Save your bright suits for the disco. It doesn’t matter where you ride a Patriot 9R; others will always notice you.
Rider: Tyler Swarm
Sled: Doesn’t matter it has a Patriot 9R motor Suit: All red Klim onesie
Location: West Yellowstone, Montana
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: Eric Torresan
Shawn Baron
Administrative Assistant: Sarah Day
Photographers: Todd Williams, Rob Alford, Emily Wicklund, Taylor Batch, James Wicken, Rob Alford, Richard Kehoe, Tendra Crossman, Maria Sandberg, Shelby Mahon, Chris Burandt, Brian Caswell, Levi LaVallee, Kristen LaVallee, Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier Archives, Mike Duffy, Andrew McEwan, Brent Geerlings
Contributing Writers: Mark Boncher, Jeff Steenbakkers, Jason Kawczynski, Levi LaVallee, Chris Burandt, Tyler Swarm, Darren Desautels, Maria Sandberg, Rob Alford, Jordan Hammack, Richard Kehoe, Mike Duffy, Andrew McEwan, Brent Geerlings
There is more than meets the eye to every aspect of the FXR 2025 Backcountry Collection. Engineered for the most demanding riding conditions, this gear combines rugged durability with unmatched performance, versatility, and mobility. This winter, experience how FXR’s cutting-edge technology, rider-driven innovation, and attention to every detail take your adventures in backcountry terrain to the next level.
Levi LaVallee Redefining the sport on-and-off the trail!
THE 2025 CROSSOVER COLLECTION is engineered to explore. Each product offers more than meets the eye, blending versatility with functional features for superior on and off-trail performance. Equipped with F.A.S.T.™ floatation technology, flexible insulation options, and significant ventilation, crossover gear is built to conquer everything from rugged off-trail terrain to high-speed trails in all temperatures and conditions.
drifts FULL STEAM AHEAD
The long-awaited season started well this year around my part of the universe. Lots of snow, lots hype because of the state that Mother Nature left us in last year. With the arrival of snow and cold temperatures we have been able to ride in a lot of great places and even out the back door of the Shop once again.
The guys have been busy chasing snow from New Brunswick to Jackson
with many places in between. With last year’s ride schedule being a little lighter than usual its great to be back in full swing. One of my missed ride locations last year was New Brunswick. The OSM/STV group did it right and went early, where I thought I will end up there at the end of the year which never happened. Usually New Brunswick has served as great meeting point for us as a group of us drive out and some fly in. Over the years the fly in bunch varies from Minnesota and Wisconsin but has been as far away as Idaho to check out how good it really is.
Another area that is showing us why their known to have some of the best and busy trails is Ontario. Last year Ontario really had a short stick when it came to snow fall and it hurt. This year
we have been on many adventures. The OSM/STV crew has been out a lot and we have all had our smiles again as it seems that it has been forever visiting our favorite local destinations again. You can tell that many businesses missed snowmobilers.
You will be able to check out all our early rides in the New Brunswick, Ontario, and Wyoming on STV or on the STV YouTube channel when it’s posted.
Until our next issue, I hope the snow piles up where you are, and you get a chance to get out and ride. Remember, if you are looking to spend more time in the shop, nothing says, ‘I love you’ on Valentine’s Day quite like a snowmobile drive belt.
Aarm
Abominable
Snowman
Alaska
Alouette
Alpine
Altimate Boots
Aluminum
Amsoil
Antique
APEX
Arctic Cat
Arctiva
VILLAINS take 5
Villains have long played a role in our everyday life. There has always been a good versus evil feud and it made us stronger as individuals and made for a better society. Villains showed us that there is a first place and second place and while everyone should get a trophy for participating there should always be a difference in size and numbers on the actual award. For this issue of Take 5 we look at some of the best Villains of all time.
ALOUETTE VILLAIN
SNOWMOBILE
Way back when Alouette is business and manufacturing snowmobiles, they featured three different Villain models in their line-up. A 440cc twin, a 440cc triple and a 650cc triple with three shiny chrome pipes hanging out the side.
The Villain (especially the 650) were all limited race sleds and had some very interesting features. Instead of having a leaf spring suspension up front on the skis, they came with a coil over the shock which was a head of its time. Alouette knew the power of having star powered talent behind the bars and in the 1970s they had both Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve. The Villeneuve brothers could make anything go fast, which was exactly what the Alouette Villain needed. These stunning snowmobiles were not as competitive as the manufacturer would have liked as they were heavy and were still being made of steel while many manufacturers had already made the move using more and more aluminum.
SKELETOR
It takes a certain type of Villain to go against the mighty He-Man for 130 episodes over the course of two seasons and lose every time. If the name Skeletor isn’t scary enough this villain’s full name is, Skeletor the Lord of Destruction and Overlord of Evil. Skeletor was a hulking muscular beast with a training in kick ass and if that wasn’t enough, he was also powerful sorcerer. But he could never beat the boy toy known as He-Man. More often than not, Skeletor was defeated because of his blundering evil henchmen. We think Skeletor coined the phrase, “don’t blame the player, blame the game”.
SEGWAY VILLAIN
“Segway” is not just the transportation dream for “Mall Cops” anymore. Segway Off-Road entered into the ultra-competitive Side-by-Side and ATV Market recently and they immediately made waves with the introduction of their Villain SX10 which is a 1000cc 4-stroke producing 105 horsepower and the Hybrid model the Villain SX10 H W. The Hybrid is attracting a lot of interest as it is producing an unheard of 196 horsepower. While the Hybrid Villain hasn’t landed in dealerships yet, the demand is there for a Hybrid with this type of performance. When the Villain SX10 H W does hit showrooms and ultimately into consumers hands, it will sure to be seen hunting down a lot of the competition.
DICK DASTARDLY
His name says it all and Dick is one of the oldest active and underrated villains of all time. He first appeared in 1968 as the main character in Hanna-Barbara’s Wacky Races cartoon where he never won a race but was always competitive and also appeared as the lead character in Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines. More times than not, one of his “dastardly” deeds was foiled by his gang eliminating him from winning the race. He best evil doer in his gang was his dog, Muttley. Dastardly’s biggest catch phrases were “Muttley, do something” and “curses, foiled again”. Dick also made reoccurring bad guy appearances in other Hanna-Barbara cartoons such as Yogi Bear and his latest appearance was in the 2020 movie “Scoob”. Being a bad guy for 52 years isn’t easy it’s legendary.
SNOWCROSS RACERS
FROM THE 90S
Believe it or not, there once was a time on the snow-covered racetrack where everyone was not exactly friends. You often heard the term used “arch nemesis”. Now this was typical 1990s style of Snowcross racing. In that time period, many Pro Snowcross racers were brash, cavalier and all around had extremely aggressive driving habits. The result of this type of behaviour resulted no friendly fist bumps on the starting line, and no words of encouragement such as, “good luck” ever being heard. More times than not there would be a pileup in turn 1, racers using others as berms or brakes and causing all around “mayhem”. Racers that were on different brands of snowmobiles were natural born enemies and rarely ever gave quarter to another brand in any situation. Depending on who you were cheering for, you could easily say that Snowcross racing was a good vs. evil event. This is what made these riders great, fan favourites, wealthy and popular with the trophy girls. Back in the 1990s there were monster payouts for the top winners and loads of contingency cash from sponsors which made winning all that more important. “If you ain’t first than your last,” was a statement that came out of the 1990s.
DR. EVIL
Perhaps the most devious villains to ever hit the small or large screen. Dr. Evil featured many notorious henchman to conduct his evil deeds in order to take over the world.
He was most notably accompanied by his best henchman, “Number Two”. Number Two was the brains behind Dr. Evil’s company Virtucon Industries which funded all of his evil doings.
It was obvious from a young age that he was going to be as evil as he was due to his distinct upbringing. His father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium and his mother was a French prostitute named Chloé with webbed feet. When asked about his father he said, “My father would womanize; he would drink; he would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes, he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy, the sort of general malaise that only the genius possesses”. Though Dr. Evil was content with focusing his efforts trying to take over the world his biggest accomplishment was actually having sharks with laser beams.
lawn ornaments
For many years, we have been showing you the best in Snowmobile Lawn Ornaments that you, the readers, have sent us. Your passion for outing your neighbours on how they store their snowmobiles, has provided may laughs over the seasons.
Please keep those photos coming! And remember if we print your photo, you’ll receive a FREE T-Shirt for your troubles, so please include your preferred size Please send all photos to info@osmmag.com
On Snow, Not sure if this counts or not because the unknown beast is tarped, and the yard is organized… Even the skids are nicely lined up. The owner clearly cares about his neighbours.
FOUND IT!
Hey Guys, Check this out. An old Phazer (with an extra seat) sitting protected on the other side of farm fence. Not sure why the owner has such a thing for fuel cans? The only thing I can hope for is that’ the cans will be used to torch the wheel-less pick-up truck that has been there longer than the sled.
Signed an unhappy neighbour, Ted Q.
OSM – Capturing Lawn Ornaments isn’t the easiest. For weeks I saw this Indy Lite on the front lawn of this house. I finally stopped to take a picture and the next day the Indy was gone. Which brings me to my point… don’t put off what you can do today. Especially when there is a free shirt involved. Personally, I think the blue sled complemented the yard.
Brad G.
Never know when you might want to go for a rip. At a recent outing I came across this lump. Sure, it’s in season, which I know may not qualify me for a free shirt, but this was too much not to take a photo. The guy just took off his helmet and parked it. You can tell that the helmet has been there for days. Some people just don’t care.
Kyle G
ROACHED 1977 Sno Jet 440 SST
Recently at a parking lot swap meet we found so many Roached out sleds that we got a lttle excited. These are sleds that nobody wanted to buy, own or even look at. But one caught our eye that seemed to be a little polished. We zeroed in on a near show room quality 1977 Sno Jet 440 SST. Properly priced at $400 OBO, we figured we’d do some digging and see if there is actual value here or just someone getting rid of their junk. Is $400 too much? We think OBO is the right move on this one.
The craftsmanship is second to none on the prestigious SST. What must have been a tree strike has been fixed by some quick dry epoxy which seemed to be properly applied, but not sanded or painted. If you are asking, why would it not be sanded and painted? It’s because it would take away from all the spider cracks riddled across the entire cowling. Dumb question
$400 OBO
Pushing out as much candle power as a coal miners head lamp in the 1800s. Because this Sno Jet hasn’t run in a few decades we can’t confirm if the coal miner’s lamp is still operational, but the rust around it frames it perfectly.
A single strip of 100 mile an hour tape will hold it. The broken windshield was clearly due to driver error. The assumption is that when the damage to the front cowl occurred the driver was ejected through a portion of the windshield. No need to fix this as on warmer days it will help keep you cool. But to stop the windshield from flapping in the wind, the simple fix is a strip of duct tape. Which looking at the condition looks like it’s ready to be replaced.
Trust us, a good acid wash will bring the tunnel back to original shine.
The throttle has been spun around to avoid fatigue on long rides. Talk about a game changer. This idea in itself could be worth the asking price.
All speed racers know that you must angle the gauges in order to see them at high speeds on a “leafer”. We were a little surprised that there wasn’t a piece of red tape on the tack to mark the red line. No need for a key either as the original owner turned it on and snapped it, eliminating the hassle of losing it.
Even back in 1977 safety never took a holiday. These are all good suggestions.
We were shocked when we cracked open the hood. Everything was there and intact, albeit not tight. A simple carb clean, new plugs, some fresh fuel and the SST should fire. If it doesn’t go vrooom, use the fresh gas and the years of decaying leaves under the hood, light a match and forget about it.
BY JASON KAWCZYNSKI
There’s one thing that nearly all snowmobilers have in common, they like to go fast, and they care far more about horsepower than their beloved Maple Leaf’s breaking their 58-year Stanley cup drought. Turbo powered snowmobiles are becoming the standard in the snowmobile industry and the Polaris 850 Boost is at the top of this class.
Itprobably goes without saying that any boosted sleds are fast on the trail, but for the powder it isn’t about that! All that extra power equates to their ability to spin the track faster, push more snow with bigger lugs and climb higher. If that’s what you are looking for, there is no better OEM alternative for a lightweight sled anywhere in the steep and deep than the 850 Boost. That’s a bold statement… but after getting three seasons to ride these our OSM team is all unanimous on our feelings about this motor and chassis combination. It’s a rip your shoulder out of your socket, wheelie on demand platform that nobody who has ever ridden one can honestly disagree with. Kiss that brand loyalty goodbye, even if you can’t admit it out loud quite yet!
For 2025 there are three long track models that you get the option to be turbo powered. The Switchback Assault 146” is the sole crossover and in the mountain’s, you have either the Pro RMK or the RMK Khaos, in 155” or 163”. The only head scratcher here is… where is the Khaos 146” in the Boost? I mean, you can get it with
the 9R motor so why not turboed? With the option for a 2.0” lug crossover track that could be the missing piece in an epic lineup between the Assault and RMK’s.
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2025
In all the 850 boosted sleds there is not many visibly noticeable changes, most of the changes you will find under the cowl ings. With Polaris clearly emerging as the leader in the recent shakeup of snowmo bile manufacturing, they have ZERO need to chase any other competitive new tech in any segments of snowmobiles. This makes them able to concentrate on quality improvements rather than engineering groundbreaking new releases.
Back country riders are far more focused on reliability for good reasons as breakdowns can become a huge problem. If you are lucky enough to live in an area where you can trail ride from your house or cabin, you are probably not too concerned with running your old faithful 1995 XLT triple for the days ride. If it breaks down, you just leave it at the road crossing and
OVERALL, ACROSS ALL THE MATRYX PLATFORM THERE WERE TWELVE BIG UPDATES IN THE POWERTRAIN AND FOURTEEN IN THE CHASSIS.
get a two-up ride from your buddy to the local watering hole and that’s where your worries end. When you are miles from a trail and even further from a rescue vehicle in the backcountry, having a breakdown becomes a serious situation where ‘helicopter rental’ is a topic thrown around your companions while you stare at your incapacitated pony buried in the trees.
Overall, across all the Matryx platform there were twelve big updates in the powertrain and fourteen in the chassis.
More specifically to the boosted motor, updates include the turbo seals that have been one issue on past models have been upgraded to fix the leakage problems along with an upgraded NGK set of spark plugs. Driven by the 180+ ponies is a new P22 forged clutch spider and cover paired with a dual extrovert driveshaft.
This clearly shows that after many years of recalls and mechanical issues Polaris has a primary focus of being an extremely reliable brand, now and in the future and that’s a big deal to us!
ASSAULT-ED
This sled has always lived up to its name on being a great do-it-all sled that can destroy the deepest of snow in its way but give you a fun and comfortable ride on the trail going to your favorite spot. In the front, it is a full trail width stance of 42” center to center which is no different than any of the other trail sleds. This offers the cornering and stability to run it NASCAR style. The front end however, has been a heated topic as it is not adjustable and going off trail with such a wide and non-adjustable stance severely hinders its ability to get on edge and slip thorough those narrow lines between the trees.
New Ride Command Powder Hunting Features
In 2025, Polaris expanded its mapping features to really take off-trail riding to the next level. No longer do you have to sneak behind the expensive ‘guided tours’ to save yourself a couple bucks of beer money. Polaris dubbed “Heat Mapping” will track other Polaris riders’ sleds in areas where they recently rode. You can avoid the powder bowls that they already pounded but… follow their lines to those other secret spots for some sloppy seconds. Some riders may have extra motivation to read their owners manuals from top to bottom to disable
The open ride areas map that is also new for this year, clearly shows more than 9 million acres of land designated for off-trail riding. Explore away while you confidently know exactly where you should be!
ROCKY MOUNTAIN KING’S
2025 has two 850 boost options for a purpose-built mountain sled to choose from, either the Pro RMK or RMK Khaos. Both come in either a 155” or 165” skid length and choices of a series 8 track with 15”x 2.75” lug or the series 9 that has a 15” wide by 3.25” lug on either skid. Both are driven by the Polaris Quickdrive belt drive system that really shines when paired with the Boost motors and are now only on the Matryx slash chassis which gives them the short tunnel and cooler. The 7s display along with the mapping and other ride command goodies come standard on these sleds too!
Both the Pro and Khaos get multiple upgrades for 2025 to shed even more weight! The redesigned Pro-Lite seat is one inch lower and sheds a pound, new LED headlines give you a 2.5lb savings, new lightweight running boards and rear suspension pads another 2.5lb reduction and the dual extrovert driver takes yet another pound away. Not much of a weight saver but they also both feature a redesigned throttle system on all RMK’s claimed to
have a smoother feel and evacuate the snow better. These weight savings give the Pro RMK an amazingly low estimated dry weight of only 437lbs and the Khaos just slightly heavier at 442lbs.
Color choices in all other Polaris sleds have been paired down but you can get five different packages in the RMK’s along with the same options for tunnel and rail color-matching with specific options based on the package that you choose. You can pick from the three standard 2025 RMK colors plus two extra premium color packages that are boost/9R only that add a few hundred bucks to the price.
You may ask, what’s the difference between these two seemingly similar looking sleds? For the most part it is just the style of suspension setup that both are tuned with. In the Pro RMK you get the Walker Evans Velocity light package in the front and rear and the Khaos has the WER Velocity Hi-Lo setup all around. Both suspensions give you an equal travel of 9” in the front and 16” in the back but the way they are configured gives you quite a different style.
YOU MAY ASK, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO SEEMINGLY SIMILAR LOOKING SLEDS? FOR THE MOST PART IT IS JUST THE STYLE OF SUSPENSION SETUP THAT BOTH ARE TUNED WITH.
We asked two of our top OSM test riders (who spend more of their off time with Polaris Mountain sleds than their own families) to go a little deeper on that exact question!
Swarmy Says
The Khaos 155” is my sled of choice for the type of riding I like to do 80% of the time. It provides just the right amount of ski lift for all of the fun stunts like bow-ties, re-entries, wheelies and boulder hopping through creek beds. That ski lift and shorter track can be a double-edged sword when the hill climbing gets steep! Momentum is key on the Khaos, I had to become more comfortable riding faster in difficult terrain to keep up with my buddies like Jordan “Hill Slayer” Hammack and now feel more confident than ever each time I saddle up for a ride. This shock package really has me sold as they absorb all the jumps and bumps you can handle and provide a nice plush ride on the trail back to the truck.
The other 20% of the time, I am kicking myself for not snow-checking a Pro RMK 165”. These are the days where it just snowed 2’-3’, you get an invite to ride with the “Big Dogs” in no man’s land at the border of Idaho/Montana and they want to drop into a real s**t hole. These are the types of rides when you’re pushing the limits on technical terrain and getting stuck, that losing your line or turning down hill is just not possible - the Pro RMK is your only option. It’s lighter in weight and the skid frame allows for proper weight transfer that helps create momentum, even in the steeper sections of the hill.
Tyler Swarm OSM lead Mountain Magician!
HANG ON TIGHT, THE KHAOS WILL HAVE YOU LOOKING TO THE SKY WITH ZERO EFFORT. CAT-LIKE RIDER BALANCE IS RECOMMENDED
Jordy’s Judgement
If you’re looking to pull the trigger on a Polaris mountain sled there are a couple of things you need to consider. The Pro RMK has truly been the king of the mountain for a long time and though it was known for its “flick ability” it has been replaced in that department by a much newer member of the family, the Khaos.
Both are incredibly capable machines and have their own respective places on the hill. In my opinion it really comes down to rider preference but that being said let’s go over the noticeable differences between the two.
The Pro RMK for me is a point and shoot kind of sled. You will find it much easier to hold a line with more forgiveness which also means it takes a little more rider input to maneuver. You also find the skis are more appt to stay closer to the ground and that obviously means less trenching/ more floatation. This makes it a lot easier to pull straight uphill lines in deeper snow. The fact that the Pro RMK is a little less agile also means it’s easier to ride and more forgiving at the end of the day when you’re fatigued and maybe getting a little sloppy.
The Khaos is your ride if “playful” trumps “practicality” in your riding style. A rider will find the amount of input and weight distribution required to get a serious reaction out of this sled is far less than the PRO. This makes it much easier for smaller framed operators such as women or young adults. (You will notice a difference in confidence and capability if you pull your wife off a PRO and put her on a Khaos). Ski lift is almost effortless with the Khaos especially if you’re running a shorter track and that’s where that playful factor really becomes apparent. We all know nothing says I’m a snowmobiler like a ski in the air tail-stander!
Jordan Hammock OSM Head of hill slaying
DEALER’S CHOICE!
Choosing from these three turbo beasts isn’t difficult as they are all very purpose built for your riding needs. The Assault can handle the deepest of snow when presented the chance, you just might need to add a little bit more rider talent than your buddies on the RMK’s. Banging the trails on your way out and back will be tons of fun and will guarantee an adrenaline filled, triple digit speed experience 100% of the ride. If you can avoid all trails and are hunting for armpit deep powder, tight trees, and the most capable performance the Pro RMK Boost is a no brainer and is maybe our favorite mountain sled across all the OEM’s. If you are in heaven playing in deep powder bowls, jumping every snow-covered object, and keeping your skis off the snow as much as possible the Khaos Boost is built exactly for the hot shot’s that love to fool around, get tossed off in the snow and keep your buddies entertained and laughing. Whichever boost you choose you certainly won’t be disappointed! Normally at this point in the season you would have been out of luck to get one of these, as all three are snow check only models. However, on the bright side of the disappointing snow of the 2023-24 season, you shouldn’t have much difficulty finding any of them for sale on a dealer’s floor and maybe even at a discount from MSRP!
YOU CAN’T ASK FOR A SMOOTHER RIDE WITH WALKER EVANS VELOCITY LIGHT SHOCKS, STANDARD ON ALL PRO AND KHAOS MODELS.
THE NEW LED HEADLIGHTS ARE SIMPLIFIED TO SHED 2.5LBS AND GIVE YOU AN EVEN CLEARER VIEW OF ANYTHING AHEAD ON THE EVENING RIDE HOME.
NEW LIGHTWEIGHT RUNNING BOARDS SHED ADDITIONAL WEIGHT AND GIVE EVEN BETTER SNOW EVACUATION AND GRIP!
BY MARK BONCHER
No matter what the newest fad is in snowmobiling, the industry still lives and dies by what happens in the trails. Sure, the last few years the crossover, off-trail, and mountain sleds have had their comeuppance but the life-blood of the industry is still in the trails of the Midwest, and Eastern areas of Canada and the Northern US. That was very notable in the low snow season last year. We’ve said this before, but the industry is healthy when there is 1.) Snow, and 2.) Positive trail sled sales. Ski-Doo is quite possibly the originator of the snowmobile, we are not going to have that debate now, but for many years Ski-Doo has been at the forefront of the newest leading edge technology and handling for the trail-minded riding community. This 2025 model year is no different!
There may not be anything extremely groundbreaking this year like when the REV chassis came out, or when the direct injected E-tec motor was introduced, or a factory produced 2-stroke turbo was unveiled… but there’s still lots to discuss. For this article we will focus on what’s new, what we like (and dislike) about our favorite 137 and 129-inch performance trail sleds being made up in Valcourt, Quebec.
>> More than just competitive
It’s not a secret that I’ve been a fan of the X-RS sleds from Ski-Doo since they were first introduced in the XP chassis. I’ve personally owned several of them! What’s great about this year’s Gen5 chassis MXZ X-RS is it comes available in the cross-country racing ‘competition’ package, plus the 850 Turbo R motor with the water injection system. The Competition package means that there are the very best KYB+ Pro 40 EA-3 coil-over Kashima coated shocks all the way around both up front in the RAS RX suspension and in the rMotion X Competition skid. OR, you can
have the adjust-on-the fly optional KYB Pro Smart Shox system for all the shocks.
Something that is notable by Ski-Doo on the Competition sled is to offer this model X-RS in only the 137-inch length. In the recent past that would have meant it was in the ‘Renegade’ line of semi-crossover sleds, but now the Renegades are slightly more focused on the lower end of the high-performance riding spectrum, and harboring the majority of 4-stroke trail sleds from Ski-Doo. I would say this is one of my dislikes regarding Ski-Doo’s trail options as it dilutes the strong Renegade name. The past 10+ years 137-inch sleds were still considered crossover sleds, but I guess now they are ONLY for the trail. If I had a ‘throwing my hands up’ emoji, this is where I would use it!
Still, the X-RS with its turbo is the most powerful 2-stroke production trail sled made. That’s what the X-RS should be (or the Mach Z) if that moniker was used again. These are the big-bad race-rockets and with 180 ponies under the hood and it makes no difference if you are a straightline speed addict or a snocross wanna-be,
WE ARE NOT EXCITED THAT THE ONLY TRACK OPTION FOR THE COMPETITION SLED HAS SMALLER 1.25-INCH LUGS ON IT.
the X-RS is the Ski-Doo extreme trail sled for you. The Competition version does come in the smaller HP version with the 600R motor, but honestly if you are buying just a 600R (other than for race-class restrictions) there is no reason to buy an X-RS Competition version (or standard X-RS) when the X version MXZ or Blizzard have darn good shocks as well.
As far as transferring the power of the engine the pDrive primary has the clickers on it, and the QRS secondary gets the upgraded ‘vent plus’ on it in the 850 sleds to keep things cool in the clutches and prolong belt life. The clickers make adjustments easy and let you get the most out of wrangling that massive power as conditions change.
We are not excited that the only track option for the Competition sled has smaller 1.25-inch lugs on it. There should at least be an option for a 1.5-inch lug track in my opinion. The X-model MXZ gets this right as it has not only a 129-inch and 137-inch option for sled length but both the Ripsaw and Ice Ripper XT tracks available. The Ice Ripper is available on the X in a 1.5-inch lug on both the 129-inch version and the 137-incher. I still personally own a 137-inch 850 X model Gen 4 Renegade, and I have a 1.75-inch lug track on it. Honestly you don’t lose that much on top end, grip on the trail is fantastic, and it makes the sled pretty frickin’ fun off-trail!
The X-models don’t get an option of the 850 Turbo and get KYB Pro-36 EA-3 shocks (no Smart Shox available), but
UPGRADE ON THE X-RS COMPETITION VERSION MXZ.
DO get the new big gauge screen, RX Front suspension and skis, and big 4-piston brake caliper. Knowing this, VERY FEW people need more than a Gen5 X-model on the trail, those shocks are snocross competition capable, and you even get them on the MXZ Adrenaline Blizzard package! You can get X’s and Blizzards at very good values compared to the X-RS… but I guess if you have the means why not go big and pony up for an X-RS!
We are very excited that there is the option of the SHOT ultracapacitor starting system on the Competition sled though. My broken record keeps repeating as I’ve said many times that it is something that should be an option on all mountain, crossover, and trail performance 2-stroke E-Tec sleds. There are also new Pilot RX skis that work well both in the corners and loose snow. Finally, gadget lovers will appreciate the new 10.25-inch display with BRP Connect and GPS. If you do not get the Competition package and go
CORNERING IS A BREEZE ON THE X-RS, AND IT ESPECIALLY SHINES IN THE STUTTER BUMPS.
KASHIMA COATED SHOCKS OVER THE SKIS AND IN THE SKID ARE A MAIN
THE X-RS IS NOT WITHOUT ITS FLAWS THOUGH. SKI-DOO HAS FIXED THE ‘NO-FEEL’ NUANCE OF THE FLY-BY-WIRE THROTTLE THAT HAD NO RESISTANCE, TO NOW HAVE A SLIGHTLY MORE TRADITIONAL FEEL.
with the standard X-RS you really only miss out on the Kashima coating on the shocks, option of the SHOT starting system, and a few other little things here and there. Also, the 600R version can get the Smart Shox on the standard X-RS. We REALLY like the SHOT system and for that alone might be willing to fork out extra dough, but probably not at the current 7+ percent interest rate!
For the record, there are a total of 6 trims in the MXZ line this year (X-RS Competition, X-RS, X, Blizzard Adrenaline, Adrenaline, and Sport. All but the Sport model are in the Gen5 chassis, while the Sport with the 600EFI powerplant is still in the Gen4.
>> Renegade Makeover
I guess 2-strokes don’t mix with 4-strokes… at least not in the trail sled market anymore from Ski-Doo. Maybe this gives the 4-strokes their ‘safe space’, or
maybe it just makes sense for production, engineering, dealers, and ultimately the consumer to know where they should look in Ski-Doo’s offerings to find what 4-stroke trail sled they want!
Ski-Doo has pretty convincingly made the Renegades into their 4-stroke line of 137-inch-long performance trail sleds starting last year and continuing this year, and all of these machines are powered by different versions of the ACE 4-stroke motor platform. The only 2-stroke exception is that you can get the Renegade Enduro with an option of the 600R or 850 2-stroker powerplants. The names of the Renegade trim levels have not changed dramatically for 2025 and thankfully, just like the MXZ sleds, all but one model is in the Gen5 chassis. Your choices are the X-RS, X, Enduro, Adrenaline, and Sport (Gen4) layouts.
The 900 ACE motor has pretty much taken over as the building block of many BRP vehicles, but it is extremely prevalent
in the snowmobile market, and the Renegade sleds in particular. Top of the line is the 900 ACE Turbo R and this 4-stroke turbo is the only motor available in the X-RS Renegade. Like all of the Ski-Doo 4-stroke sleds, this one has wider bodywork as a larger engine cavity is needed to house the bigger 4-stroke motors. The X-RS is the best all-around high performance 4-stroke powered sled in the industry. Cornering is great, it is comfortable with new heated seat and heated visor plug, and new 10.25inch display this year. But the Renegade X-RS’s ability to hit the bumps better than any other 4-stroke right now, or before, is where this sled really shines. The KYB Pro Smart Shox carry this machine very well, and the rack-steering provides a quick light feel that most 4-stroke riders don’t get (other than the electronic power steering on some of the Yamaha and Cat 4-stroke turbos, which is great as well). This Ski-Doo sled is simply lighter and better
end speed league of the Sidewinder or Thundercat… but with the launch-mode stutter button that was introduced on the Mach Z a little while ago this sled can get up to speed extremely quickly for you lake racers. No sled is perfect, but this one comes pretty close if you are a 4-stroke connoisseur.
The Renegade X is no slouch either and comes with the 900 ACE Turbo R motor (with launch mode) or optionally the less powerful 130hp 900 ACE Turbo. KYB 36 Plus shocks do the work up front on the X and in the center shock, but you get the upgraded KYB Pro 36 EA-3 shock in the rear of the rMotion X skid. Plus, you get the big gauge, heated seat, heated visor plug, and 4-piston brake caliper.
Speaking of not being a slouch, the Renegade Enduro has endured for many years and has seemingly a massive cult following. The ACS air ride rear suspension is still a fan of all of us who have slipped a disc in our back before. You have the option of a total of 5 engines for this sled too including the 850, 600R, 900 ACE Turbo R, 900 ACE Turbo, and 900 ACE. The wider and cushioned heated seat is made for long rides in total bliss. Throw some LinQ accessories on this thing, grab a
balanced and has a less heavy backshift so it smoothly handles tight twisty trails and feels at home in the air off bumps.
The X-RS is not without its flaws though. Ski-Doo has fixed the ‘no-feel’ nuance of the fly-by-wire throttle that had no resistance, to now have a slightly more traditional feel. However, the flipper is still not intuitive even to long-time riders. At 180 HP, this sled is still not in the top
THE RAS RX FRONT SUSPENSION WITH KYB+ PRO 40 EA-3 SHOCKS IS ONE OF, IF NOT THE BEST FRONT END IN THE INDUSTRY.
LED HEADLIGHTS, HANDGAURDS, AND MORE COME STANDARD ON X-RS AND X TRAIL SLED MXZ AND RENEGADE GEN5 SLEDS FROM SKI-DOO.
RIPPING THE TRAILS FROM TOWN TO TOWN, OR HAMMERING THE MOGULS ON A POWER-LINE, THE X-RS GIVES YOU WARM SUNNY FEELINGS NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS.
backpack, and go ride 1000 miles in a few days with your buddies… who will all be crying for a hot tub and back-massage at the end… while you just smile.
The Renegade Adrenaline and Sport rounds out the line as the two value models. The Adrenaline has 3 engine options with the 900 ACE Turbo R, 900 ACE Turbo, and 900 ACE, while the Gen4 Sport only has the smaller 600 ACE engine option.
>> Can we git some drip?
I guess ‘drip’ is what the kids are calling a decked-out cool factor in clothing and whatnot these days, but we would like to see a little more color on all these sleds. You are basically forced to pick black or yellow, or a slight combination of both, in most all of these MXZ and Renegade sleds for 2025. That’s not been Ski-Doo’s style for numerous years as there have been all kinds
of wild colors. I am not saying there has to be 20 different customizable colors, but maybe just 2 colors is a little drab too.
We aren’t going to end this article on a down note, as it’s much more about the riding fun and performance of these sleds that we worry about… and there’s certainly very little for SkiDoo to be concerned about in that department!
Rider reflection
Nothing super exciting to me here as Ski doo kept rather conservative in 2025. Does that warrant some nitpicking, maybe? However, I still will take any G5 chassis any day on the trail for one of the easiest and predictable-to-ride trail machines. For my dollars, the MXZ X 137” with the standard 850 E-tec is one of the best values in a new sled this season. In the lower elevations this is more than enough power and honestly doesn’t feel dramatically slower than the turbo R. It comes included with that warm and cozy feeling of minimal chances of a costly breakdown, as it’s proven to be one of the most reliable motors in the industry.
Jason K – OSM Trans-Patriot
Levi LaVallee Redefining the sport on-and-off the trail!
THE 2025 CROSSOVER COLLECTION is engineered to explore. Each product offers more than meets the eye, blending versatility with functional features for superior on and off-trail performance. Equipped with F.A.S.T.™ floatation technology, flexible insulation options, and significant ventilation, crossover gear is built to conquer everything from rugged off-trail terrain to high-speed trails in all temperatures and conditions.
corpowersports.com
1690 56th St Somerset, WI 54025
651-387-5880
Cor PowerSports PROGRAM PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY ON SNOW MAGAZINE
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: Shawn Baron
Administrative Assistant: Sarah Day
Race Series Photographer: Emily Ilstrup
Photographers: Emily Ilstrup, Richard Kehoe, Tendra Crossman
Contributing Writers: Mark Boncher, Jeff Steenbakkers, Jason Kawczynski, Tyler Swarm, Jordan Hammack, Richard Kehoe, Andrew McEwan
Subscriptions: 1-888-661-7469 or info@osmmag.com
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RACE SCHEDULE 2025
2025 season marks the 14th year Cor PowerSports has been putting on races in the Midwest, for the upcoming season we will be hosting races at various locations in the Midwest.
JANUARY 11-12, 2025
OTTERTAIL, MN (PLOWED LAKE RACE)
JANUARY 25-26, 2025
PARK RAPIDS, MN (TERRAIN RACE)
FEBRUARY 8-9, 2025
TBD
FEBRUARY 22-23, 2025
WALKER, MN (UNPLOWED LAKE RACE)
MARCH 1-2, 2025
NAYTAHWAUSH, MN (UNPLOWED LAKE RACE)
MARCH 14-16, 2025
IRONWOOD, MI (TERRAIN / SKI HILL RACE)
WELCOME LETTER
A
s we come off one of the most difficult seasons for the snowmobile industry, the excitement for the 2025 Cor PowerSports race season is bringing excitement as well as many new faces, sponsors.
The 2025 race season is our 14th year that Cor PowerSports is operating as a race series but it is the 15th year of Cor PowerSports as our first year we were a family race team running cross country and snocross racing.
Over those 15 years we have seen many situations out of our control like we did last winter with weather and the 2020 – 2021 seasons when we had to operate under strict event restrictions. Through all of those trials we leaned into our faith and race family for support and strength as we kept focused on the future.
One year ago before winter even arrived we were navigating through new permit restrictions and still to this day we
are working on not just our snowmobile rights but those of all motorsport’s enthusiasts. Cor PowerSports is now the stewards of cross country snowmobile racing, as we grow we also remain focused on honoring those that have come before us. It is now our turn to carry the torch of being the promoter group for cross country racing and work with a large number of snowmobile clubs, communities, government agencies, and state politicians as we navigate through the logistics of what is needed each year for operating a very unique business as Cor PowerSports.
Cor PowerSports is family; our racers, sponsors, venues, and most of all fans are all what makes up Cor PowerSports and we are grateful for everyone that is or has been a part of our journey not just with Cor PowerSports these past 15 years but our 20+ years in the motorsports industry.
We want to thank our racers, fans, venue partners, and sponsors for their continued support over these past 14 seasons and are looking forward to having another exciting season with some amazing races that will create a lifetime of memories.
Sincerely,
Todd and Andrea Myers
SPONSORS
SUPPORTING THE SPORT >
To implement a first-class racing series like Cor PowerSports Race Series takes a lot of dedicated people all with a passion and a vision working towards the same end goal. A huge part of this dedicated family are the sponsors who generously support the sport. Through their support, we have a venue in which to participate, spectate, and work in one of the greatest forms of snowmobile racing in the world. Their loyalty and resources are the lifeblood of Cor PowerSports Racing, and for that reason we ask you show them the same level of support and to think of these companies and organizations first.
Polaris
Snowmobiling is anticipation. Tweaking gear. Planning rides. Sharing moments. There is no off-season. Once you get out there on a Polaris it gets into you. That’s why they’ve never stopped pioneering breakthroughs and enhancing the snowmobile experience, helmets on or off. It’s what Polaris riders live for.
FXR
FXR Clothing you'll find the full line of men's, women's and youth FXR gear! Riders are never disappointed to find exactly what they have been searching for with the broad line of styles FXR carries, whether you are riding on the trails or in the mountains the quality of product will withstand the conditions. Shop FXR Racing gear for your snowmobile jacket, bibs, gloves, boots, goggles, and more! Be sure to check out the latest in the FXR casual line to match your everyday wear to your riding lifestyle!
C&A Pro
Located in the heart of snowmobile country, just steps away from Minnesota’s fabled Luce Line State Trail, C&A Pro has been making world renowned snowmobile skis for nearly three decades. We make our skis right here in Minnesota, where winters are long and the snowmobiling tradition runs deep.
C&A Pro skis quickly attained legend status. To this day, no other aftermarket ski manufacturer is able to add up to all the titles and successes of C&A Pro. From holding more snocross championships, cross country championships, watercross championships, Guinness world records…no other ski has jumped higher or farther than C&A Pro.
Nelson Leasing
Dale Nelson began working as a teenager for a company named Auto Safety Service in 1951. By 1954, Dale purchased the business and renamed it Dale Nelson Auto Safety Service. The establishment was located on Third Street West in Willmar, MN in an 80 x 50 foot building. When he first bought the business, it was primarily an automobile repair garage, but as time went on, Dale began to specialize in heavy duty trucks.
Currently, Nelson International has 5 dealer locations with 8 subcontractors serving as the sole Navistar Dealer in North Dakota as well as serving a portion of western Minnesota. With over 60 years in business, Nelson International understands the importance of their role, which is to help their customer’s become as profitable as possible by providing an excellent product and superb customer service with as little downtime as possible. Between the dealer locations and the subcontractors, Nelson International provides the best truck dealer coverage in the area.
Studboy
Manufacturers of snowmobile carbide studs, backer plates, carbide wear bars, and accessories. “STUD BOY”® products provide the safety and performance that gets the power to the ground while maintaining confidence in snowmobile control. Traction control products puts ease in knowing your snowmobile will respond the way you need it to, and “STUD BOY”® stud & wearbar products will provide this confidence!
It is our passion to provide the safest, most dependable traction products in the industry. Here at “STUD BOY”®, we are trail riders and we are racers. We hear the demands, we react and we test. It is not only a hobby, it is an obsession!
Let us help you reach the comfort of safety and performance you deserve!
Get “traction with an attitude” with “STUD BOY”® traction products, and feel the difference in your snowmobile.
Ski Doo 2022 Ski-Doo snowmobiles push the boundaries of possibility and innovation further than ever before. Every feature is inspired by riders like you who reimagine the ride in ways that redefine the winter escape.
Woody's
Woody's is a second generation, familyowned business that was established in 1968.
Since then we have partnered internationally with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), trail clubs & groups, snowmobile organizations, race teams, and distributors in order to optimize our products and make them widely available. As a result, we are known today as the industry's premier producer of snowmobile traction products for safety and control.
Hunter Houle Memorial Foundation
The Hunter Houle Memorial Foundation is dedicated to helping those in need, the advancement of education, and engaging in other charitable purposes.
The Foundation arose out of Hunter Houle’s true love of racing and strong passion for helping others. Combining these passions, the Foundation strives to benefit the community and those in need.
TDS Trucking
TDS Trucking is a family owned and operated trucking company that specializes in Anhydrous Ammonia, LP Gas and Liquid fertilizer
Christian Transport
Christian Transport is a family owned company that was started over 41 years ago, specializing in liquid fertilizer and grain relocation
Jay's Power Center
Jay’s passion for and knowledge of the powersports industry led to increased business, loyal customers, and the need for a new larger showroom space and an expanded service area. In 2016, Jay’s Power Center held its Grand Opening in its current location on East Main Street in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
With a large inventory of both new and used motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles, scooters, and dirt bikes, we know we have the perfect vehicle for you. Plus they also offer a full service center for your new or used motorcycle, ATV, UTV, snowmobile, or other powersports vehicle!
OSM Magazine
Launched in 1986, OSM grew into Canada’s most influential snowmobile magazine. OSM has become the premiere snowmobile publication throughout North America. With strong circulation in Canada and the USA, the best way to reach Snowmobilers is with OSM. This is THE Magazine Snowmobilers have read and trusted for over 2 decades, and has become the lifestyle voice for the sport.
THE VENUES >
OTTERTAIL 100
JANUARY 11-12 2025
Ottertail, MN
The central lakes region has always been a favorite area for cross-country snowmobile racing. The past two season we have run the Nisswa 100 in the ditches but this year we present to you the Dunmire’s on the Lake 100 in Brainerd, Minnesota! This event will be ran on North Long Lake as a plowed lake race.
Pro Stock 2023 winner: Wes Selby
Semi Pro Stock 2023 winner: Evan Peppel
HEARTLAND 200
JANUARY 25-26, 2025
Park Rapids, Minnesota
Round three of the series will be the annual Heartland 200 with the coveted neon sign trophy up for grabs. The race course is one of the most diverse of the series with wooded trails, ditch, and ice sections all in the race. The race covers 110 miles of fully wooded trails and ditches making it a very technical course. There is a lake back up option at this event as well if snow conditions aren't up to par.
Pro Stock 2023 winner: Zach Herfindahl
Semi Pro Stock 2023 winner: Boe Bunke
GOODRIDGE-GRYGLA I-500
FEBRUARY 8-9, 2025
Goodridge/Grygla, Minnesota
One of the most prestigious snowmobile races in the nation is the cross country I-500. Covering 250 miles per day is no easy task especially in conditions that this event has had in previous years. The race is now based out of Goodridge/ Grygla, Minnesota and is a 125 mile race course that changes for each day of racing. Competitors make two laps on the course each day making an impressive 500 miles in just two days. The course is a combination of rough ditches, deep holes, rivers, woods, and fields. The 500 continues to thrive in huge part thanks to the support of former racers, club members, and enthusiasts from the Goodridge Grygla snowmobile clubs.
Pro Stock 2023 winner: Zach Herfindahl
Semi Pro Stock 2023 winner: Boe Bunke
LEECH LAKE 200
FEBRUARY 22-23, 2025
Walker, Minnesota
Cor Powersports is heading back to Walker, Minnesota for the second annual Leech Lake 200. Walker, Minnesota is no stranger to the cross country racing world but Cor Powersports hosted their inaugural event on Leech Lake in 2023 and we are happy to be back! The course will be an unplowed lake course 13-15 miles in length.
Pro Stock 2023 winner: Zach Herfindahl
Semi Pro Stock 2023 winner: Boe Bunke
NAYTAHWAUSH SNODEO 200
MARCH 1-2, 2025
Naytahwaush, Minnesota
The Snodeo 200 has been another annual event that racers and fans look forward to. The event has been raced for over 50 years! The race course will not be plowed, the club will be working on plowing the first mile of the race course so we can run a heads up start. This event is one you don’t want to miss!
Pro Stock 2024 Snodeo winner: Jesse Hallstorm
Semi Pro 2024 Snodeo winner: Luke Van Lyssel
Pro Stock 2024 Nightriders winner: Jesse Hallstrom
Semi Pro 2024 Nightriders winner: Luke Van Lyssel
GOGEBIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE IRONWOOD TRILOGY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
MARCH 14-16, 2025
Ironwood, Michigan
Coming back for 2025 is the season finale at Mt. Zion in Ironwood, Michigan! After a season full of ice and terrain, we cap off the year on the ski hill. In 2023, we were blessed with feet of fresh snow the week leading up to the race which made this race one for the books! We are looking forward to heading back to this area and putting on another good show!
Pro Stock 2023 winner: Zach Herfindahl
Semi Pro 2023 winner: Jesse Hallstrom
2025 COR POWERSPORTS RACE SERIES AWARDS BANQUET
MARCH 22, 2025
Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lakes
AS YOU CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROX SPEED FX COULD YOU SHARE SOME OF THE HISTORY OF ROX?
The history of Rox Speed FX, Inc® can almost be defined in just two words: vision and family. Rocky Cutsforth grew up in a family with the attitude of, “Sure, we can do that!” It didn’t matter what it was, from building a massive grill to feed a crowd to creating products for the power industry. Rocky’s father, David Cutsforth, was and continues to be an inventor, creator and visionary. He passed these qualities along to his kids including Rocky whose passion was motorsports. So, when his feet kept sliding on the running boards of his sled, he went to work creating a form of traction. After some trial and error, the Rox Speed FX® “Sled Tred” was born and slipping on your running boards became a thing of the past. This was the first product of Rox Speed FX, Inc™ which began in 1999. Rocky continued designing more products including a line of handlebar risers that he patented. It soon became clear that Rox Speed FX, Inc™ was not just a hobby, but a business.
Things were going along great for our family and for the company; however, on May 20, 2010 we were all stunned to hear that Rocky passed away unexpectedly in an accident while driving an ATV for a photo shoot. The family was in shock. Although it just didn’t make sense, this was a reality and life had to keep going.
Interestingly, a month before Rocky passed away, he said to his wife Lynn, “If anything ever happens to me, my
cousin Chris could come in and do my job. What he doesn’t know, he could learn, but he’s the one who could do it.” Rocky’s words proved to be true. Chris brought with him 25 years of experience in manufacturing and operations management – and of course, a passion for the motorsports industry. Chris and Rocky grew up together riding and racing anything with tires from the time they were 5 until their last ride together a month before Rocky’s passing. This, along with experience from previous work environments gave him the credibility to step into a role that was quite challenging considering the situation.
Chris picked up where Rocky had left off and Rox Speed FX, Inc® continues to be a successful and innovative company. Our team is passionate, creative, and committed to continue what Rocky and his father began. It has been built on strong values, hard work and is backed by a family that rises to meet every challenge with perseverance and enthusiasm.
Rox has brought many innovative products to the snowmobile industry but snowmobiling is not the only industry Rox is involved with, what other industries is Rox products utilized in?
The Rox Risers are widely used in the motorcycle and ATV communities. Jet Ski racing and trick riding as well to a lesser degree.
Many different disciplines of racing utilize Rox Speed FX products, why is racing integral to your company?
Racing is an integral part of the motorsport’s world for several reasons. First and foremost is product development. Improvement happens through failure. There is no better place to test designs and ideas than through extreme usage scenarios. You cannot always see the failure point when you are staring at your computer screen. Racing provides real life feedback which is essential to motorsport’s research and development.
With an innovative company like Rox and you reflect on the past 25 years where does Rox see this adventure heading over the next 25 years?
That’s a great question. The snowmobile community has been through a lot of challenges over the last few years. The covid craziness, supply chain challenges and lack of snow across North America has been tough. Rox Speed FX has survived all of it by having great employees, great relationships and great customers in the motorsport’s communities. Our success in the future is and will be based on that. The future is exciting for all of us and I am hopeful and optimistic Rox will be here another 25 years to see it. Who knows maybe we will be riding around Star Wars type land speeders by then!
By: Emily Ilstrup
Coming into the 2024 season, eighteenyear-old Jesse Hallstrom was slated to line up in the Semi Pro ranks for his third season. His goals were to sweep the season points championship in Stock and Improved. After having a steller showing at an independent race in December at Pine Lake and his Pro teammate, Wes Selby, getting injured at the Soo I-500, the team decided to put Jesse in the Pro ranks in Naytahwaush. With the expectations to learn and get a handle for the Pro ranks, Jesses four races in 2024 blew his goals out of the water. In his rookie season, Jesse claimed both Pro Factory Stock wins and one Pro Open third place. After and exciting 2024 season, it will be exciting to see what Hallstorm can do in 2025!
OSM: How did you get started in snowmobile racing and how long have you been racing?
Jesse: You know I’m not exactly sure when I started but I know snowmobiling as been a huge part of my family life for a long time going back to when my dad was a kid. And his dad brought home snowmobiles when he was a kid. I’ve been racing for as long back as I can remember. I think I was three or four when my parents stuck me on a kitty cat and I’ve been obsessed with snowmobiles ever since. I turned 18 last spring so I guess that makes it 14-15 years!
OSM: Give us a timeline on your racing career as you have moved up the ranks fairly quickly!
Jesse: I’ve always tried to keep advancing classes as soon as possible
to always be challenging myself. I got off the 120s and onto the big sleds in Jr 10-13 when I was 10 I believe then when I was 13 I tired 14-17 and expert 600 limited for a year then Sport for a year. After that my two years in Semi Pro which leads me where I am today!
OSM: What did you learn from your two years in Semi Pro that helped prepare you for the Pro class debut in 2024. Jesse: The heads up starts were the biggest thing for me. I really enjoy that kind of racing and I think it plays in my favor. Another thing was sled setup, you need to have your suspension just right to be able to run the pace comfortably.
OSM: When was the decision made that you were going to move up to the Pro class in 2024?
Jesse: It wasn’t long before the first
Naytahwaush I was planning on running Pro Open because Semi Pros are allowed to run Pro Open on lake races. Then after the SOO i500 where Wes broke his wrist and when he decided not to race Naytahwaush, Dwight called when we were testing and asked if I wanted to race Pro Stock too and I said of course!
OSM: How was the transition from Arctic Cat to Ski-doo?
Jesse: The transition was really smooth I felt comfortable on the sled the first day and still am loving it.
OSM: You are riding for Christian Brothers Racing along side Wes Selby and have Bryan Dyrdahl as your mechanic. How has having these two mentors along side you played a role in your success?
Jesse: I’ve learned a lot from these
two as far as setup and racing lines and technique. Bryan has been a huge mentor for me these last two years and I have enjoyed working and learning with him. And I’d like to thanks the rest of the CBR team Dwight and Stuart Christian, Betsy Steffl and Chad Shouviller, without them none of this would be possible.
OSM: Cor Powersports had two events in 2024 due to warm temperatures and lack of snow. They both were hosted in Naytahwaush on North Twin Lake. You made your official Pro debut at. the Naytahwaush Nightriders 200. Take us through your race weekend and how you came away with your first Pro class win in your first official Pro race!
Jesse: Well it started off Saturday in Pro Open we had just built a new mod
the weekend and didn't know how it would stack up against the rest of the field. Lucky we qualified top five and started on the front row and after a few good battles settled out in third overall in Pro Open. I was very happy about that but was excited to give my stocker a try. Then on Sunday morning had a good run in qualifying and had first pick on the front row of the final. Lucky had a good start but I had long time rival Evan Peppel right behind me who has moved up with me threw the ranks.
We had an epic battle that lasted the entire race passing each other multiple times a lap till it came to lap eight where we both pitted. I had a slightly better fuel stop which gave me a couple second gap over Evan to give me enough breathing room to bring home my first Pro Stock win!
OSM: The following weekend we went back to Naytahwaush for the annual Snodeo 200. Here you backed up your win to prove it was no fluke. Talk us through this race weekend. Was there more pressure during this race than your first or did you not feel any pressure at all?
Jesse: I would say knowing I have the speed to win makes me want it more so as far as added pressure I would say no. If anything the pressure was off after I got the first one out of the way. This weekend again was another close one that came to the final few corners. My best friend Marshall Busse, who was always a class ahead of me in my junior career, and I had an awesome battle together and even with Evan Peppel who I battled with the weekend before. It's a surreal feeling battling with your friends for the top spot of the premier class.
OSM: There is a lot of youth at the front of the Pro class right now battling with season vets like Herfindahl, Christensen, and Selby. Do you have anything to say about the next flock of racers joining the Pro class?
Jesse: Racing with the vets is a wild feeling after watching them for so many years and one thing to pick up from them is that they don’t make many mistakes. As far as the next group of young racers all I can say is learn from them they have it figured out.
OSM: What were your goals going into the 2024 season?
Jesse: Goals honestly were to get a Semi Pro championship but after Pine Lake, I wanted more and then my goals switched to my first Pro level win.
OSM: What are your goals coming into the 2025 season?
Jesse: My goals are to just win as many races as I can, take each race one by one and just learn from the vets in the class. Along with winning the I-500 has always been a dream of mine.
Any final thoughts on your 2024 season?
Jesse: It was a good learning year and I couldn’t be happier. With only a couple Pro races under my belt I got a good understanding on what it takes to win and the pace you need to run along with making no mistakes.
By: Emily Ilstrup
After the 2024 season was cut short, Fremont, Wisconsin native, Luke Van Lyssel, is looking to carry the winning moment into the 2025 season in the Semi Pro Factory Stock and Semi Pro Improved classes. In 2024, Van Lyssel swept the Semi Pro classes at the Naytahwaush Nightriders 200 and got another win the following weekend at the Naytahwaush Snodeo 200 in the Semi Pro Factory Stock class. The only race he did not win in 2024 was in the Semi Pro Improved class at the Naytahwaush Snodeo 200 where he finished third. Let’s dive into this 21-year-olds career and what he attributes his success to.
OSM: Tell us your background in snowmobile racing and how you got started?
Luke: I started as a kid around threeyears-old, riding my Kitty Kat around the yard until it ran out of gas after school. My dad raced until the early 2000s and got me started in smaller, local races.
OSM: Give us your racing career timeline?
Luke: I did some small snocross and ice racing on 120’s and in 2013 I moved up to the Junior classes with COR Powersports in Wisconsin. From there it was the normal progress through the Junior classes to Sport and in 2020 I made the change to the national series. In 2021 I won the Sport class championships and moved to the Semi Pro class.
OSM: In 2021 you landed on the podium in both Sport and Sport Improved at all four rounds and also swept the first weekend in Cable, Wisconsin. In 2022
you moved up to Semi Pro you started out the season with a few top fives and one podium and earned one more podium in Naytahwaush. In 2023 you started out your season with a few top fives and then ended strong with a third and fourth in Naytahwaush and a second and first in Ironwood. After these three strong season in Sport and Semi Pro, what were your goals going into 2024 in the Semi Pro class as far as race wins?
Luke: There was no set number of wins that I was aiming for, I just focused on putting in 100% when I’m on the track. Theres no better feeling than winning, especially after lifting the weight off of getting my first Semi Pro win, and that’s what I chase every time.
OSM: In 2024, you won three out of four Semi Pro Factory Stock/Semi Pro Improved races.
What do you attribute your success to in 2024?
Luke: I would say my success came from working hard, gaining experience,
and all around learning as a racer. In those races I was able to put it all together and get the results we all work for.
OSM: As for season championships, in 2021 you swept the Sport class championships. In 2022 you finished seventh in Semi Pro Stock and third in Semi Pro Improved. In 2023 you finished fifth in Semi Pro Stock and again third in Semi Pro Improved. What are your championship goals in 2024? Are you seeking both titles in 2025?
Luke: It was looking great for 2024 to go for the title in both Semi-Pro Stock and Improved classes. That’s the goal again for me next year, but I’m just going to take it race by race. I want to focus on doing my best and I know that will put me in a good position to do so.
OSM: You just went Pro in motocross this past summer. Does anything transfer over from dirtbikes to snowmobiles?
Luke: For sure, physically it keeps you in shape. Mentally being in a racing atmosphere and mindset year-round helps my performance for either discipline. The sense of speed, line selection, and flow really helps with the ditch races.
OSM: You seem to be strong in the ditch and on the ice. Do you prefer ice or ditch?
Luke: It depends. I like a good ice race, but I prefer when the track is super rough. I can get a good flow jumping and skimming the bumps on those tracks. It really varies by the day what I will have more fun with.
OSM: What race are you looking forward to the most in 2025?
Luke: I’m excited for the Park Rapids Heartland 200, it’s always a great race in the woods. The great fans and
By: Emily Ilstrup
The first weekend of March is a date that all cross-country racers can mark as race weekend year after year.
Cor Powersports racers and ice racing enthusiasts from across the country have come together for 53 years for the Snodeo 200 in Naytahwaush, Minnesota. This event is one of the longest running snowmobile races in the country. Known for its short straights and sharp corners, racers claim this race is a game of technique every year. Speed is always important at ice races but in Naytahwaush, technique and speed wins races.
Hosted on North Twin Lakes in the center of Naytahwaush, the community and local clubs and organizations rally together every year to host one of the staple events on the cross-country schedule every year. The Naytahwaush Nightriders Snowmobile Club, the Naytahwaush Fire Department and the Naytahwaush EMS are a few of the organizations that have made this event possible for 53 years running. “There’s always a lot of work that goes into hosting the race. Some years it’s just more than others. The club always clears about ten acres of the lake for the pits and parking. Lots of volunteer hours go into making this happen.” explained Ben Baumann; Snodeo volunteer.
The planning meetings begin in the fall to discuss logistics of the race. “There are lots of moving parts that go into the planning and our volunteer club members do a great job working together to get the race
put on.” Ben expressed. Hosting a race in a community who is willing to rally together and volunteer their time makes for a great event. “We also receive support from Pinehurst Resort which hosts the awards and is a place to get a bite to eat and a drink during the races. The resort also hosts a dance on Saturday night that serves as a fundraiser for the club.” Ben explained. The Snodeo 200 is truly an event and not just a snowmobile race.
Looking back at the 2024 race season, everyone was waiting on cold weather and snow. When
January rolled around the first few rounds of the Cor Powersports schedule, Nisswa, Ottertail, Park Rapids, and I-500, were all canceled. Walker, Minnesota was slotted to host round five on the schedule and as the date grew closer, the ice they did have was melting quickly. The race was eventually
canceled and the series was in search of a replacement as everyone was more than eager to get racing. “With the lack of snow and ice this past winter we had discussions with Todd that he may be in search of another venue. As the winter progressed with less than ideal conditions we decided as a club that it would be good to host another race. We get a lot of volunteer time from the members of our club for the one race, so they agreed to pull double duty this past year and run two. We had a lot of positive feedback from the racing community that was just happy to be racing.” Ben explained.
To pull off even one cross country race in the winter of 2024 was a tall task but to pull off two back to back with conditions causing the ice to melt everyday, would be impossible for some but not the community of Naytahwaush. They were just as eager as the racers to see snowmobiles reach speeds as high as 120 miles per hour in their town.
Everyone in the community and industry rallied around this race to make both weekends happen. Modifications had to be made on the second race weekend to provide safe conditions. Pits were moved to the land rather than on the ice. Vehicles were no longer able to drive onto the ice. However, the fans still showed up! Fans lined the fence in their folding chairs to cheer on the best cross country racers battle it out.
There was plenty of surfacing water to go around but the crew did their best to keep moving corners when possible to make for the best racing. Between the Cor Powersports crew and the local volunteers and organizers, the cross country series was able to host two races in 2024 when at one point, thought would be impossible.
In 2025, we are hoping for a cold winter with lots of snow to get back to the rough technical Naytahwaush course that everyone is used to!
By: Emily Ilstrup
With the usual buzz taking up much of the spotlight in the Professional and Semi-Pro ranks, it might be easy for XC fans to forget about interesting plot lines developing in more niche categories of this discipline. While XC snowmobile racing has always provided a level-playing ground for female racers (old and young alike) to compete woman-to-woman…. A distinctive pro-class for women is something that has not always been available for all. But Cor Powersports has made it a point to offer this distinction within the women’s ranks of this sport and since then it has allowed women to establish themselves and be challenged by newcomers… In this edition of the 2025 program, we take a closer look at two women looking to leave their mark in the snowmobile racing industry.
kenna Cloose, a twentyyear-old out of Bemidji, can easily be considered the veteran in the Pro Womens class. Coming off of her fourth season as a Pro, her on-paper stats don’t necessarily reflect her success in the series. Having been hampered with injuries in three of the four years in the class, her championship standings have suffered. Last season, an absurdly dry and warm winter forced so many race cancellations that Cor Powersports was left with no options other than to suspend entirely a season points-based championship altogether. But taking a closer look at individual race wins and lap times, Kenna’s potential is obvious. After knocking on the podium box with top five finishes during her rookie season (2021), it seems all it took was one year to find her stride and she was off and away racking up wins. In 2022, she won three races and landed on the podium four more times. In 2023, Kenna won four races and earned two more podium finishes but missed one race due to injury. In the short 2024 season, Kenna earned one win and one season place only two seconds behind the leader.
Kenna Cloose started racing at just four-years-old on a kitty cat. She fell in love with racing and the people that come along with the sport. “My favorite part about racing has definitely been all the people I’ve met along the way and of course the friendly competition side has always been a fun perc.” Kenna explains. Returning 100% healthy for the 2025 winter, Kenna is sure to come out swinging and carry forward the momentum she has gained in the r ecent years.
If Kenna Cloose is the veteran of the class, we could easily look to Reece Novacek as one of the main challengers. A fifteen-year-old from Roseau, Minnesota, Novacek just finished her rookie season in the Pro Women's division in 2024 at just fourteen years old! Reese started racing at six years old in 2016 on her 120. She won her first race she entered so decided to stick with it! At the age of nine, Reese competed in her first cross-country race at USXC Andes Towers Hills event in 2019 and then started the 2020 season in the Junior 10-13 class but her (and everyone else’s) racing career was then put on hold due to COVID. She took
"Arctic cA t r A cers knew they h A d A ye A r of testing A nd growth A he A d of them with the new cA t A lyst ch A ssis under them.
the short 2021 season off but then got back into it in 2022 on a Bunke backed sled. Bunke Racing took Reese under their wing and were eager to branch out their team into the junior and womens classes. Not surprisingly, the fine-tuned program well-established Bunke Racing team has only served to accelerate Novacek’s development as a young racer In 2022 and 2023, Reese raced primarily in the Junior 10-13 boys class for more competition. In December of 2023, Reese stepped up to a full throttle sled (opposed to the 50% restricted setup mandated in all Junior classes) in the Pro Womens class at Pine Lake and finished third overall! Reese and her
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family, with the support of Bunke Racing decided to make the jump up full time in 2024!
Arctic Cat racers knew they had a year of testing and growth ahead of them with the new Catalyst chassis under them. “2024 we knew was going to be a learning curve with the new catalyst coming out but we were ready to tackle it with a new sponsor and the whole Cat team behind us for support. My main goal however though was to finish the season without getting a season ending injury, which we definitely did succeed at, along with being able to make the new sled really go.” Kenna explained.
Reese’s rookie campaign in 2024 was a short one due to no snow. Her first showing in the Cor Powersports season was at the Nightriders 200 in Naytahwaush, she had some struggles and ended with a less-than-desirable fifth place finish. However, it only took her and Bunke Racing one week to turn things around. The following weekend at the Snodeo 200 in Naytahwaush,
she found her groove and improved her sled set up. After day one she was sitting fifth 1 minute and 27 seconds behind the leader Kenna Cloose. She knew she had work ahead of her but was determined. On day two, she not only made up time but she finished in second place only five seconds out of first and with her best lap time being only .660 seconds off of Cloose’s best lap. For the race weekend overall she earned a third place and her first Cor Powersports Pro Factory Womens podium!
When Kenna was a kid she looked up to guys like Levi Lavalley and Tucker Hibbert and after hitting the cross country scene she watched Zach Herfindahl’s career unfold and was inspired by success in the sport as well. As far as female role models go, “I can't say there's any specific female racer I look up to now as much [as I am now] friends with a lot of them… like Savannah [Landrus] and Leah [Bauer] who are still great racers but even better people as I’ve gotten to know them more personally.” Kenna said.
Reese’s list of model racers is made up of athletes (young and old) who have built their success in cross-country racing alone. She looks up to some of the top Pros in the series including fellow competitor Kenna Cloose, Dan Revering, Taylor Bunke, Boe Bunke, and Aaron Christensen.
The Pro Womens class is becoming a fast class before our eyes with many of the women entering the Sport divisions and taking podiums and even wins. “I love seeing the competition getting better as it only means we will all have to up our game and in the end become better racers.” says Kenna.
When asking Reese about the transition from Junior to Pro she stated, “The competition is a lot more intense. I like it a lot more than Juniors. The switch from half throttle to full throttle makes a pretty big difference.”
One thing she would tell a younger girl who is tentative to join the Pro class would be, “Take time to find your riding boundaries.” Cross country races are long
technical races and if you go all out on the first few corners, you may pay the price.
Inspiring the next generation of female racers is important as we continue to try and grow the sport of Pro Womens racing. “I would tell any young girl aspiring to race, that it is possible to matter what as long as you put your mind to it and put in the work.” Cloose expresses. As for 2025, Kenna and Reese have their own goals that they hope to achieve. Reese hopes to earn her first Pro Womens race win and to try and podium in season championship points. Where as Kenna, she is seeking the Pro Womens Championship. She hopes to stay injury free as she did in 2024 and get the championship which she has been so close to achieving. She would also like to improve in the Sport division class.
These ladies are only two of the talented crop of women racers currently competing. Unity Gausen and Gabby Hallstrom are two more top contenders in the class. These girls have grit, determination, and a passion for the sport like no other. They will be racing bar-to-bar all season long in 2025 and the Pro Women will be a class to watch.
