OSM 13.1

Unprecedented performance at an incredible value –the Boost FX 2-In-1 Jacket features a removable liner for season-long versatility, as well as our Dry Vent™ system that maximizes ventilation using side and chest vents. With our F.A.S.T. 3.0™ technology for added warmth and safety, along with FXR’s exclusive HydrXPro™ moisture shield to the elements – you have the peace of mind knowing you can take on any terrain safely.

Our Clutch FX Pant also offers F.A.S.T. 3.0™ lifesaving technology, HydrXPro™ moisture shield, and Dry Vent™ systems. With pre-curved knees, we offer an experience fit for stand-up or sit-down riding, with durable shell material – engineered to withstand the test of time.

AND

MEN’S & WOMENS

ASSAULTED

Rider: Mark Boncher

Location: Island Park, Idaho

“Bonch” decides he want nothing to do with the Boosted Assault.

CAT TAILING

Hammock throttles the Riot down the catwalk

Rider: Jordan Hammock Location: Island Park, Idaho

VOLUME

13 NUMBER 1

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES CONTACT 1-888-661-7469

President & Publisher: Richard Kehoe

Copy Editor: Rick Bloye

Art Director: Darryl Aspin

Production Manager: Tendra Crossman

Advertising Sales: 1-888-661-7469

Director of Sales & Marketing: Andrew McEwan

Sales & Marketing: Brandon Meddick

Coordinator: Jake Hudson

Administrative Assistant: Sarah Day

Photographers: Todd Williams, Rob Alford, Emily Wicklund, Taylor Batch, James Wicken, Rob Alford, Richard Kehoe, Tendra Crossman, Maria Sandberg, Shelby Mahon, Chris Burandt, Brian Caswell, Levi LaVallee, Kristen LaVallee, Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier Archives, Mike Duffy, Andrew McEwan, Brent Geerlings

Contributing Writers: Mark Boncher, Jeff Steenbakkers, Jason Kawczynski, Levi LaVallee, Chris Burandt, Tyler Swarm, Darren Desautels, Maria Sandberg, Rob Alford, Jordan Hammack, Richard Kehoe, Mike Duffy, Andrew McEwan, Brent Geerlings, Jake Hudson

OSM is published five times a year by OSM Publishing Ltd. Office address and undelivered copies and change of address notice is: 27083 Kennedy Road, Willow Beach, ON L0E 1S0, Canada. Telephone (905) 722-6766. Printed in Canada by: Trade Secrets • Copyright 2022 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 (includes Trail Map Atlas) $19.00 per year, $29.00 for 2 years. $37.00 for 3 years.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE

27083 Kennedy Road Willow Beach, ON L0E 1S0, Canada ph: 905-722-6766 fax: 905-722-6761 toll-free ph: 888-661-7469 toll-free fax: 888-680-7469 email: info@osmmag.com www.osmmag.com

drifts

Richard Kehoe

IT’S TIME TO RECONNECT

junk, but there’s also always the chance of finding the most sought-after snowmobile gold. The swaps are near and dear to many of us, and as long as the weather co-operates, it’s always a win. If it’s too hot or raining it makes for a tough go, but we never quit... For the most part, snowmobilers are a tough group and forge through.

With the summer months coming to an end, we’re excited to put the excessive heat behind us, and we invite the Fall cooldown to get us ready for the upcoming winter.

We’re looking forward to a busy season, with our calendars already filling up with many adventures planned for all-across the North American Snowbelt.

Last year we were able to ride a lot right from the office but as usual we had places to be and that meant many road trips. Who doesn’t like a good old-fashioned trip? We seemed to be crisscrossing in every which direction for On Snow Magazine and Snowmobiler Television. It was one of our busiest winters in the last few years, as we were everywhere experiencing all sorts of different riding locations from steep and deep to flat and icy and everything in between. This coming season promises to be even busier to bring you the content you deserve.

As we prepare for a great season of sledding, we’ve be visiting our usual early season fall field events, Haydays and Burl’s Creek are planned for the weeks to come. There’s something to be said as we walk around a field lined with snowmobile gold everywhere. Yes, there’s always a little

The Fall months bring a few indoor events to attend, like the 25th Annual Peterborough Sledarama Snowmobile, Offroad Show and Swap Meet, and the 35th Annual Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show. Both are truly unique shows. The Peterborough Show is a proud grass roots show in November with a shotgun start on Sunday at 8am. This event is a pure chaos for six hours. If you are going, plan to get there early to find the gold. Many swap goers get there before the sun rises to catch the deals deep in the swap. The swap at the Show is Ontario’s largest snowmobile swap meet with so much to see.

Other good news for the snowmobile community is the return of the “Big One”, after a two-year hiatus, the Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show (TISAPS) is returning to the International Centre this October 21, 22 & 23.

TISAPS is the Snowmobile and ATV Industry Showcase in Canada. If it’s groundbreaking, cutting edge or new - it’s going to be at this event. Not only is it the largest snowmobile and ATV show in the world, but it hosts indoor Live Snowmobile and ATV freestyle shows, driver training hands on seminars for both snowmobiles and ATVs, How-to seminars, and multiple vehicle test drives. There is something for everyone at this event.

This fall make sure you reconnect and get out and welcome the industry back at a “live event”. We hope to see you there.

PENNSYVANIA INVESTS BIG IN TRAILS

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently announce a new $955,500 grant for ATV/snowmobile facilities and trails in Pennsylvania. This close enough to a $1million dollar grant will help the construction or help maintain/improve current facilities or trails. There were seven different recipients and the grants ranged from $9,500 to purchase a mobile youth ATV safety training equipment, to $444,100 for the construction of a connector trail. Pennsylvania boasts 38,000 active snowmobile registrations in the state and 275,000 ATVs.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HERE’S

A SLED

Well not really, turns out Nick Jonas loves snowboarding so much that he bought his wife, Priyanka Chopra a Ski-Doo to keep up with him. Living and growing up in India Priyanka didn’t really have the opportunity to fall in love with winter the way many in do. The opportunities to ski, snowboard of even snowmobile for that matter are slime to none. Regardless of how much the couple may or may not use the snowmobile its still a cool story that a celebrity was able to find a snowmobile for sale during the pandemic shortage and gift it.

LOADED PISTOLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed a new law, which allows people to carry a loaded pistol or revolver while driving a snowmobile or ATV . Thieves better think twice before trying snomo-jack anyone on the trail moving forward and remember to hold the door open for others when entering your favorite burger joint, you never who is having a bad day.

FEDNOR DROPS OVER

MILLION IN NORTHERN ONTARIO

FedNor issued $8,750,385 million to help fund tourism operators, organizations and communities across Northern Ontario. This funding is to help operators get back to post pandemic tourism. In total there will be 58 tourism projects across the region that will be impacted by the Government support ranging from $3,415 to $500,000.

ROX SPEED FX AQUIRES HOLESHOT PRODUCTS

ROX is always on the fuel constantly looking for ways to grow their business, product lines and make customers happy. Recently Rox Speed FX was able to bring Holeshot Products into the mix and plans on using this new acquisition to bolster their position in the mini/youth sled market.

ISR RULE UPDATE

Looks like we are not done with the global pandemic that made supply chains difficulties. This includes helmets. The Snell Approval code will remain 2015 because of lack of supply for the 20222023 season. Expect this to change to 2020 for the 2024 race season. However, ISR is encouraging racers to try and source the Snell Approval code of 2020 as some manufacturers will have supply in time for the first race.

TAIGA ANNOUNCES DELIVERIES

Taiga announced it delivered its Nomad™ snowmobiles to the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec, also known as Sépaq. This is the agency of the Government of Québec that manages parks and wildlife reserves. Sled deliveries were made to the following parks, parc national de la Gaspésie, parc national des Monts-Valin, parc national de la Jacques Cartier, parc national du Mont-Tremblant, and centre touristique du Lac Simon.

“As a Canadian company, we are proud to deliver our electric snowmobiles to Quebec’s national parks and wildlife reserve agency,” said Samuel Bruneau, Taiga CEO. “Sépaq and Taiga have a shared reverence for nature and a desire to not only connect people to the great outdoors, but to conserve the Canadian environment for generations to come. The adoption of our revolutionary machines into Sépaq’s fleet will allow them to maintain the performance they need while also preserving the environment.”

PRO ARMOR NOW IN SNOW

The long time UTV aftermarket accessory company that features various protection products to even tires and wheels has made a very natural step to enter the aftermarket snowmobile world. This expansion is geared towards the mountain rider for the time being. However the company has made it clear that they will be expanding their product offerings soon. Pro Armor has partnered with some big names like Chris Burandt, Dan Adams, Bret Rasmussen and Matt Entz. These athletes will help with product design, testing and validation with the products that they offer.

www.proarmor.com/en-us/snow/

COR POWERSPORTS PUTS FOOT DOWN ON THROW OUTS

It seems that some racers have been using their “throw out” race as the one they were DQ’d from. We’re not sure why anyone would object to that…Cor Powersports put the hammer down on this and have added it to their rules that if a racer is disqualified from an event for a rule or track infraction that they will not be allowed to use the race as a throw out.

Cor Powersports have made a few changes this off season that they will be implementing this year. For all the new rules in play visit their website www.corpowersports.com

COR POWERSPORTS RELEASE PRELIMINARY 2023 DATES

• Jan 7-8 Ottertail 100 Ottertail, MN

• Jan 14-15 Nisswa 100 Nisswa, MN

• Jan 28-29 Heartland 200 Park Rapids, MN

• Feb 11-12 Goodridge/Grygla 500 Goodridge, MN

• Feb 25-26 TBA

• Mar 4-5 Snodeo 100 Naytahwaush, MN

• Mar 18-19 Battle at Whitecap Mtn Upson, WI

$40,000 TO THE ALGONQUIN TRAIL

This summer Ontario’s Snow Country Snowmobile Region and the Timberline Snowmobile Club made a $40,000 donation to the Algonquin Trail. For the completion of the trail that goes through the city of Pembroke. The Algonquin Trail stretches a total of 296kms from Smith Falls to almost Mattawa, Ontario and links many communities together along the way.

The Okoboji 100 and the Spirit Mountain are not on the schedule this year. There were some changes locally in Okoboji that as a group it was decided to hold off on the event for 2023. The Spirit Mountain event was very successful this year, however, with Easter falling in early April the race could not take place until mid-month. With unknown snow conditions at that time both Cor Powersports and Spirit Mountain decided to not have an event this year as they both strive to have ultra high standards for this special location. Don’t worry as discussions are already taking place to have Spirit Mountain back on the schedule for 2024.

Stay tuned as more events will be added for the 2023 season.

www.corpowersports.com

WELCOME BACK TO THE RACES PETTER NARSA

Previous X Game Gold Medallist is set to return and compete in the ISOC race series for a new team and an on new iron. Narsa, now 30 years old will be racing for the Skogquist Race Team which is competing on Polaris snowmobiles. The Skogquist Race Team will have the following racers joining Narsa in the Skogquist race hauler, Drew and Brady Freeland in the Sport and Sport Lite classes, AJ and Wyatt Skogquist competing in the Junior 9-13 and Transition 10-13 and Gunner Skogquist racing in the Pro 206 class.

OFSC GOLF DAY

There are a few things that many of us enjoy other than snowmobiling and that’s golf. The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs is hosting a golf tournament September 25th at Deerhurst Resort inHuntsville, Ontario in support of their volunteers and landowners with some significant prizes.

If a golfer is talented enough to hit a hole in one win, they will win a 2023 Polaris Voyageur 146. If you don’t consider that a remote possibility don’t worry there are many other great prizes to be won for other skill challenges including longest drive, closest to the pin, and the winning team.

Remember this tournament is about saying thank you to the volunteers and landowners, the price per golfer is $175 per person and is 4 person scramble. The entry price includes 18 holes of golf including the use of a golf cart and a BBQ lunch.

www.ofsc.on.ca

hear o things having a 50 year celebration. When the Kemptville Snowmobile Klub (KSK) met back in 1972 just outside of Ottawa, Ontario they would have never guessed that it would still be going strong 50 years later. The club started back in 1972 with only 18 members and today has grown to over 700 while grooming over 225 trails. Congratulations to all that have been a part of this major milestone!

THE BEST TRACKStake 5

When you want the rumble, here is where you go! There’s no way around it, racing still drives the innovation side of snowmobiling. Really any motorsports derives much of their technology from racing. That’s where you learn how things work under extreme duress, and how to squeeze the most out of every chassis, suspension, motor, brake pad, etc. The places where a lot of this innovation happens can be just as iconic as the important innovations themselves. I mean, without a place to test against the newest things coming out from competition, it would be a lot more difficult to fuel early and fast innovation. We decided on 5 different venues where so much history and sheer draw have produced legendary wins, new technology, and massive crowds! OSM staff have spent countless hours at each of these places taking photos, videos, talking with staff and engineers, just hanging out with friends/family, and racing ourselves! Here’s a quick fun breakdown of just a few of the many great race events out there.

GRAND PRIX DE VALCOURT EAGLE RIVER

Officially named the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt, this race and venue has been in the backyard of Ski-Doo’s parent company Bombardier (or BRP) for over 40 years. That in itself makes this race (and surrounding area) a destination for avid race fans, and regular snowmobilers alike. Of course, if you bleed yellow and fancy the sport of “Ski-Doo’n” the town of Valcourt better be on your bucket list. The event runs smack dab in the middle of winter from Feb. 10-12 so it is almost always cold, but it is just east of Montreal, Quebec, meaning that there’s has been race dates with a foot of water on the track, mud, and then of course 2-feet of new snow to deal with. Snow making systems were also implemented in the mid-2000’s to deal with the unpredictable weather for the snow cross track. What is great about this race, and venue, is that there has always been so much to do. Throughout its tenure the Grand Prix has had the staple oval races, but also snocross, straight-line drag races, iceracing with motorcycles/ATV’s, snowbike events, snowmobile parades through downtown, and so much more! What really started as both an international snowmobile festival (with races) has certainly changed in 40 years, but whether you want to explore the snowmobile museums and history of the Bombardier family, or just go to the races and then go riding yourself, you can still do it all close-by.

The Valcourt races have an incredible amount of history surrounding them and famous Canadian racers such as Villenueve and especially Yvon Duhamel have not only raced here but also contributed to the success of the event over the long haul. Throughout the years many of the greats, like snocross legend Blair Morgan, have brought in crowds and attention garnering attendees from many of the more remote places in Canada. Over the course of any given Grand Prix weekend tens of thousands of people will make the trek to Valcourt, along with hundreds of racers and dozens-upon-dozens of races. Visit www. grandprixvalcourt.com for all the updates on this year’s GPSV!

We recently wrote a more detailed article on the ‘Granddaddy of them all’, the Eagle River Derby. The name has changed many times over the years and is currently called the ‘World Championship Snowmobile Derby’ at the ‘World Championship Derby Complex’ but honestly most people still refer to it simply as ‘The Derby’ or ‘Eagle River’. It’s hard to quantify the amount of historical significance ‘The Derby’ and the area in Northern Wisconsin has to snowmobiling. As Valcourt is the birthplace of snowmobiling in Canada, the Eagle River, Saynor, to St. Germain area has much of the same roots in the US. From early beginnings of some of the first snowmobiles to be produced here to the inception of the first races in Eagle River in 1964, the Northwoods of Wisconsin have been a mecca of snowmobile enthusiasts. Similar to other early snowmobile events the earliest beginnings of the Eagle River races had cross-country, hill climbs, long-distance jumps, snowmobile parades, and a lot more than just oval racing. That did not come until later in the late 1960’s when the actual Derby venue started to take shape. The 1970’s and early 80’s witnessed several changes and improvements to the track and 3-day event, and with places like the Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus just over the border in Michigan also holding races nearby, there were plenty of opportunities for racers to get time on tracks. We’ve watched dozens of incredible snocross and oval races, backflip jumps, Friday Night Thunder performances, and a ton more over the years at Eagle River. It truly is the place to go to watch the fastest oval racers in the world each year. The World Championship Derby Complex is also right on the snowmobile trail and is ride-in/ride-out if you want to be true to your snowmobile roots. What we really love now about ‘The Derby’ is that there are both vintage and the new-sled race weekends. Plus there is a new World Snowmobile Headquarters museum, Hall of Fame, and more right next door. For more info visit www.derbycomplex.com, also the Vintage Weekend is January 12-15, and World Championship is January 19-22 2023.

LAKE GENEVA

Culmination, that’s right, the full fruits of the snocross racing season labor have traditionally been on display at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, WI each year. That changed the last couple years, as it was not the last stop on the Amsoil Championship Snocross tour, but for decades this venue and race decided points champions.

All the snocross greats have raced here from Hibbert, to LaVallee, Martin, Malinoski, Vincent, Morgan, Kamm, Kuster, and so many more. The mid-March battles have always been epic on this little ski-hill turned snocross track, and I’ve lived just down the road from this event for the last 20 years and have been humbled to be in the pits and on the course alongside many of these spectacular riders and crews. For a long time there were only a few races around that really took advantage of the challenging course that a ski-hill can provide (others include most notably Spirit Mountain, MN) but the ups and downs and crazy course corrections are amplified here. Even the hole shot which takes the riders straight up a pin-it-to-win-it hillclimb and launch at the top is pumped up compared to many flat tracks.

As one of the 8 stops on the national circuit (was traditionally the last), points are racked up across many races so unless you are the likes of Tucker Hibbert, often times the overall winner of the year has been decided at this event. That alone makes it special, but also it is held in southern Wisconsin, in mid-late March each year meaning that the weather has almost always been a challenge. That said, if you have a 50-degree day in the spring in Wisconsin, you would think all these cheese-heads were on spring break. People do not even blink at folks in cut-off jean shorts, sleeveless shirts and rubber boots happily trenching through the pools of standing water. Viewing is also pretty darn good, and the finish is a full send right in front of the big second floor patio/stands attached to the clubhouse/restaurant/bar.

There is almost always a ‘freestyle show’ and a 120/200 test track for kids, plus plenty of vendors and parking is plentiful on the adjacent private airstrip at the resort that is closed for the weekend. For more info see www.snocross.com

JACKSON HOLE

This is “THE” event for hillclimb racing out west, by a long shot. We’ve been attending it for decades and the King and Queen titles are the most coveted uphill racing awards in the west. Each year an army of volunteers sets out to transform Snow King Mountain on the outskirts of downtown Jackson Hole, WY. To say the least, these guys and gals put on a great show! The Jackson Hole Snow Devils club makes the magic happen each and every year and much of the proceeds go to an array of charitable causes. This is a ‘feel good’ event and it is a heck of a party as well!

If you’ve never been, you have to go, at least once. Jackson Hole alone is worth visiting with incredible scenery, wildlife, and an upscale western vibe that is akin to Hollywood with horns. At the hillclimbs the course winds its way up the face of the main hill right underneath the chair lift. Yes, Snow King Mountain is a ski area for the rest of the season, but this one weekend each year the main attraction is the races. A bird’s eye view is always a treat when the racers are picking their way up this extremely steep and rock-strewn mountainside. Possibly the most entertaining part of this race is the ‘hillhelp’. These folks are all volunteers, and their job is to stand just on the outskirts of the course. Then, when inevitably most riders fail to make it over the top, they spring into action to corral, grab, claw, tackle, and hopefully stop any sled from excessively tumbling out of control down the hill. Granted, it doesn’t always work, and there are catch-nets further down the hill to stop runaway sleds, but it is truly something out of the wild west!

I have had the ultimate pleasure of shooting this event multiple times alongside my infamous photographer friends like OSM’s million-dollar-man Todd Williams, American Snowmobiler’s Mormon-on-a-mission Ryan Thompson (of RLT photos and one of the many gracious and talented contributors to this event), the Scottish super-shooter Stephen W. Clark, and the godfather Wayne Davis. I can tell you first-hand that it is dangerous, thrilling, and an experience like no other to be on that hill with 600 pounds of metal, plastic, and hill-help mayhem flying up, or more scarily tumbling DOWN, towards you while you are trying to take photos.

The World Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb as it is most aptly named, is also part of the RMSHA circuit (Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association) and there are plenty of other opportunities to catch these awesome athletes in action throughout the winter. For more on the Jackson Hole hillclimbs go to www.snowdevils.org.

SOO I-500

This race holds a special place personally as it is held annually in the town of Sault Ste. Marie, MI. My grandfather and his large family grew up just a few miles down I-75 in the small town of Rudyard… I got married in the Canadian sister city of Sault Ste. Marie, ON… and several family members went to Lake Superior State University… which is literally right next to this racetrack! This area of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the western side of Ontario all border Lake Superior and the snowfall generated by the lake-effect-snow-guns can be significant. Since this is a major bor der crossing as well, right by the racetrack, it has traditionally brought thousands of Canadians and Americans together in their equal love of snowmobiling. Like many other places this is still a ride-in/ride-out facility if you wish to have your sled there to show off. Aside from all the warm and fuzzy feelings about this race, it is brutal, absolutely brutal. Initially based roughly on the idea of the Indianapolis 500, the Soo I-500 was an ambitious idea to have snowmobiles race for 500 miles. The only true one-mile oval track in North America was built by the Army Corps of Engineers and others from around both adjoining countries and was state of the art at the time in 1969. To do 500 miles on a sled in a race, is an amazing feat even now, let alone 53 years ago. Even with the newest technology today the race is one of the toughest around and not for the faint of heart. Sure, there are races like the cross-country Iron Dog in Alaska, or Caines Quest in Labrador that are crazy tough, but it takes a dif ferent breed of rider (and mechanical team) to tackle the Soo I-500, and win. When you are consistently topping speeds of 120mph on many of these sleds the miles tick off quickly, but as the sleds go-round the track can also become less like a perfectly shave ice track and more like a cross-country track. It is rough on the sleds and riders alike and getting on the podium is a badge of honor.This year is the 54th running of the event, which makes it one of the oldest consistent races in the snowmobile world. Races will be held the week of January 30th- February 4, 2023, and you can get all the info at www.i-500.com.

WHY NOT MORE CROSS-COUNTRY?

For many, the snowmobile racing that seems to be most popular is not really indicative of how people actually ride their sleds. So why aren’t there more cross-country races? Well, we wish there were! One of the most historically famous cross-country races was the I-500 (not to be confused with the Soo I-500), and this race originally went from Winnipeg, MB to St. Paul MN. (And a few guys actually re-enacted it recently on John Deere sleds) But for many years a new version was ran up in Thief River Falls, MN. Unfortunately, this type of race has really faded from the limelight. The reason? Its sheer distance is tough to cover for media, the time duration doesn’t bring crowds for sponsors, and logistics are much more difficult… to name a few. There are some circuits out there including the likes of Cor Powersports that do an excellent job, but we are hoping with the advent of drones, GPS, and other technologies that fans and more cross-country races will return for the masses!

PHOTO BY SpeedShot Photography

BY MARK BONCHER

hrowing up a wall of snow is just too darn tempting with a big turbo sled! When you are sitting in 3 feet of powder and your buddy that has been razzing you all day is on your flap, that itchy trigger finger just wants to hammer down and fill his face with powder. Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t done it, you have thought about it many times!

These four sleds in this article are the perfect machines to take you any where off-trail, find that powdery meadow and make some figure 8’s in it. Plus, they work darn well on-trail as well, and of course, all have that turbo “umph” to give you total pony-power wherever you ride. We are talking about the new Polaris Patriot Boost Switchback Assault, the Lynx Xterrain RE 900 Ace Turbo R, Arctic Cat Riot 9000, and the Yamaha Sidewinder X-TX SE. For lack of a better term at the time we had our OSM team discussions, these were classified as the “50/50 146-inch 800+ CC boosted sleds”. I think I like the term ‘Roosters’ better though… but I know some of you hooligans will have your mind in the gutter on that one!

BY MARK BONCHER

Matryx plus boost equals awesome

ands down, I had the most fun on the Polaris Patriot Boost Switchback Assault 146, than any other in our test rides. Maybe it was the terrain we hit with it, or the amount of time I hoarded it, but I think it is most likely the tingly feeling you get all over when you feel the boost come on in a couple feet of powder while jumping and wheelie-ing your way through the day.

While we don’t have official dyno sheets of horsepower numbers, the 10% increase in power at sea level would make this machine at least a 180 hp monster at low altitude. But we also tested it at altitudes of 7,500-10,000 feet,

and this motor makes up to 9 psi of boost and up to 50% more power than the naturally aspirated version at the higher altitudes. The power is grrreeaaattt! But what you will notice more when riding the Assault boosted sled is the smooth ness of power delivery, and truly how easy the sled is to ride. I’ve been on MANY big turbo mountain sleds in my day, and this does not ride like any of them. That more difficult throttle control is really what scares a lot of people away from turbos, but this one is so smooth it is almost scary because you don’t have that massive hit of power when the turbo spools up. This is done with new intake reeds, large wastegate, size of the turbo,

and positioning… plus the patent pending Smartboost Combustion Control System. Obviously, this is a pump gas 91 octane system as well, so no tracking down your nearest VP fuel dealer.

At a price tag of well over $20,000, you are going to pay each mile for your smiles, and this was a limited Snowcheck Exclu sive model as well, so getting your hands on one was/won’t be easy either. But for the lucky few that do find themselves playing Maverick, and piloting this craft this winter, they are in for the time of their lives! The lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum Matryx platform melds perfectly with the power, and you can toss this sled, pick the skis up, rail the corners, and flick it in the powder. Power to weight is argu ably the best in this class as well. Bump absorption comes from upgraded WER Velocity 2 coil-over adjustable shocks up front and in the rear, plus a WER 2 C/A adjustable shock in the center of the skid. You can hit whatever terrain you want with confidence in the Walker Evans set-up on the Assault, and the IGX rear skid is honestly best with the 2.0-inch lug Crosso ver track rolling around it. We would skip the 1.35-inch Cobra and 1.5-inch lug Ice Storm tracks in our humble opinion, as the larger 2.0-inch lug does just fine on 90% of the trail conditions, and is needed in the off-trail scenarios, especially with the wide and less mobile front stance. Just don’t follow too close behind it on the trails as it does have a tendency to chuck big snowballs a ways back!

Two more things we did appreciate on this sled were the Smartwarmer handlebar heat ers that keep your digits at the right temp all the time, and the big 7S display with all the Polaris Ride command goodies. We’ve talked about these before in detail, but it’s important to note all the things you get for that Bentley price.

Lynx links it all together

peaking of ‘switching’ it up, we are going to change gears with this sled to a 4-stroke turbo, that is from the ‘new-to-North-Amer ica’ brand of Lynx sleds. Hon estly, BRP runs both Ski-Doo and Lynx so it really isn’t a company that ‘new’, but up until just last model year, only customers that were overseas could get their hands on a Lynx machine. The new Lynx Xterrain RE 900 Ace Turbo R 146 is also something that’s just a bit different. From the panels to the suspension, to the overall beefiness of this machine, it is an outlier for sure.

The rear suspension is what most will find different about this sled straight out of the gate. The PPS3 has premium

KYB 46 HLCR (Hi-Lo clicker adjustable) shocks that are Kashima coated and the front ski shocks are the same. The design and feel of the PPS3 is simply unique when compared to the modern rear suspensions most in North America are used to. That’s because it was devel oped for the less groomed, more severe trail riding of Scandinavia where it is pretty much just a mogul course all day. Some say it is stiffer, and naturally has more rebound, but we have found you can dial a lot of those concerns out with just adjustments to springs and clickers. The suspension works well in the Radien X wide chassis too, which is ridged and made to withstand hard hits. We also ap prove of the clickers on the pDrive clutch.

WE CAN’T STRESS HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL GRIP FROM A 16-INCH WIDE TRACK AND THERE IS PLENTY OF FLOATATION FOR THE DEEP SNOW.

The track is a 16-inch wide Powder max shoe with 2-inch lugs on it. We can’t stress how much we appreciate the additional grip from a 16-inch-wide track, and there is plenty of floatation for the deep snow. We also very much enjoyed the new crossover/mountain Blade XC+ skis up front. These are very similar to the DS2 skis, which work extremely well on a variety of crossover sleds. We’ve even used them on trail sleds in many sce narios, and they are just a great all-around ski that allows versatility from powder to tight trails.

The 3-cylinder liquid cooled 900 ACE Turbo R motor is also made for power plus efficiency. Long rides and top-end power are what this motor is made for, and has been proven for longevity for several years now. However, this is slightly heavier than the 2-stroke turbos, and does not have all the punch of the bigger 4-stroke turbos. Not that is a slouch by any means, and power to weight ratio is still pretty darn good, but it is not cranking out over 200 horses like the Yamaha 4-stroke.

There are all kinds of other little bo nuses like two sets of LinQ accessory attachments, 12V power plug, visor plug, and more. This is really built like a super tough off/on trail, all-around do everything sled, and therefore slightly different than the others in this group.

Sidewinder is a soldier

ot much changed for 2023 in the Yamaha stable, and the XTX-SE 146 is still the reigning king of power in the boosted sled category, and has reached legendary status for soldiering on and holding that position this long. We’ve had lots and lots of time on this machine and it is still one of our all-time favorites. Plus, the new colors for this year are super-sharp.

The Yamaha mountain skis continue to be some of the best on the market, and really help this big, bad, snow-throwing monster stay up on top of the powder. They are wide with a deep keel, and they help initiate turns more easily than the vast majority of skis. Predictability is

also key to any ski, and because this is another 4-stroke, you need to be able to trust what it is going to do, because you don’t want to get it stuck. If you do though, the massive power and extreme track speed the 3-cylinder 200+ horse power EFI motor can often churn enough to pin-and-wiggle your way out.

The narrowest front end of the group is a true game changer for the XTX-SE, and at 40-inches, you can squeeze through places, turn quicker, and sidehill better. Not to continue to talk about the skis, but these are great on the trail as well, and you need that predictability for railing corners when you toss in a narrower ski stance to the mixer.

HONESTLY, AFTER ALL THE TIME SPENT ON THIS MACHINE, BESIDES PUTTING A LARGER WINDSHIELD ON THERE IS NOT MUCH WE WOULD CHANGE.

The Versattack uncoupled 146-inch rear skid continues to be worth its metal, liter ally, as a fantastic crossover suspension. The Camso Challenger 15x146x2.0-inch track does the job and is ridged enough for fast, hard-pack pulls, but long enough to allow positive deep snow traction. I would opt for a slightly larger lug on this if it were my personal sled, but that’s a very small change.

There are Fox Zero QS3 1.5 shocks up front, and a larger 2.0-inch Fox Zero QS3 shock in the rear of the skid that is built to take hard hits and smooth out the big trail bumps too. There is 9-inches of travel in the front suspension and 13.5 in the rear, so you have quite a bit of leeway to get over and around obstacles. There’s a smaller mountain seat for more mobility and a taller steering post and 5.5-inch riser with mountain grab bar.

Honestly, after all the time spent on this machine, besides putting a larger windshield on, there is not much we would change. It does what it was made to do and can do it at lightspeed, and that’s not something all sleds can brag about!

New to the Cat corral

he Cat and Yamaha connec tion is still strong! This year Arctic announced the Riot 9000, which is a 146-inch sled with the Yamaha 3-cylinder 4-stroke EFI Turbo engine under the hood. We kind of assumed this was coming, but it’s a fine new thoroughbred for those die-hard green-team fans that also happen to be 4-stroke crossover lovers.

For those looking at things from a comparison standpoint, there is not a whole lot different between the Yamaha XTX-SE and the new Riot 9000, but there are differences. You will notice a slightly taller and contoured windshield on the 9000, plus some small panel differences, skis, stance and of course the colorways. The biggest difference is that

the 9000 comes available with the ATAC adjustable on-the-fly suspension system. This was introduced in the trail segment by Cat and has now made its way to the longer tracked sleds. Yamaha has this type of system on only a few select models, but Cat is using it to the fullest this year, and it is welcomed! You can automatically adjust to 3 different ride stiffness modes, right from the controls on the bars, plus you can save 2 rider profiles, in case your significant other wants to just tap a button and be back to where they like it.

Another big difference is the adjustable 41.5 to 43.5 ski stance of the G2 ProClimb skis. Getting the feel dialed in to where you approve of the lean, both in the corners and off-trail, and adjusting for

the day and terrain you will most likely be riding in is important. Cat does this on the vast majority of their sleds and we think it is imperative for all OEMs to follow this lead. It can make a ride a lot more positive for all riders, because not one person rides exactly the same, or is the same size as the next person.

The Riot has all kinds of goodies on it too like reinforced running boards, forged aluminum tall spindles in the ARS II front suspension, and the ADAPT CVT trans mission. The ADAPT is important for 50/50 sleds like this one as it is a selfadjusting belt tensioner. Anyone who rides an array of terrain, and may one day be pushing it to the limits up a mountain, or the next day ripping across a lake, will ap preciate this. An idler bearing assists with diminishing belt heat (stretch, and degra dation), so the belt stays tighter and power to the snow stays more consistent.

This one has all the things you would expect from a top-notch sled too like push button start/reverse, 9.9-gallon fuel tank for long tours, and the allimportant Cross-Action rear skid. This skid was originally developed by Cat and is the same frame as the Versattack on the Yamaha. There’s 3-wheels on the axle, adjustable torsion springs, and the torque sensing link rear arm. It’s a great dual beam rear crossover sus pension that has been proved on the trail and deeper snow.

What you should do

I like to tell people to buy what you want and figure out how to pay for it later… but my wife doesn’t always go for that so maybe it’s not the best advice. There are sooo many options in the 146-inch category these days, but if I had the means, I would definitely be riding a Polaris Switchback Assault with the turbo this winter. We will see if we can hook that up and get a full season report to you in the near future!

must see, must do, must experience for any snowmobiler, or race fan for that matter.

If you’ve never been to what is now known as the World Champion ship Derby Complex put it on your calendar now. The Vintage Race is January 12-15, and World Championship is January 19-22. This is not just a race, it is an experience, and one that every snowmobiler should do at least once in their life.

Personally I’ve been to this race over twenty times in my life and each time I see or learn something new. Whether it be watching 50-60 year old vintage sleds from dozens of manu facturers lining up in the pits or seeing the amazing way drivers slice through the corners at blistering speeds on new mod sleds, there is always something amazing happening. But it is not just the sleds and the racing that make this place complete, it is the history as well. Since the mid-late 1960’s Eagle River has been known to many as ‘The Snowmobile Capital of the World’ and this race is a main reason for this moniker.

BY MARK BONCHER

Old leather gloves and tape

Back in 1964 these were seem ingly standard on every snow mobiler’s wardrobe. That was the year the first Eagle River race happened. I’ve still got snowmobile photos from the 1960’s of my grandfather wearing a leather cap and goggles… that I am pretty sure he wore in WWII while flying the skies over Europe in the belly gunner’s seat of a B-17. But that was the generation that started this incredible race in the resort town of Eagle River in Northeastern Wisconsin.

John Alward, his wife Betty, and friend Walter Goldsworthy began the race to draw more people to the Eagle River area back in the mid-60’s, but since then the race and experience has evolved throughout the years. From snowmobile parades to beauty contests the early years of the Derby were certainly a site to be seen and attendance peaked at 50,000 people at one point. The begin ning years were simply on nearby Dollar Lake and there were several different types of races from hill climbing to crosscountry to drag races. Interesting tid-bit that the first winner in 1964 was only in the eighth grade, his name was Stan Hayes.

The race eventually moved just north of what was then the city limits of Eagle

River and began to take the form that would eventually be the Derby Track. There were still cross country races attached as well, and after the first few years a banked track was made. The first driver to win on the ‘oval’ was Steve Ave in 1966 aboard his modified Ski-Doo. A big boost came in 1968 when ABC Wide World of Sports covered the race and ce lebrities like Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers, the Lt. Governor of Wisconsin, and many more high profile celebrity types attended the event.

As the race and event forged ahead long-distance jumping was added. This, and cross-country racing would eventu ally evolve into what we now know as snocross, but back in the late 60s to early 70s these were separate events. Mind you both were equally as grueling on the entrants because it was pre-shockand-slide-rail and also independent front suspensions. There was literally nothing but a person’s body taking the brunt of the bumps and landings. These guys were the true snowmobile ‘cowboys’ and injuries were common.

As the oval race at the Derby Track continued to change into a 3-day event in the early 1970’s things like time trials, junior races, women’s races and more were added. The Decker family

acquired the racetrack in the mid 1980’s and made some changes. They made the tracks safer by adding more and better track maintenance, adding a double wall that was added to the ½-mile track. The speeds increased as skillful drivers such as Mike Trapp, Yvon Duhamel, Jacques and Gilles Villenueve, Bobby Elsner, Steve Ave, and Bob Eastman engineered new tactics on higher horsepower machines.

The 1970’s were an exciting time for the now “World Championship Snowmo bile Race” and witnessed advancements such as twin tracked machines and later in the decade the culmination of Formula 1. One thing that the 1970’s did not lack was snow. Many folks reading this may remember the ‘blizzard of 78’ when much of the country saw one of the biggest storms to ever barrel through snow-coun try. Yours truly was born in that snowstorm, and almost on a snowmobile on the way to the hospital! But there were plenty of other very snowy years that were great for enthusiasts but can and did wreak havoc on the oval snowmobile race events.

As technology forged ahead so did the World Championship events in Eagle River. Independent Front Suspension, slide rail rear suspensions and innovations from folks like the Wahl family and the Karpiks quickly transformed the ability of snowmo-

biles not only on the racetrack, but also on the trail. The late 1970’s and into the early 1980’s saw the addition of more formal ized ‘snocross’ racing as the machines began to be able to handle bigger bumps, jumps, and terrain. Unfortunately, the decline in the economy in the early 80’s also meant seismic shifts in the industry. Where there were once almost 100 manu facturers only a few ever made it through the 80’s. Even Arctic Cat closed their doors in 1982, but thankfully due to the efforts of several close nit friends and Cat engineers a new company Arctco was forged in 1984, and the Arctic Cat name was saved. Eventually the company was named purely Arctic Cat in 1996. Subsequently sold fairly recently to Textron, but the Cat name lives on. Unfortunately, many other famous brands like Rupp, Alouette, Evinrude, John Deere, Mercury, Motoski, OMC, Scorpion, Skir oule, Sno-Jet, and many more got out of the snow-biz, were merged, or folded up altogether. Eventually after the snowdust settled only 4 main brands remained, Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo, and Yamaha.

The Deckers were instrumental in the snowmobile world for a very

long time and Dick and his wife Audrey were the nucleus. They also ran many snowmobile tours around the Eagle River area and then expanding across the US and Canada. In 1989 they sold the prop erty to their son Chuck, who actually raced for several years. Together the family ran the ‘Grandaddy of all’ when it comes to snowmobile racing and brought it into the modern age. 2023 will be the 60th anni versary of the event, which is now owned by Tom Anderson, Russ Davis, and Craig Marchbank and the property is the World Championship Derby complex.

Times continued to get faster at the Derby and in 1990 a new track record was set by Dave Wahl of 8 minutes and 27

seconds. The machines were really flying around the track now! Also, as people finally realized how cold it gets in Wiscon sin in January things like heated corporate suites, viewing stands with heated VIP are and more creature comforts were also added throughout the 1990’s.

machines were added for the now incred ibly popular snocross racing. Even with the lack of snow the Derby was packed and inside, a new building where people were treated to food, beverage, CCTV stream ing the racing on televisions and more.

RUNNING 4-SLEDS WIDE IN A TURN IS JUST PART OF THE REGULAR ACTION AT THE DERBY. WHEN THE FLAG FLIES, SO DOES THE ICE ANDSNOW AT THE START OF EVERY OVAL RACE.

THE ‘HEART OF ARCTIC CAT’ WAS ONE OF FIRST WINNERS

One of the foremost snowmobile innovators and the person I have often referred to as THE MAN at Arctic Cat, Roger Skime, was also a racer at Eagle River. He was one of the winners at the first event ever held in 1964. Always the innovator, Roger won by slightly modifying the 9hp Kohler motor, as well as being one helluva rider! I’ve had the honor to have ridden sleds several times with Roger in my life and the last time (while he was in his mid-70’s) he could push even the fastest young whipper-snapper out there. This guy is a legend, and just one of the many who have had a long attachment to the Eagle River race.

TIMES CONTINUED TO GET FASTER AT THE DERBY AND IN 1990 A NEW TRACK RECORD WAS SET BY DAVE WAHL OF 8 MINUTES AND 27 SECONDS

What we know now

Throughout the 1990’s and until today the event has held strong. While not drawing the biggest crowds of 50,000 people like it did decades ago, thousands still flock to the January event each year. Today, there are regularly 1000 entries across all the platforms and classes.

With the advent of snocross on the inside of the oval track at Eagle River, fans in the stands have a lot more to see and do. The ‘vintage races’ have also been added to the race card and thankfully we are now all able to see all the iconic brands of old back on the racetrack. The World Championship weekend is a 3-day format that starts with ‘Friday Night Thun der’. Racing can be seen Friday, Saturday, and finishing with the finals on Sunday evening. Now there are two full weekends of racing, which includes vintage to be seen at the event.

Tom Anderson (who has ran successful snowmobile trade shows for decades) was one of many instrumental people, creat ing the World Snowmobile Headquarters, which is adjacent to the WCD and is a great place for any snowmobile afficio nado to see all kinds of incredible pieces of snowmobile memorabilia. There’s a museum, Derby Hall of Fame, gift shop, and more. This spot is truly a complex and one of the greatest places in the world to watch snowmobile racing of any kind. For more info you can always visit their website at www.derbycomplex.com, email them at info@derbycomplex.com, or call 715-479-4424.

PRE-RACE DRIVERS MEETINGS HAVE TRADITIONALLY TAKEN PART AROUND THE TROPHY.

SNOWMOBILE PARADES WERE PART OF THE EVENT FOR YEARS.

FOR YEARS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE TRAV ELLED FROM ALL OVER SNOW-COUNTRY TO SEE THIS RACE.

BY EMILY WICKLUND

It’s never easy being at the TOP and takes a lot to get there and even more to stay there. Here’s who won big last winter and is making more room on the mantle for more big hardware.

ZACH HERFINDAHL COR POWERSPORTS

After buying the USXC, Cor Power sports is now the premier race series for cross country snowmobile racing in North America. With races course ranging from 100 miles to 500 miles, this series is all about who can sprint the longest. In 2022, the series competed in three states; Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, which featured three different terrains; ice, ditch/ trail, and ski-hill which all bring their own challenges. In the past decade, the man to beat has been an Eagle River Wisconsin native, Zach Herfindahl. After claiming two Pro class championships this season (Pro Factory Stock and Pro Open), he now has 12 Pro divisions championship to his name.

He climbed through the amateur ranks as a youngster quickly and moved up to the Pro class at an early age. Since he moved to the Pro Class he has relatively been unstoppable on his Arctic Cat. Championships don’t come easy. In 2022,

Herfindahl got off to a bit of a slow start for him finishing sixth in round one, earning a second in round two and scoring a DNF due to a mechanical issue while leading in round three in the stock class. He also had a rough start in the Open class starting the year with a DNF in the qualifier in round one, 10th in round two and that same DNF in round three. Like champions do, Herfindahl found his footing in round four winning his fourth I-500 title.

Having a strong second half of the season Herf won the Pro Stock champion ship (350 points) by 31 points over Dan Revering. Out of eight rounds, Herfindahl had three wins and six podiums in the Pro Stock division.

In the Pro Open class, Herfindahl took the championship over teammate David Brown by 23 points. In this class the #312 sled either won or scored a DNF. Out of the eight rounds, Herfindahl won five of those races.

HE CLIMBED THROUGH THE AMATEUR RANKS AS A YOUNGSTER QUICKLY AND MOVED UP TO THE PRO CLASS AT AN EARLY AGE.

SINCE HE MOVED TO THE PRO CLASS HE HAS RELATIVELY BEEN UNSTOPPABLE ON HIS ARCTIC CAT.

TAYLOR MCCOY CSRA

In Canada, the premier snowcross series is the CSRA or Canadian Snowcross Racing Association. Consisting of seven rounds, the series brings racers prodiominately from across On tario and Quebec. The CSRA is known for great race tracks and racer safety and in normal non covid years you will see racers from across North America competing as many of the races are close to the US border. The season opener of the 2022 series is in Sault Ste. Marie, ON and the season final has been held in Barrie, ON for decades and racers have been setting their clocks to it.

Ski-Doo racer, Taylor McCoy, who hails from Bracebridge, Ontario, has been one of the men to beat for a few years now. Out of the seven rounds, McCoy had three wins and landed on the podium in all but one final. He collected 11 heat race wins of the 14 he entered. When the last checker flew in Barrie, his points total ended up being 630 which was 50 points over second place Blake Taylor. McCoy also won the series’ triple crown with 178 points; 13 points over Isaac St-Onge. This was McCoys third CSRA Pro Championship in five years earning his first in 2017 and second in 2021.

JAY MITTELSTAEDT EAGLE RIVER

The most prestigious event for ice oval racers is the World Championship Snowmobile Derby in Eagle River, Wisconsin. The half mile, high banked oval, puts on high-speed tight racing action that snowmobile enthusiasts come to watch from all over the world. 2022 marked the 59th annual Derby and with this being the first time the race was ran on Formula III sleds instead of the champ chassis. The four time and defending world champ, Blaine Stephenson was the favorite going into the week but his sled had other plans. As racers were making their way to the starting line for the big dance, Stepheson’s sled wouldn’t stay running. He pulled the recoil close to 60 times between the back stretch and the starting line. The green flag dropped and Stephenson was left in the dust on the starting line. Jay Mittelstaedt, who came out of retirement just for this race nailed the hole shot but was forced to restart due to Stephenson’s sled on the starting line. Mittelstaedt fell back to third and kept on the tails of Olson and Sterne who ran first and second. Olson had a “hard off” which took him out of the race early. Up front, this left the battle up to Sterne and Stephenson. The two pulled even multiple times and Mittelstaedt crept in and managed to take over the lead on his Polaris. After 25 laps, Jay Mittelstaedt, who was retired prior to this race was now a world champion! Hailing from La Valle, Wisconsin, the 35-year-old shocked the world and held off the hard charging Gunner Sterne to win the World Championship!

ELIAS ISHOEL ISOC

Amsoil Championship Snocross is a fan favorite series in the snowmobile industry. With 16 rounds sprinkled around the United States featuring tight racing action on genuinely short race cours es making it an excellent spectator event. Norway native, Elias Ishoel has been the hottest name in the sport after clenching his fourth straight ISOC Pro points championship in 2022. After winning the Swedish championship in 2014, Ishoel was asked by BRP to represent the company in the United States and has been pretty much unstoppable on the race track. The 24-year-old who switched from Boss Racing to Thene Motosports in 2022 made the transition look buttery smooth. Last year, Ishoel claimed the championship aboard his Ski-Doo with 581 points, with 82 points over second place runner up, Hunter Patenaude. Ishoel won nine of the 16 rounds while finishing on the podium for 12 out of a pos sible 16.

TYLER AKLESTA & Nick Olstad IRON DOG

The longest, most grueling race in the world happens annu ally in Alaska. Teams made up of two riders, each on their own sled try to survive racing at high speeds for 2,500 miles through the rugged Alaskan terrain and unpredictable weather. Starting on Big Lake, teams get the green flag and make their way over the Alaska range to the Yukon River. They then cut overland toward the Sea Coast followed by heading north to Kotzebue, around Red Dog Lake, which is when they reach their halfway point in Nome, Alaska. Teams then turn around and head back to Big Lake. 2022 was the 38th running of this event and over the years the race course has varied from 1,049 miles in 1984 to 2,600 miles in 2021, with the course running through over 22 communities. The event offers the premier Pro class which av erages 30 entries and also offers a trail class that runs a shorter loop. Team 7, who consists of Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad are always top contenders aboard their Ski-Doo snowmobiles. The team won the event 2020 but scratched in 2021. Many racers said the 2022 race conditions were the most brutal they have ever witnessed. Racers commented that where it was a historically smooth section, it was rough as rough can be. Team 7 brought it again in 2022 winning the event with a time of 53 hours, 27 minutes and 21 seconds. This was 2 hours and 5 minutes over the second place finisherswin makes Olstad a five time champ and Aklestad a three time champ of the most brutal snowmobile race in the world.

KEITH CURTIS JACKSON HOLE HILLCLIMB

ficult Hillclimb competition on the planet happens every year in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The best mountain riders in the world duke it out to get to the summit of Snow King Mountain quickest in order to earn the King of Kings title. The narrow, tight course rises 1,500 vertical feet above the town of Jackson giving those that make it to the top an unbelievable view. The inaugural Jackson Hole Hillclimb was in 1975 which makes the 2022 event the 45th annual. History was made this year when Keith Curtis won his seventh King of Kings title, the Dillon, Montana native

has been unstoppable this past decade on his Polaris. He described this year’s course as a “hard enduro hillclimb with stumps up to two feet tall and logs laying in every direction.” Curtis walked away with the King of Kings, Stock King, and Mod King titles. Curtis earned his first in the Open Mod final with a time of 1 minute 22.21 seconds which was 4.3 seconds on second place. First in the Open Stock final (1:26.94) that was only 1.92 seconds over second and first in 900 Mod (1:26.64) with only .95 seconds over second. He also earned second in Improved 900 and fourth in Stock 900.

JUSTIN TATE & ANDY

SOO I-500

WENZLAFF

The longest ice race in the world takes place in Sault Ste. Ma rie, Michigan every year. This high speed 500 lap race is gruelling on both the racers and the Team. Teams consist of two racers, always having one on the sled, while the other is with their crew in the trailer getting ready and recovering for their next turn. During the beginning stages of this race, most of the first riders try to stay out for 100 laps and after rider fatigue sets in and the track gets increasingly rougher and rougher, they switch racers more often. While making the rider switch, crews fuel and change skis on the sled to keep them fresh much similar to that of a NASCAR style of pit stop.

2022, was the 53rd running of the Soo I-500 and had the championship title was claimed by two first time winners. Fortyfive-year-old Justin Tate from Scandia, Minnesota and 28-year-old Andy Wenzlaff from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, racing under the Nelson Racing Polaris umbrella. With cross country racing roots running deep within these two it always made them top contend ers. This year’s win didn’t come easy for them as they started deep in the field at 17th. It wasn’t until lap 280, when the Nelson Racing Team took over the lead and were extremely hard to pass after that. Their average speed was 61.024 mph with their high speed being 82.117 mph. After 500 laps, Andy and Justin saw the checkered flag and claimed both theirs and the team’s first Soo I-500 championship. Their total time was 8 hours 11 min utes 36.421 seconds. WV Racing finished second at only 4.855 seconds behind.

In the manufacturer standings of the Soo I-500, Polaris is now up to 31, Ski-Doo with 10, Yamaha with 6, Arctic Cat with 4, Mer cury with 1 and Chapparal with 1.

PHOTO BY SpeedShot Photography

BLAINE STEPHENSON USSA

For 54 years, the USSA Pro Star Series has been the premier series for ice oval racing. These seven round series travels in the Midwest from Michigan to Wisconsin and up to Manitoba, Canada. The series attracts and brings the best ice oval racers in North America to the starting line. For the last five years the per son to beat, hails from Hutchinson Minnesota; 26-year-old Blaine Stephenson who pilots a Polaris snowmobile.

Stephenson didn’t just “appear” on the scene he put his time in and made is way up all the way from the Kitty Kat ranks in the USSA Pro Star Series to being a multi time Pro Champ. In 2019, he teamed up with the legendary, Wahl Brothers Racing which has given him the support and crew required in order to be at the top of the ranks week after week in the USSA.

In 2022, Stephenson won his second consecutive USSA Pro Star Series championship. His first championship was in 2020 but with no USSA points championship in 2021, 2022 made him a back-to-back champ. At the end of the series In 2022, his points total was 724, which narrowly beat second place finisher Gun ner Sterne by a mere four points. Out of the seven-round series, Stephenson won two races and finished on the podium in all but one race. Proving that consistency wins championships.

Stephenson has a lot of hardware on his mantle as the twotime champ is also a four-time Eagle River champion. Needless to say this competitor can’t wait for the green to fly again on the oval again in 2023 and fight for a third USSA Pro Star championship.

Luckily enough for us, Blaine isn’t as fast off the track as he is on and we were able to catch up with him to ask him about his plans for 2023.

OSM: How did you feel about your 2022 season?

Stephenson: We had a good season in 2022. We would like to win a few more, but we were happy bringing home another Pro Star Cup Championship.

OSM: What are you plans for the 2023 race season?

Stephenson: Our main focus for 2023 is to win another Pro Star Cup Championship. We also have the Grand Prix in Valcourt high on our list. We have not won that race and would like to add that one before I retire. Hopefully everything stays open so we can attend that race again.

OSM: Any additional comments on your 2022 season?

Stephenson: I really appreciate the hard work and dedication of our crew. Durmont works his tale off at the shop, my parents (Chris and Andrea), wife (Alexis), our entire crew that comes to the track (Greg, Troy, Logan, Gavin, Lisa, Haley, Dustin, Jeremy, David), my teammate Tom, and the guys in the shop (Terry, Jordan, Jeff, Brandon, and Mary) all work so hard and I cannot thank them enough for that.

PHOTO BY Frozen Oval Studios

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CODE JACKET

Looking for a new snowmobile jacket for trail riding this season? Take a look at the Code jacket from Castle. Made of a tough and waterproof polyester and nylon shell, this coat is heavy-duty and will perform for anything you throw at it. With a removable liner and hood it is a comfortable jacket to wear well riding and looks great. Unlike other coats, this will last you a good couple of seasons as the zippers are double stitched and the design stitching is done to perfection to prevent from coming apart or the insolation inside getting damaged. Also, this jacket has selected vents to maximize airflow on those warmer days or for when you are feeling a little stale. Coming in 8 different colors and sizes from small to 3 XL there is a jacket for every rider’s preference. For more info check them out at www.castlesales.com

CX950 V2 FIERCE MODULAR HELMET

Need a new Helmet? Take a look at the CX950 from Castle, Available in both standard and electric versions with a dual pane anti-fog shield, breath box, and cold weather chin curtain. This helmet has every option you will ever need all in a great design. Castle even went so far as to put pockets in the side for communicator speakers and for people that wear glasses well riding so there is never any discomfort in this helmet. With a dropdown sunshade with easy access to the slider, you can easily change it on the fly when on the snowmobile or when stopped to talk to your buddies. Castle also offers a 5 year warranty for this helmet in case something goes wrong well on the trail. Available in four sharp looking colors and sizes all the way up to 3 XL, there is one for everyone’s preference. Check it out at www.castlesales.com

WOODY’S STUDDING TEMPLATE

If you are thinking about studding your snowmobile before the snow starts to fly and don’t want to just start drilling holes all willy-nilly in to your track, then can we suggest Woody’s new templates. Woody’s have a different pattern made for every rider, you can choose from your track lug pitch and width, the terrain and or riding style, and also the number of studs you have. Woody has made these templates simple for the most part to use. For Beginner studders, even if you haven’t ever studded a track before you can go in with full confidence. Check out the different studding patterns for your snowmobile at www. Woodystraction.com

FXR TRANSFER E-TECH HEATED GLOVES

No other interface is more important between someone and their snowmobile than the handlebars. That is why FXR engineered the Transfer E-Tech heated glove to enhance the riding experience by providing comfort and control thanks to the skin-fit construction and the aggressive pre-curved finger design. The heating element tracks around each finger and thumb on the backside of the glove providing up to 5 hours of heat. After using the gloves for a season you will learn that 5 hours will give you more than enough battery to be warm out on the snow. Being charged with tested and dependable rechargeable 7.4 Volt Lithium batteries there is no doubt that these gloves will last. Check out www.FXRracing.com for more info on the Transfer E-tech Heated Gloves

HELMET SAFETY LIGHT FROM BITE HARDER

With the short days in the winter night, riding is emendable when you are having a good day out on the snow. When night hits and something goes wrong, it can go really wrong quickly. Eliminate stress and risk and have a bright light on hand on all rides to make sure your fellow riders as well as other riders can always see you. Bite Harder has come out with a good lighting system that does not add any extra weight to your helmet. Using the existing heated shield power there are no extra wires or clutter in your way. This light is stuck on by adhesive 3M tape there is no way this light is falling off or moving well riding. Also coming in different colors, you can identify different people in your riding group as they come in Red, Amber, Blue, Green, and even Pink. Check out Bite Harder’s helmet light at www.Bitehearder.com

KLIM AEON GOGGLES

The KLIM Aeon Goggle is engineered to create optical perfection and clear vision through the most extreme conditions. KLIM’s toric lens shape closely matches the human eyeball shape, meaning virtually zero optical distortion along with phenomenal peripheral vision, which both result in reduced rider fatigue. The Aeon lens system uses a high-speed magnet+hinge lock that makes swapping lenses extremely fast, without even removing your gloves. The Aeon is engineered with extreme antifogging technologies including air circulation through full-frame foam filtered vents, massive internal air volume and Super Anti-Fog lens coating. Ride confidently this winter with the Aeon Goggle. Head over to www.klim.com for more information

SCOTT DS DRYO MONOSUIT

SCOTT has done a great job in developing this 2-layer Monosuit that provides extra insulation to any type of rider. SCOTT has also put YYK zippers into the suit to block the wind and cold weather coming through the zipper like in other suits. This suit has a lot of features like a removable hood, an insulated pocket inside the suit for your phone, and a pocket big enough to keep your extra pair of goggles warm and by your side. Even though this suit is insulated it is recommended for warmer weather, you’ll enjoy the perfect warmth on any ride. And with this suit being waterproof you can do almost anything in it that tickles your fancy. Available in a black/grey combo or green/orange, this suit looks sharp on the snow and gives you full mover ability. Suit up today and head over to www.Importationsthibault.com to check the different styles.

FLY ROLLER GRANDE BAG

Looking for a new gear bag to keep your snowmobile gear organized on the trips this winter? Well take a look at the Roller Grande Bag from Fly, being the biggest roller bag that Fly Racing sells you will have enough room for all your gear plus the extra pair of underwear you may need on the trip. The problem with most gear bags is that they are too wide and awkward when going through doorways, airports or even throwing in the back of the truck or snowmobile trailer. With the total detentions being 17”H x 16”W x 33”L equalling to a total volume of 125L / 7,628 cubic inches there is no problem fitting this bag through tight spaces. This bag has pockets on the outside to keep all your little stuff organized, such as; chargers, your balaclavas, clean vs dirty clothes, or even gloves. It’s even designed with a built-in boot compartment in the bag to save the rest of the gear from that awful stinky boot smell. Stow your snowmobile gear and other goods with the dignity they deserve. Check it out at www.FlyRacing.com

OIL

Schaeffer’s has designed this oil for all types of snowmobiling; from backcountry riding to easy trail riding, they’ve got you lubed. Some benefits of this oil, it lubricates at lower temperatures than other oils to help protect your engine while also keeping your engine lubricated at higher rpm’s while you’re riding. Also, it burns cleaner than other oils reducing smoke emissions, and has great wear protection. Schaeffer’s oil does a great job to reduce metal to metal contact saving you money in the long run. Being in the oil business since 1939, Schaeffer’s has been trusted to find the perfect velocity in their oil. www.schaefferoil.com

RUSH HOUR 24/7

Featuring over 200 races from around the world and right here at home. REV TV is your 24/7 home for motorsports. REV TV showcases all forms of high-octane racing, such as MotoGP, Monster Jam, World Rally Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, World Endurance Championship, Indy Lights, WorldSBK, the Isle of Man TT, and much, much more.

We’ve also got DIY, behind-the-scenes, news, interviews, and other motoring lifestyle programs such The Inside Line (Formula One), Winged Nation (Winged Sprint Cars), and PASMAG’s Tuning 365 (Cus tom Cars and Culture). We also have a slate of original programming including REV Culture with Todd Lewis that features interviews with motorsports luminaries and up-and-comers, All North Racing which focuses on grassroots racing, and more programs added all the time.