OSM 35.3

TAKE 5: FROM BOATS TO SLEDS

www.osmmag.com @onsnowmagazine

STEPPING IT UP YAMAHA VENOM AND ARCTIC CAT BLAST

TRANS ALASKA VINTAGE SNOGO EXPEDITION MAC’S GARAGE STAGE TUNING A SCOOT VOL 35 • NO 3 • $ 5.95

DISPLAY UNTIL FEB 28, 2021

GEARBOX

EVERYDAY LOW PRICES. GREAT SAVINGS. THOUSANDS OF IN-STOCK ITEMS. PARTS, ACCESSORIES AND APPAREL

RETAIL LOCATIONS:

MON-WED 9AM-6PM | THU 9AM-8PM FRI 9AM-9PM|SAT 9AM-5PM | SUN 10AM-4PM

GUELPH (519) 822-7081

WHITBY (905) 619-8000

INNISFIL (705) 431-9364

SUDBURY (705) 566-8111

925 WOODLAWN RD W

1954 COMMERCE PARK DR

900 CHAMPLAIN COURT 3085 KINGSWAY

Free Shipping Over $39*.

most items ship within 24 business hours.* SPEAK TO OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS MONDAY-FRIDAY 8AM-6PM EST

1-800-265-2970

*See www.royaldistributing.com for more details

ANCHORAGE FRS The Anchorage FRS jacket is equipped with a Float Ready System, which will assist you if you are accidentally submerged in water.

CONDOR SVS SNOW DOUBLE SHIELD / ELECTRIC SHIELD

HELMET

FIND A DEALER: ride509.com/dealer-locator @ride509

@509inc

www.ride509.com

Modular design

Operating a highland resort in the middle of Iceland. On a really difficult rescue mission in freezing temperatures with rain, snow, and sleet - all on the same trip, this helmet was perfect. 509 Customer Halldor

TRAIL

CROSSOVER

MOUNTAIN

clicked

FREEDOM Tyler Swarm runs out of mountain

Sled: 2021 Polaris 850 PRO RMK 174 Location: Wyoming, USA

clicked

POUNDING THROUGH

Yamaha is back in the mountains with a 2-stroke Rider: Drivers Union President, Dan Skallet Snowmobile: 2021 Yamaha Mountain Max LE 154

FIND CHALLENGE.

CONQUER. REPEAT.

THE 2020 RANGER

Combining our legendary Ford toughness with our latest available off-road tech, the 2020 Ranger has what it takes to squeeze the last drop of fun out of every adventure.

clicked

BUCKED OFF Taming the bull. Bull Riders never blame their ride and they always stick it.

Rider: The great El’ Swarmo Snowmobile - 2021 Polaris 850 Pro RMK 155

ALL NEW

RIFT JACKET

In pursuit of enhanced winter safety, we’ve engineered the Rift Jacket to offer floatation assistance, protection and comfort in the extreme conditions trail riders face. This is the first float assist GORE-TEX jacket in the world and it doesn’t need to be used with floatation bibs to work properly. The Rift Jacket is a comprehensive trail snowmobile jacket for riders looking to maximize every winter riding experience.

contents

FEATURES

48 54 16

MAC’S GARAGE STAGE SCOOTING A SCOOT

CONQUER TERRAIN: I WANT IT ALL! THE SLEDS YOU NEED TO GO ANYWHERE

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

62 74

STEPPING IT UP

NEW YAMAHA VENOM AND ARCTIC CAT BLAST FILL THE VOID

TRANS ALASKA

VINTAGE SNOGO EXPEDITION

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

86 GEARBOX COLUMNS 20 DRIFTS

RICHARD KEHOE

WINGING IT WITH LEVI

LEVI LAVALLEE

DEPARTMENTS

74 48

INDUSTRY NEWS 22 WORD SEARCH 30 31 SUDOKU TAKE 5 32 SNAP DECISION 34 FAB 4 36 LAWN ORNAMENTS 44 GOT RISERS? 46 NBFSC REPORT 94 OSM LISTINGS 98

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

VOLUME 35 NUMBER 3

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

TAKE CONTROL

Publication Mail Agreement 40010190

231-853-2323

WWW.STUDBOYTRACTION.COM ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

Subscriptions: 1-888-661-7469 or info@osmmag.com OSM is published six times a year by OSM Publishing Ltd. Office address and undelivered copies and change of address notice is: PO Box 551, 27083 Kennedy Road, Willow Beach, ON L0E 1S0, Canada. Telephone (905) 722-6766. Printed in Canada by: Trade Secrets • Copyright 2020 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.

TRACTION BY

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

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

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

SNOW

2021 TRANSPORTER LITE A New Breed Of Utility Snowmobile. 400-Class Lightweight 2-Stroke I 146” Utility Suspension with Flip-up Rails I Electronic Reverse

Discover More Yamaha – Genuine Parts & Accessories, Service and Finance

drifts

Richard Kehoe

2021 COULDN’T COME SOONER

he end of 2020 has been a difficult one for everyone, but we should be turning the corner for the better in the weeks to come. In a normal year I, like many, would have kicked off the season with a snowmobile event and a vintage swap meet. However, this year has been quite different. Everything from the 2021 Sneak Peek, Haydays and the Big East Snowmobile/ATV Show, even the Toronto Snowmobile and ATV Show were cancelled and postponed to 2021. These events were historically great places to not only meet up with friends but to check out new products on the market, try on gear and to check out the latest models all at one time. These types of events are kick-offs to the season for snowmobilers. Because of these cancellations and postponements, I found myself running around last minute searching both in person at retailers and online for gear for my kids before everything sold out. With what was easy to find at snowmobile events was much more difficult as I seemed to be visiting more locations and getting frustrated when you don’t always know if what you are looking at is in-stock until you hit “add to cart”. Needless to say, like everything else in 2020, the kick-off to my snowmobile season started just a little later, similar to other sports like the MLB, NBA and NHL. Not only has shopping for some of us been effected this year but without the fall snowmobile showcases across the snowbelt in 2020, many will be seeing the new iron for the first time in person on the snow. The snowmobile manufactures were busy introducing new models and new technology before the pandemic landed and this will make snowmobile pit-stops all the more popular in 2021.

POWER IN THE PIPES

You can place bets that heads will be turning on the trails, gas stations and restaurants as snowmobilers scope out the ride of other’s that they may not have looked over in person yet. The trail side chatter will be all that and more but what sleds will be the most talked about at the trail stop? I’m guessing the most popular will be the sight of Polaris’s new Matryx platform. Especially if it’s equipped with the new 650 Patriot engine. Just the idea of riding a 650 Polaris for many of us brings us back to a special time in snowmobiling. There’s also a lot of available technology available this year that will have many asking questions. You could safely assume Yamaha’s new Venom will be another snowmobile that will be turning a lot of heads. I think 7/8 size snowmobile is the real deal and will have a lot of people that may not have thought that they would ride one, riding one. Depending on the chosen trim package, this 400cc snowmobile will surprise everyone of how fun and capable it is. Until you see a Venom in person you may not be able to understand how significant this snowmobile is to snowmobiling. The snow has been falling and some significant storms have already come and gone making snowmobilers twitch everywhere. Getting everything ready for this season has been different and a little more challenging than others but so has everything else. The good news is that we’ll be ready for what is sure to be one of the most memorable snowmobile seasons of all time. Buckle in and put a helmet on it’s going to be a ride. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and keep safe out there. - Rich

Check out our custom design FLASH gallery

LIGHTWEIGHT, SILENCERS TRAIL PIPES & RACE PIPES

jawsperformance.com

PIPE +5101ETH EC P 8

613-489-5297

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

GEAR UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS

50 OFF

RECEIVE AN INSTANT

ALL SPOT PRODUCTS FindMeSPOT.ca/OSM50 Limited time offer. Offer valid 11/02/20 - 01/10/21. Service subscription required.

SPOT GEN4

SPOT X

with Bluetooth®

SPOT TRACE

news

02 TAIGA PARTNERS WITH ABB

Global E-mobility leader ABB has partnered with Taiga Motors, to expand the sustainability to off-road vehicles across North America and Europe. ABB will offer its compact Terra AC wallbox and Terra DC wallbox charging stations.

CSRA SETS 2021 RACE SCHEDULE

The CSRA has set a nine weekend race schedule in six cities. While Covid-19 continues to frustrate race series around the world, CSRA will not have spectators in the 2021 race season and will have two cities with multiple stops. Lindsay, Ontario will host the CSRA on three different occasions with one stop in January and two in February. Barrie, Ontario will also be a multiple stop for the CSRA with one race weekend in late March and one in April. A recent release has said that more events may be added.

Nomad is ready for the trails after charging over lunch at Lac-à-l’Eau-Claire. Photo by Baardseth Media.

Taiga’s Norwegian dealership partner Ståle Sømåen from Østlandet Motor Service charges the Ekko with ABB Terra DC Wallbox after a long day of testing. Photo by Baardseth Media

MOTOVAN OFFERS UP TO 30% OFF OLYMPIA GEAR Motovan is offering big savings on their Olympia snowmobile gear. Olympia has snowmobilers covered from heated jackets and vests all the way full snowmobile suits. Motovan is also offering free shipping on orders over $100.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

news

CURVE INDUSTRIES OFFER TRADE IN PROGRAM

Do you have a set of skis in your garage that don’t match up with your current ride? Or were you guilty of purchasing an ultra-aggressive snow cross ski for your two up tourer and don’t know what to do with them? Curve Industries has a trade in program for many different types of skis and they even accept original snowmobile manufacturer skis on trade in. They have detailed out four specific laid out for your trade in value starting with the brand, condition of the ski (3 options), carbide condition (2 options) and if they are dirty or not so be sure to buff them before shipping them or it could cost you on your rebate. For more information visit www.curveindustries.com

BRP ANNOUNCES 05 NEW NAVIGATION APP – BRP GO! BRP GO is designed to enhance how riders interact with the snowmobile community as they ride, within selected US and Canadian locations. Designed for both Apple and Google devices, the new app offers many perks for Ski-Doo and other snowmobile riders including navigation for snowmobile trails, turn-by turn navigation, save your rides, plan itinerates, POI, and locate other riders so you always know where your friends and family are. Riders can access the app directly from the gauge or on their phone. The app also offers both online and offline information to ensure navigation for when cell signals may be scarce. Visit www.brp.com to get the app.

SETS 06 NBSSR SPEED RUN DATES

The North Bay Snowmobile Speed Runs are scheduled for: February 6 & 7, 2021 February 20 & 21, 2021 March 6 & 7, 2021 NBSSR’s snow drag dates will be released at a later date.

In issue 35.1 on page 89 On Snow Magazine featured a SCOTT R/X boot in the buyers guide. The color that was featured was replaced with new styles for the 2020/21 season that can be viewed on www.scott-sports.com/ca/en. OSM apologizes for any confusion that this caused.

YOUR #1 CHOICE FOR USED

POLARIS GOLD! 905.449.4639

INDY PARTS PLUS IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED POLARIS PARTS DEALER OF AFFILIATED WITH POLARIS INDUSTRIES

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

INDYPARTSPLUS@HOTMAIL.COM IN www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

W I T H

Y O U

F O R

THE RIDE

WITH YOU TO G E T T H E M O S T O U T O F W I N T E R S T Y L E A N D P E R FO R M A N C E - O R I E N T E D G E A R

C K X G E A R . CO M

news

ARCTIC CAT SUPPORTS AIARE TO COMMEMORATE 07 COR POWERSPORTS ROB KINCAID To commemorate Rob Kincaid and his passion for safety in the CANCELLED PINE backcountry, Arctic Cat is supporting the American Institute for LAKE DUE TO COVID Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) by offering a custom, Cor Powersports has already rescheduled the Gerald Dyrdahl Memorial Race at Pine Lake once this year due to early season ice conditions and Covid-19 restrictions with large gatherings in Minnesota. As the season progressed it was brought to Cor Powersports attention that the state of Minnesota will not be reviewing event permits until the next round of restrictions from the Minnesota Governor have been released. With this information, Cor Powersports made the decision to cancel the event for the 2020/21 race season.

Kincaid-inspired 2021 M 8000 Mountain Cat ALPHA ONE 165 ATAC. All proceeds from the donation-based sweepstakes will go to the Kincaid family and AIARE to continue avalanche safety initiatives. Enthusiasts interested in the sweepstakes can visit AIARE’s official sweepstakes webpage for more information. Donations start at $25 up to $2,000; the higher the donation, the more chances to win. The sweepstakes runs from Monday, December 14, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. EST through Monday, March 1, 2021 at 12:00 a.m. EST.

70 Guest Rooms Suites & Wheelchair Accessible 18 Log Chalets with Fireplaces In-Room Coffee Cable Television WIFI High Speed Internet Fax and Photocopy Services Complimentary Guest Computer Station Guest Laundry Fitness Centre Fully Licenced Dining Room 118 Mission Road Wawa, Ontario Canada P0S 1K0

www.wawamotorinn.com

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

RESERVATIONS TOLL FREE: 1-800-561-2278 www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

news

09 MIDWEST RIDE GOES GREEN FOR ERX IN 2022 Mark your calendars NEXT YEAR for January 28-30 2022 to celebrate the year of John Deere at the annual Midwest Ride-In at ERX Motor Park, Elk River, MN. Next year Midwest Ride In will celebrate John Deere’s 50th anniversary.

10 SKI-DOO TEAMS UP WITH AVALANCHE ORGANIZATIONS TO FURTHER RIDER SAFETY AND EDUCATION Ski-Doo is working with various avalanche safety organizations throughout North America to assist in furthering avalanche awareness, forecasting and education. By loaning Ski-Doo snowmobiles to these organizations, they are better able to access and assess terrain and snowpack, provide more accurate information to all users of the backcountry, and cover more ground quickly in avalanche rescue scenarios. Ski-Doo is also offering free avalanche education to riders of all brands in order to help them learn to make safe, sound decisions in backcountry terrain. Usually courses are taught in person, however with the current state of the universe, Mike Duffy of Avalanche 1 in cooperation with Backcountry Access will have an online video series. The series will be broken down into different modules, allowing riders to consume information at their pace. Each online video module can be found at http://www.ski-doo.com/avalanche.html.

CASTLE X OFFERS MILITARY DISCOUNT CastleX is proud to offer the Military (Active, Reserves, Guard Members), Veterans, and First Responders a 10% discount on full retail pricing on www.castlesales.com. If you are Active Duty, you can email info@castlesales.com from your military email address. Veterans only need to email a copy of their DD214 and First Responders are only required to send an email directly from their work email address.

12 BAD NEWS FOR 2021 SOO I-500 In a year that is full of events being cancelled the 2021 Soo International 500 Snowmobile Race couldn’t escape the grasps of Covid-19. The Board of Directors felt that they could not operate the race with good conscience under the current circumstances. The 2022 event dates have been set from January 31 through February 5.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

BUILT FOR THE TOUGHEST TERRAIN, TRAILS, AND TASKS G-FORCE

™

The workhorse of the family, handling everything from a hard day’s work to a road less traveled.

G-FORCE C12

G-FORCE REDLINE

True carbon tensile cord strength for improved throttle response, acceleration, flexibilty, and heat control to maintain peak power.

Engineered to handle the wildest rides in the toughest conditions and take the heat (up to 338˚F) without power loss.

™

35.3

Need some time alone in your thinking room, have a seat on the throne and WORD SEARCHBrings" - DECEMBER BRINGS "December R S L O W D O W N F I R S T R I D E E A R

E I R C H R I S T M A S Y A O U R A S E P

N G R R O S B S T N E M A N R O N W A L C

O R H A S T N E S E R P I N K P T P J I A

P O R S L O G D N A R E V L I S B I K B H

E O P R E D A N D G R E E N Y C C D I O T

K M E A U N C V O O E Y M S A M R E Q M R

E E E D F D B A L A L H N K S S H L U W A

E R L H E R S R Z E G O X O G D A S E O I

A S Y B K A I K I M W E F O L D N W V N L

P T O O H J R S O T C O G J V X D E I S S

O A N O A D A T M K Y C J E O Y W N M J P

S H E N P N L H A P I S N G O S A D H A A

M A S D E R O P O I L T H L D T R N E R R

S M F O B O P C S L U A S O I V M A Y B I

T A C C I T C R A R I R O H K C E R E R S

O Y G K F E R F E B A D G R S Y R B K H E

O L G I E P O E T H F I A E G P S F R A R

B G S N T E M L E H A L A Y A R S D U T S

L M D G O G G L E S I E O S Y R A M T O A

Adventure Adventure Arctic Cat Bacon Arctic Cat Boondocking Boots Bacon Brand New Sled Boondocking Christmas Copy of OSM Boots Family Brand First Ride New Sled Fuel Christmas Gear Copy of OSM Goggles GPS Family Groomer FirstWarmers Ride Hand Helmet Fuel Holiday Gear Lawn Ornaments Oil Goggles Polaris GPS Presents Red and Green Groomer Risers Hand Silver andWarmers Gold Ski-Doo Helmet Snowmobile Studs Holiday STV Lawn Ornaments Trails Tree Oil Turkey Polaris Yamaha

Presents

Red and Green Risers Silver and Gold Ski-Doo Snowmobile Studs STV Trails Tree Turkey Yamaha

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

5 SUDOKU HARD OSM The Sport. The Lifestyle. For Snowmobilers. From Snowmobilers. 5

5 3

3 9 6 9

1 3

1 7 4

3 2

9 5

9 3

9 7

7 5 8 5

1 5

1 9

9 2

Sudoku - Medium

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

Sudoku - Medium 5 2 2 1 3 1 8 3

8 5

1 2

7 3

3 2

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

7 9

3 8

7 4 1 4 5 1

5 3

NEED HELP? 607-533-7434 ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

BOATS BOATS BOATS MERCURY MERCURY MERCURY

In the 1960s Mercury was a dominant player in the marine

In industry. theIn1960s theThey 1960s Mercury Mercury was awas dominant a and dominant player player in theinmarine the marine had the resources the performance to mop up industry. industry. They They hadbrands the hadresources the resources andSo the and performance thedisconcerting performance to mop mo other boat motor of the time. it was toto up the other Mercury crew to see marine competitors notdisconcerting only enter other boat motor boat motor brands brands oftheir theof time. the time. So it was So it disconcerting was to t snowmobile but startmarine to have somecompetitors success well.enter thethe Mercury the Mercury crew fray, crew to see totheir see their marine competitors notasonly not only en Based in the small town of Mora, Minnesota, Boatel was known That didn’t sit well with the highly competitive Mercury brand, the snowmobile the snowmobile fray, but fray, start but to start have to have some some success success as well. as well. for their houseboats and pontoons, but in an effort to diversify Based Based in theinsmall the small town town of Mora, of Mora, Minnesota, Minnesota, Boatel Boatel was known was known thus in 1966 they acquired several top snowmobile models, their manufacturing capabilities they entered the snowmobile That didn’t That didn’t sit well sit with well the with highly the highly competitive competitive Mercury Mercury brand, brand, for their for houseboats their houseboats and pontoons, and pontoons, but inbut an in effort an effort to diversify to diversify torein them dissected them several and launched their business in 1965 bycapabilities purchasing the Matthews Manufacturing thus thus 1966 indown, 1966 they acquired they acquired several topshortly snowmobile top after snowmobile models, models, their manufacturing their manufacturing capabilities they entered theyAbe entered the snowmobile the snowmobile first snowmobile model in 1968. Those early Mercs were quirky Company and rebadged the already existing Trailmaker model. tore them down,down, dissected dissected them them and shortly and shortly after launched after launched their th business business in 1965 in 1965 by purchasing by purchasing the Abe the Matthews Abe Matthews Manufacturing Manufacturing tore them compared to others, but theThose competitive fuel was fullyquir A few years Boatel decided to jump all-in,Trailmaker leaving behind first snowmobile first snowmobile model model ineventually 1968. in 1968. Those early early MercsMercs were were quirky Company Company and rebadged andlater, rebadged the already the already existing existing Trailmaker model. model. ignited and Mercury became a dominant force with their low the boat business and introducing the luxurious and very pricey compared compared to others, to others, but eventually but eventually the competitive the competitive fuel was fuel fully was f A fewAyears few years later, later, Boatel Boatel decided decided to jump to jump all-in,all-in, leaving leaving behind behind slung Trail Twisters and Sno-Twister snowmobiles. Grand Prix model. A few years later, the Boatel run was over. ignited ignited and Mercury and Mercury became became a dominant a dominant force force with their with low their low the boat the business boat business and introducing and introducing the luxurious the luxurious and very and pricey very pricey slungslung Trail Twisters Trail Twisters and Sno-Twister and Sno-Twister snowmobiles. snowmobiles. GrandGrand Prix model. Prix model. A fewAyears few years later, later, the Boatel the Boatel run was run over. was over.

BOATEL BOATEL BOATEL

LARSON

LARSON LARSON

Ironically before Larson Boat Works of Little Falls, Minnesota manufactured their first snowmobile for the 1967Ironically model year, the Larson company owned major interest Ironically before before Larson Boat Works Boat Works of aLittle of Little Falls, Falls, in Polaris Industries. Of course at the time, Polaris Minnesota Minnesota manufactured manufactured their first their snowmobile first snowmobile forwas thefor the still a smallmodel northern company yet intere 1967 1967 model year, year, theMinnesota company the company owned owned a that major ahad major interest gold withIndustries. theirOf sleds. fact it was during this instruck Polaris in Polaris Industries. course OfIncourse at the attime, the time, Polaris Polaris was wa time thataPolaris launched the Comet, a sled that nearly still a still small small northern northern Minnesota Minnesota company company that had that yet had ye forced the with company close doors. Thus Larson struck struck gold goldtheir with to sleds. their sleds. Initsfact Initfact was itduring was during thissold this its shares in Polaris and setthe outComet, to their own time that timePolaris that Polaris launched launched theproduce Comet, a sled a that sled nearly that nea snowmobiles. It was a short lived venture lasting only forcedforced the company the company to close to close its doors. its doors. Thus Thus Larson Larson sold s three model years, ending with the Larson Hawk in 1969

its shares its shares in Polaris in Polaris and set andout settoout produce to produce their own their own snowmobiles. snowmobiles. It wasItawas short a short lived venture lived venture lastinglasting only only three three modelmodel years,years, ending ending with the withLarson the Larson HawkHawk in 1969 in 1

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

OMC OMC OMC

GLASTRON GLASTRON GLASTRON

Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC)was wasa amajor majorplayer player in in The The Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) the blossoming snowmobile industry in the late 1960s and early the blossoming snowmobile industry in (OMC) the latewas 1960s and early The Outboard Marine Corporation a major player in In fact manufactured sleds under three different brand 70s.70s. In fact theythey manufactured under different the blossoming snowmobilesleds industry in three the late 1960sbrand and early names: Johnson and Snow Cruiser. Themodels models were names: Johnson and Snow Cruiser. were 70s.Evinrude, In Evinrude, fact they manufactured sleds underThe three different brand basically the same between brands, with each having distinct basically the Evinrude, same between brands, with each having names: Johnson and Snow Cruiser. Thedistinct models were colors and graphics. The Evinrude Skeeter was the debut sled colors and graphics. Thebetween Evinrude Skeeter was the having debut sled basically the same brands, with each distinct for OMC, hitting the snow for the 1964-65 winter season. The for OMC, hitting the snowThe for the 1964-65 winterwas season. The sled colors and graphics. Evinrude Skeeter the debut Snow Cruiser was built for Canadian sales but was discontinued Snow Canadian butEvinrude was discontinued forCruiser OMC, hitting thefor snow forJohnson the sales 1964-65 winter season. after 1971.was Frombuilt that point on and were The aftersold 1971. From that point on Johnson and Evinrude were Snow Cruiser was built for Canadian sales but was discontinued on both sides of the border until OMC ceased snowmobile soldproduction on both sides the until OMC snowmobile after 1971. thatborder point Johnson and Evinrude were atFrom theofclose of the on 1976 modelceased year. production the close year. ceased snowmobile sold onatboth sides of the 1976 bordermodel until OMC production at the close of the 1976 model year.

While never associate thethe Glastron While most mostsnowmobilers snowmobilerswill will never associate Glastron name with snowmobiles, the company was actually a major name with most snowmobiles, the company was actually a major While snowmobilers will never associate the Glastron player in the snowmobile industry after they purchased Sno-Jet player in the snowmobile industry after theywas purchased name with snowmobiles, the company actuallySno-Jet a major in June of 1968. Under Glastron’s guidance, Sno-Jet flourished. in June of 1968. Glastron’s guidance, Sno-Jet flourished. player in the Under snowmobile industry after they purchased Sno-Je Of course, like most snowmobile manufacturers of that time, Of course, like most snowmobile manufacturers ofSno-Jet that time, in June of 1968. Under Glastron’s guidance, flourishe poor snow, brutal competition from nearly 100 other brands, and pooroilOf snow, brutal competition from nearly 100for other brands, and course, like mostforced snowmobile manufacturers of out thatoftime, the embargo in 1974, Glastron to look a way the oil embargo in 1974, forced Glastron to look for a way out of a poor snow, brutal competition from nearly 100 other brands, the snowmobile business. Ironically Kawasaki wanted to get in the snowmobile business. Ironically Kawasaki wanted to get in the oil embargo in 1974, forced Glastron to look for a way out on the action, and Sno-Jet was sold to them in 1976.

on the and Sno-Jet wasIronically sold to them in 1976. theaction, snowmobile business. Kawasaki wanted to get in on the action, and Sno-Jet was sold to them in 1976.

NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

CAMPBELLTON

CAMPBELLTON BATHURST EDMUNDSTON

SNOWMOBILE BATHURST TRAILS MIRAMICHI SNOWMOBILE TRAILS MIRAMICHI

EDMUNDSTON

BOIESTOWN

DOAKTOWN MCNAMEE

WOODSTOCK BOIESTOWN FREDERICTON

DOAKTOWN MCNAMEEMONCTON

• Atlantic Salmon Fishing • Corporate Retreats • Atlantic SalmonTrail Fishing Retreats • Canoe Rentals • Provincial System • Cottages• •Corporate Licensed Restaurant • Canoe Rentals • Provincial • Cottages • Licensed • Snowmobile Rentals Trail System • Special Events Restaurant • Snowmobile Rentals • Special Events (506) 365-7962 | wilsons@nbnet.nb.ca | www.wilsonscamps.nb.ca (506) 365-7962 | wilsons@nbnet.nb.ca | www.wilsonscamps.nb.ca ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3 33 www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area WOODSTOCK

MONCTON

FREDERICTON

SAINT JOHN

snap decision

MATT HAMM FXR

E RACE ON

2006 Rev 600 Mod Sled We picked up a used Mod sled from the Blair Morgan Race Team years ago, and it still had some really cool parts like the aluminum gas tank and works Kayaba suspension. Best handling sled I’ve even ridden, in terms of being able to soak up little bumps and big hits, super fun to ride.

hen Matt started with FXR a little over fifteen years ago, FXR was still small enough that everyone had to help out to do a little bit of everything. As business picked up, everyone there would gather at the end of the day to prepare and pack up their daily orders, to make the UPS truck. Matt was actually the first person hired by FXR to manually oversee all their shipping needs. He would pick, pack and ship all their FXR orders. In the following years, Matt navigated his way into a sales representative and dealer/racer support, and taught himself how to use the design software in order to be able to have his name and race number on the back of his moto jerseys. By having learned to play with designs and line planning, Matt was able to find his pace. Fast forward through gaining years of experience at FXR, and a lot of hard work, and it took him on a path that led him to a senior design and management role. Taking part and playing a role in FXR’s rise to become a global leader in Snowmobile and MX apparel is something that he is extremely proud of. Continuing in Matt Hamm’s winning way, we asked him five simple questions for this issue of Snap Decision.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

COLLECT ONE

1979 John Deere Spitfire My first sled. I can still picture getting constantly stranded when the engine would overheat, and having to sit and wait for it to cool down. That sled did a lot of laps up and down the treeline in the field behind my parent’s house.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

WRECK ONE

04-06 Ski-Doo Revs I guess I would say that the FXR crew doesn’t discriminate when it comes to wrecking stuff, but I am probably personally responsible for making the largest pile of old Rev parts, rear skids, front clips, etc. from back in the mid-2000’s, when we built Snocross tracks around the property, and did a lot of development by riding laps.

RIDE ONE

Polaris SKS 146 Lately I’ve found myself becoming a mountain poser. For me, the SKS 146 is a great all-around sled for Manitoba mountain riding (yes, we have some hills if you look hard enough), ditch-banging and general goofing around. It handles the harder snow without overheating, and loves to play in the soft stuff, if you can find a rare spot in Manitoba where the wind hasn’t blasted it solid. It gets me out of, and into, just the right amount of trouble…

SELL ON E

Not a single one! Don’t sell any of them…just build a bigger shop!

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

STEVE BRAND

OWNER AND FOUNDER, TEKRIDER

teve is one of the most entrenched and experienced individuals in the snowmobile business. In 1975, he started his first employment in the snowmobile business as a travelling salesman for Hickson’s Sports. Hickson’s Sports is an after-market wholesaler of snowmobile and motorcycle parts & accessories, located in Peterborough, Ontario. In 1977, Steve took his first employment with a snowmobile manufacturer by joining Arctic Sports Products as a Territory Sales Manager for Scorpion Snowmobiles in Ontario. 1979 was a year where Steve would really pave some roads with a snowmobile manufacturer. He accepted a sales position with Bombardier Inc., where he served in various sales management positions within the Moto-Ski, Ski-Doo & Can-Am motorcycle divisions. He was the Can-Am off-road motorcycle Canadian Race Manager from 1980 to 1987, and managed Team Can-Am at international competitions (ISDT/ISDE) held in various European countries during that time. By 1990, Brand transferred to the marketing department in Valcourt, Quebec. This is where he was involved in several key R&D projects including Ski Doo’s initial entry into the mountain segment, with the Summit project, and also the touring segment with the Grand Touring project. He also worked on the first MXZX race platform, and developed the plan for Ski Doo’s return to XC

1 1975 Ski-Doo 245 RV This was my first new sled, replacing my 1972 mid-engine mount, 340 fan TNT on bogies. This was a very impressive two-year leap in technology at the time. As a young guy, I was hugely inspired by watching the Kawartha Cup and all the big factory teams. Friday night under the lights was very special! Watching the underdog Jim Adema in that big puffy jacket, winning against all the rich factory types! This was the oil embargo time of the 1970s. Ski-Doo pulled out of racing in the winter of ‘74 and sent Yvon Duhamel out on what was called the embargo dealer tour, where I met him at Don Hyde Marine in Hagersville, Ontario. This is exactly when I decided that I wanted to race ovals. In January 1975, I won my first ever oval race in Norwich, Ontario on the RV, and promptly after that, I tuned myself out of the winner’s circle for the rest of the season. Sadly, the RV had to go, as I needed the money for college. Even though it was forty-five years ago, I still remember the smell of fresh fiberglass melting on the pipe.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

racing. In 1993, he was promoted to North American Race Coordinator for Cross-Country and Sno-Cross racing, and was directly responsible for much of Ski-Doo’s early cross-country racing and Sno-Cross success with famous factory race stars Toni Haikonen and Todd Wolff, on board the MXZX chassis. In 1995, after 16 years of service, Brand decided to leave Bombardier and start his own company - www. tekrider.com. Tekrider, manufactured by Tekrider, manufactures a line of technical protective wear for the snowmobile, ATV, and motorcycle industry. TekVest is based out of Haliburton, Ontario and remains the number one selling brand of snowmobile protective gear in the world. Steve is an avid snowmobiler, off-road motorcyclist, and ATV rider, specializing in long-distance events, and has competed in most of the premier cross-country snowmobile races including; the Winnipeg to St. Paul I-500, the Thunder Bay to St. Paul I-500, and the 10-day Harricana Raid in Quebec. You can imagine that Steve has ridden his share of great, game changing snowmobiles. When we caught up with him we asked him one question. “What are your four all-time most memorable snowmobiles?” With a some thought, some reflection and some laughs, he came up with these beauties.

1981-83 Karpik Special This was an iconic sled that today, still looks way ahead of its time. If Bombo in 1985 had put the KS into dealer showrooms, it most certainly would have tripped up Polaris’ Indy Invasion. However, the Karpik Special was not to be, as the “fabrique au Quebec” PRS front suspension got the nod. During that time, I vividly recall customers asking me why the ski shocks were hiding under the hood “in the sauna?”, all while Polaris smiled at us all the way to being number one in the industry. Back then, I recall Bombo unsuccessfully trying to buy Polaris in 1984’ish. It would take Doo another decade before they finally said “Mon oncle”, and came out with the 93 DSA (D’SameAs). I am so privileged to have met Gerard “King” Karpik in ‘81, and later I was fortunate enough to work with his brothers Randy and Dave on other projects within the Iron Range…M-10 suspension’s memory lane! I’d like to point out that FAST just delivered a 2021 Blade to Maine. They are still the fifth OEM you know.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

3 4

1994 MXZX

1976 John Deere 340 Liquidator Through all the snowmobile mags, and like so many at the time, I became fascinated with the Winnipeg to St-Paul I-500 race in the early ‘70s. By 1977, I decided to enter the race, and at that time, Ski-Doo wasn’t in the hunt, so I went out and bought a used “Dator” from Allan Byers Equipment in Orillia, Ontario. The 340 Liquidator was purpose built to win the race in ‘76, which Brian Nelson pulled off. This sled was a tough “Breezy Point” big sled that hit a pre-race speed of 92 MPH on Forest Lake, Minnesota. I should point out that this was after a full day of tuning by the JD factory crew, and John Deere looked after me very well. During the Winnipeg to St-Paul I-500 race, I can still clearly remember those sexy looking Bull Whip Scorpions steaming up on us before the first gas. They were fast. I rode my 340 Liquidator as high as thirty-eighth place on day 3, but as luck would have it, I blew out both sliders and then destroyed two drive chains. I ended up crossing the finish line with my third chain of the day. I exceeded my time limit, and that was the end of the race for me; I was close, but no cigar this time. This snowmobile provided me with my first experience with a very well-run, factory support program for privateer racers. I’d like to thank Ed Mansueto and his crew one more time for my first I-5 experience. This race provided many lessons that I was able to replicate later in 1994. One thing about this race that I still fondly remember, was eagerly waiting for the postman to deliver the Snow Week newspaper to see the published results.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

In 1993 through 1995, I was appointed as Ski-Doo’s XC/SX race Coordinator, tasked to turn the “Mustard Tubs” into “Mustard Missiles”, in terrain racing, as it was called then. At that particular time in Bombo history, they were successfully racing against themselves in the twin-track heaven. One thing that was clear to everyone was that oval track success was not making trail products better. This was allowing Polaris to eat our lunch and steal our dessert, as they were dominating both cross-country and Sno-Cross racing. Things had to change. I was able to lead Ski-Doo’s major I-500 effort in 1994 with the MXZX XC race sled. I was able to create and manage a grass-roots racer support plan which immediately boosted Ski-Doo’s North American presence in terrain racing, enhanced with a novel $1000 finisher’s bonus. In 1994 Ski-Doo had the most entries with over 140, and also had the highest finish rate amongst 300 starters. There was a solid effort from Todd Wolff and Lynn Felker who put us into the top 10. During that race, I wore out two fax machines while sending out race tip sheets to almost 200 riders. I couldn’t have pulled this race effort off without the technical support provided by Gerard Karpik and FAST INC. This race effort was pivotal, and paved the way for Ski-Doo to become number one in Sno-Cross racing, and eventually the retail market share leader - this has been the longest run by any OEM.

Honorable Mention

2017 YAMACAT Turbo I’ve never had a trail sled over 140HP, so when I picked up my 2017 Yamaha Sidewinder and squeezed the trigger, I was stunned at the power delivery that made my eyes water. This snowmobile is so smooth and seductively fast, and it even turned out to be the most reliable sled I have ever had. I really need to give a shameless plug to my son Jeff who was the turbo lead engineer at Arctic Cat.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

New VR Platform

PUSHING FURTHER AHEAD @edgeperformancecentre

@edgeperformctr

19890 Highway 11, Box 1240, Bradford, ON

905-775-1717

WWW.EDGEPERFORMANCE.CA

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. ©2020 Polaris Industries Inc.

RIDE COMMAND

COMMAND YOUR RIDE @edgeperformancecentre

@edgeperformctr

19890 Highway 11, Box 1240, Bradford, ON

905-775-1717

WWW.EDGEPERFORMANCE.CA

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

New VR Platform

NEXT LEVEL EVERYTHING @edgeperformancecentre

19890 Highway 11, Box 1240, Bradford, ON

905-775-1717

WWW.EDGEPERFORMANCE.CA

@edgeperformctr

Sportsman

Ranger

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES @edgeperformancecentre

@edgeperformctr

RZR

GENERAL

19890 Highway 11, Box 1240, Bradford, ON

905-775-1717

WWW.EDGEPERFORMANCE.CA

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

winging it LEVI LAVALLEE

CHASING THE STORM That first snow feeling.

ow does a 27-year-old snowmobile get my blood pumping, the hair on my neck to stand up, and give me goose bumps? Recently, the new King of the Snow (850 VR1) arrived at my shop, and having rode the VR1 last spring, I believe it’s the best trail

sled I’ve ever been on! What’s puzzling is why I drove nine hours to pick up a 27-year-old snowmobile that is inferior in all categories to my new VR1, has over 4,000 miles on it, and did I mention that it has pink graphics?…. I guess nostalgia can be a powerful thing. Hahaha

The day after my 137 VR1 arrived it snowed!

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

In 1993, I was in the “new girlfriend” stage of my relationship with snowmobiling, where I couldn’t get enough of it! Even though there were some mid-season XLT’s in 1992, I think 1993 was the year of the XLT explosion! They were everywhere, and my Dad

Made our first snowman of the year with cousin Payton. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

picked up one as well. At the time, I was on an Indy 400, and I remember riding Dad’s XLT, and being blown away with the speed, power, and that wonderful music to my ears that the triple made! That same year is when the Polaris stepped up their muscle sled game and came out with the 750 Indy Storm. It was the big dog of the triples, and I don’t remember seeing many, at least around where we rode. The time I do remember seeing a Storm “in the wild” was exactly the way I would picture a King on his throne, in a mythical book about 1993 and older snowmobiles. We would often ride to the Anchorage, which is a restaurant in my hometown of Longville, for lunch or dinner. Being it was right off the trail, many other snowmobilers would stop to do the same. As we arrived for lunch, and began to park out on Lake Inguadona, next to the Anchorage where most would park their sleds, I looked up from my red Indy 400 and saw the low black windshield, the hot pink graphics, and then the sky went dark… Pink and blue lightning bolted down from the Heavens! At that point, I knew there was no turning back. Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh. My mind raced and I thought, what could I do? Ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhhahhhh. I began shaking at the knees. Ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhhhahhhh THUNDER!

This winter is going to be so fun!

When I saw this on the internet, I knew it was time for me to be Thunderstruck ;)

Lavin helping blow leaves. Apparently, he was pretty cozy in his FXR mono suit. LOL! www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

It’s that time of the year ! Red Bull winter Edition!

Ted Nielsen is a legend! Thank you, Ted and Jeff, for helping with the Storm. ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

The thunder of triple tore me apart. I’d been, THUNDERSTRUCK! That might not be exactly what happened, but that was what was going on in my mind as I saw the almighty Storm parked on the highest snowbank above all other sleds. I wasn’t sure who’s sled it was, but I had already made up my mind that he was the coolest guy there. As we walked in to the building, I scanned the room like a hawk, to identify who was the coolest. I narrowed it down to few that were wearing leather bibs, that I assumed must be the man. Eventually, a man walked out wearing a matching Storm leather coat, and I watched his every step as he walked to the black and pink sled on the snowbank, started it, and drove off. This guy was cooler than The Fonz and Danny from Grease Lightning combined! Ever since that experience, I have held the Storm and all owners of them, on a pedestal of “cool” - far higher than I could ever achieve… Until now! 27 years later, I am entering the club of the elite as a STORM owner! I’m in search of a matching Storm leather to complete my transition to cool! The feelings, the thoughts, that memories of experiences are what I love about life. Is that why I seldom pass on a new experience? I’m not sure. But I do know that I haven’t experienced the blissful music of a triple / triple Storm, wide open throttle, and I am but one frozen lake away from the experience that I didn’t think I would ever have, 27 years ago!

3x3 = FAST

I’m still trying to figure out this “Cool Kid Club” thing. Hahaha

Power Tool make pumpkin carving time way better for Dad.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

We went sledding down one of my freestyle landings. Mono-suit is a must! www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

WITH YOU FOR

THE RIDE

A LIGHTWEIGHT INSULATED FOG-FREE HELMET * REDEFINE TRAIL RIDING EXPERIENCE A ONE-OF-A-KIND HELMET AERODYNAMIC, LIGHTWEIGHT & SPORTY, THE MISSION HELMET PROVIDES AN EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AGAINST THE COLD. BREATHE LIKE NEVER BEFORE THE MISSION HELMET SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE RISK TECHNOLOGY. OF FOGGING BY INTEGRATING

CKXMISSION.COM * Clearly effective for a large proportion of people, uses, and conditions, the performance of AMS varies based on the type of use, the weather conditions, and the adjustment of the helmet and breath deflector.

lawn ornaments The fever for Lawn Ornaments has never been stronger as your submissions keep filling up our inbox. From rusted and forgotten buggies behind the garage, to those purt-near-mint, center-of-the-lawn, almost modern rides just waiting for first snow, we want to see the lawn ornaments in your neck of the snowbelt. Snap a photo and send it in. If your photo is selected and published, you will receive a freshly screened OSM t-shirt. Email your pics to info@osmmag.com. Remember, curb appeal is nice…snowmobiles are better.

David Rolfe from Ottawa, Ontario see these poor old girls every day on his way to work. The neighbours must love staring at these decorative items. Our favorite is the one that has been stored by the trash.

From the previous David Rolfe picture it looked like the ZL was hiding behind a tree for security purposes. When in fact it just happened that it was parts picked and abandoned behind a tree

This “Classic” Indy has been waiting patiently for the last 4 years for that perfect storm to take its riders in the comfort of a custom Mother Nature modified seat. You never know when the storm is coming so it’s always best to have the mitt ready and available. - Joe Holborn

Ryan Koening sent these 1960 and ’63 Polaris Autobogans in. Hopefully Ryan will be able to haul the 1960 out of the field before the grass eats it alive and place it next to his 1963 garden décor.

Serge Gaudet shared this pert new single Ski Alpine with us. If it wasn’t for the windswept snow, one could be convinced that this heap was once a runner at some point during the last century.

Sometimes the Lawn Ornaments that are submitted without information for comment attached, are the best! Through a vote at the OSM/STV office the consensus was that this is a Larry Enticer replica sled. It even bears his hand painted stencilled race number on the cowling and the limited edition fish finder / GPS securely fastened.

We’re not sure where Serge finds these forgotten snowmobiles, but boy are we grateful. This Venture was totally customed out by its owner with the removal of the windshield in order to hit its max speed every time - all the time! The backrest has been moved forward for one up riding and the custom fabricated wooden box looks like the ideal place to transport a few cartons of “Player’s Lights”.

Pat couldn’t believe someone would abandon these sleds like this. But he was super stoked to get a new T-Shirt out of it! H

onsnow osmmag.com

tand up and the loud can bark! Our call out for big risers has been met with cheers and plenty of enthusiasm. More than a few of you “know a guy” who not only likes to ’stand-up” but does so with nothing less than 12-inches of finely crafted riser. With that we tip our hat and give you a proper salute with a cheap can of ale to this issue’s best riser submissions. Have you seen a crazy handlebar riser set-up on a snowmobile in your neck of the snow belt? If so, snap a few pics and send them to info@osmmag.com and if we print them you will find a new OSM t-shirt in your mailbox.

Hey OSM, I really liked your article on the Chic Choc Sled build last year. I haven’t been to the Chic Chocs yet, but it’s on my bucket list. I have friends that have ridden there, they tell me the snow depth is deep! Here’s a few pic of sleds we call “Powder Pigs”. We built them for running the Hydro cut by Haliburton, ON. They’re a blast to ride. The right track, suspension and gearing makes these oldies work well. I thought this would be cool for a vintage Chic Choc sled build. What do you think? - Adam Woods We think that anyone that calls anything a “Powder Pig” could be a friend of ours!! Amazing work boys.

Hey OSM! Hope all is well in these crazy times! It’s Maynard from Chatham, Ontario. We last talked back in 2017 when you published one of my riser submissions. Well my shirt’s all but worn out now and kind of looks like an 80’s kiss concert T-shirt that the moths have been breeding on inside the linen closet. Anyways I could use a new one, so I am submitting a set of dandy risers I saw last week in Gravenhurst when I was heading up north deer hunting. Hopefully they make the cut. Chow! - Andrew Maynard We’re here to help keep your wardrobe current and hole free. Fresh pressed is on its way!

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

Josh McLaughlin sent this picture in of him working on his sled. Here he’s showing everyone that big kids ride standing up Brah! www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

Motorsports Suspension Specialists

onsnow osmmag.com

S C A M

BY JASON MACDONALD

Stage Tuning a Scoot

hen Arctic Cat and Yamaha embarked on a risky move to introduce a 200CC mid-sized snowmobile to the market, they had clear design goals of acceptable levels of power, legitimate suspension geometries and ergonomics, appropriate

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

for the wider range of pre-teen to young adult riders, and they anticipated that it would succeed. In the first full 2018 model year, the sales numbers confirmed that they indeed had tapped into a market that had been largely left vacant for far too long. The price of admission

hovered around $4,200US, which may seem steep, but consider that a 120cc machine, with much smaller stature and far less capabilities, will drain your wallet to the tune of $2,400US, which makes these 200cc mid-sized machines a much greater, value focused investment.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

Once the young rider has been weened on a 120cc sled, that solidifies that they have embraced the passion for the sport. The next logical step is a 200cc variation of either color (Arctic Cat/Yamaha), which once past the initial investment, guarantees that this young rider can continue to build on a winter passion in a way that their forefathers didn’t have the technological luxury of enjoying. Part of the justification is that the mid-sized sleds can support youthful family rides with ease, and still offer the young rider plenty of growth opportunities for testing the limits when adult supervision is thought to be lacking. Therein lies the genius of these mid-sized machines and the tremendous potential they offer for creating our future riders. The easy justification to the purchase is knowing that as this rider increases in size, ability and a willingness to explore the snow covered terrain of their choice, this platform has multiple levels of factory

and aftermarket support to tailor the machine for the riders growth. The array of choices could be added all at once (not recommended) or incrementally, as the riders ability requires. The beauty behind these options is that when your child has become acutely aware of how to manage a machine that they’ve grown with over a couple seasons of riding, they will be fully prepared to step up to the next generation of machines with far more confidence, and less risk of having a “uh oh, Dad’s going to get mad” moment, due to lack of experience or ability. For the sake of outlining this process, we will call it stage tuning, which will encompass a snowmobile in stock trim, getting upgraded to adapt to a young rider’s changing needs. As with many motorized toys, you can very easily go from mild to wild with only a matter of stacks of cash slowing you down. But the focus here is more about getting a usable machine without breaking the bank, and

at the same time, giving a young rider the sensations experience when upgrades are made to a machine, and the increased riding enjoyment they can bring to the experience. We won’t call the stock trim 200cc variant as part of the stage process. In order to even be serious about this, it’s a given that you will entering the game with one of these, and currently it’s difficult to even find a used example on the market, so more than likely, it will be a new purchase. That will brighten any youngsters winter, and at that point, the observation of riding progress begins to determine the speed at which the machine gets upgraded to accommodate the rider’s growth (physical and ability). The opportunities are endless with the great supply of aftermarket parts, so breaking it down into stages seems the most logical step to go into this purchase with a futuristic perspective, and get the most valuable time you can from this purchase.

Stage One Carbides, Windshield, Storage bag This is based on junior having learned the ropes, burned multiple tanks of fuel, and acquired a skill for varying snow conditions, all the while becoming physically stronger and heavier in stature. This can require a machine with more precise steering to accommodate the quickly growing rider. Here there are still

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

plenty of options available from both the factory and aftermarket to match your rider’s needs. The larger windshield and extra storage is more for rider comfort, but if they aren’t cold, they’re having fun. A handlebar bag or rear storage trunk gives junior a taste for planning to carry some essentials along for the ride (extra

goggles, gloves, snacks and my favorite is tools), and the 200cc sleds offer nothing for carrying capacity. This ability to have a good handling sled, and to carry selective belongings allows the entire family to now branch out to more adventurous endeavors that are greater than just the back forty.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

Stage Two Heavier spring kit, aggressive ski, clutching The rider has grown both physically and with confidence by this point, making them ready for a more aggressive handling machine. The factory offers a heavier spring kit that replaces the IFS springs, and the rear torsion springs to better

support a rider that has grown in both size and ability. The kit is approx. $200, and takes about 1 hour to install, resulting in a better handling sled with more usable travel. Attaching a more aggressive, keeled ski from C&A would be an easy upgrade, and allows the rider to choose

color combinations for customizing the machine. Several companies offer different rollers and springs to get a more lively feel from the stock motor too. These are items that should cause the rider to feel the difference in precise steering, quick acceleration and better bump absorption.

Stage Three High quality coil over shocks, cylinder head, exhaust, carb Here is where we start blurring the lines between using the 200cc sled another year, or stepping into the next logical machine (Arctic Cat Blast or Yamaha Venom). The aftermarket gas shocks

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

options are really going to make this machine capable of continued aggressive riding, and are adjustable to boot. A few companies offer up an additional increase in power through higher flowing heads

and larger carbs, and exhaust systems which will really wake up these sleds, and probably get the neighbor’s attention as well due to the increased Dbs that this machine will emit.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

Stage Four It’s at this point that the usable lifespan of the these 200CC sleds could have reached the limit, and maybe it’s time to pass the torch, whether that be to a younger sibling or a neighbor kid that has been waiting

for the opportunity. Once again, the Thief River factory has turned out another great “tweener” sled that is either 3/4 or 7/8 size, and a high-tech 400cc motor. Prior to that, there were very few great sleds that weren’t

two decades old, for the young riders to aspire too (Jags, Enticers, Indy Lites, Safaris), so these become the next logical stage in the process.

Parts

Tall windshield $94.99 (SMA-8ML96-30-00) Deluxe Tunnel bag $82.99 (SMA-8JX63-00-00) SMA-8ML35-00-00 Snoscoot HD sprint kit $165.99(SMA-8ML35-00-00) SMA-8ML31-02-00 Snoscoot 2in carbides runner $46.99 (SMA-8ML31-02-00) C&A Mini Ski $229 (mounting kit $45 and carbides $39.99) Speedwerx Hypershift Clutch kit $299.95 (sku CKA200) Fox 1.5 Zero pro front shocks $995.00 (sku 850-01-007) Fox Zero Pro rear track shock $495.00 (sku 852-01-008) Performance head/carb kit $665 (GYR-E1121-10)

THE TRAIL STARTS HERE NEW AND USED INVENTORY SERVICE, PARTS & ACCESSORIES HWY 47 & Douglas Rd. Uxbridge, ON 905-852-5884

uxbridgemotorsports.com ®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

BY MARK BONCHER

Midwest license plates in the Rocky mountains? ep, in the winter you are seeing more and more license plates from places like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario out west in places like Wyomin g, Montana, Alberta, and BC. And it’s not because of the real gold or black gold, it’s because of the white gold! For many years now, Midwestern snowmobilers have been flocking out to the mountains to try their hand at real mountain riding in the deep POW. Sure, there are plenty of places in the middle and eastern sides of Canada and the US that get big snow, but those places tend to not give the massive adrenali ne rush that the mountains do. So, that traditionally left a conundrum for many snowmobilers… finding a sled that isn’t horrible to ride on the trails, and can tackle the terrain in the mountains and other, much deeper snow areas. Well, these three sleds are the answer! The new Cat Riot X 8000, the Doo Freeride 850, Polaris 850 SKS, and Yamaha Sidewinder BTX-LE all come in 146-inch long versions (BTX is 153-inch ) that will rock the trails, and still take you just about anywhere you want to go in the mountains. That’s coming from a guy who lives/rides in Wisconsin/Northern Ontario, and rides out west several times a year, just like many of our test riders.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

One rail, many paths The Alpha One rear skid in the Cat Riot X might only have one rail/beam in it, but it offers riders a new level of deep snow and mountain performance that is unlike the other sleds in this article. Leaning, side-hilling, doing bow-ties and more, are simply made easier with the mono-rail suspension in this sled. Being a 146 and having a slightly wider ski-stance than the true mountain sleds means the Riot X is actually really fun in the trails too. Adjustable from 39.5-41.5 inches means the front end can be super stable and take corners with ease, but also be made narrower for

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

the days you spend all your time off-trail. Honestly, even at the narrower ski stance, this sled is much better on the trail than any mountain sled. Let’s not take away anything from the off-trail capabilities of this sled though. With a Powerclaw 2.6-inch lugged track, you can really churn the crystals with this baby! Just a few years ago, this would have been the biggest lug you could get on any sled, and we sometimes forget what we could do and the places we could go with an old M7… which isn’t even comparable to anything like this. Slide on

the 7-inch wide and very predictable G2 ProClimb skis up front, and you can get up on top of the powder, no problem. Also, this sled will be a spring-snow vertical riot! (That will be the only time we use the word riot, to describe the Riot… and we will refrain from using ‘blast’ as an adjective as well, for obvious reasons.) Cat hasn’t always done a perfect job at keeping their sleds super-lightweight, insert twin spar chassis comment here, but at 482 lbs. the Riot has more than enough under the hood to offer a splendid power-to-weight ratio. Clutching may have www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

ADJUSTABLE 46.5” - 48.5” SKI STANCE ALLOWS FOR STABLE ON TRAIL, OR NIMBLE OFF TRAIL RIDING.

THE ALPHA ONE SINGLE BEAM REAR SKID IS THE REAL MEOW ON THIS CAT!

to get dialed in for anything above 5000 feet, but the Rapid Response primary and Rapid Reaction Boss secondary are high performance clutches from TEAM, and work extremely well when you are on and off the gas hard… especially when climbing. Paired with the steady power of the 8000 C-TEC2 engine that has 794cc of 2-stroke quick acceleration, and you won’t be a slouch by any meaning of the word. This is one of the smoothest engines Cat has ever made, and it shows from the trail sleds to the mountain sleds. It isn’t new, and if I were a betting man, I would say www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

Cat comes out with an 850, or another 900 again in the coming years. Finally, the X has all the things that an aggressive rider wants. Like Fox Zero QS3 coil-over shocks all the way around for easy adjustability and huge capability. Plus, reinforced running boards, mountain grab bar, LED lighting, tunnel bag, pushbutton start and reverse, and a lot more. The only thing I personally do not like is the basically non-existent windshield… but you can’t have it in the mountains when you need to roll the sled over to get out of a hairy situation.

WIDE G2 PROCLIMB SKIS PUT YOU UP ON TOP OF THE POWDER.

A BIG 2.6-INCH LUG POWERCLAW TRACK SPINS AROUND THE MONO-RAIL SUSPENSION ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

Free, free, free! Well, at over $15,000 US or $19,000 CA nicely equipped, the new Freeride 850 is nowhere near ‘free’… but you can’t put a price on FREEDOM! That is what you will get with the 146-inch matt-grey Freeride. You can literally go anywhere, try any drop, send it 30-feet, rip the trail, and do it all with confidence and ease. If that isn’t worth the coin, I don’t know what is! A spring only vehicle, the Freeride comes with Ski-Doo’s exclusive SHOT starting system that utilized ultracapacitor technology. That means 20 pounds less weight, easy push-button starts, and 20 pounds less weight. Yes, I said that twice and it’s important because the engineers at Ski-Doo have this sled stunningly well balanced, and that alone makes anyone who rides it, almost instantly a better rider. It is easy to lean over and side-hill, lightweight enough to toss around, and still tough enough to take major abuse. Another major exclusive to Ski-Doo is the new 850 E-TEC turbo motor. Honestly, the standard 850 is enough, but having the option of a motor on several Freeride sleds that does not lose power up to 8,000 feet is a major, almost 40hp advantage over

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

the competition. Naturally aspirated 800’s and 850’s simply cannot compete with the power. Turbo lag is not an issue here, and this is a Rotax designed and implemented system that’s engineered to work seamlessly with the vehicle as a whole. It’s not a slapped on kit, and that’s very important to note. The standard 850 motor is a beast in a Freeride 146, and for me personally, I enjoy riding non-turbo as well as turbo sleds, but to each his own. Personal opinion here that might not be popular, is that I would choose a non-turbo sled on the trail every time. Also new on the Freeride this year is a one-piece lightweight hood. It cuts 6.2 pounds off the sled, and is said to have better airflow to keep things cool and quiet. It’s pretty cool looking as well, and Ski-Doo nailed the ‘storm-trooper’ look to a T. Other small features we like include the tiny rear snow flap that allows you more maneuverability in deep snow, and the lower grab handle. I actually bought these lower grab handles for a couple of my personal sleds, and in addition to being less cumbersome and taking up less space, they also work great

ULTRACAPACITOR TECHNOLOGY REMOVES THE BATTERY FROM THE STARTING PROCESS AND DROPS 20+ POUNDS.

THE E-TEC 850 IS THE ONLY DIRECT INJECTION 2-STROKE MOTOR ON THE MARKET… SO IS THE 850 TURBO! www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

PILOT DS3 SKIS ARE THE NEWEST FLOATERS FROM SKI-DOO.

THE TMOTION REAR SUSPENSION ENABLES RIDERS TO BLEND WITH THE ANGLES ON ALL THE STEEPS AND SIDEHILL EASILY.

for so many other applications (I.E. pulling the sled over to inspect things, handles for squirrelling kiddos, etc.). Ski-Doo added a new ski spindle design and stopper as well. That’s another small thing, but all these additions add up to less fatigue because of better predictability, less stress, and flawless handling. The RAS 3 suspension is still up front with KYB Pro 36R easy-adjust shocks, and the Tmotion rear suspension is still in back with Pro 40 easy-adjust shocks. These are top of the line, bump-mashing shocks that are race-proven, and compete on the highest

level of rebound and compression adjustability at the turn of a clicker. One final mention here is that the 146inch FlexEdge track has 2.5-inch lugs, but is the 16-inch wide track. That added inch of width means more footprint, more traction, more flotation, and ultimately more capability off-trail. There’s not many places that even an average off-trail rider can’t go with the Freeride. THE FLEXEDGE 2.5-INCH LUGGED TRACK WORKS IN CONCERT WITH THE TMOTION TO EASILY RAISE A SKI AND CARVE THE DEEP SNOW.

KYB PRO 36 SHOCKS UP FRONT AND PRO 40’S IN THE REAR MAKE THE FREERIDE BASICALLY RACE-READY.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

Super Kool Sled Doesn’t everyone make up their own acronyms for their machines? Or maybe we need an extra S for Seriously Super Kool Sled! The first time I took an RMK SKS off trail was when it came out a little while back. I could have sworn I was on a full mountain sled! We were testing the Freeride and SKS side by side, and I was extremely happy with me on the SKS, staying right with another (better) test rider on the Freeride. We actually had to switch back and forth because he was wondering how I was able to hang with him! That was

enough for me to begin a real fondness for this snowmobile. This is the most affordable of all these sleds, as it is several hundred dollars under the Riot X, over $1000 less than the Freeride, and several thousand less than the B-TX. That makes it VERY attractive, and you get the 850 Patriot motor as well! The SKS arguably has the best true power to weight ratio in this group, as a naturally aspirated machine that only weighs 475 lbs. and puts out 165+ ponies. This Clean-

THE PATRIOT 850 MOTOR HAS THE BEST POWER-TO WEIGHT RATIO OF ANY BIG 2-STOKE TWIN MADE TO DATE.

YOU GET STORAGE, GUARDS, GRAB BAR, LED LIGHTS AND MORE ADDED FEATURES ON THE SKS, ALL AT A NICE PRICE POINT.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

A WAVE-TYPE LIGHTWEIGHT BRAKE DISC FROM HAYES CAN STOP YOU ON A DIME, AND DECREASES HEAT BUILD UP.

WER CLICKER-ADJUSTABLE COIL-OVER SHOCKS ARE SOME OF THE BEST ABSORBERS ON ANY SLED IN THIS GROUP.

fire injected 2-stroke liquid twin is one of the best motors Polaris has produced, and has wowed us from day one. The AXYS platform is on display with the SKS, as the rider who gravitates here needs maneuverability, lightweight, strength, and versatility. That is what you get with a 15x146x2.25 track that is short enough to be lively in the trails, and has enough lug to take you anywhere off-trail. Albeit, this is the shortest lug of the three buggies in this article, but the track-speed and flickability of this sled make up for it, no problem. The RMK literally climbs back on top of the snow like others often do not. Ask any rider who has significant time on a new Polaris, and they will tell you the same thing. The clearance and the tapered running boards are just a couple more reasons why this AXYS sled does so well in the deep snow. The rear skid is the IGX suspension, and is crossover focused for all terrains. Call it an ‘all mountain’ skid if you would like because most on/off trail riders still spend a significant amount of time on the www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

trails, and these are often whooped-out, mogul-filled trails that lead to great off-trail meadows and steeps. WER clicker adjustable coil-over shocks all the way around give the cushion that aggressive riders desire, and under those shocks up front are the Gripper skis which are staples on many Polaris sleds. The ski stance is also adjustable like all the others in this group, but go from 39-41-inches. We also very much enjoy the seat on this sled, which is small enough for manoeuvring, but still big enough for comfortable sit-down riding. Plus, there is integrated storage in the seat which many sleds do not have. Lighting is done by full LED’s that are incredible for additional vision at night. You could also get the Polaris Interactive Digital Display on this sled that we’ve talked numerous times about. It’s the top of the line OEM gauge, and has Bluetooth, GPS mapping, and more. If you are looking to get the most sled, gadgets, and more in this segment (for the money), the SKS is difficult to beat.

TAPERED BOARDS WITH LARGE CUT-OUTS EVAC SNOW EASILY AND GIVE GREAT GRIP WHEN STANDING ON THE SIDES.

THE IGX REAR SKID IS PERFECT FOR ALL TERRAIN FROM ROUGH TRAILS TO MOUNTAIN MEADOWS. ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

You won’t bully the B-TX! Truly this is the top 50-50 crossover in the Yamaha line. Some people are partial to the XTX crossovers, but I prefer the BTX. At 153-inches long, you would think this big 4-stroke turbo sled is a handful in the trails, but it is quite the opposite. You will bully any other sled in your group on fresh snow trails and lakes with this sled! This is one of the most fun trail sleds you will ever ride, because that 200+ hp 998cc fuel injected 4-stroke motor puts power to the 2.25-inch lugs on the track like now… and you are gone before anyone can blink. Yamaha made the best 4-stroke

snowmobile turbo to date, and there is no denying the longevity and performance you get versus any other motor in the industry. YSRC primary clutching and roller secondary make transitions from 0mph to infinity smooth as a baby’s bottom. This is possibly my favorite sled of this group to rip the trails, to the off-trail spots. That said, a narrower 40-inch ski stance allows for much more nimbleness off-trail. It might not be as narrow as some other crossover sleds can adjust

to, but with all that power, you can make some moves and shoot many places that others can’t. You will also be able to take on any harsh bumps, jumps, and terrain with the Fox Zero QS3 coil-over shocks over the skis up front and in the skid. Following through from much of the rest of the line, the Sidewinder B-TX gets the push button electric start and reverse. This was a bigger deal on the 4-strokes than it was on the 2-strokes because you never pull a cord on a 4-stroke. Before the push-button, the electric start was with the key only, which was not situated very user friendly on any of the AT 153-INCHES YOU GET A LOT OF OFF-TRAIL CHURNING CAPABILITY ON THE BTX!

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

A COMFORTABLE, AND EASY TO MANUEVER AROUND SEAT ON THE BTX IS WHAT CROSSOVER RIDERS WANT, AND GET.

ELECTRIC START, PUSH-BUTTON REVERSE, AND A WELL CONFIGURED CONTROL BLOCK MAKE LIFE SIMPLE ON ANY YAMAHA.

Yamaha or Cat sleds. Now you never have to worry about getting snow stuffed in by the key, or turning it with cold hands and big gloves. Additional things we enjoy about this sled are reinforced boards for those times you really want to ride tough, or maybe those unexpected holes in that new meadow that come out of nowhere. Much better to have a sled reinforced like the BTX than not. The Mountain seat is also narrow and easy to move around, but honestly, we would like it to be heated as standard issue, like many other trail sleds are. It’s not a lot of added weight, and with 200 horses, the target buyer here is not worried about an extra pound. Like so many other Yamaha sleds, the LED headlights are standard which we love. This sled is extremely versatile and could be outfitted with accessories as a more utility version, as well for folks who want a high-performance machine with great off-trail capability, but also 4-stroke turbo power, reliability, and the option to go nuts in so many areas, from low elevation www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

to high elevation. That’s one thing people tend to gloss over with this sled, is that it can be a sled for a guy in the middle of Canada or the U.S., that can easily be taken out west to the mountains with little to no effort. So whatcha, whatcha want? If you’re like me, we still want it all! Unfortunately, I didn’t win the HGTV sweepstakes this year, so I will give my opinion without bias. The Alpha One suspension on the Riot X is fantastic, price is right, and if I wanted the newest suspension with a big lug track with snocross capability, I would pick this. If I wanted to pay a little more and get a superbly predictable sled that anyone could ride, with a bunch of the newest technology, I would get the Freeride. The overall best deal for capability, lightweight, and punching out of its class is the SKS. That said, the longest lasting, best motor you can buy, and fastest sled on the flat and to the top is the BTX. For my personal needs, it’s between the SKS and Freeride, but I’ll refer again to the very top line of this article.

AN UNCOUPLED REAR SKID WITH FOX ZERO QS3 SHOCKS IS STANDARD, BUT A VERY HIGH STANDARD!

COIL-OVER 1.5” DIAMETER QS3 SHOCKS DO THE DAMPING OVER THE SKIS FOR THIS TURBO 4-STROKE. ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

ld sleds. That was the only option, until this year! For longer than anyone cares to remember, there has not been a true ‘step up’ sled for younger, smaller, or novice riders (The Ski-Doo Freestyle 300 in 2006/2007 if you really want to know). But the Freestyle was tall, long, fairly heavy, and tougher for what many of us knew should be the target audience. Now kids, newbies, moms and dads, grandpa’s and grandma’s, and many more of us longtime sledders have an option… and it’s called the Venom/Blast!

The original “Step-Up” sled, the Freestyle 300 filled a gap in the market for smaller or novice riders.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

Why is this new sled bridging the GAP

Many reasons, but suffice it to say that no longer do folks have to go hunting for a 1980s Bravo, or Enticer 250/300, or something else that doesn’t have the technology of these new little rippers.

Yamaha SX Venom and Venom Mountain

amaha is leading the way in getting the family back together again, and riding on the trails… and in the mountains. They have always been family oriented, and maybe I am a bit biased because I grew up in a family of Enticers; Snoscoots; Phazers; Exciters; Bravos; Vmax’s; SRVs and many more. We traded paint with the Jags when we were younger, and Prowlers in middle/high school, and it is ironic that Yamaha and Cat now collaborate on things… but I digress. The Venom is how Yamaha is finally giving young families an option to get their kids, spouses, or adult friends on a sled that is the correct size. With a 397cc peppy, batteryless, fuel-injected 2-stroke under the hood, this sled will see 50+ mph no problem, even with a full size adult on it. There are two options, one for the trail and one for deeper snow/mountains. The trail Venom has a 121-inch dual shock SX skid, and there are hydraulic twin tube shocks all the way around, both in back and up front. The rear skid allows

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

10.7-inches of travel, and the independent double wishbone front suspension offers 7.2-inches of travel. For a sled that is roughly a 1/2-3/4 size of a full bodied sled, it has plenty of suspension to handle the bumps and jumps. Some may balk at the 38-inch ski stance, and believe this sled to be tippy, but that is not the case. It is VERY well planted and is much more maneuverable in the trails than even the old sleds that many parents have been using as ‘step-up’ machines for their kids for decades. At 180 lbs., I have ridden this sled many times and it can easily handle my weight, and it’s a total hoot to ride in the trails with a couple of buddies on similar machines. Several of our OSM editors/test riders have these sleds for our kids, and they will literally ride them for hours… and when the young ones go in for lunch, the dads will rail them around the trails by the cabins, and often have more fun than the kids! With electric start and reverse, this sled certainly is a huge improvement over any

FOR YOUNG RIPPERS IN THE MOUNTAINS, LEARNING ON A NEW TECHNOLOGY LIKE THE SINGLE BEAM REAR SUSPENSION MAY SOUND INTIMIDATING, BUT IF THAT’S WHAT THEY LEARN ON, THAT’S WHAT THEY KNOW!

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ASK US HOW WE’VE

GOT YOUR BACK

The Venom is the perfect package for any rider to have fun on, no matter what your age. Throwing it around a tight corner takes zero effort, and the 400 delivers the perfect amount of power. When the industry is moving away from the 121” tracks, riding the Venom makes you wonder why. If you are looking to advance your skills in the deep powder, then the Venom Mountain is a fantastic teaching tool. It feels incredibly light, and is just about the easiest sled I have ever ridden to accomplish the perfect powder turn. The single beam really makes it easy to side hill, and keeps this machine feeling light for the entire day, holding no extra snow weight, no matter what the conditions. Jason Kawczynski, OSM Test Rider

A 14x121x1 inch Hacksaw track gives a large footprint for a small sled.

smaller/medium size sled of the past. The CV-Tech clutching is super smooth as well, so the ‘herky jerky’ that you get with some smaller 4-strokes upon engagement is not there at all. It really is a fantastic teaching machine, and with an 11.7 gallon tank, you can literally go just as far as any standard full-size sled. The 14x121x1 inch lug track is extremely capable. Even the trail version of the Venom is impressive in its off-trail ability. However, the SX Venom Mountain really ups the ante with its off-trail prowess. The rear skid is extended to add the Cat-inspired single beam rear suspension in a 146-inch length. Rear travel is upped to 12-inches, and front travel is upped to 8.3-inches. Rolling around the rear skid is a 15x146x2-inch Camso Challenger track. The footprint is much larger with this wider and longer track, and 2-inch lugs on a super-lightweight machine make it incredibly capable in the deep snow. For young rippers in the mountains,

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

A comfy premium seat is sculpted to allow for manoeuvring around the machine with ease.

learning on a new technology like the single beam rear suspension may sound intimidating, but if that’s what they learn on, that’s what they know! Ski-stance and all the goodies like ES and reverse stay the same on the mountain version. Both Venom sleds also have a digital gauge which has all the vitals you need, including speedo, odo, fuel, hours, and temp. Also on this same platform is the

The new Stryke single keel ski has staggered carbides and provides predictable and easy steering.

Transporter Lite, which is a very credible utility and crossover machine with a 146inch version with standard rails that are tipped at the end. We will have more on this one in a later article though!

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

snowmobile into

YURT

CABIN

Snowmobile into your very own unique Yurt Cabin! Two authentic Mongolian Yurts are available and come with solar power, ﬁreplace, queen bed, fold-out sofa, spring water, kitchenette with sink, small fridge, cook top, cookware, cutlery and dishes, half bathroom with compost toilet, back deck, bbq, ﬁre pit and shared wood-burning sauna on 72 acres to hike and enjoy. Located in Priceville, Grey Highlands, Ontario, in the heart of the area’s snowmobile trail system. SEARCH for us on Airbnb: airbnb.com/h/relive-retreat-red-yurt airbnb.com/h/relive-retreat-yellow-yurt

BOOK@reliveretreat.ca

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

Arctic Cat Blast ZR and M

he almost identical twin brother/ sister to the Venom is the Cat Blast. Cost is just a little more for the Blast at $8,095 US versus $7,999 US/$10,599 CA for the Venom. The Cat Blast M is almost exactly the same price as the SX Venom, at just under $8,500 US/$11,099 CA. The Blast has the same single-cylinder 2-stroke EFI motor as the Venom, and is on the same lightweight mid-sized frame. The engine itself weighs in under 50 pounds, which highlights how lightweight this machine is, and makes it incredibly easy for smaller riders to toss around… or to get unstuck, which doesn’t happen often, as it sits on top of the snow very well. 65 horses propel the sled, and if you are a connoisseur of older, smaller sleds, well, that’s a lot more punch from a lighter sled than many of the smaller sleds from decades ago. The Blast ZR being liquid cooled, and good in low snow, also makes this a sled for novices and folks in more southerly locales.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand that this sled has a great power to weight ratio. That helps in the trails, but more importantly, in the mountains where the Alpha One monorail rear suspension affords even more weight subtraction. The G2 ProClimb 7 ski up front is another positive addition to an already surprisingly capable little mountain snow-machine. One thing to remember with both these sleds is that they do take premium fuel. This is not a 4-stroke, naturally aspirated sled that can run well on 87 octane. That said, early fuel economy testing is quite positive! Not being a huge 800+ CC sled, or even an older, smaller carb 2-stroke means that you can go many miles on just one tank. Plus, simple things like really good hand/thumb warmers and wider running boards make this sled an easy choice over a used machine.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SLED HAS A GREAT POWER TO WEIGHT RATIO.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE PRESENTS SNOWMOBILER TELEVISION

New Episodes begin On WILD TV Monday 8PM Wednesday 12PM Thursday 3:30PM

“CANADA’S OWN MOTORSPORTS NETWORK” CONTACT YOUR TV PROVIDER TODAY

VISIT WWW.SNOWMOBILERTV.COM FOR STATIONS AND TIMES IN YOUR AREA

onsnow osmmag.com

The

Step

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

Dare I say it? Could we have a little turbo, or a slightly higher performance model come out with this chassis? Honestly, it doesn’t need it, but you know there are plenty of folks out there just itching to see what performance upgrades they can do. Needless to say, both the SX Venom and Blast are crazy fun, and nicely fill a niche that has been long overdue to address. Well done Yamaha and Cat!... We look forward to more miles this winter!

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

By Lance Woods

BY MIKE DUFFY

ecently I was selected to assist in developing a winter mobility training course by Ken Cameron, the owner of Cameron Advance Mobilitywhich is a market me in early February, and invited me ter called daugh leader in austere off-road ii with her and her husband for the first to Hawa to mobility go training and I had to reply back to her and explained . of March part expedition driving. that I have been .preparing for an expedition, and www. cammobility.com in Alaska at that time. I don’t think she I’ll bemobility that What is “austere” off-road how I could give up warm white sand, in under mean? I didn’t know either,stood and had to I would have a hard time understanding , Soon . snow cold white look it up. The definition ofexcha for“severe nge is, austere or strict in manner, attitude or appearance”. Hmmm…This that myself. is right up my alley. Needless to say, I jumped at this opportunity to develop high altitude snowmobile training with Ken Cameron.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

have always tried to travel on the more adventurous side, seeking out the less traveled road that few people will ever experience, rather than stand in line behind 30 perfume saturated tourists that just got off a tour bus, to rustle up a picture that’s in the bank calendar that most of us have hanging on our fridge at home. It has been a hectic two months, planning for this adventure I call the “ Trans Alaska Vintage Snogo Expedition”. Last fall, I purchased a 1973 Ski-Doo Elan 250T, with the intent of restoring it, and traversing the 1000 mile historic Iditarod trail with it, using correct gear and apparel, meaning 1973 or later. Restoring the Elan consisted of changing out the track, all the bearings, drive and driven shafts and sprockets, along with a carburetor rebuild and upper motor rebuild. With a time crunch looming, I had the motor and carburetor rebuilt by a local engine doctor. Twenty-four hours before my departure to Alaska, my Elan was fired up for the first time. After a few laps around the lake, testing the Elan and the loaded toboggan that will haul my gear, I loaded it in back of my pickup truck - next stop Alaska! It was not exactly the confidence building test I was hoping for. A long road trip to Alaska and some minor preparation put me at the head of the trail by mid afternoon on March 4th, just

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

to be interrupted by a picture text from my daughter of an amazing Hawaiian sunset. Was this a sign? Despite a late start, and dealing with a confusing confluence of trails leading to the main trail, I managed to travel about 30 miles before getting stuck in some river overflow, while maneuvering off the trail to my new found campsite. Unhooking the toboggan and making a few relays with gear to my camp location, freed up the toboggan and left me making the first camp with soaked mukluks at sunset in the subzero temperatures. I swiftly dug a snow trench and erected my tarp over it, with a single pole support. I felt very disorganized, as it generally takes three or four days to get an efficient system down. I woke up to a fresh 3 inches of snow and a gnawing twenty five mile per hour wind. After a breakfast of oatmeal with raisins and walnuts, I proceeded to dig the Elan and the toboggan out of the new

I ALWAYS LIKE TO MAKE SURE MY SNOWMOBILE IS IN RUNNING ORDER BEFORE DISASSEMBLING MY SHELTER. AFTER A DOZEN YANKS THE STARTER REWIND ROPE WOULD NOT RETRACT, “ BLASTED”.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

HWY 48, Pefferlaw, Lake Simcoe 705-437-1122 • quinnsmarina.com

JUST 50 MINS NORTH OF TORONTO

® TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

found snowdrift, and attempted to start the Elan. I always like to make sure my snowmobile is in running order before disassembling my shelter. After a dozen yanks, the starter rewind rope would not retract - Blasted! I removed the recoil in the finger-numbing cold, and sprayed it with a shot of WD40, then re-installed it. With the recoil back in order, a shot of starting fluid in the carburetor, the Elan refused to come to life. I reverted back to a method I had used growing up with these vintage sleds; remove the spark plugs, and spray a shot of starting fluid into each cylinder, while keeping it alive by spraying starting fluid into the carburetor. At last, the Elan came to life and was running happily. After a proper warm up, I shut the Elan off and broke camp. Upon breaking camp and stowing my gear away in the toboggan, I mounted the Elan in anticipation to hit the trail and yanked on the starter rope. No response. Not enough choke, too much choke? I couldn’t find the right recipe, so out came the spark plugs and in went the starting fluid. Finally, the Elan cooperated, and I was bouncing down the trail. This starting sequence became a dreaded, daily routine throughout the trip. A day later found me traveling through the low willow swamps, between the Skwentna Roadhouse and the lodge at Finger Lake, a distance of forty miles. This area is notorious for a large population of moose. Moose are unpredictable and dangerous at anytime, but deep snow makes them irritable and even more dangerous. My first encounter was a transmitter collared moose, trotting down the trail, a hundred and fifty feet in front of me. I stopped and slipped out my 12 gauge shotgun, and promptly loaded it with slugs for protection, as a last resort. Leaving the hard-pack trail isn’t a good option for me or the moose. Bailing off the trail would leave the moose nearly stranded in the five feet of snow, and veering off the trail for me would leave me stuck, digging out my snowmobile and toboggan for hours. I slowly persuaded the moose down the trail, trying not to stress it out. A half mile later, the moose intercepted a moose trail and made a safe exit. Two more miles down the trail, I encountered my second moose. After a half hour of putt and bump, Bullwinkle lumbered off across

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

CUSTOM CHASSIS • SUSPENSIONS • DRIVE SPROCKETS GEARS & CHAINS • FUEL SYSTEMS CLUTCHING • BRAKING • TRACTION PRODUCTS

WAHLRACING.COM | 218.782.2295

re o t S y o T My 347 Cranston Crescent, Midland, ON L4R 4K6 705.526.2248 • www.factoryrecreation.com ® TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

THE TRAIL TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN FAIRLY FLAT AND RELATIVELY EASY, THINGS WERE ABOUT TO CHANGE.

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

a windblown swamp. “Crikey”! As I round the next corner, my third moose encounter was blocking the trail. This swamp donkey had no sense of humor, it turned and faced me for a showdown, like a gladiator. I did a slow roll up on it, watching his body actions, eyes and ears. I am now a mere fifty feet away as its ears go back and it makes a false attack lunge towards me. We continue to face each other off, and have a stare-down for five minutes, which seemed like an hour. In desperation, I fire a slug up in the air from my old Remington model 10, 12 gauge shotgun. The initial blast made the swamp donkey jump and take three strides down the trail, then turn and face off with me once again. I fire another round off in the air with no results. At last, Mr Donkey lost patience and wandered down the trail. I gave the donkey a twenty minute head start before continuing onward, to gleefully find it had wandered off on an existing moose trail. The remainder of the track to Finger Lake proved uneventful, and sometimes less is more. The lodge at Finger Lake is to be my first fuel stop. I did my research before leaving home, and found that gas could be purchased at the lodge. As I pull up to the main lodge, I am greeted by an employee that seemed fascinated by means of travel. After a bit of chitchat and a couple of pictures, I told him I needed to purchase some gas, and he replied that they don’t sell gas; my heart sank! He told

me to talk to the owner who was a nice, older gentleman. He made it known that they don’t sell gas, but in true Alaskan fashion, said he wasn’t about to leave me stranded. I purchased 3 gallons of gas, to get me the Rainy Pass lodge. The trail to this point has been fairly flat and relatively easy, but things were about to change. Finger Lake is the start of the ascent over the Alaska Range. I knew my biggest challenge with this 16 horsepower snowmobile would be traversing the hills I encounter. Soon, the reality of that hit home. I left the lodge at Finger Lake early afternoon, hoping to bust out a few miles before dark. Not long after leaving the lodge, I run into my first obstacle, a relatively steep hill. Knowing the Elan was not capable of summiting the hill, I pull up to the base of the hill and unhook the toboggan, and begin relaying my gear up the hill. Relaying the gear involves cradling a gas can, duffel bag, etc., one at a time, between my legs, and Ski-Dooing my gear up to my gear cache at the crest of the hill. This was followed by manhandling the Elan around on the narrow trail, to keep from getting stuck, while attempting to turn around in the five feet of powder off the trail, then Ski-Doo down to the toboggan, manhandle the Elan around, and repeat. This would take me six trips to relay my gear, and then a return trip to hook up the empty toboggan. Sometimes the Elan could pull up the empty toboggan and www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

onsnow osmmag.com

sometimes it couldn’t. When it couldn’t make it up the hill, I would have to hook a rope to the toboggan, and find a tree to wrap the rope around, and then manually pull the toboggan up by hand, sometimes involving three or four different relays, depending on the length of the hill. The terrain between Finger Lake and Rainy Pass is a constant series of ups and downs, with more ups then downs. Ten miles from Finger Lake brings me to a steep, twenty-foot-high bank, directly across a natural ice bridge over the Happy River. Beyond the bank is a long incline around the corner, up a long, meandering hill. This being my fifth relay of the day, with exhaustion and nightfall creeping in, my plan was to relay my gear to the short flats atop of the steep riverbank, and make camp for the night. After a good night’s sleep, I’ll deal with the long, mammoth hill in the morning. I pull up to the steep riverbank, leaving enough room to get a good run at it with the Elan, and unhook the toboggan. I make a dry run up the steep back to see how the Elan handles it, and proceed to make my six relays of gear up to my gear cache and campsite to be. I knew that the Elan didn’t have enough gusto to pull the toboggan up the bank, and failure would mean the Elan and toboggan sliding down the bank backwards, jackknifing and rolling into a heap, with me right behind it. So I slide down the bank with a rope, hook it to the toboggan hitch, and pull the toboggan to the base of the bank. Upon scaling up the steep bank with the rope, and not finding any trees to assist in hand towing the toboggan up the steep bank with, I parked the snowmobile laterally across the trail, and wrapped the rope around the foot stirrup that so many of these old snowmobiles had, and began the arduous task of hand towing the toboggan up the steep bank, inch by inch. At last, with the

toboggan reunited with the Elan, I made camp in the dimming light. Waking the next morning, I was in no hurry, knowing this long, relatively steep hill was going to be my first of many obstacles for the day. Rising from my shelter, I get the stubborn Elan fired up and took a dry run up the hill to scout it out. The hill was a gradual ascent of about a quarter mile in length. I began my relays to the top, knowing it would be a longshot that the Elan would be able to pull even the empty toboggan up to the hill’s crest. With my relays complete, I hitched the empty toboggan to the Elan, took a deep breath and cracked the throttle wide open. Halfway up the hill, the Elan starts to moan like a water buffalo, and crawls at a snail’s pace. I could see my gear cache one hundred and fifty feet in front of me as the sixteen horsepower Elan bogged down and gave up. I unhook the toboggan and run the Elan to the gear cache and retrieve my rope, then manhandled the toboggan up the remainder of the hill. With a loaded toboggan now hitched to the Elan, I make my way the remaining twenty miles to Rainy Pass Lodge to fuel up, but not without encountering two more hills that required me to relay gear. I pulled up to the lodge by early afternoon, and was met with some great hospitality and an invite for lunch. I leave the lodge in the afternoon with full tanks. From the lodge, it’s approximately fifteen miles to the actual Rainy Pass.There is nothing drastic about the climb to the summit; a mellow series of inclines, but an area that’s notorious for its unpredictable weather in the alpine terrain.

WITH A LOADED TOBOGGAN NOW HITCHED TO THE ELAN, I MAKE MY WAY THE REMAINING TWENTY MILES TO RAINY PASS LODGE TO FUEL UP BUT NOT WITHOUT ENCOUNTERING TWO MORE HILLS THAT REQUIRED ME TO RELAY GEAR.

onsnow osmmag.com

I am ten miles down the trail from the lodge when I start climbing a short, steep incline, and the Elan’s track begins skipping on its drive sprockets. I stopped, hoping it’s just a track tension issue. After inspection, I find I have broken the track tensioner bolt off, and have lost track tension on the one side. I pulled my assortment of miscellaneous nuts, bolts and washers, and find a bolt that’s the right length but the wrong thread. I searched the chassis of the Elan for a compatible bolt that I can temporarily extract without hampering its function, but no luck! I searched some more, and found a bolt on the hitch of the toboggan that was the right length and what appeared to be the right thread - could it be? Before I had left, I had changed these out to

a harder grade bolt. I removed the hitch bolt and tried threading it into the tensioner mechanism while persuading it in with the word “please”. Hooya! - the threads matched. With only the last inch of this bolt threaded, I now needed a mess of washers to shorten the bolt, to make use of the threaded part of the bolt, and bring the track to its proper tension. I find a dozen washers in my parts bag, and snatch four more off the toboggan hitch. This proved to be just the right amount to bring the track back to its needed tension. With light snow falling and the wind picking up, I scurried to get back on track. With towering mountains and long, treeless valleys, this section proves to be the most picturesque and scenic portion off the thousand mile trail. With weather moving in and daylight burning, I regretfully scurry up the trail without the full admiration of what nature has gifted me with. The Elan worked hard to keep forward progress in motion up the long, slight incline. With the Pass in sight, and just a mere hundred and fifty yards ahead, the Elan decided it had had enough and refused to pull itself to the top. Frustrated, I unhook the toboggan and make my, what is becoming routine, relay. Leaving the Pass, I am now heading for the shelter of the Gorge, a steep drop that rapidly brings me back down to the tree line. I encounter two swales and a steep bank, all requiring relays before darkness crept in. In an exhausted state, I make camp above the steep bank of my last relay, overlooking a majestic mountain in the moonlight. I broke camp the next morning in anticipation of having a better day. I am five miles from Rohn, which is a lone cabin in the woods and an Iditarod checkpoint.

Before arriving to Rohn, I encounter a stretch of overflow water on the river, about two hundred yards long, and up to a foot deep. I lose traction on the bare ice of the windblown river, leaving me disabled. I hook one hundred feet of rope to the toboggan, and get a run to free the stranded toboggan. Once moving, I begin treading water, and the Elan motor bogs down as I yell, ”Go, go, go!” The Elan crept back onto dry land, while pulling my toboggan and now soaked gear, through the remainder of the overflow. Once on dry land, I hitch the toboggan to the Elan for the remainder of the trek through the woods to Rohn. Rohn was staffed with Iditarod volunteers who greeted me, and offered me a hot cup of coffee that turned into three. Leaving Rohn, I headed for the village of Nikolai, seventy five miles away. The trail out of Rohn starts with sections of windblown glare ice, before dumping into the rolling hills of the Farewell Burn. I travel forty miles after leaving Rohn, and encounter four more hills requiring grueling relays, before making camp in the falling snow. Aching the next morning, I am greeted with three inches of fresh snow. The fresh snow makes the Elan work even harder for its progress. It’s not long before I’m once again relaying gear and the toboggan up a long hill. The rest of the trail leveled out, and I made decent time to Nikolai to refuel. I stopped and talked to an older man in the village, working on setting up an Iditarod checkpoint tent. He remarked that no one had ever done this before on an old, vintage snowmobile, and that I’m very brave. I responded back by saying, “ There’s a fine line between being brave and stupid.” He laughed and shook his head.

www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

onsnow osmmag.com

RETURNING BACK FROM THE ADVENTURE I MAY NOT HAVE ACQUIRED A BRONZE HAWAIIAN TAN LIKE MY DAUGHTER BUT I HAVE ACQUIRED A TREASURE CHEST FULL OF MEMORIES I leave mid-afternoon for McGrath, which is fifty miles away, with a better state of mind, due to the more mellow terrain. The terrain to McGrath consists of a series of lakes, ponds and rivers. My upbeat mood shortly came to an abrupt halt, after getting stuck three times in ankle deep overflow, out in the middle of a lake. Shortly after conquering the overflow, I came upon a steep, long hill, coming off a pond. With the sun and my mood low, I set up camp at the base of the hill, not willing to make the relay until morning. Waking up with a slight chill, I glanced at my thermometer and it hovered at minus thirty eight degrees. I broke camp and proceeded to make my dreaded relays to the crest of the hill. Following my relays, I follow the trail out to the lake to find the

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

trail has blown in overnight, due to forty mile per hour winds. I don’t go far before getting stuck in the powder. After digging out, I break trail with Elan and return to hook up the toboggan. I continued to get stuck time and time again, wearing me down physically and mentally. It takes me eight hours to travel the remaining twenty miles to McGrath. Stopping at the town’s cafe, the gracious owner said people are welcome to stay at the school. I jumped on it and began drying my gear on the auditorium bleachers. Waking the next morning in a blue mood, I start packing my gear. I talked to three bison hunters coming back from a bison hunt, and a Norwegian man snowmobiling to Nome. They all showed up late last night and we all decided to go to the café for some much needed coffee and breakfast. I go to start my Elan in the minus thirty degree temperatures, using the usual starting fluid in the cylinders method. To my surprise, it wouldn’t even pop. I repeat it with still no results, then several more yanks and the starter rope wouldn’t retract. My mood just hit a new low; I gave up a fabulous trip to Hawaii with my daughter and son-in-law to continually fight with this old relic! What was I thinking? Maybe a cup of coffee and a good breakfast will revive my mood. During breakfast, I heard one of the bison hunters trying to make a sale of one of his snowmobiles to a local. Pow! A light went off in my head.

I could purchase one of his snowmobiles, and continue on to Nome with the Norwegian. After a test ride and some bartering, I was soon getting the Elan towed to the airport, and my new purchase altered for the remaining six hundred mile trek to Nome. With a renewed spirit, John, the Norwegian and I were on our way to Nome by mid afternoon. My new purchase of a 2016 Ski-Doo Expedition 600 4 stroke, with an astonishing 18,000 miles on the odometer, was like riding a Cadillac compared to the Model T I had been riding. The next several days treated us with a mixture of weather and terrain. We found ourselves traveling in the midst of the Iditarod racers, and sharing sleepless nights at shelter cabins among the near endless stream of mushers. We arrive in Nome later in the afternoon on Wednesday, March 18th, just hours before the winning dog team arrived. John, who is affiliated with the Norwegian mushers, has accommodations waiting for him as he arrives. I wing it, and to my surprise, find an overpriced motel room. With a storm arriving, and talk of planes being grounded for several days, I swiftly book a flight out of Anchorage for the following afternoon. Returning back from the adventure, I may not have acquired a bronze Hawaiian tan like my daughter, but I have acquired a treasure chest full of memories, good and bad, that will never fade away! www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

gear

Global Star Spot Gen4™Global Satellite GPS Messenger

SPOT’s Gen4 GPS gives you a critical, life-saving line of communication when you travel beyond the boundaries of reliable cellular service. SPOT Gen4 lets others know you are OK, or if the unexpected should happen, sends your GPS location to emergency responders all with the push of a button. Add this rugged, pocketsized device to your essential gear and keep in touch out on the trails or mountains! Head to www.globalstar.com to start your emergency sled kit today.

2 If you can’t see where you’re going on a snowmobile, things can go sideways fast. That’s why it’s important to be fog-free, all day, every day. Enter Abom’s heated, fog-free goggles! Transparent, electrically heated film layer between two outer layers, two power modes: On Demand - automatically turns off after 5 minutes and Always On - stays on all day, also auto-adjusting to humidity. 11 color and tint options for every condition! Start seeing clearly and grab a pair today at www.abom.com

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

109$

$109

#850044

Abom Heated Anti-Fog Snowmobile, Snowboard & Ski Goggles

NOTE THAT ALL SANITARY MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY. CERTAIN MEAL SERVICES AND PACKAGES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE DEPENDING ON HEALTH RESTRICTIONS TO BE APPLIED.

Welcome snowmobilers! Discover the Devil’s Mountain, Baskatong Reservoir and countless snowmobile trails! 1 888 355-6465

1 800 346-3557

comfortinn-ml.ca information@comfortinn-ml.ca

qualityinn-ml.ca minigolflaperlenoire.com

DIRECT ACCESS TO TRAIL #63 Non-smoking hotel • Large lit parking • Very comfortable rooms • Spa & Sauna Resto & Bar • Security cables and camera • Free High Speed Internet

1 866 355-5252

819 499-3888

Located in front of Microbrasserie du Lièvre microdulievre.com #523213

Snowmobile packages available

Non-smoking hotel • Free High Speed Internet • Large lit parking Security cables and camera • Free continental breakfast with 2 hot meals Indoor swimming pool • Fitness room

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR REGION AND PROPOSED CIRCUITS ✦ comeonup.ca

#512665

bestwesternmontlaurier.ca info@bestwesternmontlaurier.ca DIRECT ACCESS TO TRAIL

super8mont-laurier.com Non-smoking hotel • Free WI-FI • Outdoor spa Conference room • Free breakfast with waffle station Large lit parking & security cameras • Electric vehicle charging station

#546490

Non-smoking hotel • Indoor pool • Bar/Biliard room • Free High Speed Internet Large lit parking & security cameras • Restaurant l’Autentico

#576575

DIRECT ACCESS TO TRAIL

RVE RESE ! O N W

Near 2485 miles of trails to ride!

gear

Warn Industries Hub Wireless Receiver and App

WARN’S new state-of-the-art wireless control system allows you to operate your winch using the Bluetooth® connection on your smart device. The IP68 waterproof HUB Wireless Receiver connects to your winch with a free custom-developed app for either iOS® or Android. Your smart device will be able to operate the winch from up to 100’ away and monitor your vehicle’s battery voltage using Bluetooth technology. AXON versions will also let you observe the winch’s load and winch’s motor temperature, so you know exactly what’s going on during a recovery. Take a look for yourself and head over to www.warn.com

509 Ether Mono Suit

509’s all new Ether Monosuit is unlike any monosuit you have seen from 509 in the past. Featuring a Sympatex® membrane, making it windproof, waterproof, and breathable no matter where your winter adventures take you. Even in the harshest conditions, you will stay dry and warm all day - whether you’re snowmobiling, snowbiking, snowboarding, or skiing - the Ether Mono is the ultimate mountain adventure monosuit! Reach new peaks and stay warm at www.ride509.com

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

Scott DS Flex Dryo Monosuit

The SCOTT DS Flex Dryo Monosuit is a brand-new, shell snowmobile monosuit that has been manufactured with full stretch fabric in both the outershell and inner lining to offer riders unparalleled freedom of movement and comfort when riding. YKK Aquaguard® zippers will work with the cuff and boot gaiters to keep out any unwanted moisture, letting you concentrate fully on your lines. A clean, stylish design finishes off this premium, highly technical monosuit. Suit up today and head over to www.scott-sports.com

FXR MENS RANGER INSULATED MONO 20

For 2020 FXR took the most advanced monosuit in the industry and made it even better by reducing the overall weight by 10%! New sublimated logos reduce icebuild-up, increase the durability and the mobility of the Omni-Stretch shell. ACMT creates a dual-layer moisture shield keeping you dry and comfortable, enabling sustainable energy to conquer even the most challenging backcountry conditions. Stay warm and dry this season, head to www.ca.fxrracing.com to get a suit today! www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

7 Gates GFORCE Redline Belt

GATES Redline Belt was extensively lab and field tested. The G-Force RedLine CVT belts are engineered to handle the wildest rides in the dunes, deserts, mountains and on racetracks. Greater heat resistance and recovery, even under severe duty cycles. Their innovative design results in better acceleration, higher top speeds, less speed ratio and energy loss in extreme off-road environments. Keep the tracks turning and get yourself a new belt today, head over to www.gates.com for more info!

ROUYN-NORANDA

Package RIDERIDE-TASTE TASTE--UNWIND UNWIND

110 $/pers.

double occupancy

Best spot in town (downtown) Direct access to trails and gas 2-queen bed room 2 cold beers upon your arrival 35 $ Gift Certiﬁcate at Pizzé Restaurant Grab and go breakfast Covered and secure parking Free parking for your trailer

We make bags for all makes & models! Handle Bar Bags• Saddle Bags • Trunk Bags craig@cytnorth.ca • 705-456-2711

www.shopcytgear.ca www.cytnorth.ca www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

HÔTEL ALBERT Downtown Rouyn-Noranda (Qc) 84, Principal Av. J9X 4P2 819 762-3545 - hotelalbert.ca ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

gear

CKX Mission AMS Full Face Helmet Carbon Solid - Winter

Experience a unique helmet that redefines trail riding. Ultra-lightweight, insulated and aerodynamic, the Mission is designed to let you enjoy longer rides and at full speed without fear of extreme cold. Efficient in reducing the risk of fogging, the helmet introduces AMS, an integrated air management system. A CKX exclusive, AMS technology allows you to enjoy a clean environment, free from condensation and fogging by wicking away moist air to the outside. Maintain full visibility while riding and when stopping take advantage of a wide opening by lifting the oversized visor! Experience the Mission and go beyond the horizon!

Take a peek at www.kimpex.com and grab one for the whole family!

Maxx Surface Saver Ski Dolly

Easily move your snowmobile, while saving your floors! This Maxx Surface Saver Ski Dolly is one of Royal Distributing’s most popular in-house products! Fully adjustable from 177mm (6.8”) to 272mm (10.7”), designed to fit most ski applications. The 30-degree lateral sweep adjustment makes installation effortless. Snap pins and wing nuts, makes it easy to adjust and switch between snowmobiles with minimal tools required. A Heavy Duty real plate with 4 deluxe casters to put under your track that allows manual movement in your shop or trailer. Maximum capacity 660 lbs (300 kg). Only $149.99 CAD! Available in-store and online with free shipping across Canada on orders over $39. Prices and availability subject to change after Feb 2021 www.royaldistributing.com

facebook.com/

Ski-Doo 600R, 850, 900T

Harness all the power from our 850 clutch kits. Acceleration is improved as well as lightning quick back shift. Whether on trail or off, high or low elevation we have a kit for your need.

P Drive Clutch

Mini Sled Performance: Available for all minis, ZR 200 and SnoScoot – clutch kits, race kits, suspension mods, shocks, engine mods, carb kits, new lightweight suspension arms, and rear suspensions. Shock Rebuilds: Don’t be shocked when your ride is not what it once was. You know your shocks need to be rebuilt. Let us do it with Tech-Syn high performance seals. We service Fox, ACT, KYB, Walker Evans, Works Performance, RydeFX, Ohlins and HPG. Guaranteed quick turnaround.

We have all the P drive tools as well as adjustable pivot weight kits, springs, ramps and replacement parts.

FACEBOOK.COM/ONSNOWMAGAZINE FACEBOOK.COM/ ONSNOWMAGAZINE

visit goodwinperformance.com for our catalog of quality products 90

2608-5GoodwinPer16h.indd 1 ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

9/20/19 1:46 PM www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

“CANADA’S OWN MOTORSPORTS NETWORK” CONTACT YOUR TV PROVIDER TODAY

WWW.REVTV.CA

/ R E V T VC A N A DA |

@ R E V T V.C A |

@ R E V T VC A N A DA

THE ULTIMATE

STOCKING STUFFERS NEVER RIDE ON DULL RUNNERS OR STUDS AGAIN

Control and performance all season.

The safest ride in all conditions.

INTRODUCING

THE HELMET SAFETY LIGHT

BITEHARDER.COM

The ultimate in safety and visibility both on and off the trail.

Simple and easy to use.

NEW

gear

FXR Womens Ranger Instinct Lite Monosuit 20

FXR’s premium Ranger Instinct Lite Mono is designed for women who live to ride. For 2020 we took the most advanced monosuit in the industry and made it even better by reducing the overall weight and added a new drop seat feature. New sublimated logos reduce ice build-up and increase the durability and mobility of the OmniStretch shell, while ACMT creates a dual-layer moisture shield keeping you dry and comfortable. Available in Lite and Thermal Flex Insulated versions. Head to www.ca.fxrracing.com to check them out!

GUIDED & FULLY SUPPORTED SNOWMOBILE TOURS IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC (705) 790-7267 amcfarlane@ontsnow.com

PRESENTED BY

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

www.ontsnow.com www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

The New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs

President’s Report… Congratulations to our New Provincial Government

We would like to congratulate the new Provincial Government of Premier Higgs. We will be meeting and working with the Premier’s Office and the new Ministers of Tourism, Public Safety, Transportation and Natural Resources as appropriate. The NBFSC and multiple provincial governments have a very long and successful history going back to the early days of “White Gold’. From that very moment, now more than thirty years ago there was a recognition and acceptance by our New Brunswick governments that snowmobiling was a contributor to the province’s economic prosperity, not a cost for Government. In the winter of 2021, our value to the Province as an economic contributor is more important than it ever has been. As of December 2019, an independent Snowmobile Economic Impact Report revealed to us and the Government of New Brunswick that snowmobiling’s value contributed $90.5 million to NB annually. This includes the measured value of the NBFSC’s club volunteers, who contribute without personal

94 94

compensation, $21.7 million, annually. The New Brunswick tourism sector has been and continues to be one of the hardest struck business sectors in these times. We are the Province’s leading sector for winter tourism, period. We have an important role to play and we will ensure that we emphasize with the new Provincial Government and Ministers we are willing to be a partner with them as we have for over 30 winter tourism seasons already. Last, snowmobilers have been social distancing since the 1970’s. We look forward to continuing to provide snowmobile trails this season for all industry stakeholders and working in harmony with any rulings from the province’s Chief Medical Officer, Public Safety and the Premier’s Office. Last we look forward to hosting Premier Higgs at the annual NBFSC - Premier’s Go Snowmobiling Ride in 2021 at a safe social distance. Stay safe, Dave Garland, NBFSC President

Snowmobiling is New Brunswick’s Winter Tourism… ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

La Fédération des Clubs de Motoneige du Nouveau-Brunswick

Rapport du Président…

Félicitations à notre nouveau gouvernement provincial Nous voulons féliciter le nouveau gouvernement provincial du Premier ministre Higgs. Nous allons rencontrer et travailler avec le Cabinet du Premier ministre et les nouveaux ministres du Tourisme, de la Sécurité publique, des Transports et des Ressources naturelles selon le cas. La FCMNB et de multiples gouvernements provinciaux ont une historique très longue et fructueuse qui remonte aux premiers temps de « l’Or Blanc ». Depuis ce temps-là, maintenant plus de trente ans passés, il y eu reconnaissance et acceptation par nos gouvernements du NouveauBrunswick que la motoneige était un contributeur à la prospérité économique de la province, et non pas un coût pour le gouvernement. Durant l’hiver 2021, notre valeur à la province en tant que contributeur économique est plus importante qu’elle ne l’a jamais été. En décembre 2019, un Rapport indépendant sur les retombées

économiques de la motoneige révélait, à nous et au gouvernement du NouveauBrunswick, que la valeur de la motoneige contribuait 90,5 millions $$ annuellement au NB. Ceci comprend la valeur mesurée des bénévoles de la FCMNB, qui contribuent sans compensation personnelle 21,7 millions $$ à chaque année. Le secteur touristique du NouveauBrunswick a été et continue à être l’un des secteurs les plus affectés ces temps-ci. Nous sommes le secteur chef de file de la province en matière de tourisme d’hiver, point à la ligne. Nous avons un rôle important à jouer et nous allons nous assurer que l’on met l’accent, auprès du nouveau gouvernement provincial et des ministres, sur le fait que nous voulons travailler en partenariat avec eux, comme nous l’avons fait depuis déjà plus de 30 saisons. En terminant, les motoneigistes respectent la distanciation sociale depuis les années 1970. Nous anticipons bien de continuer à fournir des sentiers de motoneige cette saison pour tous les

intervenants de l’industrie et de travailler en harmonie avec toutes décisions de la médecin-hygiéniste en chef de la province, de la Sécurité publique et du Cabinet du Premier ministre. Enfin, nous avons hâte de recevoir le Premier ministre Higgs lors de la Randonnée annuelle de la FCMNB « À vos motoneiges » du Premier ministre en 2021 à une distance sociale sécuritaire. Dave Garland, Président de la FCMNB

www.nbfsc.com

La motoneige est le Tourisme d’hiver du Nouveau-Brunswick… ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

. RS S. E V ER AT TV R A FOOM FR

RTH NORICA’S E AM ING ATV AZINE

BES G

GET IT NOW!

ONLY

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

$19 FOR ONE YEAR

subscribe at www.atvworldmag.com

1.888.661.7469

RTH NORICA’S E AM BILE MOINE W SNOAGAZ

BES M

subscribe at www.osmmag.com 96

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

GET IT! NOW

$19

DAY!

RIBE TO

SUBSC

ONLY

FOR ONE YEAR

1.888.661.7469 www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

Exclusive Partner / Partenaire Exclusif

Level One Level Two CARWASH & PRESSURE CLEANING SYSTEMS

Level Three

To advertise your business in this section call: 1-888-661-7469 ONTARIO

BRADFORD

ONTARIO

UXBRIDGE MINNESOTA, USA GREENBUSH

PEFFERLAW

ONTARIO

PEFFERLAW

JUST 50 MINS NORTH OF TORONTO

Come be satisfied by the rising stars of POLARIS. York Region's newest, biggest dealer.

HWY 48, Pefferlaw, Lake Simcoe 705-437-1122 quinnsmarina.com

19890 Hwy 11, Bradford, ON L3Z 2B6 (905) 775-1717 • Fax (905) 775-0518 ONTARIO

UXBRIDGE

ONTARIO

BOWMANVILLE UXBRIDGE

347 Cranston Crescent NE, Midland, ON L4R 4K6 705.526.2248 www.factoryrecreation.com

• MAP 42

INDY

PARTS

PLUS+ YOUR #1 CHOICE FOR USED POLARIS GOLD!

®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.

THE TRAIL STARTS HERE

905.449.4639 905 5 4

3 Douglas Road, Uxbridge, ON (905) 852-5884 uxbridgemotorsports.com

ONTARIO

INDYPARTSPLUS@HOTMAIL.COM

OAKVILLE

Your South Western Ontario Polaris dealer

NOV 21, 2021

SLEDARAMA.CA

PETERBOROUGH MEMORIAL CENTRE SNOWMOBILE SHOW & SWAP MEET

1174 South Service Rd W Oakville On L6L 5T7 Phone: 905.681.7270 Fax: 905.681.1697

www.peakpowersports.ca NEW BRUNSWICK

ONTARIO

1450 Vanier Blvd. Bathurst, NB E2A 4H7 Toll Free: 1-800-898-9292 Office: (506) 548-3335 • Fax: (506) 548-9769 thehost@nbnet.nb.ca • www.atlantichost.com Known to all sledders as the place to stay in Bathurst. Located on Trail #19, or take exit #310 on Rte 11. Loading ramps, indoor sled parking, heated repair bays. Fuel on-site. Excellent accommodations, excellent restaurants, pub-style lounge, heated indoor pool, sauna and whirlpool. And did we mention we’re the only hotel in New Brunswick located directly on NBFSC trails?

Tel: 705-856-2278 • Fax: 705-856-2171 Toll Free: 800-561-2278 Email: wawamoto@shawbiz.ca Website: www.wawamotorinn.com Your Superior Vacation Experience featuring 50 main building rooms, 20 cozy log rooms and 18 rustic Chalets with fireplaces. All main building rooms are 100% smokefree. Enjoy fine dining in the Fireside Dining Room; home of the largest fireplace in the North. Easily accessible to snow trails and ample parking.

Bathurst Atlantic Host Hotel

243685 98

ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION AND BE SEEN BY THOUSANDS OF SNOWMOBILE ENTHUSIASTS CALL 1-888-661-7469

ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 35 • ISSUE 3

Wawa . ONTARIO MAP 11 Wawa Motor Inn 118 Mission Road, Wawa, Ontario P0S1K0

Nearby

538

Sledders Paradise

Weekend Getaways for Snowmobilers in Georgian Bluffs - Waterfront property, We Are Offering Spacious Accommodations, including 2 Bedroom with Queen Beds Shower/ Bathroom Living Room with Fireplace OFSC trails 3 km from accommodations. Great Sledding Trails to Owen sound - Wiarton. For more info please contact: drijberinthewoods@gmail.com • homeyra.gharabaghi@gmail.com www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area

U LT I M A T E B A C K C O U N T R Y C R O S S O V E R T h e S w i t c h b a c k A s s a u l t f e a t u r e s R M K- i n s p i r e d o f f t r a i l a g i l i t y w i t h o u t s t a n d i n g on-trail ride and handling with best-in-class power-to-weight ratios, delivering go-anywhere versatility and performance. p o l a r i s . c o m /s n o w m o b i l e s