, including in the middle of the day’s ride, but it does so quickly. The cord is also long enough to sharpen your buddy’s sled, but we’ll leave that act of generosity up to you. A er all, some mes having a compe ve “edge” over your riding crew is the difference between picking up the tab at the end of the day, or enjoying the suds of your wisdom.

For complete details on the BITEHARDER 12V Carbide Grinder and other great products they offer, check them out online at: www.biteharder.com

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Before the season starts, take the time to attach the supplied quick connect lead to your battery terminals, and tuck it out of harm’s way until the time comes to sharpen your ride.

When you’re ready to use the grinder, simply attach the 8’ extension cable to your quick connect battery lead.

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Flip your sled on its side, hit the switch and start sharpening. We found constant pressure with a fluid back and forth motion across the length of the carbide gives the best results.

Last step, and we’ll leave this up to your competitive spirit…pass the grinder to your buddy so he can keep up to your new, well-honed set-up.

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he s cks, the backwoods, the middle-of-nowhere, off-the-grid…no ma er what you call it, venturing off-trail has become the latest, in-vogue snowmobiling experience. Oh sure, the kids out west have been bragging about their “boon-docking” excursions for several years, o en mes looking down their noses at us “flatlanders” and those groomed ribbons of trails we typically ride. What they, and many tradi onal trail riders may not know is that off-trail riding, in parts of the Midwest and Eastern Snowbelt isn’t just possible (and legal), it’s becoming one of the fastest growing segments in the sport. So much so in fact, certain states and provinces are now designa ng legal, off-trail play areas for this growing legion of tree scrapers.

One such “boonie” loca on is found at the end of a minimum maintenance road in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

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If you’re lucky enough to find a local sledder willing to divulge the exact locaon, you’ll find a backcountry access point to the expansive O awa Na onal Forest. This huge tract of land provides endless miles of off-trail explora on, most of which sits smack dab in the middle of the Lake Superior lake effect, “dumping” zone. With snow fall levels reaching beyond 200-inches a season, there’s more than enough to fill and cover the rocks, stumps, and ravines that are li ered throughout this big hardwood des na on.

Guided by our pals at Powder Hound Lodge, (check ‘em out online at www. powderhoundlodge.com for a one of kind snowmobile experience) the OSM crew gathered the latest collec on of produc on 2016 mid-track explora on machines for three days of off-trail riding, arm-pit deep trenching, and broken ego ribbing. Here are our thoughts.

IN T H E M IDDL E O F T H E L AKE SU P ERIO R, L AKE EF F EC T DU M PIN G ZO N E

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the riders

rich KEHOE | matt CLARK | pat BOURGEOIS

THE WAY W E F IGU RE I T, YOU’RE A SMAR T COOKIE…

Cross Collection

While we’re not about to disclose birth dates, the crew here at OSM has been around the old snow-mo-block more than a few mes. We’ve ridden prototypes, test mules, finely tuned one-off produc ons sleds, clapped out racers, boneyard junkers, and everything in between. Through it all, we’ve learned a few things. One of them is never trust a prototype.

Each year, the manufacturers invite us to ride a sma ering of the latest and greatest snow rockets, most of which are s ll in a state of pre-producon. Obviously wan ng to make a be er than “good nuff” first impression, these sleds are most o en good, if not damn good. Some mes those “wow” rides are replicated when we receive our produc on buggies… other mes they’re not. It’s for this reason we take a week each season to evaluate true produc on sleds, the same sleds you can buy at your local dealership. The way we figure it, you’re a smart cookie, and we’d rather give you the dirt from a mul -day ride on last year’s produc on sleds versus a one-hour proto-romp.

The sleds we select for this type of evalua on are the same buggies we’ll ride for the en re season. In other words, just like you, we have to select a sled that is well versed in all types of condi ons. While there might be sleds that are more adept at pure off-trail bombing, we also need to log big miles on-trail with these same scooters, from Minnesota to New Brunswick and everywhere in between.

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Arctic Cat XF 8000 CROSSTREK The 2016 Crosstrek is the so spoken candidate in this mix.

Subtle graphics and a long list of factory installed extras give this orange and black sled all the makings of a milk sipping, lap ki y.

You know, the kind that will have your Grandpa Al smiling with pride as he makes his way out to the ice shack. But under that so skin, we found all the race-bred goodness that makes up the heart and soul of nearly every Arc c Cat snowmobile. Big power, stunning speed, and a chassis and suspension combina on that could tackle the nas es with both comfort and confidence.

>>MATT CLARK

. . . HA S A L L S O RT S O F GUS T O BO T H DO W N L O W AN D UP T O P.

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The Cat was the biggest surprise for me. Back in the day, I would usually be shying away from hopping on the Cat, just because you knew you were in for a fight. Turning was hard, the motor was angry, and for me to even consider taking one off the hard pack was out of the ques on. With the Cat race suspension and sway bar, the XF CrossTrek on-trail was shockingly stable and confident in the corners. The engine has all sorts of gusto, both down low and up top. Powering down the trails was a ton of fun. Surprisingly, the XF proves to be a serious player in the off-trail as well, with light steering effort and predictable handling. The sled feels big compared to the Polaris, and in some ways the Ski-Doo, but once you adapt, you’ll be rewarded with a very competent brush weapon. The move to smaller diameter grips may seem trivial, but a er just one ride, you’ll be shocked how much different and be er the sled feels.

Before, you needed hands like Michael Jordon to wrap around the grips, but now they are way more manageable. One personal nag was the distance between the brake lever and the bar…it was just too far out of reach for me, forcing me to rotate my hand forward to apply a hint of trailing brake into the corners. I know, I know, cue the small hand jokes.

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onsnow >>RICH KEHOE

This sled wasn’t the fastest when whipping down the trail, but it did everything well. I’m pleased to see Arc c Cat has finally ended the fat grip era. For years, unless your hands resembled a bunch of bananas ed together, nless re the bars were simply too big for most mere mortals. The XF he CrossTrek rolled through the woods be er than most in this selec on of crossover weapons. The steering effort was easy and no ceably light when pushing through heavily whooped out, ungroomed trails. Maybe a li le more sex appeal could be added to this sled, similar to what Ski-Doo did with the Enduro with improved graphics, branding, and some brush bus ng bumpers.

Simple changes like those would surely cause a lineup at the local Arc c Cat dealership. Of course, Bourgeois was standing and applauding the extended height of the Arc c explora on type windshield on the XF.

YO UR HAN DS R ESEM BL E D A B UN C H O F B AN A N A S TIED TO G E T HE R

> > PAT B O U R G E O I S By all rights, I’m likely the demographic Arc c Cat was hoping to hit with the CrossTrek, with its toned down graphics and fully accessorized “mature” accessoriz i ed d “ma m tu stature. Yet, it’s this very subdued look and posi oning of the fully loaded XF 8000 that had me and others in f the group, feeling we were about to drive our father’s Oldsmobile.

Fortunately, the CrossTrek performs very differently from its appearance, and for 2017, Cat has drama cally spiced up this offering with a more tradi onal black and green, go fast machine look and feel. The larger platform of the ProCross actually fits my 6-2 frame quite nicely, although the same can’t be said for riders shorter in stature. Of all the sleds in the mix, the Cat was perhaps the most complete and balanced, never really wowing me with one par cular a ribute, but never disappoin ng either. The sled is stable, comfortable, and best of all competent, and for most of us who can only afford to own just one sled for riding both on and off-trail, being a jack of all trades is a very good thing.

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ski-doo RENEGADE ENDURO 800R The new for 2016 Enduro spoke with a strong vibrato when we first laid eyes on it last winter. Built on the proven XS pla orm, the earth-tone scooter looked ready for ba le with its burly bumper and bold Enduro graphics that adorned the tunnel and embossed seat. Could this be the do-it-all, bad-to-the-bone crossover sled we’ve been wai ng for? Outfi ed with a standard Ice Riper XT track, adjustable Pilot TS skis, and a hybrid rMo on rear suspension fi ed with Air Ride meant our hopes were high.

> > PAT B O U R G E O I S I’m a brush pilot at heart. Not the kind of boon-docker that navigates through tall pines on mountain slopes. No, I grew up running old swamps, thick brush, and half-frozen beaver ponds. So when we organized this trip to Michigan to give our sleds a proper layer of tree sap, I couldn’t have been mor more excited.

Of all the sleds in the mix, I was most excited for the orre exxci o c new Enduro Enduro. I w was already well aware of the on-trail capabili es of the XS chassis Renegade. To this point, the Ski-Doo was the butcher knife in a drawer full of spoons. Now the “gade” appeared as if it was ready to do the same in a willow brush laden swamp. As both Rich and Ma pointed out, the Enduro definitely has the “look”. I was smi en with the color, ready to plow down saplings with the bumper, and the level of a en on to detail had this sled atop my wish list last winter. In many ways, the Ski-Doo kids got everything right with this sled, except for one thing…they failed to tell us it was li le more than a GSX in wolf’s clothing. The air shock rear suspension should have been my first clue. For all the high comfort, on-trail goodness the Enduro exhibits, it misses the mark with equal shortcomings off-trail. The seat is too so and the bars too low; suspension calibraons are high on comfort and short on control; and the Ice Ripper track combined with high-focus on-trail calibra ons made it more chore than pleasure in the unpredictable back country.

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THE S K I- D OO W A S T H E B U T C H ER K N IF E IN A D R A W ER F U LL OF S P OON S

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onsnow >>RICH KEHOE When I first caught word of this thought hell ya, this will his new sled, I tho be cool…I mean the name alone is fire b l I th in the pot. Yet, shortly a er spending some real me on the Enduro, I realized everything I was hoping it would be, it wasn’t. On-trail it was great, off-trail was a different story. For certain the brown buggy gets plenty of cool points: a legit, bark-bi ng front bumper; a cool seat with outstanding detail including “Enduro” branding (bonus points); and as an avid snowmobiler, I love the fact the sled has a real name. Sleds with names mean something to me and others when I proudly boast about my snow cruiser parked out front. Forget the grouping of numbers and le ers that are li le more than alphabet soup, I don’t even like soup. When I think of Ski-Doo, I think of iconic names like Blizzard and Olympic, hopefully the Enduro can be the start of a reemerging trend. Blasting off trail, the track lug height wasn’t enough. I thought it was ge ng about as much trac on in the fresh snow as my ’87 MX. I realized it wasn’t just me when the “veteran” Dan Skallet seemed simply “confused” when he tried to climb

up a narrow shoot in northern Michigan, and ended up buried to the seat. To be honest, the air ride suspension worked great on the trail, ea ng up the trail chop with rela ve ease. But the suspension package needs to kick it up a few notches to back up a name like “Enduro”.

Simply said, it ended at 6 and it could

have gone up to a 15. So in a nutshell (or hand basket), if you’re looking for a serious crossover sled, the Enduro fell short.

I was expec ng to show everyone how it was done both on and off the trail, in bumps and off trail debris, but unfortunately, it felt like a trail sled only.

THE N A ME A LON E IS F IR E IN T H E P OT

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>>MATT CLARK When I was first introduced to the Enduro during a hote hotel, first look presenta on, I immediately thought this was on going to be the off-trail sled of the year.

The sled looked bad ass…the designers nailed it. The wrap-around bumper had Cain’s Quest wri en all over it, and the color was spot on with an earth tone brown that screamed ‘take me into the woods and cut me loose’. They even had the Enduro named stamped across the bu pad…a en on to detail…check.

Then I threw a leg over the seat and rode it. Let’s just say my first impression out of the gate was a bit puzzling.

Let me explain myself. I’m a big fan of yellow, but the Enduro just felt off.

Understandably, this is a new sled, so I knew there was a courtship that needed to take place, and I needed to adapt accordingly. A er the first ride, I felt like I

just opened a bag of Oreos and someone had eaten all the cream filling and le a bag of chocolate crumbs. First, let’s talk track. The 1.25” Ice Ripper track is like glue on-trail, but the combina on just didn’t get it done when you turned off the hardpack. Get into a li le deep, wet snow and your confidence quickly diminishes. Enter a tricky deep snow bender between trees and I was soon feeling panic mixed with remorse.

I guess what I’m saying is the Enduro doesn’t give you the confidence needed when venturing through the brush.

On-trail it’s a high comfort cruiser, but the overly so Air Ride suspension, (even when pumped up with addi onal pounds from the on-board adjuster) is akin to trying to take your old man’s Delta 88, with the odometer rolled over at least once, to that homebuilt off-road track behind your buddy’s house. You know you’re going to have fun, but you also know you shouldn’t be there.

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yamaha VIPER LTX LE Since the Cat/Yamaha combo Viper entered our winter landscape, we’ve had a chance to sample just about every variety of the Genesis triple powered buggy. Armed with that experience, the LTX is the cream that has risen to the top. The 137-inch track length offers the most balanced ride, and when combined with the more bump capable, coupled rear suspension, the LTX blends on-trail and off-trail du es and is well suited for our Midwest and Eastern ride loca ons. The LE takes that one notch up with FOX Quick Switch 3 coil over shocks up front, and a toasty heated seat.

>>RICH KEHOE

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When driving and comparing these four sleds, you need to understand the Viper is more comparable to the “other guys” smaller two-stroke 600 mills, and not the burly 800s found amongst this grouping. Head-to-head with the other three, the Viper is always looking for more, but know this; the Viper does have its place in the woods. Yeah we know, it’s a fourstroke and with that comes a weight penalty and by design, a different kind of power. Knowing this however, and using it appropriately, will generate rewards both on and off trail. No sudden movements with the throttle here kids. Instead, steady power and a well selected chute through the trees, and the Viper was running circles around the “Veteran” Dan Skallet as he worked to dig himself and the Enduro from an armpit deep, tree well.

When blas ng groomed trails, the LTX can feel slippery in the corners, despite having the popular 1.25” RipSaw II track under seat. To overcome this feeling, the LTX required more pre-apex braking and a steady thro le upon exit. If this sounds like too much for your stab-it-to-the-bars style, to keep near the front of the pack, keep in mind it’s only just a slice of the bigger picture. Our experience with the three-cylinder Genesis is that it only gets faster and more freewheeling with me. In fact, this very Viper grew some serious balls by season’s end. Add to this a motor that is very smooth, dependable, and easy on fuel, and you have a sled that might not be first, but surely not the last one picked.

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onsnow >>PAT BOURGEOIS Yeah I know…it’s a four-stroke, but I’m not about to rehash the somewhat red argument about weight and power. Been there, heard that…I’m over it. What I’ve learned about four-stroke power, and more specifically, Yamaha powered four-sstr t okke po p sleds in recent years, is a two-fold lesson in reality and adaptayears on. For starters, for all the goodness the Japanese built sleds have when it comes to honing smooth top snow, the biggest thing a Genesis motor has needed since the Apex first dropped jaws more than 10-years ago, has been a chassis and suspension that is be er suited for the types of on and off-trail terrain that modern sledders encounter. The Arc c Cat marriage addressed

that problem, and with a few years of tuning and nkering under the belt, the current Viper and now forthcoming Sidewinder are truly formidable trail weapons. Secondly…and this one is important, we need to stop riding four-stroke sleds like two-strokes.

For a long list of reasons including the obvious, such as power delivery, engine braking, and chassis balance, the Viper LTX (and all Viper and Sidewinder configura ons for that ma er) requires a different riding style and skill set, to achieve the same results as a tradi onal two-stroke. This doesn’t make the Viper a lesser sled, only different. Once you master these required skills, the LTX is every bit as capable as other sleds in the mix with the added benefits of reliability, longevity, and efficiency.

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onsnow >>MATT CLARK I have to admit, in the past I haven’t been a huge fan of four-stroke powered sleds. Call me old school, but growing up on two-strokers, you tend to get accustomed to the snap and response that a fire fire on every stroke engine produces. Adaptaon is the key to this sled. With the extra weight that comes with current four-strokes, the Viper actually plants itself nicely upon the entrance of corners on-trail. Knowing this, you can hammer through those long sweepers with full-thro le results. Off-trail is where you need to adapt, and learn to keep the revs consistent for posi ve results. If you panic in the deep stuff and get off thro le, and then suddenly back on it, you (and your buddies) are going to find yourself doing some digging. We’ve noted on a few occasions as to how the Viper is a bit “ ght” early in its life. With this being one of the first trips of last winter, the LTX was a bit ght, but we did have the sled for the rest of the year, and I can tell you that on our last trip in New Brunswick, the Viper morphed into a run and gun favorite.’’

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Y OU C A N H A MMER T H R OU G H T H OS E LON G S W E EP E R S W IT H F U LL- T H R OT T LE R ES U LT S

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polaris 800 SWITCHBACK PRO S With the move to the AXYS chassis, the Polaris Rush and Switchback models with their outside the tunnel rear suspension, have transformed themselves from the o en finicky and one-dimensional ride quali es of the previous Pro-Ride versions. Powered by the 800HO motor and its quick revving traits, the Pro-S Switch is balanced, and with Walker Evans piggyback shocks in all four loca ons, has suspension tuning capabili es to match virtually any terrain…on or off trail.

> > PAT B O U R G E O I S To be honest, the start of my rela onship with the new look Polaris back in 2010, was a rocky one at best. I never did find myself gushing over the Pro-Ride chassis and same named suspension… instead, I always found myself in disagreement with the sled.

The suspension needed constant a en on, and the riding d The h s experience was one of constant ac on, even when I was hoping for a relaxing a ernoon burn on a freshly groomed trail. But then the AXYS arrived and everything changed, seemingly overnight. For all the faults I found with the Pro-Ride, the AXYS made them virtually disappear. The sled was predictable, fast, and most importantly, fun. Few motors deliver a bigger smile than the ripper 800HO, and the instant reac on to driver inputs, both at the bars or through weight distribu on, will have you scrubbing bark in the backcountry with precision. While none of these sleds are true backcountry bangers, the Polaris Switchback wasn’t just capable in the Michigan brush, it was victorious.

W ILL H A V E Y OU S C R U B B IN G B A R K IN T H E B A C K C OU N T R Y W IT H P R E C IS ION

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>>

MATT CLARK

No surprise here, the Pro-S Switchback gets a huge thumbs up from me me. To be hon honest, I’ve become a cheerleader for the AXYS chassis. Over the past few winters, I’ve spent a lot of me on similar Polaris sleds, and I looked forward to my turn at the helm of the Switchback, as we rotated sleds throughout the three-day ride. The nimbleness (yes that is a word) is the first thing that grabs your a en on. The Pro-S is ready to obey your commands with rela ve ease. On-trail this sled just works. From corner to corner the growl of the 800 under hood delivers instant response. On more than one occasion, I burst out an audible laugh as the big twin spooled up with a howl that sounds almost criminal.

But for as good as it is on-trail, I was even more impressed with its off-trail capabilies. Now the Polaris does require you

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to get off the seat and get to work; the sled loves and needs driver input, and once you understand that, the fun really begins. As the resident geek, I spent just as much me listening to the bark of the 800HO as I did toggling through the seemingly endless op ons found within the Polaris Interac ve Digital Display (PIDD). The technology is so good that it is an op on that would have me switching brands in favor of the Polaris.

Loaded with exis ng snowmobile trails, the system is ideal for long trips on less familiar trails. Off-trail, the GPS tracks where you’ve been, ensuring you can venture deep into the woods with the confidence you’ll find your way back. The system even synchs with your Blue Tooth media device, aler ng you to incoming messages, phone calls, and of course, cranking your favorite ride tunes.

THE B IG T W IN S P OOLED UP W IT H A H O WL T H A T S OU ND S A LMOS T C R IMIN A L

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onsnow >>RICH KEHOE My favorite off-trail sled of the lot! It was like coming home to a ike t surprise birthday party, only you walk party wal into Hugh Hefner’s mansion. Off-trail naviga on was as simple as one thro le blurp. Upon doing so, the Switchback would instantly li the skis and hop over all sort of debris in its path. Nego a ng the thick hardwoods in the O awa forest was not just easy, it was damn fun, and when the skis skirted their way back to the trail, the Pro-S was fast, ght, and ready for just about anything.

When we encountered an unexpected creek or river crossing, this was the sled of choice. It would wheelie across the mud and water easily, without having to run in with speed, which is key when off-trail, since there isn’t always an op on to hit things with a long run in or at speed. My only gripe with this sled was storage, mainly because there really wasn’t any.

Of course, the Polaris accessory catalog is chock full of bags and racks to remedy this problem, and during the 2015 season, we purchased a lot (they aren’t cheap mind you) of Polaris luggage racks for Rush and Switchback models. Happily, we cured the storage issue in just a few minutes and look to do the same this winter too.

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onsnow T H E P R O-S W A S F A S T, T IG H T , A ND R EA D Y F O R J U S T A B OUT A N Y T H IN G

Weight It Out Each year, we record the weights of all our long term ride units with precision scales from our friends at Intercomp. As in the past, we weigh all sleds fully fueled and topped off with oil, (two-strokes) as well as with all included accessories, such as factory luggage or racks.

We performed the weigh-in just a er we arrived, ensuring the sleds were free from snow and ice buildup.

Arctic Cat XF 8000 CrossTrek Polaris 800 Switchback Pro-S Ski-Doo Renegade Enduro 800R Yamaha SR-Viper LTX LE

618 lbs / 280 kg 578 lbs / 262 kg 591 lbs / 268 kg 628 lbs / 284 kg >>

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It was a tough snow year for many parts of the snowbelt last year…not here.

>> With the Powder Hound Lodge as our home base, we left the compound each morning and guided deep into the Ottawa forest backcountry.

>> Being located in the heart of lake effect snow country on the eastern shores of Lake Superior, it was not uncommon to wake up to another coating of fresh fallen snow each morning.

>>

We took a break to char some dogs and dry some gloves in the Michigan backcountry.

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border between the United States and Canada is recognized as the longest undefended border in the world, stretching from the far northern reaches between Maine and New Brunswick to Alaska and the Yukon. Despite our differences on who has be er coffee and doughnuts, loonies or bucks, or whether the alphabet has a “zee” or a “zed”, as sledders we can always agree on one thing…beer.

Any good snow rocket wrenching North American worth his or her wear bars will admit nothing goes down be er during a late night shop session than suds and hops.

While the days of drinking and riding are long over and righ ully frowned upon, en-

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joying a few cold ones when the day’s ride is over can be as joyous and celebrated as an early December snow storm.

As we embark on our fourth edi on of Shop Mo va on, many avid readers of our rag have chimed in on our recommendaons when it comes to the great barley pop debate. Obviously not everyone can agree with our well-heeled taste buds, but we’ve heard your rants and we listened. This year we ignored the micro-beers, the imports, and the overpriced swill that the uptown beer snobs sip a er work in their business casual a re. Instead we entered our local beer store and selected a dozen beers that are affordable, plen ful, and available nearly everywhere across the snowbelt.

And to keep things as unbiased as possible we added a new twist and cross pollinated the borders, allowing our U.S. based crew to sample the best Canada has to offer and vice versa.

So here it is kids, our picks for the best American and Canadian brews for this winter’s shop sessions…the interna onal everyman’s beer showdown.

Obviously not everyone can agree with our well-heeled taste buds, but we’ve heard your rants and we listened.

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Sleeman India Pale Ale Before you start to throw shade about our Sleeman selec on, and our decision to not select the more tradi onal, Original Draught version, we wanted to give a nod to history and the English roots of our pals north of the border. Thus the India Pale Ale was the stew of choice. Unlike most modern pale ale beers found at that overpriced sports bar up the road, the Sleeman swill is not nearly as bi er or as “hoppy” as those trendy beers. The reason is likely the older than dirt recipe that dates back to the 18th century when the Sleeman family brewed this beer and exported it

to thirsty English troops in colonial India. It’s either that or the Sleeman clan is just a whole lot smarter, and have far be er taste than those young punk, microbrew kids who wouldn’t know a good mug of froth if it landed on their over-privileged head. Now we typically like our beers cold and open, but if the name of the beer sounds eerily similar to something other than beer, the taste might not be far off either (think about it). The unusual shape of the bo le might look sexy on the shelf, but it proved to severely limit the chugability of this nicely colored beer. One taster

noted a hint of motor oil a er swallowing…bonus. Perhaps the best part about Sleeman is the branding on the bo le. There is no label, but rather it touts an embossed design featuring a maple leaf with a beaver. Who doesn’t like a beaver?

You can’t get much more Canadian than that.

Origin: 18th Century England Calorie Count: 159 Alcohol: 5.3% United States Office Ranking: 10W-30 – The universal blend of motor oil.

Old Milwaukee First brewed in 1849 by Pabst Brewing Company, we’ve all enjoyed a cold can of Old Milwaukee at some point during our adult lives. During our tas ng session, every me one of us reached for a can of this goodness, it turned into a scene from Wayne’s World with Alice Cooper. Never properly pronounced, it was referred to as Ol’ Millie or Olde Millioike (pronounced mil-lee-wau-kee - the Ojibwe word from which the city bore its name). This beer brought back some childhood memories, as it was comparable to our Laba 50 here in Canada as the beer your dad had in the fridge that even you wouldn’t touch. A er six of these dry lagers, there wasn’t a problem downing a seventh, eighth, or even a ninth. Famed beer tester and recent mo va on team tester, be er known as the “Jare-Bear”, was quick to comment, “Only serve cold. When it’s warm it’s nearly un-drinkable (he did say nearly). It tastes like they may have used water from one of the several canals that flow through the city, a day a er the sewage treatment plant failed.” Of course, old “Jare-Bear” already had 7 empty cans at his feet. There’s no accoun ng for taste.

Origin: Golden, Colorado, USA | Calorie Count: 206 | Alcohol: 4.6% | Canadian Office Ranking: 666 (Number of the Beast)

Labatt Blue

You’re my boy blue; at least that’s what most tasters believed as I retrieved a twelver from the shop fridge and handed out this truly Canadian branded bo le. Growing up on the border of these two great countries, there were two beers during my sheltered up bringing that were clearly Canadian. One was Molson (more on that brew later) and the other was Laba . According to the Laba website, this beer is the best selling beer in Canada, which just goes to show you there is no accoun ng for taste. A er cracking the top, one well-seasoned taster noted, “It doesn’t s nk.” Now there’s a mark of a good beer.

Unfortunately, it didn’t have much taste either…other than being cold and having the same color as beer, old blue was uninspiring at best. S ll it makes one helluva a shop beer. You can slam with near reckless abandon, and it’s also educa onal. Each can features branding in both English and French. If you s ck with it and polish off a few cases, you’ll be spewing French words like a pro. Perfect for cha ng it up with a French hussy during your next riding trip to Quebec. Oui?!

Origin: Ontario, Canada | Calorie Count: 153 | Alcohol: 5% | United States Office Ranking: 4 ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

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Miller Lite Essen ally, Miller Lite was the first mainstream light beer on the planet. Introduced na onally ally in 1975, and heavily marketed by masculine pro sports players and other so-called macho figures, es, the beer struck a chord with the predominately male beer drinking demographic. It went on to become come one of the best-selling light beers of all me. With the original slogan, “Taste’s Great, Less Filling” ing” Perhaps they meant it tastes less filling? Around the burning barrel there were numerous comments about this beer. Most agreed it’s a solid beer, but many felt it is best served direct from the tap at a dive bar versus from a bo le around a burn barrel. All-in-all, it was good, lite, and impressive as most beers served extremely cold are. That being said, one of our younger burning barrel members was quoted saying, “If there was an award for the best beer I’ve never had the desire to purchase, Miller Lite would be it.” We all paused a er he u ered this statement.

Clearly the youngster had never seen the classic Miller Lite ad where Pamela Anderson, in her prime mind you, had a slow-mo on pillow fight with other fine, well “rounded” women. More than a few men were convinced to purchase Miller Lite a er watching that ad. Some mes you have to reward quality adversing by purchasing an average beer.

Origin: USA | Calorie Count: 96 | Alcohol: 4.2% Canadian Office Ranking: 3

Steam Whistle I have to admit I was more than li le excited to dig into this brew. A er several trips to Toronto over the years, and taking in a few Jays games downtown, I’d walked by the Steam Whistle brewery on a few different occasions. The brewery is located just south of the iconic CN Tower inside the renovated and historic John St. Roundhouse. The industrial architecture of the former Canadian Pacific Rail steam locomo ve repair facility is nothing short of beau ful. The building alone speaks old-school, working class, and my hopes were the beer would taste the same. The brewers at Steam Whistle brew just one beer, a classic Canadian Pilsner, one that according to the founders of the company, would rival any beer in the world. The beer is made from the simple ingredients of spring water, malted barley, hops, yeast, and according to the marketing speak found on their website, there’s also a classic fi h ingredient found in every bo le…passion. Could have fooled us. A er just one sip we believe they may have slipped in some Ivory soap as well. We knew this wasn’t going to be a good shop beer the moment we had difficulty removing the cap…what did they use on that thing…red Loc te? Once popped and we overcame the Ivory smell, the brew hit our lips and our taste buds were immediately met with hints of hotel mini soaps, urinal mints, and oh yeah…beer. As one taster eloquently put it, “I wouldn’t reach into the cooler for another.” Nuff said.

Origin: Toronto, Canada | Calorie Count: 160 | Alcohol: 5% | United Sates Office Ranking: 4

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Budweiser

A popular premium brew, Budweiser is known around the World as the KING of beers. With this much moxie it deserves respect, and we p our hats. In shops and garages around North America, Budweiser is the most common beer to be given its very own shelf, and so be it. My grandfather explained to me at a very young age that it’s all about respect. The brewing recipe has remained the same since 1876, though the technology of brewing has changed, the ingredients haven’t…yup this is the king. One of this year’s beer consump on experts said, “Every me I drink this crisp beer, I know that a burger isn’t far behind, hopefully a loaded Juicy Lucy – calorie counters be damned!” We at OSM are going to go ahead and back that up! Budweiser is a full flavored, medium lager weighing in at only 145 calories so adding in the big Kiwi Burger of West Yellowstone fame or a Juicy Lucy from Minneapolis is le to personal preference. A li le history about the King. In 1939 this power beer started being associated with Clydesdales - a sign of power straight out of prohibi on.

Commonly known as Bud, Budweiser’s slogan is “America Made Be er”. Think about it…a burger with bacon is good…add a beer and its be er. When you’re enjoying a warm Friday evening, under the pa o lanterns around the burn barrel, if someone is enjoying a Bud you might want to just leave them be. They’re simply taking in the surroundings, reflec ng on the day, and enjoy a quality bo le of American beer. Don’t strike up a simpleton conversa on about calorie coun ng unless you want to get your ass handed to you. The Bud consumer seems to know what they want and how they want it. One part stubborn, one part standoffish, one part bombas c, and purely American.

Origin: St. Louis, Missouri, USA | Calorie Count: 145 | Alcohol: 5% | Canadian Office Ranking: 4

Old Style Pilsner Now here is a beer that is historical, educa onal, and damn tasty. It’s no secret that when it comes to a good shop beer, the tas ng crew here at OSM likes to keep it simple and that usually means a pilsner…clean, refreshing, and light enough on taste that you can chug more than one.

When your hands are greasy and you just busted two knuckles on that stubborn skidframe bolt, the best thing to follow up a wrench tossed across the shop floor and a string exple ves is an ice-cold pilsner. The colorful can speaks to us…saying you’re about to have good me, crack the top and join the Canadian fun bus. Frankly we’d like to see the artwork as full-sized wall art.

We know it might not be a Vincent van Gogh or Rembrandt, but we know what we like. More than just rivers and mountains, this can literally is a snapshot of Canadian history in 12 glorious ounces. A er a two-four of these art-deco cans our tasters knew all the words to the Canadian na onal anthem, were well versed in the war of 1812, and were busy tapping maple trees and making syrup for the following morning’s “hang-over” pancakes.

Origin: Western Canada | Calorie Count: 145 | Alcohol: 5% | United States Office Ranking: 1

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Coors Light

The good people at Coors Light should be given old-school, big round pins to wear that say, “You’re Welcome!” to the millions of beer consumers across North America. The iconic Coors Light girls that have been on TV, gracing adver sing pages, posters, and travelling to the local brewhaha establishment, tormen ng young and old men alike.. Just the mere thought of those beer peddling ladies has persuaded more consump on of Coors Light than most have needed. This doesn’t even take into considera on the Maxim magazine/Coors Light giveaways and Mystery Mansion games that had all us saying with a thick tongue, “I’ll have one more Coors Light ma’am”! It’s always nice when the ladies stop by the shop for refreshments, thus this year we made it a point to include them in our taste off. They made it known Coors Light was their clear choice for sipping suds around the burn barrel. With a smooth, light, and almost sweet thirst-quenching taste, the ladies kept reaching for another…making it a lucky night for some. Not only is this brew darn near perfect, those kids at the Coors Light headquarters have made it easy to know when your next can is ready for consump on. When the mountains are blue you know what to do…crack a top and enjoy another. No guessing games here. When you order a Coors Light it lets others know you’re a beer connoisseur who likes his or her beer simple, tasty, and cold.

Origin: Golden, Colorado, USA | Calorie Count: 102 Alcohol: 4.2% | Canadian Office Ranking: 3

Alexander Keith’s Premium White As sem semi-professional beer tasters and profe profes professional bench racers, we never were much for history books. But with this interna international beer tasting session we accide accidentally learned plenty about our neighb neighbor to the north thereby catching a cultural buzz as well as a more intended mellowing. Old boy Alexander Keith is long gone from this earth, but his story lives on and he is a bonafide historic figure in the province of Nova Scotia. Born in Scotland in 1795, he crossed the Atlantic with beer brewing know how handed down from his Uncle. Keith liked his beer, so much in fact that he started his own brewery in Nova Scotia in 1820. More than a big deal when it came to beer, Keith was also a two-time

mayor of Halifax. We can only imagine what the after-election party was like. Today the brewery is still pumping out golden fluids including a Red Amber, India Pale Ale, and a Premium White. Since we prefer high octane in our buggies, we went for the Premium White. Ahhhh, but Keith’s idea of premium beer is obviously not in line with our shop crew. An unfiltered Ale, Keith’s proclaims this unfiltered Ale is crisp and features notes of coriander and cinnamon…Say What?!! Someone forgot to tell the old bird before he passed that a premium shop beer contains grain and should read like the ingredients found in a can of octane booster, not a bottle of wine.

Origin: Halifax, Canada | Calorie Count: 150 | Alcohol: 5% | United States Office Ranking: 3

Busch Light Busch Light was introduced in 1989, ironically the same year that Taylor Swift came into this world…fortunately that was just a coincidence. An extremely popular pale lager, especially in very rural areas, Bush Light, also known as Blue Yummies in the shop, touts a blend of premium hops and a combination of malt and corn, for a lighter body and a great taste. It’s easy on the wallet, and what we consider one of the best light beers on the market today. This is a real-world working man’s beer and it’s the only beer that has graced ALL 3 OSM Shop Motivation compilations. If that doesn’t motivate you enough to buy a two-four we don’t know what will.

Origin: St. Louis, Missouri, USA | Calorie Count: 105 | Alcohol: 4.1% | Canadian Office Ranking: 2

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Molson Canadian

It doesn’t get any more Canadian than this…dressed in red, white, and blue and bearing the iconic Molson name with a golden maple leaf of course…this is the holy grail of brews from the north. I remember my old man ধpping back a few of these right from the threads while watching hockey night in Canada as we pulled in a snowy version of CBC. We can only imagine how many Donny Brooks were fueled by this beer…and given its popularity…many more to come. All tasters agreed, if our Canadian pals are coming to the shop to watch hockey, talk hockey, or lace ‘em up for some old-school pond hockey, we would definitely fuel up with a few cans of this smooth, crisp, and tasty brew. True to Canada, this beer is brewed in ciধes across that great land, from Moncton to Vancouver. As a maħer of fact, Molson is so tasty one of our more astute tasters made the bold statement, “If those Canadians tried to burn down the White House again and all I had was Molson to douse the flames, I’d let that sucker burn.”

Origin: Quebec, Canada | Calorie Count: 148 Alcohol: 5% | United States Office Ranking: 2

coors banquet Let’s be honest, this is one legit beer! Coors Banquet is not just a tasty beverage but it speaks volumes about your personality and wisdom. The Banquet says, ‘congratulations, you know your brew, and you are the coolest guy in the shop’. The awards this beer has racked up rivals the radar run trophies found in Goodwood and Beerstein’s shop, and those guys are cheaters. I’m not talking new awards either, it won best beer at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1883. In 1959 Coors Banquet became the first beer to use an all-aluminum can making it easier for you to display your can crushing prowess. Simply put, this beer is not a poser beer. Brewed to perfection, this is a qualified shop purchase. If you want to impress the ladies when they drop by throw out this nugget and they’ll be looking at you with longing eyes. In the amazingly awesome movie Smokey & The Bandit, it was Coors Banquet they were trucking in that big rig.

If it’s good enough for the Bandit, it’s more than good enough for our Canadian shop or anywhere else for that matter.

Origin: Boulder, Colorado, USA | Calorie Count: 149 Alcohol: 5% | Canadian Office Ranking: 1

Bruce Cameron Marlon Recreational Products

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If you’re one of our West Coast readers, you may very well be already familiar with Marlon Recreational Products. For the rest of you, here is a quick snapshot – the Marlon name has been around for more than 40-years, starting out as a distributor of truck canopies to a small dealer network in Western Canada. In 1996, the company was purchased by Bruce Cameron and the name was changed to Marlon Recreational Products to better fit the vision he had for the company.

With Bruce at the helm, Marlon has greatly expanded its product offerings including several in-house manufactured items such as trailers, jon boats, utility boats, and most recently, pull behind ATV and street bike trailers. This alone was enough to attract our attention, but when we got a first-hand look Marlon’s latest truck deck for snowmobiles, ATVs and side-by-sides, we became a little bit smitten.

The craftsmanship, attention to detail, features, and quality are all top shelf. Fortunately, Bruce attended this year’s Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show, and we spent some one on one time with Bruce to bring you this issue’s 5 Minutes With.

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onsnow Marlon has certainly built a strong reputation in western regions of Canada and the United States. Can you give us some insight and background on the company for those of us east of the Rocky Mountains?

This year Marlon celebrates its 40th anniversary. I bought the company 20 years ago, and I took it in a similar, but different direction from where it was. I’d say the company is more focused on the marine and motorsport industry now, and we work hard to provide our dealers with the best products in a timely manner.

We currently have three locations in Canada and one in the US, with plans for future expansion very soon. Our growth really started in 2010, when I decided to expand into Alberta. We grew our sales dramatically that year, and soon we needed a much larger facility. The following year, we not only constructed a new facility, but we also opened another in Manitoba.

Some may have thought I was crazy to expand so quickly, but I was surrounding myself with the right people, who not only had industry experience, but also the right attitude to grow the business.

In April of 2012, we opened another facility in Tacoma, Washington. We quickly learned that we had just tapped into a much larger customer base with the U.S. expansion, and we subsequently geared up our product offerings and customer service support. We’re now working with LLD Distribution based in Ottawa, Ontario to deliver Marlon Products to Eastern Canada, and we’re currently having conversations with others in the eastern United States, to become Marlon distributors as well. The acceptance and growth of our products has been off the charts, and I’m proud to say we now have inquires for Marlon throughout Canada, the United States, and even Europe.

We continue to develop products that are unique, and offer user focused features. Our product development is really quite simple…everyone who works at, or is associated with Marlon are enthusiasts…they’re out enjoying the sport and using the products. This firsthand experience, along with dealer and consumer feedback, steers our future designs and product development. We

love getting feedback from people who are using our products, it truly fuels what we develop next. To take this a step further, we’re currently developing a new website that will place a high priority on gathering product feedback from our customers. Of course, the challenge with any small business is finding enough time in a day to get it all done, but who needs sleep right?

Sled decks have become a popular option in recent years versus trailers.

To what do you attribute this growth in popularity?

There are numerous reasons, but I’d say ease of use and convenience are at the top. They (decks) make it not only easy to load your machines, but once you get home, you can leave your sleds, ATVs, or side-by-side locked on the deck.

There’s no need to take them off, or put the trailer away. A deck saves space, not just on the road, but also storage space at home during the season. In the summer, I often find myself pulling a boat, and a deck allows me to also haul a side-by-side to the cottage for the

With easy sliding expandable sides, the Xplore truck deck can be expanded to fit two sleds or a side-by-side, and then easily pushed back in, retaining the standard width of your truck for everyday use.

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Bruce Cameron Marlon Recreational Products

Both the headache rack and the deck itself feature bullet LED lights for stylish good looks, and ample lighting for loading and unloading.

There’s even LEDs under the deck, operated by a convenient switch located at the back of the deck to light up your cargo area.

weekend. In the West, the deck became popular because in most cases, it can be really difficult to pull a trailer up a narrow mountain road and find a place to park it or get turned around. With a deck, you not only have a more nimble vehicle to haul your sleds, but the added bed weight gives you a lot more traction. In the mountains, it’s not unusual to see four people going out riding with a crew cab pickup, with two sleds on a deck and two more on a small trailer behind. I use mine for all the toys, but also find myself hauling just about anything, such as lumber or patio doors to the cabin. Decks are obviously very practical, but they’ve also become a bit of status symbol in some cases, and can be that one additional truck accessory to set your truck apart from the rest. When they’re built right with a focus on style, fit, and finish, they can look cool.

The new Xplore deck design touts an extruded side, allowing Marlon to integrate a host of features including Supertrac adjustable tie-down strips, the entire length of the deck. This gives you the versatility to place the four included tie downs anywhere.

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The build quality and fit and finish of your decks makes it one of the most refined decks on the market. Can you tell us about it and some of the features you feel makes it really stand apart?

I am glad you noticed, I really appreciate it. We use our decks all the time, and we want to make things easy. The features of our decks are easy to use, and more importantly, they work. Things like UHMW (plastic) on the ramp tray is obviously a simple solution, but it’s something other decks don’t offer, and it really helps the aluminum ramp slide in or out - aluminum on aluminum doesn’t slide well, especially after spending some time in the elements.

We apply this same thinking to a unique extrusion we developed that allows our side extensions to slide in and out with ease. The use of an extrusion also keeps the dirt and salt out, thereby eliminating binding and making it easier to clean. Other features including adjustable legs that can be converted to fit both a short box, or today’s super short boxes. This way you can get a new truck, but not have to get a new deck to fit.

This year we debuted some major changes to our decks and the feedback has been incredible. We kept the same proven infrastructure, but we added a host of features, and also looked at the styling of the deck, something that I think is very unique to our design. The biggest change was the development of an extrusion for the pull-out sides of the deck. This not only allowed us to incorporate many new features such as Supertrac tie-downs and Superglides, but the sides are now contoured for a great look and smooth finish that can be customized with wraps to give it a personal touch to match your truck.

We offer two versions of our decks, the standard Xplore or the Xplore Pro which comes fitted with a long list of standard features including Superglides, Superclamp tie-down system, aluminum decking, and LED lighting, both on the outside and under the deck, to give you cargo space lighting. Both feature our telescopic ramp, with no pins or two-piece designs to mess with. They are easy to use and take up less space under the deck, giving you more room for cargo.

So far we’ve received nothing but positive feedback on the new design. We have several BRP ride ambassadors, resorts, and companies like SnowRide Adventures in Whistler using our decks and everyone loves how they work and how they look.

Decks are big in the western markets, do you see the trend catching on in the Midwest and East?

Yes, I do. We’ve been seeing this take place over the past two years and its one of the reason we’re expanding our reach to the eastern markets. The response we’ve gotten from the Toronto show has been overwhelming. A lot of riders have seen Truck Decks but they then tell us they’ve never seen one like ours. We’ve been getting requests daily from riders in eastern Canada and the United States…it definitely has us excited about the growth opportunity it represents.

Innovation is clearly a design objective with your decks. Can you give us any insight on what other innovations or products you might have coming?

We have some cool stuff coming for the off-road market such as our ATV Riser, which allows you to load your ATV into a short box truck and still close the tailgate. Obviously, we’re always working on new products, and we have many new features and designs that are currently being tested, and we hope to have those available very soon. The changes to the Xplore deck has given us a platform from which we can develop new features and accessories that will greatly expand the versatility of the deck. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag too soon, but I can tell you there is a rack coming that will easily snap into the Supertrac, and allow contractors to carry gear such as ladders during the week, and is then easily removed so you can load your sled or ATV for the weekend. There’s a lot more in the pipeline as well, and I’ll be sure to keep OSM in the loop as soon as they become available.

The standard Superglides on the deck top are not simply fastened to the top, but rather are secured neatly into an extruded channel. This clean look gives you more deck surface area and eliminates a common place for dirt and ice to collect.

Marlon decks feature a telescopic ramp that glides easily, and provides additional cargo space under the deck, thanks to its compact, one-piece design.

Everywhere you look on the new Marlon Xplore Pro deck, you’ll find attention to detail, superior craftsmanship, and thoughtful features that are not just gimmicks, but provide real benefits.

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MUFF

of the month

Who’s Muffin?

Steve Hannah (Fluffy) and Darren Desautels (Desi) are both avid snowmobilers and eaters! Throughout the season, they will be sharing their favorite recipes and Muff Pot techniques to help you create a trailside feast for you and your bud, or even your entire group. Maybe you are already a Muffpot maven? If so, Fluffy and Desi would love to hear about what you’ve been cooking. Email them at mom@osmmag.com

Meat Muffin Meltdown

It

was a lousy winter in Ontario last year. I was almost shut out from riding and subsequently, whipping up some new recipes to burn-up on the trail.

Of course, as any good Muff Chef knows, prepara on and good inten ons are always part of the recipe, and last year was no excep on. In fact, I concocted up two new trail-side delights through the prep stage that we hope to try this winter.

As we’ve stated several mes in

previous MOM ar cles, preparing your meals in advance is cri cal to on-trail cooking success. Think of the Muff Pot as a rehea ng device and not a cooking device and build your meal out accordingly.

I recruited my daughter Nicole and my son Owen for this par cular recipe. Nicole is terrific in the kitchen, and she’s also very adept with a camera when it comes me to capture the shots needed for our monthly ar cles. Owen is more of a thro le man, or would that be grill master? Armed with an old Polaris Super Sport, outfi ed with a standard pot, Owen has a hard me deciding if he wants to thro le down and ride, or pull over at the first opportunity to pop the top and dig in. A chip off the old

Prep for this meal is relatively easy and quick. Start by blending the meat, eggs, and seasonings.

Set this back in the fridge until your bacon and mashed potatoes are ready.

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block…another proud Poppa moment.

Despite these differences, both of my kids enjoy the end result of our Muff adventures, and who wouldn’t?

Incorpora ng a piping hot, trailside meal into the ride is a great way to help introduce kids to the sport of snowmobiling and keep them coming back for more.

Keep it simple is the mo o here, from pizza pockets to chicken wings. Every meal brings big smiles and an cipa on of the next ride for everyone involved, including Dad, and I especially like that.

Riding with a Muff under the hood changes the en re ride dynamic, and searching for that perfect lunch stop is half the fun; from a sheltered area just off the trail, a safe intersec on, or a nice sun basked field corner, well protected from the wind.

But enough about the ride…let’s eat! For the record, I did manage one Muff ou ng last season, despite the low snow. While it wasn’t a blue ribbon, trailside delectable treat that our group is used to having, it was s ll a great meal that had our helmets off, the conversa on rolling, and the smiles brimming. Like with any new meal, we learned a few lessons with this par cular meal, and once again, prepara on was the key.

The meal was a meatloaf of sorts, with mashed potatoes in what could best be described as a cupcake. It was actually a Facebook find, which is a great resource for would-be Muff chefs. The ingredients sounded like a home run, and let’s be honest, how bad could anything be with mashed potatoes in the mix?

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We made a major error when making this meal the first go around. We failed to precook our bacon and it created a fatty, soggy muffin mixture, not to mention a smoky oven that darn near caught on fire. Lesson learned.

2lbs ground beef 3 eggs Salt and pepper to taste 1 onion, diced up 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. dried basil 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce ¼ cup of bread crumbs Full strips of pre-cooked bacon (as many strips as “cupcakes” you’ll be preparing) Mashed potatoes, made to your liking • Pre-heat oven to 375-degrees • Prepare you mashed potatoes. Instant is easiest, but for those more daring and ready to take the dish to another level, you can prepare from scratch. Allow to cool • Combine hamburger meat with eggs, seasoning, onion, bread crumbs. Fold until ingredients are well blended.

• Cook bacon and allow to cool slightly.

Microwave is the best method to ensure strips remain flat.

• Line the sides of a muffin tin with the strips of bacon.

• Apply a few spoonfuls of meat mixture into each tin.

• Press slightly to ensure the bacon is pushed to the outside.

• Leave enough room at the top of the muffin tin to top with mashed potatoes.

• Place in center rack of oven and bake at 375-degrees for 15 minutes.

• Remove from oven and apply mashed potatoes. I found it easiest to put the potatoes in a resealable bag and cut the corner off. This allows you to squeeze the right amount onto the meat muffin top.

• Place the meat muffins back into the oven and back for another 5-10 minutes.

• Allow muffins to cool completely and pack tightly into your Muff Pot. You may find it necessary to toothpick the bacon to the meat muffin to ensure it stays in place, especially if you happen to case that 45-foot gap jump on the way to your lunch stop.

With PRE-COOKED bacon lining the tins, fill with your blended meat mixture and pop in the oven.

Our first a empt at this meal ended with two hard lessons learned. First, we didn’t’ follow our golden rule, and decided to not pre-cook the bacon wraps. This meant the bacon fat combined with the meat muffin mixture in the oven, and made for some soggy treats. Secondly, due to some very rough trails and the muffins already being on the “soggy” side, our treats turned into a blended muffin casserole.

On the next go around with this recipe, we will pre-cook the bacon and line the ns with muffin wraps. Those changes, along with the toothpicks, should keep your meat muffin delight in one delectable trail treat. Burn and learn, that’s our mo o.

Till next time Keep Muffin’

After baking for approximately 15-minutes, remove and top with mashed potatoes. We used a bag with the corner cut off so we could better control how much we put on top. It also made us feel like top notch chefs.

After baking for another 5-10 minutes, your meat muffins are ready to cool and put in your Muff Pot. We topped ours with few more bits of bacon for that professional look.

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industry 411

Black Diamond Xtreme/ Speed Shop Inc. Erich Long and Jeff Schoenfelder are the brains and brawn behind Speed Shop Inc. and Black Diamond Xtreme Power; it’s what fuels our inner performance beast, and there are few red-blooded North American sledders who throw a leg over and hammer down who wouldn’t want more. It’s this kind of addiction that often serves as the impetus for hardcore enthusiasts to transition from avid riders to performance shop addicts, and for Ray Schoenfelder, his son Jeff Schoenfelder, and Erich Long, that never ending search for more, blossomed into two of the biggest names in snowmobile performance today. The crew at OSM recently visited their busy Minnesota based shop, and slowed them both down long enough to give you the 411 on their operation.

We spent the afternoon talking with Erich about what they both have cooking for the upcoming season.

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onsnow How did the relationship between Black Diamond and Speed Shop come about?

Black Diamond Xtreme had already become somewhat of a household name in the snowmobile world about 10-years ago. That’s when Ray’s patented Diamond Drive system was introduced on many factory Arctic Cat sleds. That breakthrough moment put Black Diamond Xtreme on the map. During that same time, I was working at Bikeman Performance. I wanted to chart my own path and that’s when the relationship between Ray and Jeff, and myself took hold. I was already utilizing the extensive machining capabilities at Black Diamond to develop future speed parts such as the popular ProMax 950 kit. As fate would have it, Jeff was looking to expand Black Diamond and with a long list of performance ideas rattling around in my head, a relationship was forged.

Tell us about some of your best selling products?

We are really known for our performance parts, especially ProShift clutch kits, ProLite mufflers and Y-pipes, and of course, our big bore kits such as the ProMax 950. We also developed a Durability Piston Kit for the older Polaris 800, and that has been immensely popular. Of course, we continue to service the thousands of Diamond Drives systems that are in the market with replacement components, and more recently, our ProLite suspension components for Arctic Cat sleds have started to take off as well.

Clutch kits are a huge part of the BDX and SSI business repertoire, and unlike other performance shops, all the machining and finish work is done entirely in-house.

What’s the best way to purchase your products?

Our website (www.bd-xtreme.com) is an excellent way to purchase parts, or you can simply call us (507-263-2244). We also distribute to several dealers all over the world. Check with your local dealer to see if they carry our performance parts. If they don’t, ask them to give us a call and we can get them set-up.

The heart of the BDX/SSI facility is a sprawling machine shop which allows the company to control nearly all engineering and manufacturing aspects.

Does your kitchen look like this? If it does, you’re just as addicted to snowmobile performance as these guys.

LEFT: Black Diamond founder Ray Schoenfelder holds several snowmobile related patents, including the planetary gear Diamond Drive system.

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Once we laid our eyes on these beauties, we just had to have one. The latest pipes from BDX and SSI are available in polished stainless for some serious eye candy, or in ultra-lightweight titanium. Shown are pipes for the Pro-Ride chassis 800 motor, but the company just released the same combo for the new AXYS secured 800HO…the titanium version weighs just 4.4lbs…we want!

By the looks of the company fridge, these guys must live on octane and coffee.

In addition to titanium exhaust, the boys also offer a Y-pipe that is ridiculously light.

The combo operation produces so many performance helixes that they have a machine dedicated to machining blanks year-round.

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Both Erich and Jeff are never afraid to get their hands dirty. In fact, both are in the trenches every day, not just engineering new products, but working in the shop getting completed ideas ready for shipment.

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onsnow There’s a lot of performance shops in snowmobiling, what makes BDX and SSI different and better?

The biggest thing is our fabrication and machining capabilities… we make a lot of our parts in-house, giving us complete control over what we build. We can build it exactly how we want it, and we can make revisions to prototype parts instantly, and try lots of different ideas and combinations in a short amount of time.

There’s also a benefit to the customer by doing things in-house.

First, we can keep costs down, and second, if replacement parts are needed, we either have them in stock or can manufacture them in a day’s notice. I don’t think anyone can touch the price of our big bore 950 kits, and the same goes for our clutch kits and exhaust systems. Our stuff is tested for proven performance, unmatched quality, superb fit and finish…all at a price that’s incredibly affordable.

When riders buy a product, they want to make sure it works.

How do you go about testing your stuff?

We ride…a lot! Wherever there is snow, we find it, from the first snow of the season to the last pockets in the spring. We travel to Colorado, Wyoming, British Columbia, and as far away as Iceland to test and tune our mountain products. And since we’re located in Minnesota, we spend a lot of time riding right here, or in nearby Wisconsin and Michigan. You can do a lot of things on a dyno, which we also do with our partner Dynotech in New York, but there’s no replacement for getting out and riding.

Hands on testing is our bread and butter, and we’re riding every weekend and then some.

Do you offer any type of warranty or guarantee?

Absolutely…all of our products carry a one-year warranty, and we’re always available by phone for technical support.

What new BDX or SSI product has you most excited and why?

We’re really excited about our new Polaris AXYS 800HO pipe.

We developed the pipe using 3D stamping, and what this allowed us to do is to put all the curves and the shape of the pipe into a single piece. There is just a top half and a bottom half, there are no cross cuts where you would normally have to twist and turn a single stamping. This process allows us to build the pipe to the exact shape, with the proper volume and expansion profile, and have minimum welds and seams. The result is a pipe that delivers great performance and looks amazing. We offer this pipe in both a polished stainless steel version that looks great, and a titanium version that weighs just 4.4lbs! Best of all, the price is very affordable, compared to other pipes on the market.

Tell us something about the company that you wish more people knew.

I think a lot of riders are familiar with our ProLite snowmobiles, which we build about 50 of each winter. They pack a ton of performance and shave over 60-pounds off a stock machine, and are backed with a one-year warranty. What many don’t know is if they already own an Arctic Cat M-Series sled, they can transform their sled into a ProLite version with an available kit which we offer. A complete ProLite Xtreme kit sells for $6,995 (US) and it includes a complete 950 ProMax engine kit – full

ABOVE: Just down the road from the primary facility, another discreet location is used to manufacture the company’s ProLite series of snowmobiles. Work was already well underway this fall, as a small crew tears apart new stockers and then rebuilds them with the ProLite goods to create four different available power options, ranging from a 600HO, to the beastly ProMax 950 with 210-horsepower.

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industry 411 exhaust; clutch kit; 52mm throttle bodies; Boyesen reeds; and power commander. It also includes all the chassis mods such as our ProLite hood; cold-air intake; LED headlight; fuel tank; seat; the 36-inch front suspension system; SLP Mohawk skis, and lightweight oil tank kit with block-off. The sled will deliver more than 200-horsepower and drops 60-pounds. It’s a great deal.

What is something you are sure to find inside BDX/SSI headquarters bathroom?

It’s pretty basic, unless you think two stalls and toilet paper is exciting.

Where is your or your employee’s favorite place to ride?

We love to ride the powder in Colorado and the trails in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The ProLite sleds feature a narrowed and lightweight front suspension, which touts forged aluminum upper and lower control arms and spindle.

What’s next for the company?

Growth! When the manufacturers introduce new models, it means we have to get busy engineering new performance parts. We’re focusing on delivering more titanium and stainless products, more big-bore kits, more clutch kits, and more turbo mods. Our track record speaks for itself, and more and more riders are asking us for BDX and SSI parts every day.

In 10 words or less tell me why someone should do business with BDX/SSI? We have an unrelenting passion and love for snowmobile performance.

Looking to add a touch of performance with dramatically improved acceleration and backshift…these guys have you covered.

Regardless of the power package you choose, each ProLite sled is a whopping 60-pounds lighter than a stock sled… and is backed by a one-year warranty.

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The ProMax 950 is a complete horsepower upgrade that leaves nothing to chance. Every component has been designed and tested to work in harmony.

90 Piece Kit

In 2017 alone, there are 34 sled models that take a 90 stud pattern.

Today, life is all about convenience.

Our 90 piece kit offers just that.

For 1.25" lug two-ply tracks:

GDPK-1325-90S

make life easier with Woody’s® 90 piece kit; contact your local dealer today!

Includes 90: Short Big Nuts, 5/16” Round Digger® support plates, and 1.325” Gold Digger® Traction Master® studs

For 1.25" lug single-ply tracks:

GMPK-1325-90

Includes 90: Short Big Nuts, 5/16” Round Grand Digger® support plates, and 1.325” Grand Master® studs

www.WoodysTraction.com 989.689.4911 woodys@wiem.com Hope, MI, USA International Engineering & Mfg. © IEM 2016. All rights reserved.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

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GEARBOX Who doesn’t love unwrapping shiny hiny sled stuff now Magazine, on Christmas morning? At On Snow we’re here to help you with yourr gift giving our family. for that passionate sledder in your To follow is a list of snowmobile gear and ake that accessories gift ideas to help make

F2 Carbon Helmet

special sledding someone very happy on Christmas morning.

1

Revo X Here is a gift that is going to make any sledder happy on on Christmas Morning. FXR introduced the REVO X jacket this year and is being toted as the evolution of the crossover jacket. The Revo X was developed for whether you are shredding in the mountains, blasting down the trails, or just hanging out with your buddies. Equipped with a removable liner and the new Dry Vent™ System (DVS), adjusting climate on the fly is now a breeze. The new DVS is a high performance venting system that maximizes ventilation with side and chest vents. For complete details and styles available head over to www.fxrracing.com

LED Tail Light Conversion Kit

3

New from Proven Design Products is the Tail Light Conversion kit. This takes the stock bulky rear light and converts it to a slim sleek LED taillight. Constructed from high impact thermoplastic, and precision molded to insure an exact fit on your sled, this relatively inexpensive gift takes your loved ones sled to the next level. LED just screams cool. www.provendesignproducts.com

2

The F2 Carbon helmet is a full-on carbon fiber/Kevlar® helmet designed, not only, to make you look good and keep you save, but will also not bust the gift budget. Using the same technology that FLY puts into their Formula helmets, the F2 comes with an all new shell design with intense graphics, a dual density EPS liner, removable/washable interior, cheek pads and an impressive eleven in-takes and four exhaust ports. So if your sledder has added a new helmet to the gift list, then maybe the F2 is just the right fit. www.flyracing.com

4

SPX Boost Box Jr.

Electronics and Christmas go hand-in-hand. The SPX Booster Box Jr. is an electronic product that your sledder will use all the time. The Jr. version is a 200amp booster pack that will charge electronics and will even boost a Sled, ATV or Watercraft.

The Jr. version is small enough to carry in the pocket of a snowmobile jacket. This is one of those gifts that every time they use it, they’ll think of you.

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5

6

Handlebar Gauntlets

Anyone who has experienced riding in the extreme cold knows just how important it is to have a good set of gauntlets on board. The Bronco handlebar gauntlets have some pretty cool features like a windproof sleeve for added protection, and a PVC window, (you have never had gauntlets with a window, then you don’t know what you are missing). This is a gift that would be perfect for anyone who rides in the cold and needs extra protection. www.denniskirk.com

Pulse t Jacket

Guys, this Christmas be the hero, o, and get your lady sledder in yourr life the jacket she really wants.

The Pulse Jacket from FXR is one of the top selling jackets and for good reason. First off, it looks good. With an active cut,, this jacket was designed to look good and function while out on the trails. Second, the features on this jacket are over the top. Things like; removable hood, adjustable collar, cuffs, and bottom hem, lycra cuff extensions and 6 pockets throughout are just to name a few. So guys, make her happy and show her you really care with the Pulse Jacket from FXR. For complete details head over to www.fxrracing.com

7

CKX Tranz Modular Helmet

If riding full-face is your thing, and you are in the market for a new helmet, then the CKX Tranz Modular should be on your gift list. The modular helmet features easy to use (even with gloves on) quick release mechanism so utilizing the modular aspects is a breeze on this helmet. The helmet also features a retractable amber sun visor, a removable liner, and the breath and chin curtain are included in the box. The designers of the CKX Tranz also thought of the little things like the cheek pads “glasses-friendly” and it has been designed to receive a communication headset with ease. www.ckxgear.com

8

Pelican Sport Sled

Here is a product we bet is on Old Saint Nicks wish list, the Pelican Ram X molded plastic sled. With four replaceable Ram-X runners, excellent for hauling presents on Christmas morning, or if you are not lucky enough to be able to ride Christmas morning, the Pelican sled is also perfect for hauling anything you need up to 500lbs. It comes complete with a hitch, hitch pin and cover. www.pelicansport.com

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

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GEARBOX

10 Riding Sock

9

Arctiva Regulator Base Layer Gentleman, it’s very simple; a warm wife is a happy wife. Layering is the key to keeping you warm, so you might want to consider buying your loved one a new base layer this year. Arctiva has just introduced the MidWeight regulator base layer, which was constructed with a polyester/spandex blend that provides a comfortable 4-way stretch and great moisture wicking capabilities.

Both pant and shirts are available, and the pricing is decent so you wont blow the gift budget. www.arctiva.com

Who doesn’t like getting socks at Christmas? This year give the socks that your sledder der is going to actually use. The Riding Socks from FXR are designed for just that, Riding! iding!

Made from an Acrylic/Nylon ylon blend, to help aid in moisture sture wicking, the sock construction uction also features extra padding ding on the heel, toe and arch. h. The designers also thought about knew protection and made the length 22” from heel to cuff to make it more comfortable rtable under your pads. For complete plete details head over to www.fxrracing.com .fxrracing.com

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ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

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ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

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GEARBOX

11

Reflective Spray

Here is a new item that came across our desk just as we were putting this gift guide together. The concept is brilliant, The Albedo 100 Reflective Spray. It’s an invisible spray that is design to save lives and prevent accidents by adding a reflective component to anything that it is sprayed on. So before you head out for that blast down the trail, simply spray this on the back of your jacket, mud flap, down the front of your sled, and whatever the spray comes in contact with immediately becomes reflective. It is invisible so you will not even see it until it gets hit with light from another sled or car. We said it before and we will say it again, “Safety never takes a Holiday” and this can of wizardry is the perfect stocking stuffer that every Snowmobiler should have. We have some cans coming our way, and we’ll let you know first hand how it held up. Stay Tuned…for details on where you can buy this, but in the meantime head over to www.paisleyproducts.com

Polaris Trail Rack

12

Polaris Rush owners rejoice; we have found a gift that needs to be on your X-Mas List. The folks over at Angry Snowmobile Designs, (the company name alone is enough for us to buy this rack) have developed a rear tail rack that keeps the lines of sled intact, and mounts to the Rush suspension without the need for drilling. The rack is laser cut from 12guage steel and is powder coated to a matte black finish. The Rack can either be used without the top plate, which allows for the factory Lock-n-Ride bag to be mounted, or with the Top Plate which opens the door for many uses including a gas can mount or a rail mount setup. So if you have the pleasure of owning a Polaris Axis with ProXC, RUSH or Pro Ride Chassis, then you need to have a look at this rack. www.angrysnowmandesigns.com

AN EASY WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR RIDE.

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NOW AVAILABLE! 102

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Bite Harder Gift Pack

13

That Snowmobiler tough to buy for... we’ve got it… The Bite Harder Gift Pack!

You get a carbide grinding tool, a stud sharpener, a side support tool and the all-new 12v Grinding Tool. Give this gift pack to the sledder in your life and watch them corner better, get faster hole shots on the hard pack, and they’ll use it! They will be able to accomplish all this in their garage, right on the side of the trail, or in the hotel parking lot. Now that is a gift that just keeps on giving. Check out www.biteharder.com for details.

1

Super-Traction Grid Nobody likes to do the Ice-Dance down the ramp of a trailer. You know the dance; it is a combination of arms flailing and feet stomping as you slide down the icy ramp.

Sometimes you can control it and get away with just the slide, but most times the dance ends up with an ass crash at the bottom. Here is a product from our friends at Super Clamp that will remove all possibility of doing the dreaded Ice-Dance. The Super-Traction Grid is designed to install directly to your trailer floor by using the supplied hardware. Install is a breeze and this gift would be perfect for the Snowmobile enthusiast with everything.

For complete details head over to www.superclamp.net

for details visit www.motorcyclesupershow.ca ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

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GEARBOX

Dayco Belts

15 Rollerski There is nothing more annoying than the sound of carbides scraping along ash fault. To avid snowmobilers that sound maybe considered worse than nails on a chalkboard. Take that sound out of your weekend with a set of Rollerski from Qualipieces. The retractable wheel system makes a perfect gift, and is made from superior materials and by design put zero pressure on the ski.

The install is a breeze and the parts are resistant to freezing. For complete details head over to www.qualipieces.com

An OSM Subscription

Everyone knows that your toy is only as good as the belt wrapped around its clutch. We strongly believe that a spare belt needs to be on board, so why not consider a Dayco belt, which makes a perfect stuffer for any stocking. Not sure how to decipher which belt that sledded of yours needs? Dayco has you covered! The smart minds at Dayco created an easy to use App that will tell you exactly what belt you need to buy.

For complete details head over to www.dayco.com

16 17

You know how much you look forward to receiving your copy of OnSnowMagazine during the Winter season, why not get one for a friend. Order online at www.osmmag. com today and use promo code: XMAS2016 and save $5 off any subscription. A one year subscription will only be $14. If you order by phone before December 14, 2016 and say the promo code: XMAS2016 we can send you a copy of the magazine to wrap up for that special someone for the Holidays, and their regular subscription will kick in and be delivered to their door, 6 issues in Canada, 5 issues in USA per year. 888-661-7469. Visit www.osmmag.com

18

41st Annual Motorcycle SUPERSHOW

See DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER and Beth Chapman live at the SHOW

Powersports Enthusiasts looking for a simple stocking stuffer – Tickets to North America’s Largest Motorcycle Show, the 41st Annual North American International Motorcycle SUPERHSOW, the Big One by the Airport, is the perfect idea! Special Guests Dog and Beth Chapman will be live on site on Friday January 6th. Get an autograph, from DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER AT THE SHOW! If you act now you can save $3.00 OFF the price of an adult admission ticket. January 6-8, 2017 at the International Centre, www.motorcyclesupershow.ca

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19 Power X Wing Here is a perfect gift for the D.I.Y. sledderthat wants to add some ponies to their buggy this season. The Power X Wing from Boyesen is the simplest bolt-on modification that increases air speed and density, which in turn adds more power and torque. The concept is simple but really effective.

By streamlining incoming air, the Power X Wing works to better prepare the air for entry into the carburetor. And we all know that more air, means more performance! So if you have a sledder in your life that likes performance… then maybe you should ad this to your shopping list. For complete information and other performance products, head over to www.boyesen.com MULTI-PURPOSE TIE DOWN ANCHOR SYSTEM

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TekVest Trail Pro The best features from the Pro Lite and the Super Sport combined to produce the top of the line Trail Pro TekVest. No features were over looked, it features two front pockets for storage of your essentials like; keys, wallet, and cell phone.

And on those windy days riding the trails, the Trail Pro acts as an excellent wind blocker, with its race tested soft armor shell that provides the best coverage possible available on the market. The Trail Pro uses an Ultra High Molecular Weight plastic that gives you the lightness, movability, and freedom you want when riding a snowmobile. Over time the Trail Pro will mold to your body and you will feel lost without it! For more information head over to tekrider.ca

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ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

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last gasp

Larry Tiede

Woody’s Traction When it comes to traction and control, Woody’s has become synonymous with the products they design to deliver increased traction and control for snowmobilers. From the race track to the trail, the crew at International Engineering and Manufacturing, (the company name behind Woody’s) has never stopped researching and developing new and improved ways to ensure our snowmobiles “hook-up”. The Mussleman family has always been at the helm of the company, but through the years they have integrated other key “players” including our pal Larry Tiede. A long time successful racer, Larry joined the Woody’s team in 1997, and has remained a vital and valuable member ever since. Currently responsible for overseeing Research and Development, as well as being the manufacturer rep with the OEMs, Larry still has to pinch himself 17-years later, as he tirelessly works his dream job for a company he calls family.

Last snowmobile ride you took?

Last March in Marquette Michigan. We were out testing our new Navigator Ski Protector. There wasn’t much snow, but hey, we were riding!

Last person you met who truly inspired you?

Dave Wahl - he’s always a gentleman, always helpful to everyone, and a great friend.

Last snowmobile you drove that made you say hell yeah!?

No question, the Yamaha Sidewinder. I couldn’t believe how it just kept pulling.

It’s hard to believe it’s a stock sled…a real arm stretcher.

Last song/band you listened to?

Luke Bryan Last product or project at Woody’s Engineering that had you truly excited?

The Navigator Ski Protector; the more time we spend with it, the more we learn about the benefits. It may look simple, but it’s proven to not only protect plastic ski keels, but also enhances handling as well.

Last time you were pulled over by Johnny Law? On the way to the Toronto Show this year.

Apparently Canadians can’t talk on a cell phone and drive at the same time, so they made it illegal…Ha ha.

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Last movie you saw?

Magnificent Seven Last industry event you attended?

Toronto International Snowmobile Show… always a great show!

Last time you traveled overseas?

I have yet to travel overseas, but I do make several trips to Canada every year.

Last person you hugged?

My wife Dona. We’ve been married for 25 amazing years!

Last time you pulled an all-nighter?

It was New Year’s Eve last winter. No I wasn’t partying, but rather getting our team ready for the Soo I-500 race.

Last brush with greatness?

At last year’s Arctic Cat dealer show, I had the honor to sit and talk with Roger Skime.

He’s a true gentleman and icon of the industry. I could sit and listen to his stories for hours.

Last words your mother always told you?

Snowmobiles should stay on the ground.

They’re not to be jumped.

Last time you went over 100mph?

Trying to show my wife when the rev limiter would come on in her new car (I was wrong).

Last time you were so cold you asked yourself what you were doing?

Frankenmuth Michigan SnowFest, watching Ice Sculpture carving with my wife’s friends.

Last racing event you attended?

Hay Days for the grass drags, and the Soo I-500 for some incredible endurance racing.

Last time you laughed so hard you nearly wet your pants?

Kurt Schultz’s bachelor party. I can’t give you any more details than that.

Last thing you hope you’ll be remembered for?

Doing everything I could to support and help better the sport of snowmobiling and snowmobile racing. I love this sport.

Last bitchin’ car, bike, or snowmobile you owned?

Centurion wakeboard boat.

Last words of advice?

Cherish the friends you make in the snowmobile world, they’re very special people.

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READY OR NOT… SNOWBIKES ARE COMING

An early snowbike conversion circa 1982.

I

think we can call it… the year of the snowbike is here. With plenty of momentum from top conversion kit builder Timbersled, fueled by backing from Polaris, and the efforts of Arctic Cat to launch their SVX450, what was once viewed as a niche fad in parts of the western Snowbelt, now has industry wide excitement. Adding to this is the recent announcement by organizers at Winter X-Games, the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association, (CSRA) and the International Series of Champions (ISOC) they will be implementing snowbike racing into the fold.

Yet, not everyone is excited. Over the past year, I’ve heard plenty of grumbling from traditionalists, clubs, trail stewards and others about the potential of snowbikes.

While they don’t have a disdain for the vehicles specifically, they worry about the type of riding it promotes.

The idea of converting a motorcycle or scooter into an over the snow vehicle is clearly nothing new. In fact, the idea and subsequent attempts have been around for nearly as long as the traditional snowmobile.

In the early 1970s, there were several kits produced to turn motorcycles into winter vehicles, and both the Chrysler Sno-Runner, and the A.D. Boivin Snow Hawk were fully manufactured attempts, showing potential on a larger scale. However, none of these held the potential or the threat, depending upon

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your viewpoint, to truly gain mass appeal like the modern snowbike.

While Timbersled is the most prevalent and popular of today’s snowbike offerings, it’s the Arctic Cat SVX450 that has the most potential to upset the status quo. If all goes as planned, Arctic Cat will launch a vehicle this fall that will look like a snowbike, but will meet the requirements to legally be classified as a snowmobile, and the implications of this are huge.

Right now, the rules as to what is deemed a snowmobile and can legally be ridden on designated trails, varies from stateto-state and province-to-province. Here in my home state of Minnesota, even if the SVX is classified as a snowmobile by the Snowmobile Safety and Certification Committee, (SSCC) it still would not be

allowed on snowmobile trails due to state and provincial regulations. Obviously Arctic Cat will be working with every state and province to change this, but it won’t be easy.

To accelerate this process, they’ll need some help from the state and provincial snowmobile associations, but everyone might not be on board. Some point to potential on-trail safety issues, but many more see the desire to ride off-trail, and potentially trespass on private land as a major obstacle. Currently, many snowmobile trails traverse across private land. Clubs work tirelessly with landowners throughout the year to forge relationships and gain winter-time easements for these trails. The heightened potential of “straying” snowbikes has many of them concerned, and rightfully so, that these relationships and easements could be severely impacted.

However, despite these concerns, the benefit of the snowbike movement may far outweigh the risks. With both the industry and clubs struggling to attract new and younger riders, the potential for snowbikes to infuse the sport with new riders is very real.

No matter where you stand on the issue, snowbikes are coming, and this time I’m predicting they’re here to stay. While there will certainly be hurdles and challenges to overcome as this new “snowmobile” gains acceptance, all of us should welcome this legion of new riders with open arms; educate and encourage legal riding activities; and invite them into our clubs and associations… the future of our sport just might depend on it.

The Snow Hawk bridged the gap between snowmobile and bike, but a high learning curve held it back from gaining real momentum.

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THOSE WHO KNOW CHOOSE

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OK, so, you just pull this cord and she winds up and goes?

USXC owner Brian Nelson proving that Bearcats never wear out.

“Soon young one, soon you will win ice races just like your father.”

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No matter how dark, how cold, how early or how late, the USXC crew always works hard to make sure things go smooth.

Bryce Saiger learns the real meaning of Terrain Domination.

Finally, all those hours on the rowing machine paid off for Cole Lian.

Dillan Dohrn is always up for a photo op.

Craig Ritzinger gets wet and wild at Snodeo.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

119

Snow dust and sunlight at the cross-country by Aaron Kennedy, USXC photographer.

Cross-country iron man Gabe Bunke going incognito while scouting the course.

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Give this guy a flag and a radio, put him to work!

Looks like Nels Wicklund found the limit at some point during the race.

The aftermath - looks like a hefty parts bill coming.

A rainbow in the snow dust behind the USXC Pro class at Snodeo.

Yep, nothin’ like kicking back on a snowbank and watchin’ some cross-country racin’.

What do you do when you run out of gas? Well, if you’re Ryan Trout you pull your sled across the line so you don’t get the dreaded DNF.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

121

THE USXC

USXC

cross-country snowmobile racing is in its fifth year of competition. The older I get, the quicker the years go by, so my advice is let’s enjoy every day and minute we can. As everyone knows mother nature hasn't been kind to the snowmobile industry the last two years. But, despite lack of snow, we were able to run seven of our eight events, which is the result of the hard work of our crew and everyone who works with USXC including sponsors, venues and manufacturers.

As a former professional racer, I can appreciate what it takes to compete. It takes a special kind of person to get up early in the morning on a cold January day and try and beat a bunch of racers down a frozen rough ditch. It takes a special person, one who knows the value of hard work and that hard work always trumps luck. A person that takes every situation, regardless of how bad it looks, and turns it into an advantage for them. I have noticed that most snowmobile racers have this mentality and, as a result, tend to be successful at whatever they do.

Headed into the 2017 season we have many people and organizations to thank. First, I would like to thank all the competitors who race with us. I especially enjoy watching the families who choose to spend their weekends racing together.

It shows that our sport is a great way for families to get out and enjoy Minnesota winters.

I would like to thank the USXC crew; we are extremely fortunate to have such a great hard working dedicated group.

When you encounter them say thank you.

A kind word from a racer or crewmember goes a long way and often makes their day. They’re up long before the race starts and in most cases, are still working long after the race is over.

I need to thank our sponsors as well.

Despite tough times in the industry, most have stuck with us, although a few, for whatever reason, have decided to trim budgets and cut our funding.

It’s important to thank our sponsors, purchase their products and remember them even after you’re done racing.

Finally, to all our participants, thank you! Enjoy the season, make some friends, and don‘t ride over your head. You will never win races sliding down the ditch on your helmet and we want everyone to go home safe. Know your limits, work hard and lets all enjoy the upcoming winter.

Best regards, Brian Nelson USXC Owner

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SPONSORS

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SPONSORS USXC Racing sponsors dedicate time, resources and support to help cross-country racing thrive and flourish.

USXC has a family of sponsors dedicated to furthering the sport of cross-country snowmobile racing. It is because of the support of the companies listed on these pages as well as others that we have a venue in which to participate, spectate and work in the world of cross-country snowmobile racing. Next time you shop, be sure to check out these companies first.

Seven Clans Casinos For over a decade Seven Clans Casinos has been a major sponsor of cross-country snowmobile racing, most importantly host to the I-500. In recent years Seven Clans has expanded from two casinos (Thief River Falls and Warroad) to three with its new facility in Red Lake. For 2014-2015, Seven Clans will support three major USXC events - the Seven Clans Warroad 100, Seven Clans 300 Challenge Cup in Thief River Falls and of course the Winnipeg to Wilma I-500. Not only does Seven Clans support cross-country snowmobile racing, their casinos offer great family getaways year-round. Hotel, dining, family fun activities and of course some of the best gambling in the state are found at Seven Clans Casinos. Find out more at www.sevenclanscasino.com.

Arctic Cat A loyal supporter of cross-country snowmobile racing, Arctic Cat has played a key role in growing the sport over the past decade. The brand has set aside a significant chunk of its race and engineering budget to focus on racing this particular genre and is a big supporter of USXC racing. Arctic Cat Inc., based in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and Side by Sides under the Arctic Cat brand name, as well as related parts, garments and accessories. The Company markets its products through a network of independent dealers located throughout the contiguous United States and Canada, and through distributors representing dealers in Alaska, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other international markets. The Arctic Cat brand name is among the most widely recognized and respected names in the snowmobile, ATV and Side by Side industry. See the lineup at www.arcticcat.com.

Country Cat Country Cat was founded in 1991 by Dave and Mark Wanderscheid. Just 16 and 20-years-old at the time, the brothers built the dealership into what it is today - the largest Arctic Cat dealership in the nation. From new machines to its vast selection of parts and accessories to its online store, Country Cat is a full-service dealer. www.countrycat.com

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Nelson International Nelson International is a family of international truck dealerships based in Minnesota and North Dakota. Nelson International features a large inventory of trucks and strives to ensure the customer leaves satisfied. Nelson International offers new and used trucks as well as leasing and rental options. www.nelsonleasing.com Woody’s Based in Hope, Michigan, Woody’s Traction has been at the forefront of snowmobile traction and snowmobile racing since the 1960s.

A loyal supporter of USXC cross-country racing, Woody’s has stepped up as a significant sponsor of the Winnipeg to Wilma I-500 race in addition to offering their normal sponsorship support. Woody's is the trademarked name of IEM's private label traction devices and is the choice worldwide of motorsports accessory distributors, snowmobile and track manufacturers, offroad vehicles, racing champions, sportsmen and snowmobilers who want the very best in traction performance and safety. Find out more at www.woodystraction.com.

C-TEC2 Synthetic Oil Formulated with the highest-quality synthetic base stocks, C-TEC2 Synthetic Oil is specifically-formulated to work in Arctic Cat snowmobiles equipped with C-TEC2 engines. Developed in conjunction with the C-TEC2 engine, C-TEC2 Synthetic Oil provides superior engine lubrication and is the best cold-starting oil on the market.

West Central For the past 40 years West Central has been dedicated to helping agribusiness succeed. Based in Willmar, Minnesota, West Central offers services to local farms at a wholesale level including crop protection sales, crop nutrient sales and logistics. West Central believes that in agribusiness, people do business with people, not companies. They know the only way to have trusting relationships with customers is to compete on their behalf. Learn more at www.westcentralinc.com.

Polaris Engineered VES Synthetic Polaris Engineered VES Synthetic oil is engineered to provide top-level lubrication for Polaris engines equipped with exhaust valves. Engineered in parallel with the engines in which it is designed to work, Polaris Engineered VES Synthetic keeps exhaust valves clean and functioning while offering easy cold starting and cold flow properties. Polaris Engineered VES Synthetic is the first, best choice for Polaris snowmobiles.

C&A Pro Skis The choice of racers and trail riders worldwide, C&A Pro Skis have been proven to work better than any other ski on the market. With a full lineup of skis that match any riding style, C&A Pro is the best choice for whatever riding you have planned. They are the No. 1 ski choice among USXC racers. Find out more at www.caproskis.net.

XPS 2-Stroke Synthetic Oil Ski-Doo’s E-TEC engine technology is one of the most sophisticated 2-stroke engine management systems on the planet. When developing the E-TEC engine with it’s “dry” crankcase design where fuel is injected directly in the cylinder, Ski-Doo found “regular” 2-stroke engine oils weren’t up to the task of lubricating the engine so they developed a new oil, XPS 2-Stroke Synthetic. XPS 2-Stroke Synthetic oil was proven to work by Ski-Doo engineers who spent millions of dollars and thousands of man hours in the process.

Polaris With a racing tradition steeped in cross-country, Polaris is a big supporter of USXC racing. Polaris employees are not only building and designing machines, they are also enthusiastic riders and you’ll regularly find them competing on the USXC circuit. This gives Polaris a competitive edge as they work to make their customers’ riding experience better. Learn more at www.polaris.com.

Ski Doo Founded in Valcourt, Quebec, in 1942, it wasn’t long after that when J. Armand Bombardier took to the snow with the first versions of Ski-Doo snowmobiles. Since then, Ski-Doo has been dedicated to making its machines the bet on snow and crosscountry racing has played a big role in achieving that goal. Today, in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific, more than 6,500 people are keeping the spirit alive in all of BRP’s recreational vehicles and products. Find out more at www.skidoo.com.

Yamaha Generators One of the world’s largest and most innovative motorsport companies, Yamaha is known for its industryleading engine development and ground-breaking product lines.

Yamaha’s lineup of quiet, fuel-efficient generators are available in virtually every power level a job demands. Yamaha’s goal is to satisfy its customers and exceed their expectations with products and services of superior quality, unmatched performance, and extraordinary value. Learn more at www.yamahamotorsports.com.

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VENUES The communities that host USXC cross-country events are critical to the success of cross-country snowmobile racing. Event hosts often donate time, resources and volunteer hours to ensure racers have a safe, well-organized place to race and spend a weekend. It is because of these groups and communities that USXC is able to provide a place for racers to compete.

GERALD DYRDAHL MEMORIAL PINE LAKE 200 JANUARY 7-8, 2017 Gonvick, Minnesota Pine Lake marks the traditional start to the cross-country season. The lake gets ice early, making it a no-brainer for an early ice lemans event. Named after the father of five-time I-500 winner Bryan Dyrdahl, the Gerald Dyrdahl Memorial is where machines get shaken down and the tone of the season is set.

DETROIT LAKES J&K BEACH BAR 200 JANUARY 14-15, 2017 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota Set near the downtown of Western Minnesota’s vacation mecca Detroit Lakes, the J&K Beach Bar 200 is the second stop on the schedule and the second ice lemans event. Things even out here as riders settle in with their machines and setups. This fan-friendly event is run right alongside Highway 10, making for easy access.

PARK RAPIDS 106 JANUARY 21-22, 2017 Park Rapids, Minnesota Low snow forced a format change last season, putting riders on the ice once again.

However, the event is intended to be a combination race featuring terrain and ice, making setup a compromise. Park Rapids is fast becoming one of the favorites on the USXC schedule.

SEVEN CLANS TRF 250

JANUARY 28-29, 2017 Thief River Falls, Minnesota

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Run along some of the past I-500 routes, the Seven Clans TRF 250 is a mix of ditchline, woods and river. This area is home to Arctic Cat, and most of the terrain is well-known by its riders. However, many USXC riders have become familiar with the terrain, evening out the playing field between brands.

SEVEN CLANS WINNIPEG TO WILLMAR I-600

FEBRUARY 8-11, 2017 Winnipeg to Willmar A colossal endeavor, the Seven Clans Winnipeg to Willmar I-600 will be the USXC’s version of the storied Winnipeg to St. Paul I-500. The granddaddy of all cross-country events, the Winnipeg to St. Paul, at its height in the 1970s, remains one of the largest and most grueling snowmobile races ever. Whoever wins the Seven Clans Winnipeg to Willmar I-600 will go down in the history books.

SEVEN CLANS WARROAD 200

FEBRUARY 25-26, 2017 Warroad, Minnesota Run on the banks of Lake of the Woods, the Seven Clans Warroad 200 combines lake running with varied terrain, making it a challenge for riders. Once the season capper, the Warroad race is favorite amongst riders because it is usually warm and features a lot of good snow.

NAYTAHWAUSH 200 MARCH 4-5, 2017 Naytahwaush, Minnesota In its second year, the Naytahwaush 200 takes place in and around the tiny town of Naytahwaush, Minnesota. With a vast expanse of wooded terrain and lake available to USXC course builders, it brings yet another setup challenge to riders. The final event of the season, it will be the event where champions are crowned.

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> 2017 RACE SLEDS

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ach year, snowmobile manufacturers enter competitions with the best snowmobiles they’ve built to date. The machines you see on the CSRA National racetracks represent the best technology in snowmobiling and are some of the fastest, most capable terrain machines on the planet. Here is a rundown of what you will see from each manufacturer in 2017.

SKI-DOO MXZ X-RS T he REV-X chassis that serves as the basis for Ski-Doo’s 2017 MXZ X-RS is virtually the same one found in the company’s full-on race sled. Ski-Doo’s cornering ability is one of its advantages thanks in part to the RAS 2 front suspension. Out back, the progressive-rate rMotion rear skid soaks up bumps with the best of its competition. Extra suspension reinforcements, a RipSaw II

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track and KYB shocks round out the suspension package. Maybe the most technologically-advanced engine on the circuit, the Rotax 600 H.O. E-TEC engine features direct fuel injection and a computercontrolled oiling system that feeds a “dry” crankcase in that no fuel flows through it. A driveshaft-mounted Brembo racing brake helps slow everything down.

> 2017 RACE SLEDS

YAMAHA SRVIPER R-TX SE Y amaha continues to maintain its racing focus on crosscountry, choosing to field its SRViper R-TX SE. Yamaha’s 4-stroke has proven powerful and reliable on the USXC circuit. Based on the Arctic Cat-derived chassis, the SRViper usesFOX Shox and Yamaha’s Dual Shock SR 129 rear suspension.

The 1049cc 4-Stroke engine has 600cc 2-Stroke performance numbers and will be able to use its torque to help power off the line. The engine uses Yamaha YVXC fuel injection and a high flow intake and exhaust design. Hayes brakes and slow everything down while a Rip Saw II track provides the bite.

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> 2017 RACE SLEDS

POLARIS 600 RUSH XCR B

ased on the lightweight AXYS chassis, the Polaris RUSH XCR is comprised of 93-percent new parts including an aluminum overstructure and race-ready IQR handlebars.

The AXYS moves riders forward vs. the old PRO RIDE chassis, which Polaris says will give riders more control by placing them in a “more balanced position.” More tangible improvements include a PRT Brake system that features a brake scoop for better cooling, and hi-temp Type 81 brake pads. The unique rear suspension

features a forged aluminum, redesigned rear crank and pivot, and the front torque arm has been moved rearward to control pitch, increase travel and improve rail profile. Walker Evans shocks handle the damping duties. The 600 Cleanfire engine is well-proven and reliable and includes an electronically-controlled oil pump. In addition to the IQR handlebars, riders will like the increased wind protection, performance seat and Interactive Digital Display which has GPS and mapping capability.

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> 2017 RACE SLEDS

ARCTIC CAT ZR 6000R XC W ith it’s 2017 contender, the ZR 6000R XC, Arctic Cat returns to USXC competition as the manufacturer to beat.

However, that does not mean Arctic Cat is content with last year’s machine. For 2017 the XC brings a host of changes and revisions including new plastic with improved venting, new cooling system with new tunnel design, improved chain tensioner and revised TEAM secondary clutch hardware for better durability.

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Engineers addressed rider concerns, giving the seat a stronger mount, and making the hand warmers more durable. The chassis comes with extra bracing and suspension improvements include new front spindles and additional mounting holes for the front shock to accommodate ice racing. Riders also get a new lightweight, high-strength handlebar.

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INTERVIEW

ZACH HERFINDAHL THREE-TIME USXC PRO STOCK CHAMPION

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raditionally, cross-country rewards experience. Legendary riders such as Hibbert, Pake, Struthers and Wolff didn’t reach their zenith until their late 20s and early 30s. It’s rare for a young rider to enter the Pro class and win consistently, no less win championships.

But that’s exactly what Arctic Cat rider Zach Herfindahl did just three seasons ago when he won his first Pro Stock championship. The 2016 season marked the third championship in a row for the rider from Eagle River, Wisconsin.

We caught up with him to see how he prepares for racing, what he thinks of the I-600 and what it’s like to ride with a legend.

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OSM: You were Pro Stock champion last year, how does that feel?

Zach Herfindahl: That was our third in a row, and everything’s been going smooth.

It doesn’t get much better than how it’s been going the past couple years with the team and how the sled has been working.

It feels very good.

OSM: Right now it’s November, are you getting ready for the racing season?

Herfindahl: I’m planning to head to Fertile next weekend or the week after. I’ll help the crew put sleds together and get them prepped for the first race. I haven’t made any trips out West yet, the snow doesn’t sound all that great. Plus, we’re just getting our sleds right now, so maybe in the next few weeks I’ll get out there but I’m guessing not. Depends on what the weather does too, if it gets cold here we won’t have to go anywhere.

OSM: What do you do for fun in the off-season?

Herfindahl: Well, yesterday I just got back from a trip, I was just out hunting. We have some land by Detroit Lakes and we spend a week hunting ducks and birds.

OSM: Last season was kind of a bummer with so little snow, how did it go for you in that regard?

Herfindahl: It seems like the snow conditions are always tough, but USXC does a good job pulling everything off.

We had quite a few ice races and the ditch races we did have worked really well. It was better than I think most people thought. It was a little harder on equipment, but not bad.

OSM: Do you prefer ice racing or terrain?

Herfindahl: I really like the ice. I’m better in the ditch, but I enjoy ice racing because

INTERVIEW

ZACH HERFINDAHL

it’s such tight racing. I guess I’d have to say I’m 50/50 on that one. I like how USXC has more or less half and half, it makes for a good mix.

OSM: What would you say was the highlight from last season for you?

Herfindahl: The Thief River 300-mile race, Wes Selby and I were pretty much nose to tail for about 290-miles and I passed him within the last five miles. I couldn’t get around him. I was right on his tail both days and finally got him right before the finish line.

OSM: Are you ready for the Winnipeg to Willmar race?

Herfindahl: I’m ready for it, I’m just praying for snow! I’ve only been in two I-500s, so that’s one I haven’t had many good chances at winning. The Winnipeg to Willmar would be a huge one with it being the first year racing from Canada back into the U.S. I’ll be ready for it.

OSM: How do you prepare for cross-country racing?

Herfindahl: I ride road bike and try to get in the gym as much as I can. I spend more time doing endurance-type training since I’m on the sled for so long. I also ride motocross bikes as much as I can. That’s probably the closest thing you can do, but the trick there is to stay healthy.

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OSM: You are one of the riders Arctic Cat invites to test new machines. Tell us a good story about testing with the factory.

Herfindahl: We’ve had some guy have some pretty funny incidents on the sleds during our free time. But I guess the biggest highlight for me this year was working with Kirk Hibbert for like three days on the snocross sled. Working with him and seeing the knowledge that comes out of him, it’s unbelievable.

That was the highlight of all the engineering trips for me.

OSM: What are some changes to this year’s machine that might help you?

Herfindahl: Aerodynamics is a lot bigger factor for us than people think, especially in the ice races, so the new plastics should be a learning curve. But you can’t tell that until you get on the track. Otherwise I think the rest of the changes are for the better.

Everything looks pretty good for Arctic Cat. OSM: What are your goals for 2016?

Herfindahl: We plan to do the same things we’ve been doing.

The big thing is we want to get better on the ice, so we’ve been talking about that. Other than that, I’d like to win both the Pro Open and Pro Stock championships and finish up front at the Soo I-500 enduro.

RE WADENA CLIMBING TO THE TOP

Re

Wadena has been one of Yamaha’s top riders for the past four seasons. A veteran racer, Wadena has been knocking on the door of the elite cross-country world for more than a decade. While all-out success has eluded him, last season he narrowly missed wins in both Pro Stock and Pro Open, and he cracked the Top 5 in Pro Open points. We caught up with Wadena to find out where his program is headed, what drives him and how he narrowly missed winning the big one.

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OSM: What has it been like racing Yamaha for the past four years?

Re Wadena: It’s been really fun. The sled has a good torque curve, the fuel mileage is great. It’s a little bit heavier and a little bit harder to handle, but overall it’s a good sled.

OSM: You got some second place finishes last season, could you win on it?

Wadena: Oh yeah! For sure, especially on the ice. It always had good speed, it pulled well out of the corners, if you had a good setup you’d be able to compete.

OSM: What have you learned being involved with the factory program?

Wadena: Yamaha had a good program, they had a lot of factory support. I got to do a lot of hands-on with the sled and the chassis. I was able to help build it from the ground up with Brian Strawsell, Yamaha’s main race mechanic. I learned a lot racing with Yamaha.

OSM: You had a couple second place finishes last season, how did that go?

Wadena: Those races were right down to the wire and I had a lot of confidence on

R

Y R A N O I T U L EVO

RE WADENA the sled. Ice is kind of my favorite thing to do in cross-country. We had the sled handling really good and it was a little unfortunate we couldn’t put it all together and get a win.

OSM: What got you into snowmobile racing?

Wadena: I’m 32 and I’ve been racing since I was about 12-years-old. I raced snocross for a while but it was expensive to race the WSA circuit, so we raced the FANS circuit a lot. I got out of it in my early 20’s because I crashed and hurt my knee. I was on my own so I had to pay for everything myself so I couldn’t get a sled for about five years. Then I bought a Ski-Doo and did pretty well. The next year Yamaha picked me up.

OSM: You nearly won the I-500 in 2006, can you tell us about that?

Wadena: It was the last leg of the last day and Bryan Dyrdahl was leading but at one point he could only do like 45MPH because his clutch broke. I had a whole crew of people following me and I could tell something was going on because everyone was waving at me yelling, “Go!

Go!” It was a great feeling. Then I saw Brian Dick broke down and I passed him so I knew I was in the Top 2. That was only about three miles from the casino. I just missed catching Dyrdahl.

OSM: What advice would you give a young rider looking to go big in crosscountry?

Wadena: Keep looking forward, keep putting the work in and good things will happen. Hang in there and eventually the opportunities will come.

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OSM: At this point you don’t know what brand you will be on, but do you have any goals for 2017?

Wadena: Be consistent. Consistency is big in cross-country, and one of my goals has always been to try and finish every race. When you get your setup all figured out then it will come to you eventually. If I don’t race this year I’ll be chasing the KC Pro West circuit with my boy, he’s 8-yearsold and he wants to start racing.

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RACE WEEKENDS USXC

race weekends are my favorite weekends of the year. It is quality and fun time spent with my family and teammates, doing exactly what I love to do. Race weekends are exciting and exhausting at the same time, but they are what I live for, they are my life and I wouldn't change one minute of them.

As one weekend ends, the next one is already beginning. The race weekends become a blur, running into one another as my whole family maintains a single-minded focus on being ready when the next green flag drops. Preparation for each weekend starts with cleaning the entire race rig from top to bottom. That might seem like the

end to a weekend, but we consider it the start of the next weekend as that’s really when our race prep begins.

We start by going through each sled, fixing what's broken, finding what didn't work, figuring out how it can be faster, corner better, or get off the starting line quicker. Parts are ordered and repairs are made. Testing is done to make sure that every change equals faster and better.

Some weekends we have a terrain change from ice to ditch which means a completely new set up for every sled. Those weeks have the most work and the most time spent in the race shop.

By Thursday night no matter how the

by Cade Hayford

week went or how much time was needed in the shop, we are ready to load the trailer and take off at dawn the next day for the next race. Sometimes I ride to the race with my dad and teammate Dan, but that means missing a day of school. I have to decide each week if I need the day in school or the day on the track testing. If it were up to me, I would always pick testing but sometimes my mom picks for me and I end up staying in school. I have to keep my grades up to race and getting behind is not an option. If I stay behind for school, I ride with my mom and brother after the school day is over. If I don't get the day to test at the track, my dad always makes sure my

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RACE WEEKENDS

sled is dialed in by the time I get there.

Friday evenings are spent in the race trailer making final changes and preparing for the next day's race. This is always a fun time to catch up with Alex Hetteen and Jill Tangen, the other two racers on our team. We discuss setup, what's working, and what's not. By this point the tiredness that you felt from the previous weekend has been completely replaced by the

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adrenaline of the racing to come over the next two days. There is a lot of laughter and fun as we catch up, swap stories, and work on our sleds.

Saturday morning starts early. My dad and Dan get to the trailer long before dawn. I follow a little bit later and my mom and brother show up with breakfast just as daylight breaks. Most races start out with the Sport 600 class first. My dad, Dan, and

I all race that class so we gear up together and head out for staging and the drivers meeting.

I get really nervous before the start of every race. But once I am on the starting line and the flag drops, race mode takes over. Being out on the track and feeling the speed of my machine is awesome. The only thing I'm thinking about is the next corner, jump, or driveway approach and how am I going to hit it, how hard, how fast, when am I going to brake. It never stops until the race stops and you have to be ready.

The only time I start a race without feeling nervous is when I get to start on the line with my dad. We spend so much time testing and riding together that when I ride with him I feel completely comfortable. I trust being in that spot, racing with him. I push myself the hardest when I am riding with him because of that trust. My favorite moment in a race is when I am riding with my dad.

The one thought I always have in a race is finish; finish every race. That is one thing my dad always tells me. Ride to finish. So when I am out there thinking about each corner or approach, I am always thinking, make it to the end.

When I cross the finish line and take the checkered flag, my goal is to have left everything I had on the track. I usually only get one race the first day and can only improve with my final race on Sunday.

That becomes the focus as we compare notes from the race, track conditions, and machine performance. We start working on any adjustments that we think will get us ahead in the next day's race.

There is still a lot of racing left for the day, so I spend it watching the action and helping the rest of the team. One of the great things about racing is the people you spend your weekend with. Everyone shares the same passion for racing. So whether I am racing or just watching and cheering, I love it!

Once the racing is done for the day, the evening of adjustments and repairs begins.

We try to get supper in as a family and wrap things up early, but many Saturday nights are spent in the trailer long after we wish we had gone to bed. We finish out the night tired but excited for our final day of racing when we do it all over again.

The race weekend ends as the next weekend is already beginning. This is my snowmobile race season. I am lucky and blessed to be able to live the racing life; to have friends and team mates that share this same passion, and mostly to have my family along for the ride every race of the season.

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INTERVIEW

TOM LAWRENCE SKI-DOO’S CROSS-COUNTRY DIRECTOR

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ith a resume littered with racing experience, Ski-Doo’s Tom Lawrence is a been there, done that guy in the snowmobile racing world.

A one-time tech inspector for the defunct ISOC cross-country circuit, Lawrence has seen and worked with some of the giants in cross-country racing. Today, as Ski-Doo’s Race Coordinator, Lawrence is one of the people who helps mold Ski-Doo’s overall race program and is the point person for the company’s USXC cross-country efforts. to the last name. Getting the second one to me showed it wasn’t just beginner’s luck.

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OSM: You’ve just relocated; will that allow you to be more hands-on with SkiDoo’s cross-country program?

Tom Lawrence: I’m excited about my move back to Minnesota for many reasons, personal and professional. My new office will be more centrally located to many of the USXC events, and if my work schedule allows, it will give me the opportunity to attend more cross-country events.

OSM: Talk a little bit about Ski-Doo’s 2017 cross-country team.

Lawrence: Basically we will have the same group of riders as last year, with a couple of new additions. Corey Davidson and

Dillan Dohrn will lead the team in the Pro class. Craig Ritzinger, Timmy Kallock, Skyler Soyring, and Dustin Dohrn will be the front runners in Semi Pro and, one of the new people we’re excited about on the program, Andy Junglen, will be the fast guy in the Sport class. And of course, Jim Sobeck will race the Master and Veteran classes.

OSM: What are some of Ski-Doo’s short term and long term goals in cross-country?

Lawrence: Short term we’re preparing the team for the upcoming season. We are getting ready to test some different ideas and setups to be ready when winter finally arrives. Long term is to expand our team

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For 1.25" lug single-ply tracks:

GMPK-1325-90

Includes 90: Short Big Nuts, 5/16” Round Grand Digger® support plates, and 1.325” Grand Master® studs

www.WoodysTraction.com 989.689.4911 woodys@wiem.com Hope, MI, USA International Engineering & Mfg. © IEM 2016. All rights reserved.

TOM LAWRENCE 16 years, and the shock and spring rule is still used in many forms of racing.

One other great memory was when I was asked to be the Race Director in 1999 for the I-500 by the FANS cross-country circuit. That year the race was in Warroad, Minnesota, and was sort of the precursor to what we’ve seen the last decade or so, with the race being run out of a central location and not point-to-point. Anyway, the request came three days before the event was supposed to start. I made a list of everything I knew and/or had experienced in cross-country racing, then categorized it into three areas, or, as I called it “The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly.”

The Ugly was stuff that we wanted to make sure didn’t happen. The Good was stuff we kept but needed to be blended together to work with the new event format. The Bad was the challenging part, because it was taking bad ideas, or ideas that had failed, and making them good.

The event was very successful and was named “Event of the Year” by Snow Week. and help develop better equipment.

OSM: Do you approach cross-country differently than other forms of racing?

Lawrence: Absolutely! In many of the other race venues, the riders are only on the track for minutes, not hours. There is a lot of strategy involved in cross-country competition. Many times you are running against the clock and that is a mental game. Riders have to focus a lot longer and the terrain keeps changing.

OSM: Is there a key to success in cross-country?

Lawrence: To be successful, you need mental and physical stamina. And, as I tell my riders all the time, you have to bring the “Iron Horse” home. What that means is, take care of your equipment.

OSM: You’ve been around crosscountry for a few years, how have you seen it change? Has it gotten better or?

Lawrence: The biggest change is the sleds the riders are using. Technology has allowed the riders to go faster - not because of horsepower, but because of handling and rideability. Competition has gotten better because of it.

OSM: OK, let’s imagine you’re in charge of cross-country, what’s working, what do you change?

Lawrence: All in all, I feel things are working pretty good. But I would like to see more and longer events.

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ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

OSM: What are some of your best memories from being involved with cross-country in so many different roles?

Lawrence: One of the best memories was being asked to be the Tech Director by John Daniels for the newly created ISOC cross-country circuit back in 1992. At the time, there weren’t any cross-country rules with ISR. I sat down and wrote rules that the manufacturers and ISR agreed upon.

Two of the rules, I feel, changed the entire world of snowmobile racing. One was the 440 engine rule and the other was the open shock and spring rule. Many of the rules written back then are still used today.

The 440 engine rule stayed the same for

OSM: As Ski-Doo’s Race Coordinator, what has been your biggest accomplishment in cross-country?

Lawrence: Keeping Bryan Dyrdahl happy!

Seriously, not really my accomplishment, but it makes me feel good when I’m at an awards banquet and a Ski-Doo rider gets to stand on the top of the podium. During my 16-years at Ski Doo, many riders have done it, and I will continue to work to make sure many more get to experience it.

OSM: What are the goals for your program this season?

Lawrence: For one of my riders to win a class championship and to win the I-600 event.

RIDERS

Cross-country racing requires terrain-reading skills, stamina and machine control not found in any other form of snowmobile racing. The USXC Pro class features some of the most elite terrain riders in snowmobiling and is the goal of every young cross-country riderHere are some of the Pros fans will see racing USXC events in 2016.

ZACH HERFINDAHL 312 Arctic Cat Home: Eagle River, Wisconsin The reigning king of USXC cross-country racing, Zach Herfindahl typically set the pace at each vent. With an innate ability not only to go fast over any type of terrain but to preserve his machine for the long haul, Herfindahl is the epitome of the modern cross-country snowmobile racer.

WES SELBY 15 Arctic Cat Home: Grand Lake, Colorado An Arctic Cat engineer by day, Wes Selby has the advantage of knowing the machine he is riding perhaps better than any other rider on the circuit.

That, combined with a lifetime of riding gained from growing up in the mountains of Colorado, makes him one of the fastest riders on the circuit.

COREY DAVIDSON 3 Ski-Doo Home: Holt, Minnesota A grizzled veteran of cross-country snowmobile racing, Corey Davidson has been racing longer than some of his competitors have been alive. A multi-time I-500 cross-country winner, Davidson uses his experience to his advantage, especially on the ice where he is one of the sport’s master riders.

148

AARON CHRISTENSEN 10 Polaris Home: Metiskow, Alberta

Fast and consistent, Aaron Christensen rarely takes chances when he rides. He doesn’t have to. His speed is tops in the sport. He’s also a master at sled setup and is always prepared when he shows up to an event.

BOBBY MENNE 131 Polaris Home: Virginia, Minnesota

5 Ski-Doo Home: Elgin, Minnesota A tenacious rider, no one has more fun on the USXC circuit than Dillan Dohrn. One of the USXC Pro class rising talents, Dohrn continues to find speed as his name climbs on the results sheets. Watch for Dohrn to log top finishes in 2017.

CHAD LIAN 681 Arctic Cat Home: Thief River Falls, Minnesota Chad Lian has been battling it out in the Pro class for years. He uses veteran savvy combined with riding skills gained from a lifetime riding terrain in northern Minnesota.

Lian shines most on the ice, and is a definite factor in lake races.

NICK JAHNKE

ROSS ERDMAN

45 Polaris Home: Johnson, Minnesota An up-and-comer in the USXC Pro class, Nick Jahnke was a standout Semi-Pro rider. He will be looking to build on a solid 2016 when he finished in the Top 10 in Pro Stock points.

311 Arctic Cat Home: Moorhead, Minnesota

CODY KALLOCK

The most recent cross-country standout in a family that has led cross-country for three generations, Bobby Menne continues to climb the ranks of the USXC pro class. A versatile rider, Menne uses his experience and dogged determination to win as his tools to take on the Pro class.

A veteran cross-country rider, Ross Erdman has experience on every sled brand and at every level of factory support.

He brings a wealth of knowledge to the line and uses his experience to his advantage.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

DILLAN DOHRN

39 Arctic Cat Home: Oslo, Minnesota Cody Kallock comes from a family of snowmobile racers. He brings riding experience gained from growing up in northern Minnesota.

His abilities are well rounded and he’s equally as fast in the ditches as he is on the ice, making him a factor no matter the nature of the event.

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JUSTIN TATE

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28 Polaris Home: Scandia, Minnesota

23 Arctic Cat Home: Thief River Falls, Minnesota

Once a top Pro snocross racer, Justin Tate is perhaps the most well-rounded rider on the USXC circuit. The only regular participant with a Winter X Games gold medal on his resume, Tate is a natural snowmobiler and has the talent and ability to win on any given day.

RE WADENA 52 Yamaha Home: Moorhead, Minnesota Re Wadena brings a quiet, blue collar work aspect to race day. Fast and efficient, Wadena is a highly experienced rider and is a factor to win at any event, especially on the ice where he is one of the fastest Pros on the circuit.

GABE BUNKE 74 Polaris Home: Moorhead, Minnesota

Often considered the “Iron Man” of modern cross-country racing, Gabe Bunke is a tough, grizzled veteran and one of the fastest riders in the sport. His efficient riding style insures both he and his sled are as fast at the beginning of the race as they are at the end. He is always a factor whenever he is on track.

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ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 7 • ISSUE 3

Although mostly retired from cross-country racing, Brian Dick is a former I-500 and Pro cross-country points champion. An Arctic Cat engineer by day, perhaps no one is faster on either terrain or ice. If the 23 shows up it’s a good bet it will be at the top of the charts.

TAYLOR BUNKE 14 Polaris Home: Moorhead, Minnesota Son of USXC veteran Gabe Bunke, Taylor Bunke is fast becoming the Bunke to beat on the USXC circuit. With his father mentoring him and every bit of his inherited drive to win, watch for Bunke to post top finishes in 2017.

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LIMITED TIME OFFER. VISIT YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR T ERRAIN D OMINATION.COM/PROMOTIONS TODAY Offers valid on new 2014 – 2016 Polaris snowmobiles. On approved Polaris purchases. Minimum Payments required. Offer may not be combined with certain other offers, is subject to change and may be extended or terminated without further notice. Minimum Amounts Financed, Interest Charges, and penalties for accounts non current, may apply. Subject to credit approval. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Other financing offers are available. See your local dealer for details. Financing promotions void where prohibited. APR AS LOW AS 0% FOR 60 MONTHS* Monthly payments required. Valid on Amount Financed of $5,000 or more of select new untitled 2014 – 2016 Polaris snowmobile models made between November 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 on your Polaris / Synchrony installment loan account. Model & year exclusions apply. Rate of 0%, 3.99%, or 5.99% will be assigned. Examples of monthly payments required over a 60-month term at a 0% rate: $16.67 per $1,000 financed; and at a 5.99% rate: $19.33 per $1,000 financed. Program minimum amount financed is $5,000 and 0% – 10% down payment required. Sales tax, registration fees, and dealer fees not included. Rate and down payment based on credit approval criteria. Offer is subject to credit approval by Synchrony Bank. The 2 Year Factory Warranty offer consists of a standard 1 year factory warranty plus an additional 1 years of additional factory warranty coverage. The additional factory warranty offer is subject to a $50.00 deductible per visit after the first year. All rebates are paid to the dealer. Valid atparticipating Polaris dealers only. Offers are valid between 11/1/2016 and 12/31/2016. Professional rider on a closed course. Polaris recommends that all snowmobile riders take a training course. Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your capability. Always wear a helmet and other safety apparel. Never drink and ride. ©2016 Polaris Industries Inc.

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