SCENE IT? MELGEORGES CLASSIC ANTIQUE SLED RACE
TWENTY
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HEATH FRISBY INSIDE THE MIND OF THE X-GAMES CHAMPION
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RE-ENTRY Yamaha rider Chris Brown looks to return from orbit atop the granite tops in the backcountry of British Columbia. A long time Slednecks rider, Brown recently signed with Yamaha Canada, and has been putting a Nytro MTX through extreme paces all winter long. Location: British Columbia Rider: Chris Brown Photographer: Julie-Ann Chapman www.julieannchapman.com
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EARLY BIRD
First to bed, first to rise, and first to shred an overnight blessing of winter’s gold. Location: Whistler, British Columbia Rider: Getting the Worm Photographer: Matthew Mallory
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CALDERA HEAVEN
It’s known as one of the most active geological hotspots in the world for its continuous volcanic activity occurring below the earth’s crust, and its also one of the most beautiful. While the rules are plenty regarding winter access to Yellowstone National Park, it remains one of the can’t miss snowmobiling experiences in the world. Location: Yellowstone National Park, Montana Riders: You Photographer: Courtesy West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce
FEATURES 28
SCENE IT? MELGEORGE’S CLASSIC ANTIQUE SLED RACE
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FRISBY'S FRONTAL LOBE INTERVIEW WITH THE X-GAMES CHAMP
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TWENTY '13 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS…NOW!
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SPRING BUYER'S GUIDE
COLUMNS 14
DRIFTS - PUBLISHER NOTES RICHARD KEHOE
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TRAIN TRACKS TUCKER HIBBERT
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WINGING IT WITH LEVI LEVI LAVALLEE
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FOR THE RECORD PAUL THACKER
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NUTRITION & TRAINING DREW ROBERTSON
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KELLY SHIRES BREAST CANCER SNOW RUN SUZY STENOFF
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FLOATBOWL PAT BOURGEOIS
DEPARTMENTS 16 30 62 70 74
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INDUSTRY NEWS CRUISIN’ YOU TUBE NBFSC REPORT OSM LISTINGS LAST GASP - JOE DUNCAN
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VOLUME 26 NUMBER 6 SPRING 2012
FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES CONTACT 1-888-661-7469 President & Publisher: Richard Kehoe Editorial Director: Pat Bourgeois Managing Editor: Rick Bloye Art Director: Darryl Aspin Production Manager: Tendra Crossman General Manager: Michael Blakoe Sr. Manager Sales & Marketing: Matt Clark Advertising Sales: 1-888-661-7469 Kyle Carruthers, Warren Geer, Brad Stokes Administrative / Sales Coordinator: Harmony Kulikauskas Photographers: Jim Urquhart, James Lissimore, Todd Williams, Midwest Sports Publishing, Matthew Mallory, Julie-Ann Chapman, Jason MacDonald, Gary Walton
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Contributing Writers: Ross Antworth, Pat Bourgeois, Kyle Carruthers, Matt Clark, Peter Derry, Jeff Edwards, Tim Erickson, Tucker Hibbert, Richard Kehoe, Levi LaVallee, Ed Long, Jason MacDonald, John Sandberg, Suzy Stenoff, Paul Thacker, Jim Urquhart 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: 1195 Stellar Drive - Unit #4, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada L3Y 7B8. Telephone (905) 898-8585. Printed in Canada by Dollco Printing • Copyright 2012 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.
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DRIFTS
PUBLISHER NOTES
RICHARD KEHOE
YA GOTTA DO, WHAT YOU GOTTA DO!
nother season comes to an end, we ride away with great memories and embellished stories from the few sledding months we had, well most of us did. Earlier this winter I underwent knee surgery to repair what I thought was a torn ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Turns out, I needed to have a full ACL replacement. My winter season was cut short and being an avid sledder, needless to say, I wasnʼt thrilled. UFC Champion, St. Pierre was told heʼd be out for a full 10 months or more when he had his torn ACL repaired. Doctors used a ligament taken from my hamstring to make up for the loss, the
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surgery went well in early November, where I was told Iʼd be on the sidelines for approximately 9 months. Some may know this has a long recovery time, but by staying active, stretching and regular icing, and keeping up my daily routine, Iʼm closing in on those 9 months fast. Making the best of it, I made an effort to stay positive and enjoy the company I had. I volunteered to be the OSM Wheelman at the Throw Down this year out in Quebec in the Abitibi- Temiscamingue Region. The drive was awesome and I had time to catch up on a lot of work. My Throw Down days started early, unloading the sleds from the trailer, topping some up with oil.
Mornings I met Bourgeois, Macdonald, Erickson and Edwards outside the lodging, each with their bags, dropping them at the trailer for me to take care of. I watched as they rode out of the parking lot all geared up. Iʼd wheel the trailer to the next pit stop, unload their bags and checking in to the next lodging spot. I did this for the following three days. It was tough not being able to ride with the guys, but what can you do. Over the rest of the winter Matt and Kyle ventured out to New Brunswick to ride with Ross and Harold. Youʼll read about it in our November Travel issues next season. They had a great time and it was great to see them laughing and working together. Snowshoot was another big one we had; I made the trip out to Montana, but wonʼt be staring on any cover shots. I again wasnʼt able to hit the powder. It really hit me this year, how much I lived for the sport of Snowmobiling. Itʼs truly a passion of mine and I felt a little lost with out it this year. I love sledding and look forward to it every fall, counting down the days to the first snowfall. Well next year theyʼll have to pry me off the sleds, Iʼll be taking every opportunity to hit the trails. As the winter weeks went by, it also proved to me that the sport of snowmobiling isnʼt just about spinning the track and travelling miles, a huge part of it is about the people youʼre with and the adventures you go on. The smell of winter and the laughs shared with a group of enthusiasts. It is a family sport, be that your wife and kids, a group of neighbours, a group of guys youʼve known your whole life, or a group of riders you just met, itʼs all about the company you keep and being a part of something. I walked, well slightly limped, away from this season with some great stories and good times. Itʼs not just about putting miles on... or is it? Either way itʼs something you do with friends. As always, weʼd like to hear from you. Email us with your season stories, or photos of a great ride or just to tell us what thoughts. info@osm-mag.com. Until next winter, have a great summer!
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NEWS
YAMAHA INCHING HIGHER In their first season of factory backed Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association (RMSHA) competition, Yamaha has been inching higher on the mountain each and every weekend. In just their second event held in Afton, Wyoming, Yamaha cracked the top-ten, thus making the transfer to the main event. Getting the job done was Cable Willford, who climbed the steep Afton slope and gave the team a boost of momentum, with the World Championships in Jackson Hole just weeks away. Check our website for updates on the world championship hill climb and the progress of the Yamaha effort this spring.
TUCKER IS FIM WORLD CHAMPION You can get all the inside details from our boy Tucker in this issue’s Train Tracks, but if you lack the patience to flip deeper in the book, we can tell you T-Train was crowned world champion in Semigorje Russia. After three convincing motos in the 2012 FIM Snowcross World Championship event, where Tucker claimed two wins and a second; 12,000 screaming Russian fans and throngs of media surrounded the now, two-time world champion in celebration. The 2012 journey marked Tucker’s third trip across the pond to compete in the FIM Snowcross Championships, and the first time ever the event was held in Russia. Unlike the short, big bump courses found in North America, the FIM/Russian track was much longer and incredibly grueling. According to Hibbert, it was one of the most challenging race situations he has ever encountered.
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TRIPLE BUNKIN’
NEWS
Gabe Bunke and his Bunke Racing crew, which included fellow drivers Aaaron Christensen and Bobby Menne, won the prestigious Soo I-500 this past February in what may have been one of the most grueling on record. This was the third win for Gabe, but no doubt one of the toughest. With ice conditions marginal at best at the start of the race, the 500-mile marathon saw track conditions go from bad to worse, with several mud and dirt laden stretches exposing themselves by the close of the 9-plus hour affair. Bunke and crew, along with their 74 Autolite Polaris, held off the only other sled on the lead lap during the last 50 laps, and Christensen collected the checkered with a winning time of 9 hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds. Congrats!
RADER REMEMBERED Sad news hit the snowmobile racing community this past February, when we learned of the passing of long-time racing coordinator Bill Rader on February 20, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. Rader was instrumental in the development and success of both the SkiDoo racing program during the 1990s, and later with the Polaris program, both in coordination with his best friend and race manager, Tom Rager Sr. Rader was known as a hard working, positive, and incredibly smart individual who played a major role in the success of so many racers and teams. According to Rager, his specialty was working with young talent, such as father-son teams, and nurturing them to the next level. Rader grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and he developed an affinity for racing snowmobiles and stock cars; a love that stuck with him to the end. A devoted family man, Rader loved to restore old vehicles, including muscle cars and vintage race sleds. Rader is survived by his Wife Tammy and Daughter Dana. God’s Speed Bill. 18
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Get lost. Then found again.
Ready for Adventure
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NEWS
JOANIS SWEEPS COCHRANE For the first time ever, the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA) regional tour visited Cochrane, Ontario, where fan favorite and perennial front runner David Joanis, swept the Pro Open ranks, both Saturday and Sunday. The local appeal of Joanis had the stands well beyond capacity, leaving latecomers with standing room only vantage points. In Pro-Lite it was Andre Gervais taking the win on Saturday and Jeff Sanftenberg doing the same on Sunday.
CORN-HOLIO The debate over increasing the standard ratio of corn based ethanol in today’s fuel from 10-percent to 15 wages on. While many small-performance engine manufacturers, such as snowmobile OEMs, have internal findings that show that increased levels of alcohol can be detrimental to the lifespan of such engines, the Environmental Protection Agency feels differently. The EPA, along with the National Academy of Sciences, (NAS) is pushing hard to bump up the ratio to 15-percent as quickly as possible. However, legislation (H.R. 3199) introduced this past February from U.S. Representative Sensenbrenner would require the EPA and NAS to conduct necessary scientific and technical analysis on the ethanol blends before it hits the marketplace. Corn - it isn’t just found at your local fair anymore.
MONSTER OF A GIVEAWAY Thanks to some glad-handing from OSM guest columnist Tucker Hibbert, the kids from Thief River Falls and the Monster Energy Drink crew settled down just long enough to orchestrate a sweet contest. The grand prize is a new Arctic Cat snowmobile, complete with replica Tucker graphics, and if you don’t have the discomfort of a horseshoe lodged somewhere on your body and miss out on the grand prize, you could still score one of 50 Hibbert signature Spy Whip Goggles. One entry per person is allowed until April 30th, 2012. While shot-gunning cans of Monster is not required, it is encouraged. Visit www.monsterenergy.com for details.
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$25,000 WONDER FOR PJ Oval racing great PJ Wanderscheid took home a cool $25,000 cash for his consistent performance in what many believe to be the largest series payday in snowmobile racing. The 2012 TLR Cup features six oval events, spread across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, with a total purse of a whopping $101,000…yeah baby! The Sauk Centre, Minnesota, Amsoil and Drift sponsored racer garnered the hefty payday with a win, two second place finishes and three top-fives.
25TH ANNUAL TORONTO INTERNATIONAL SNOWMOBILE, ATV & POWERSPORTS SHOW!
2012 Dates have been set for the The 25th Annual Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show! Mark your calendars for Oct 19 through 21, 2012 for the world’s Largest Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show, taking place at the Toronto International Centre. Planning has begun and the 25th year will bring the largest gathering of Powersports enthusiasts in the Show’s history. www.torontosnowmobileatvshow.com
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DOO IS DOG CHAMP
NEWS
Ski-Doo racers Marc McKenna and Dusty Van Meter won what many consider to be one of the most challenging snowmobile races on the planet, as they completed the 2,031-mile Alaskan Iron Dog race in record time. Racing from Wasilla, Alaska to Nome and then on to Fairbanks, the six-day race traverses extreme terrain, and subjects riders and their sleds to extreme weather conditions and temperatures. Racing specially prepared 600 E-TEC powered MXZ-X Ski-Doo buggies, the duo completed the race in 35 hours, 39 minutes, which was a new course record. Even with the rugged terrain and fuel stops, the team averaged an incredible 57mph.
GOOD WOOD Congrats to our friends at International Engineering and Manufacturing Inc., of Hope, Michigan, makers of Woody’s carbide runners and studs. The traction and control company was given props from Polaris recently for both the quality and on-time delivery of their products. Woody’s is the exclusive supplier of production ski runners for big P.
PLATES FOR THE MANTEL Making their return to natural terrain racing after a brief hiatus, Yamaha racers secured a set of four #1 plates in northern Wisconsin’s COR Powersports Cross Country Racing series. Leading the pack was veteran terrain racer Nathan Titus, who secured the Pro-Overall championship. Other big wins for the tuning fork crew came from Ben Lindbom, who won the Semi-Pro number one plate, as well as a tag-team #1 plate earned by Titus and Jake Jorgenson in the team competition. 22
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NEWS
AN EPIC ADVENTURE AWAITS Congrats to Jim MacDonald and Jason LaGamba, they were the two lucky winners of our What’s Your Adventure contest sponsored by On Snow Magazine, Polaris, and Quebec Tourism. With last year’s introduction of the new Polaris Adventure snowmobile from Polaris, we teamed up with the kids from Polaris and the province of Quebec with the idea of hosting an epic adventure snowmobile ride fitting for their new performance touring segment and specifically the Adventure model. Unfortunately, the winter that never was for many of us wasn’t having it, and the epic ride has been postponed until early next season. The good news is, both Jim and Jason will now have the opportunity to sample the 2013 Polaris Adventure including the new limited edition 800 version. Watch for a full report on their ultimate adventure ride next season and also be on the look out for details on our next What’s Your Adventure contest with our September issue.
BACKCOUNTRY PRIMER Want to rip it in the mountain backcountry, or maybe just feel a whole lot more comfortable? Seasoned mountain rider and all-around good girl Amber Holt has launched a backcountry riding course, aptly named Backcountry Basics, featuring new 2013 Arctic Cat M-Series buggies. Amber has tremendous experience and her short, but extremely well executed two-hour training sessions will take place in West Yellowstone, Montana through the end of March. Arctic Cat dealers, customers, or fans of backcountry riding are encouraged to sign-up and get your ride on with one of the best backcountry instructors on snow. You can email Amber at backcountrybasiscs@yahoo.com or better yet call at 509-733-6464.
TREMBLAY AND KAMM ON TOP With only one race weekend remaining as of this writing, on the International Series of Champions (ISOC) national snocross tour, the year-end Pro-Open championship is Tim Tremblay’s to loose. The Ski-Doo racer charged to the top of the pack late in the season, while at the same time, title contender Ross Martin struggled with on track miscues and mechanical gremlins. The result is a comfortable lead coming into the final two races that will be nearly insurmountable to overcome, barring a major mishap by Tremblay. The same situation is in place for Pro-Lite leader Kody Kamm, (Polaris) who has been dominating the field all season long, and merely needs to ride smart while in Lake Geneva in order the leave the southern Wisconsin locale with the 2012 Pro-Lite championship in hand. 24
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RIDER DOWN SUPPORT Our friends at Slednecks alerted us to a tragic freestyle accident earlier this winter, when Dylan Harju over-rotated a back flip. The results of the miscue left Dylan with a serious head injury, and in critical condition. According to more recent reports, Dylan’s vitals are great, and doctors are monitoring the injury to his brain, but there is no timetable for recovery at this point. As the snowmobile community so often does, support for Dylan and his family has been tremendous, and you can do your part by purchasing a Rider Down t-shirt from Slednecks. All proceeds from the sale of these tees will go to help Dylan and his family. Visit www.slednecks.com to get yours.
IND US TR Y
NEWS
DOG GONE GOOD RIDE While Polaris failed to win this winter’s famed, Iron Dog Snowmobile Race across Alaska, they did spread plenty of goodwill ahead of the race, thanks to a team of Polaris “Ambassadors” who rode the entire route with the Trail-class teams. This was all in an effort to promote the race and thank the residents and groups in the remote towns and villages, who host and volunteer for the race each winter. Pictured left to right are: Dan Zipay - five time winner of the Iron Dog, Evan Booth – winner of the race in 1993 and 1994 on a Polaris, Lt. Col. Joseph Lawendowski of the Alaska National Guard, and Mike Bedard - Polaris Snowmobile Engineering Manager.
GOOD GADE GETS GREAT While nearly every snowmobile magazine and a few fly-by-night websites have a chance to ride and photograph all the new models during the industry Snow Shoot event, which was held this past March in West Yellowstone, Montana, the On Snow crew did one better. With the decals still warm and the powder coat fresh, we had the opportunity to ride the new 2013 Ski-Doo Renegade X model, complete with new XS bodywork and 137-inch r-Motion suspension, for an extended weekend rally. You can check out the “Twenty-13” feature elsewhere in this issue to learn about the details, but after logging nearly 350 miles, we can assuredly mark the new XS Renegade X as a crossover class winner next winter. Just as r-Motion transformed the already terrain champ MXZ-X into an even more dominant version of its former self, the stretched 137-inch version does so to an even greater degree. Our particular unit was equipped with the Quick Adjust system, and once we dialed in the rear skid, the “longer” r-motion suspension delivered an even better ride than its short track sibling. The new rear suspension seems to give the Renegade greater balance than previously, although the larger and slightly more aggressive track contact area found on the Renegade did deliver a slight hint of unwanted push in tight trails, compared to the 2012 MXZ-X that accompanied us. Most impressive is the rising rate skid’s ability to deliver a controlled and comfortable ride, with little to no adjustment. What’s more, the new XS chassis delivers a few, much welcomed additions, most notable being the heated, easy access glove box; a standard temp gauge, which proved handy while riding on icy, early morning spring trails; and the LED taillight that glowed brightly through dense, late night snow dust.
NEW CAT HELMSMAN 613-489-5297 jawsperformance.com
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Arctic Cat Polaris Ski-Doo Yamaha
Coming from a strong business background, Tracy Crocker represents the latest warm body to join Thief River Falls based manufacturer, Arctic Cat. After splitting the roles and responsibilities of their snowmobile and off-road divisions into two separate internal business units, Cat ringleader Claude Jordan has been hiring new leadership to steer the feline ship. Crocker will join Arctic Cat as the Vice President/General Manager of the ATV division (this includes Arctic’s side-by-side offerings such as the Wildcat). Tracy previously worked with Ecolab, Nabisco, and Pepsi Cola companies, and graduated from the University of Iowa. No word on Crocker’s offroad/powersports experience, but we’re sure he will get his feet muddy in the coming months. Welcome!
PODIUM TESTED, TUCKER APPROVED.
2012
TUCKER HIBBERT TEAM MONSTER ENERGY / ARCTIC CAT PODIUM HAT The Official Podium Hat of Team Monster Energy/Arctic Cat’s Tucker Hibbert is now available for you! This adjustable snap-back hat features the logos of Monster Energy, Arctic Cat, Hibbert Racing and Tucker’s trademark 68. See Tucker’s entire 2012 merchandise line today at tucker-hibbert.com or at his Official Merchandise Booth at an ISOC National Snocross event.
+ VISIT TUCKER-HIBBERT.COM AND CLICK THE SHOP LINK
$25 US DOLLARS © 2012 TUCKER HIBBERT
NOW SHIPPING TO USA, CANADA, ICELAND, NORWAY, SWEDEN, FINLAND, DENMARK AND UNITED KINGDOM.
ACC ESS
ON SNO WM AGA ZIN E
SCENE IT? MELGEORGES CLASSIC
Some things are classic, some are just old, but Melgeorges 26th Annual Antique and Classic Snowmobile Race has something for both, and everything in between. Held on the shores of Elephant Lake in far northern Minnesota, the annual event combines the elements of go, with a Le Mans style, timed race and a drag race; and plenty of show, with a parade lap and judged classes that includes awards for best hat and best “rat” sled. Throw in some live music, raffle prizes and good eats, and resort owners Carla and Steve Koch have all the makings for an epic day on snow.
ANTIQUE SLED RACE
A modern day interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.
Little Johnny soon learned the consequences of inertia.
This early Bolens Hus-Ski awoke from its ‘long’ slumber, just one day prior, according to its proud owner. This is two-up riding at its finest folks.
Blistering speeds caused the meticulous hood repair on this buggy to flake from speed stress.
An Autoboggan putting down some pure Wisconsin power to the snowpack, and “owning” the two-up Sno Pony.
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The hidden retreat known as Melgeorges has been in operation for 75 years, but remains an off-the-beaten path gem in Minnesota’s northwoods.
If Starsky and Hutch rode sleds… these would be their rides.
Finely tuned equipment was the norm at Melgeorges.
Poor suspension calibrations resulted in both poor posture and stiff backsides by day’s end.
A mint Sno-Bunny in full hop. Father Patrick O’ Flaherty steered clear of the green sprits just long enough to make a parade lap.
Ceelo Green’s white counterpart tore it up on this vintage Mustang.
Kenny Chesney rallied a purple metal-flake Scorpion to near, sub 60-second times.
OSM’s own daily commuter pulled off an impressive Burt Reynolds and outsmarted Sheriff Buford T. Justice, aboard his red Super Stinger.
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SPRING AHEAD
VIEW ALL THESE BY VISITING WWW.OSMMAG.COM AND CLICKING ON THE CRUISING YOUTUBE BANNER Spring has sprung and with it comes last rides, spring storms, long sunny days, water, and throttle jockeys looking to make the biggest splash. You got a favorite online snowmobile video you think will make the cut and appear in a future issue of On Snow Magazine? Let us know. Send us the link along with your contact information to: info@osmmag.com and you could score the same OSM t-shirt worn by our snowmobile paparazzi shooters.
DAM! SKIP TO MY LOU
One last ride is "DAM" impressive.
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Live, Skip, and Laugh like a 12-year-old school girl.
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DIRTY DRAWERS Never, ever wear your best board shorts while skipping.
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2 UP. 2 DOWN. These 2 lads do the polar plunge snowmobile style.
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O'ER DA FALLS A barrel and Niagara has nothing on these foreign thrill seekers.
VIEW AT WWW.OSMMAG.COM
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Marketer Shows, OSM, Richard Kehoe Productions, Inc. or Patrick J. Bourgeois and its affiliates are not responsible for the content or actions of others in these videos. The comments expressed and the activities performed in these videos do not reflect the opinions and position of Richard Kehoe Productions, Inc., Marketer Show, OSM or Patrick J. Bourgeois and its affiliates and is no way an endorsement of such comments or activities.
TRAIN TRACKS TUCKER HIBBERT
FUR-COVERED, RACE-CRAZED RUSSIANS
On race day, I signed almost 400 posters in 30 minutes at the Arctic Cat tent. This pic was snapped after I was nearly trampled by a crowd of fur-covered, race-crazed Russians. Once I sat down, all I saw was hands grabbing posters. No lines in Russia! After a few minutes of chaos, it calmed down…a little.
hen I first got the news that the FIM Snowcross World Championship would be held in Russia this year, I would be lying if I said I wasnʼt a little nervous. Deep, dark Russia…wasnʼt it not too long ago that Americans werenʼt welcome in the country? Iʼm no history buff, but know enough to understand some serious stuff went down between the United States and Russia. Fortunately, my nerves were quickly soothed once I starting talking to the SGN Group, the Arctic Cat distributor for both Finland and Russia. The sport of snowmobiling has really taken off in Russia over the past couple
years. In fact, Russians are fired-up, not just over snowmobiles, but snowmobile racing as well. Once the World Championship was scheduled, I immediately starting getting emails and phone calls about the event. I knew it was going to be a big step for the sport of snocross and I would be crazy to miss it. This is the third year in a row Iʼve raced the World Championship, and racing overseas has been the biggest challenge of my career. As a team, we have to pick and choose the most important items to ship to the event. This year, I was allowed to send two snowmobiles and one crate full of gear and supplies. Itʼs a serious game of
Our first stop in Russia was the infamous Red Square. Here we are trying to smile in sub-zero temps in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral. This place and the entire city of Moscow are intense.
After the race, the fans and media rushed the podium area. I think my dad had to throw up his elbows a few times to make it to me.
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After nearly a seven-hour drive northeast of Moscow we arrived in Semigorje. The racetrack was next to a resort on a big river. We setup camp there for the week. Evgeny from Arctic Cat’s Moscow office kept telling me there were bears all over. Thankfully the only one I saw was stuffed in the corner of the restaurant.
I have never seen so much media coverage at a snowmobile event. This was the fourth and final press conference of the event. The future of snocross looks bright in Russia.
strategy thatʼs scary, yet exciting at the same time. How the heck am I supposed to pack everything I need to race into one crate? Itʼs easy to take for granted having a big, heated race shop, equipped with every tool and machine you could ever need. But the shop situation aside, I think the biggest kicker is the pit set-up. Here in North America, I get to roll to the races in a semi, loaded with spare parts and supplies. Unfortunately, the Monster Energy/Arctic Cat team transporter wonʼt fit in a crate; trust me, I tried. The World Championship is a serious team effort. Although only three people travel with me from the US to the event, there are somewhere between 20-30 people working on the project, all over the world. The SGN Group played a huge role in helping us arrange everything from translators, to parts and tools. The Monster Energy UK office stepped up with a communications/PR team and onground support. I donʼt have a picture of my Monster buddies who drove a support van and trailer all the way from Sweden to the race in Russia, so I need to give them a shout out. Bill and Jesper - you guys are gnarly! Mission impossible complete! Itʼs no secret that my Dad is a master sled tuner. That, combined with his
The racetrack was huge. The day of the World Championship, I clocked over 70 minutes of race time on this bad boy. It had everything from huge X Games style jumps to technical rhythms to high-speed sections with braking bumps. With over a 1:30 lap-time, it was more like a national outdoor motocross track than a typical snocross track.
passion for adventures into the unknown, makes him the perfect guy to have at races overseas. Between him and Rob, I think they can fix any problem. Plus, they always make me laugh. Lucky for me, my wife Mandi does a killer job organizing logistics. Itʼs probably her biggest project of the race season. For months, she woke up in the middle of the night, making phone calls and emailing people, organizing shipments, paperwork, travel, etc. She always has our schedule dialed.
I could fill this whole magazine with the details of our adventure, but these photos will have to do. Overall, it was one of the most challenging, exciting, and rewarding races of my entire career - proof positive that hard work pays off! ✪
www.tucker-hibbert.com Twitter.com/hibbert68 Facebook.com/TuckerHibbert Youtube.com/TuckerHibbertTV
PHOTO BY – DONNIE O’KEEFE
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Headhsot by Todd Williams • www.toddwilliamsusa.com
WINGING IT WITH LEVI LEVI LAVALLEE
FANtastic
Super stoked to be chilling with Pastrana.
A couple of future pros or X Games competitors?
Penning autographs after a heat race.
ichael Jordan, Jeremy McGrath, Parks Bonifay, and Travis Pastrana are just a few of the many people I am a fan of. From the Air Jordan shoes I wore all through school, to having everything associated with Jeremy McGrath, (from his helmet to the same kind of dirt bike he had) to getting my first wake board, which had to be a Parks
M
Throwing some love with Bonifay.
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Bonifay pro model board, even though I could have taped a 2”x 4” on my feet and not known the difference. Of course, I canʼt leave out Travis Pastrana; as most you can guess, Travis had a huge influence on me when it comes to going big. Fortunately, Iʼve been able to meet and hang out with many of my childhood heroes, except MJ, but being as tall as Michael, he might not see me if we did ever meet, ha ha! Despite no MJ hook-up, Iʼve hung with Jeremy, Parks, and Travis multiple times, and still to this day, I think to myself, “Holy moly, Iʼm talking with Jeremy McGrath.” I often have to tell myself to calm down and breathe. The first time I met Travis and Jeremy was in 2006, when we all went to Austria for the Erzburg off-road dirt bike rally. I spent a week literally pinching myself, wondering if what I was experiencing was
real or I was dreaming, as I rode bikes and hung out with them like it was no big deal. From that trip, Travis and the Nitro Crew invited me to film with them in Utah later that summer. While in Utah, I learned how to backflip a BMX bike into Ogioʼs foam pit. Of course, once Travis heard that, he wasnʼt about to let me go home without flipping a dirt bike! So the next day Travis tells me Iʼm going to flip a dirt bike. He didnʼt ask me if Iʼd like to or if I wanted to try, he simply said that was what I was going to do. What do you say to someone like Pastrana, other than, “I guess so.” Scared to death, I went for a backflip on a 450cc dirt bike. After a couple tries, I was able to ride away from it, landing my first ever backflip on anything! From that point forward, my mind opened up from “Iʼm a racer” to “Hey, what if I tried this, or wouldnʼt it be awesome to do this!” In short, the possibilities of where I could take my career opened up and it has led me to freestyle, double flipping, distance jumping, and host of other random, off-the-
wall things. For that, I need to throw Pastrana a high-five for making me do that flip. Without his encouragement and confidence in me, I would have never attempted that very first flip. Without that
Throwing out a few high fives to the fans at Duluth.
Just keep eating right buddy and you’ll fill that helmet.
flip, I may have never taken the path I did, and would have missed out on all the fun and crazy things I have been a part of! I could go on and on about the cool times I have had, and being able to hang with some of my heroes. From being able to help Parks Bonifay flip a mini bike into my foam pit, or to having Jeremy McGrath show me some bike skills after I cartwheeled down a hill in Austria, each one is an incredible memory and a jumping point for something new in my own career and life. But enough about them, lets talk about you, the fans. I canʼt say enough good things about my fans that have followed me over the years. Your encouragement is what motivates me to go bigger or race harder, and because of that, I try to give back and give a shout out, throw a high five, or sign a few more autographs whenever I can. I have been fortunate enough to meet some amazing people that I was a fan of, and they have forever shaped my life. Itʼs for that reason I am so genuinely excited to meet you and talk to you, and hopefully, I can make the experience as cool as when I met Jeremy and Travis for the first time. Have a great summer, and weʼll see you in the fall. ✪
This guy wanted an autograph so bad, he made me sign his head!
If I look a little star struck, it’s because I am. Hanging with the man, Jeremy McGrath.
Stay Connected TeamLaVallee.com Twitter.com/Levi_LaVallee Facebook.com/LeviLaValleeFanPage
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FOR THE RECORD
11
PAUL THACKER
BACK ON OUR FEET photo by Todd Williams
canʼt believe I am writing the final column for the season already. Seems like it was just yesterday we were all praying for snow and the season was just beginning. Unfortunately, many areas are still praying for the snow that never showed this year. But we are snowmobilers, and we will persevere. Hopefully, it just means we will get ten times more snow next year, right? For as little snow that most of the continental U.S. got, I think Alaska must have taken it all. I have never seen so much snow in Alaska this time of year ever. We are going to be riding into July at this rate and I am stoked! Spring is my favorite time of year. So, if you didnʼt get a chance to ride, load the family up and heard north. We have more than enough snow to go around! It is hard to believe we are a couple months into a new year. It blows my mind how fast time flies these days. I was fortunate to be asked to be the resident snowmobile expert at Winter X Games again this year, and the live onsite
I
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announcer. There was a ton of hype this year with all the talk of the double back flip, and the possibilities of the mindblowing front flip. Freestyle definitely did not disappoint this year. The Moore Brothers were on
point, my teammate Cory Davis threw his ridiculous whips, Joe Parsons definitely showed he had been training and threw down some amazing runs, Gator Wrestler included. Unfortunately, my buddy Justin Hoyer got left out of the medal round because of the odd format they used this year. I was bummed, as I know how much time he put into preparing. I donʼt make the rules; however, I just get to talk about them. Best trick was really where the anticipation was stemming from. Frisby let the media know that he would be trying a front flip, and Hoyer would be trying a double back flip; both totally insane tricks, especially on a sled. I have to say I was super nervous for everyone in best trick. Itʼs so much easier to be a competitor than a spectator in my mind. Unfortunately, Hoyer under rotated his double and came oh so close, but instead left Winter X with a broken arm and leg - pretty dang lucky, but a bummer nonetheless. Heath was last to go, and barely gave any warning as he hucked himself into the history books. He defied physics and gravity, and stomped the first-ever, front flip on a snowmobile. It was really great to see Frisby put an exclamation point on what has already been an amazing career. He truly is an innovator. Aside from X Games, Iʼve been plenty busy with other things, including being a photo by NoStyle Productions
part of the Iron Dog start in Alaska, to being a part of the Polaris dealer meeting in Orlando, FL. The line up of new Polaris sleds is badass; seems they are really doing it right these days. But I digress, even with all of these things going on, I have found time to start something that hopefully, is going to be able to make a huge impact, not only on snowmobiling, but action sports in general. I would like to introduce the Paul Thacker Spinal Cord Recovery Foundation. I am sure by now, that most of you are aware I was injured a little over a year ago and have lost the use my legs (at least for now, Iʼm still working my ass off to regain mobility). With that said, I really have not let it slow me down. While it has most certainly changed my life, I still do all the things I loved before my injury. The way I figure it, if I can do it, so can anyone. Some just need a little push and something to believe to make it happen. That push is the basic premise behind the new Paul Thacker Recovery Foundation, in helping with the recovery of athletes with spinal cord injuries. The cost of rehabilitation and treatment is insanely expensive, and more often than not, insurance barely scratches the
surface when it comes to covering these expenses. With the foundation, I hope to reach out to the action sports community in order to help some of our athletes get back on their feet. The plan is to not only assist with medical expenses, but to put some rides and events together to bring other injured people together to share stories and provide motivation. Itʼs really a unique opportunity to give back to an industry that has given so much to me over the years. I think with the help of the snowmobiling community, the sky truly is the limit. For more information you can check out the Foundation website a pt11.net or email me directly at ptspineinstitute@gmail.com. Itʼs going to be HUGE!! As I finish up here I would like to thank all of my sponsors; everyone who has stuck by me this past year; all the fans that have wished me well; and my family, both my personal family and snowmobile community family. Itʼs been a tough road at times, and Iʼm not sure I could have gotten through with flying colors without you. Much appreciated. Until next year, keep ripping!! ✪
photo by NoStyle Productions
www.paulthacker11.com Twitter.com/paulthacker11 FIND ME ON FACEBOOK!
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FRISBY’S FRONTAL LOBE Photos: SCSunlimited.com
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The snowmobile front flip at this year’s ESPN Winter X Games will undoubtedly become synonymous with Middleton, Idaho rider Heath Frisby. While Heath was already regarded as one of the best freestyle riders in the sport, with six prior X-Games medals to his name, the epic front flip at Winter X 2012, cemented him as one of the best ever and will forever tag him as one of the sport’s most influential and progressive riders. We caught up to the always smiling Frisby not long after his gold medal performance to find out what was going on inside his head as he stared down the front flip ramp.
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FRISBY’S FRONTAL LOBE You’ve been a competitor at Winter X Games for what six years now. You were already regarded as one of the best freestyle riders - what was different about this year? I think that landing the first front flip on a snowmobile has made me stand out more as an innovative rider. I have always been a top three rider and someone who has been pushing the sport from its conception, but this just makes me stand out a little more from the pack. It seems that after Levi nearly stuck the double backflip a few years back, or when the Moore brothers did their impromptu two-up flip, the scope of X Games changed? It did change; with double flips and body variables, it showed this was no longer a sport for sand baggers. You have to bring everything you can and push the limits of what is comfortable, in order to stand out. How did you come up with the idea of a front flip? I wanted to win, and I knew a double flip was coming, so my trick had to be at least a front flip or some sort of crazy body variable. Iʼm too fat and too old for a body variable, so front flip it was, ha ha! Did people in the snowmobile community think you were nuts to try it? I received several comments that I was going to die and this and that. What people don't understand is that we practice the tricks we are attempting for months on end before Winter X. I wonʼt do anything unless I feel I can land it. How do you even practice or get your mind in the right place to try such a thing? Getting my mind in the right place for the front flip was really hard. I was fortunate to have a great bunch of people behind me. Joe Parsons and I trained the entire winter together, and I really could not have done it without him and his familyʼs help. They were there every day with me, all the way till the end.
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How long did you work on the front flip? Joe (Parsons) and I worked on the trick for about two months straight. We had to video every jump, change the ramp, change things on the sled, and change how I positioned my body, over and over. It was a lot of hard work. The chatter just before you attempted the trick was that you had only landed it in a foam pit, and never on snow? That is true; the big snow landing at X Games was the first time I did the trick to snow. Joe and I decided that it was too dangerous to attempt before. If I tried it before and got hurt I'm just another guy talking about how he wants to do a front flip. If I went to X Games and crashed like Evel Knievel trying it, at least I would get some sort of recognition for the trick. It sounds like Joe (Parsons) played a huge roll in helping you develop and nail the trick. Who else worked with you behind the scenes to make it happen? I had the whole Parsons gang with me…Joe, Bailey Parsons, (Joeʼs wife) Wild Bill and Polly, (Joeʼs parents) Carl, and other close friends of the Parsons family. I also had my good friend Clow, my fiancé Linnae, and my entire family there, offering support. It was really nice having everyone around me while working on this trick. I couldnʼt have done it without them. Plus, the guys at Monster, Ski-Doo, and Slednecks were always there behind the scenes too. I think for most of us, we would have hit the brakes before even getting close to the ramp, no matter how much we practiced the trick in a foam pit. What goes through your mind before you hit the ramp, and how do you keep your emotions in check? It's really emotional and sometimes overwhelming; you try to focus and you try to just remember your training. Itʼs all you have and you have to believe in it or you will crash. Landing that trick at Winter X must have changed things for you considerably since then? It really hasn't considerably changed anything. I still have the same great sponsors and friends around me, and we will continue to push the sport together, and have fun doing it. What’s next for Heath Frisby? I'm not sure. You will just have to wait and see.
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TWENTY
'13 BY PAT BOURGEOIS
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR’S SLEDS NOW
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P
eel back the bold new graphics from the latest crop of snowmobiles for 2013 and youʼll soon learn the bar has been raised once again in terms of technology, comfort, ride, and handling. From the forward and twisted thinking of the flexible t-Motion skidframe found in the new Summit models and the dramatic impact the Tuner ski has to the Yamaha fold; to the return of the Indy nameplate in the Polaris stable and the testosterone laden race replica RR model from Cat, thereʼs plenty to digest. Here are twenty that top our first look list. ON SNOW MAGAZINE
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TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
The 2013 Apex gets sassy with a new white and red dip. Same stunning power and buttery smooth steering returns.
1
Holding a Tune
Who would have ever predicted that the lowly, stamped steel ski from yesteryear would eventually become the sophisticated, extruded hunk of plastic that it is today? Available in a seemingly endless assortment of shapes and colors, development of the modern day snowmobile runner is one part engineering know-how and one part voodoo witchcraft. The kids at Yamaha have been dabbling in the dark science of ski designs for over a decade, and the moving target of the perfect runner has become increasingly difficult to hit, as rider forward and more forward biased weight distribution have come into play. The new Tuner Dual-Keel Ski from Yamaha attempts to find that perfect balance of positive bite, light steering effort, and minimal darting, all in a package that is predictable in a wide variety of conditions. Just as the name 44
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implies, the new ski features a dual keel design with a slightly angled edge between the two keels to reduce the possibility of packing snow between the two keels. Whatʼs more, the ski can be tuned for riding style and conditions by selecting from four wear bar styles; from no carbide to an ultra aggressive, square host bar and 6-inches of sharpened insert. By mixing and matching these combinations, you can customize handling traits for individual preference. The new Tuner ski also shaves onepound (each) over the previous 8HV runner. The new Tuner is stock goods on all trail Nytro models and will be available as an accessory as well.
2
King’s Jewels
Gas is your friend, and the kids from Polaris are staying on it when it comes to their dominating line of purpose built mountain sleds, aptly named the Rocky Mountain King (RMK). For 2013, the Polaris RMK line receives the most new tech from the Roseau maker and in the process, sheds more pounds. The top eye-popper for technology is undoubtedly the new cog-belt drive system, replacing the traditional oil-bath chaincase. A concept employed by leading aftermarket shops in the west for some time now, Polaris becomes the first OEM to utilize the lightweight and simplistic approach. Dubbed the QuickDrive, the system is more than
gears and a belt drive; it also includes an extruded aluminum drive shaft and lightweight brake assembly. In total, the system delivers a claimed weight savings of 6.5-pounds and a 21% reduction in rotational inertia. Thatʼs fancy-speak, meaning the sled should be even easier to flick in the deep stuff. Other goods found on the premium 2013 RMK models are new Powder Trac extruded running boards that offer big hole, cheese grater clean out with improved strength; a super short seat that makes a road bike seat look comfortable; new light-weight bonded aluminum-end A-arms; and more employment of carbon fiber, most notably the tubes in the steering over-structure. All in, and the new 2013 800 Pro RMK 800 is said to tip the scales at a svelte 417-pounds.
TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
3
The Emperor’s New Clothes
Whether you deem it dramatic or subtle, the new plastic adorning Ski-Dooʼs premium mountain and performance snowmobiles represents the next generation REV in what is now a 10-plus year success story. When the first rider forward Rev hit the snow pack in 2003, few could have envisioned the impact the somewhat awkward looking sled would have upon the industry. The new look Rev named the Rev-XM or Rev-XS, depending upon the application, looks to infuse greater specialization; improved performance; better ergonomics; easier serviceablilty; and most importantly, continued loyalty to the industry leader. Unlike the previous XP and REV side panels, the new version can be painted for greater variations and showroom appeal… Bling Baby.
4
Cross Dressing
The Arctic Cat Cross Tour marks the feline’s entry into the newly created adventure touring segment. We see good things to come with this new model.
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It didnʼt take long for Arctic Cat to recognize the new market niche tapped by Polaris last season with the Adventure. With performance touring in their roots, (it was Cat who practically invented the touring and performance luxury segment, dating back to the 1977 Pantera) it was really no surprise that Cat responded with a pair of new XF models, appropriately named the Cross Tour. Available in normally aspirated 1100 power and the stooooopid fast turbo version, (would you expect anything less from the kings of speed) the Cross Tour adds long distance and luxury features to the mix, such as a standard goggle bag, rear storage rack, electric heated seat and mirrors. Calibrated in the more trail friendly LXR package with FOX Zero Pro ski and front arm shocks, perhaps the best feature of the new Cross Tour Cat sleds is the removable two-up seat, available through Catʼs extensive accessory offering. Similar to Ski-Dooʼs plus one seat, the new passenger bun will allow future Cross Tour owners to quickly transform their snowmobile into a two-up tourer.
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TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
5
Mix in a Salad
Seems the crew in Hamamatsu have set down the pound cake and reached for the vegetables when the snack cravings hit this past off-season. Criticized in the past for being too slow to react to market demands or refine existing models in their line-up, the base FX Nytro has lost 10-pounds for the new model year by cutting out between meal snacks and doing the little things that matter. While we might not see the Nytro wearing any skinny jeans comparable to those found on two-stroke models in the near future, a combination of new Tuner Skis (2.2lbs), HPG rear shocks (1lb), Rip Saw II track (1lb), HPG front coil over shocks (2.5lbs) and thin membrane windshield (1.1lbs) has the scale pointing in the right direction…south.
6
Round for the Bar
Finally… those clumsy bend bars, with the even more awkward, add-on hooked bar ends have followed the Dodo bird into the Polaris twilight. New, one-piece handlebars will find their way onto many Polaris performance trail sleds for 2013 including the Rush, Switchback and Adventure models. Not only did we find the older bars to be an ergonomic nightmare, but the after-thought, curved bar ends were both cold and delivered a harsh transition point where the insert met the bar. The new, one-piece design forced Polaris to also develop a new, split perch throttle block. The new bars will
With new Tuner skis and a 1.75-inch lug track, the new Nytro XTX could very well be one of the most versatile buggies on snow next winter.
offer improved control and added comfort, with heater elements extending to the very end of the bar - Hooray!
7
Twisted Thinking
Remember the days when torsional rigidity and stiffness were the buzz words everyone was touting? Forget about it, at least when talking about the new, dramatically redesigned Summit models from Ski-Doo and specifically, the new tMotion rear suspension. Looking to
make their Summit models easier to ride, and specifically easier to lay over or hold a side-hill line in the powder, Ski-Doo engineers have stretched the boundaries (or should we say twisted?) of conventional thinking with the new tMotion rear suspension. Unlike a conventional skidframe, where the rails are encouraged to work in tandem, the tMotion allows the rails to work independently, within a relatively small window. Trough the use of a triangulated rear-arm with a ball-swivel and a split front arm with oval tubing, the rear suspension can flex from side to side by as much as 4-degrees each way. The new suspension is mated to a new Flexedge track, featuring shortened reinforcing rods that terminate at the track window; this will allow the outer 2-inches of the track to flex more freely. Ski-Doo is betting these two technologies, working in tandem, will result in a much-improved deep snow Summit and subsequently, boosted sales in the west.
Lots of changes are found with the new XM Summit series from Ski-doo. We were skeptical at first, but the radical new t-Motion skidframe is more than hype…it works!
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TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
8
Viagra Tuned RR
Wanna be racers rejoice, the new for 2013 F800 Sno Pro RR delivers an exact copy of this past winterʼs Team Arctic race sled, just like those pounding terrain in the United States Cross-Country (USCC) circuit, but with monster truck power of 800 cubes under hood. Dressed in the same, split personality graphic package found on the current racer, the new RR model will incorporate every nuance of the race sled, right down to the race version Slide-Action rear suspension with 7position coupling and cross country calibrations. If you truly ride hard, drive a pickup truck with oversize tires and neon glow tubes, or your ego is simply too big to listen to your more practical side, the 160-horespower RR is your 2013 buggy.
9
Kit No More
While the 1.75 Track Kit, released midway through this past winter for the Nytro XTX, may have inadvertently slipped under the radar with little fanfare, itʼs back for an encore in 2013 as a stand-alone model. While it may seem simple, the subtle and much improved nuances of the new XTX could very easily make this the most significant model in Yamahaʼs
The turbo option returns for 2013 on the Nytro MTX. While not factory, the price is too damn good to ignore while spring ordering.
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TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
lineup for 2013. While there has been much debate on the true, real-world use of any crossover sled, (on-trail versus offtrail) the new XTX with its “tweener” track is hoping to offer the best of both worlds with few compromises and plenty of versatility. In addition to the Backcountry 1.75” lug track, the new XTX also comes equipped with new extrovert drivers; sidemounted auxiliary heat exchangers for improved cooling; the new Tuner ski; HPG front shocks; and new dual control hand and thumb warmers.
More power comes to the Adventure in 2013 with 800 cubes. Act now however, this is a spring only model.
Steer, 10 More Less Effort
Yet another new ski will debut in 2013; this time found on most Polaris trail
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performance models. Called the ProSteer, (no word yet if a pro license will be required to turn them) the new ski features a reshaped keel that positions less carbide and keel behind the spindle, which in turn will reduce steering effort. Other changes include additional structural ribs on the topside to increase stiffness for improved precision, and traction bosses for boot grip in deep snow “stuck” situations.
11 rMotion Crosses Over Yeah, last year we dug the rMotion suspension, found nestled inside the tunnel of Ski-Dooʼs premium trail performance buggies. Heck, even after dissing the fancy tunnel mounted knobs last spring, we found our grubby paws fondling the big cranks from time to time
TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
this past winter, and nodding with affirmation in their simple effectiveness. Lessons learned; we wonʼt make the
same mistake again as we look to massage the new rMotion knobs that will grace premium Renegade models for 2013. Proving a rising rate suspension can be stuffed under the tunnel and work amazingly well, we might add, the same skid gets slightly stretched in order to support the 137” track found on the Renegade X, Backcountry, Backcountry X, and Adrenaline models.
Easier 12 An Climb
After an impressive debut in 2012, with a new chassis and a host of new models, 2013 marks the year of refinement for Arctic Cat, and nowhere is that more evident than in their M-Series of mountain/deep snow sleds. For 2013, Arctic looks to improve the handling and ergonomics of the M-Series by narrowing the ski-stance to 38/39inches, (save the M800 HCR) compared to last winterʼs 40/41-inch version. The narrowed stance should allow the Cat to be more nimble in the pow, making it easier to initiate and hold a roll turn. In addition, a new vertical steering post on four-stroke turbo models will join the much loved telescopic steering post
Refinement comes to the Cat M-series in year two including a narrowed stance and improved ergonomics.
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TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
found on last yearʼs M800. Lastly, dual steering holes in ProClimb spindles, will give riders a tighter turning radius choice.
13 Kid Happy
As the only manufacturer in the mix to not offer a 120, pint-sized snowmobile for its young faithful, the new SRX 120 will be long awaited and much welcomed addition to the Yamaha fold in 2013. Similar to other ankle biter buggies of different colors, the Yamaha version is powered by a governed four-stroke mill displacing 123cc and garnering a top speed in stock trim, near 8 miles-perhour. However, unlike others, this one has a production motor that matches the
makerʼs decals on the hood. Produced by an industrial power division, residing under the gigantic Yamaha Motor Company umbrella, the little four-stroke mill delivers about 4-horsepower in stock trim, with much more on tap once tuner dads open their wallets and let the motor breathe. If youʼre thinking youʼve seen this particular 120 dipped in a different hue…youʼre right.
14 Indy is Back
The old saying goes, “You canʼt keep a good man down,” and when talking Polaris snowmobiles, few will argue there were any better than the original “square-jawed” Indy. In keeping true with those words, the Indy is finally back for 2013. The original thrived on a simple premise of keep it simple and
The Indy is back and after four days of riding we found the Indy to ride better, handle better, and perform better than the more hyped Rush. This one is a winner.
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©2011 Millennium Technologies LLC. All rights reserved. MT0027A(08/2011)
TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
make it work. Perhaps no other sled in the history of the sport has a stronger affinity, and more past owners than the Indy, and Polaris is hoping those old flames will reignite into a new relationship with the 2013 Indy 600 or Indy 600 Sp. Borrowing upon those simplistic principles from the early Indy, the new look version melds the surprisingly appropriate, squared line of the Pro-Ride chassis and cowling, with a traditional tunnel and rear suspension combination, and wraps it all up with proven and dependable 600 Cleanfire Liberty power. Both feature flashback minimal graphics on classic black, with the “Special” version featuring upgraded FOX shocks on all corners and more splashes of color.
Wraps galore are available for the Ski-doo Freeride once again, but the base olive drab dip is a looker in person as well.
Check 15 Price Aisle 13 While the manufactures typically keep retail prices mum until after their respective dealer meetings, Ski-Doo was eager to share the price of two, price point models with us as early as mid January. With the economy still in recovery mode, the yellow giant is
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TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
looking to make some noise in 2013, with two sleds at garage sale pricing. This fall, you can visit your local Doo dealer and pick up a 2013 MXZ Sport with 600 carb power for just $6999 US or $7649 Canadian. If deep snow is your fancy, thereʼs a blue light special flashing here as well, with a Summit Sport 800 PTEK wearing a price tag of just $8999 US or $9799 Canadian…Craigslist and Kijiji be damned.
grow in popularity. Last winter, Cat executives heard this growing want, loud and clear, as no 12-volt key spinner was available for the first year ProCross or ProClimb 800 buggies. Fortunately, that
is not the case for 2013, as Cat has given the green light (no pun intended) on the big twin starter for the new model year. The e-start kit will also retro fit, making 2012 owners happy as well.
16 E-Spinner 800
Maybe weʼve all made one too many trips for an extra helping of cheese curds, but nonetheless, the convenience and ease of electric start has continued to
Cat’s RR, full-on, testosterone raging buggy. If you eat ball bearings for breakfast, pony up.
• Billet Wheels
• Offset & re-location axles
• Billet Wheels with replaceable rubber
• Big Wheel kits
• Snowflap savers • Billet pull cord handles & choke levers • Gas Caps • Custom Riser’s
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• Billet grills & Snowflap plates
is 17 Black Beautiful Sometimes itĘźs the little things that truly catch our attention. Such was the case this past winter when Yamaha showed-off their new “black-outâ€? front suspension motif, found on the Nytro series. Featuring black spindles, suspension components and complimenting all black bumpers, the dark sinister look gives the Nytro a light and right demeanor. While we always say cool graphics wonĘźt make you faster, badass powder coat could get you more chicks‌ Just sayinĘź.
18 Spring Adventure Hunt
www.donsspeedparts.com
Clutch Kits, Y-Pipes & Compete Exhaust Systems 0DJQD )RUFH &OXWFK :HLJKWV $GMXVWDEOH ZHLJKW (DFK PDJQHW LV DQ DGGLWLRQDO JUDPV $GMXVW IURP J WR J
= 7XUER (OHFWURQLF 9DULDEOH ([KDXVW If youĘźre looking for more giddy-up in your Adventure for 2013, you better buy early. The wildly successful 600 powered Adventure from 2012 returns for the new year, and if you act early, you can attain more muscle under the hood. The springonly 800 Adventure features all the same performance touring goodies that were standard fare a year ago including a cargo system, electric start, 136-inch Cobra track, mirrors, and auxiliary power outlets. With 150-ponies nestled under the hood, the black and white big bore Adventure also receives such 2013 improvements as the Pro-Steer ski and one-piece handlebar. If more bling and less storage is more your thing, check out the new Switchback Pro-R LE. Another spring-only model, the new limited red and white sled touts ROX adjustable risers, Walker Evans fully adjustable shocks, a rear rack, and two track options to choose from.
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TWENTY '13 • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S SLEDS NOW!
The new look Ski-doo XS platform is sleek but perhaps more importantly, allows for much improved serviceability.
Fitting 19 Design
As mentioned elsewhere in our 20 takes on thirteen, the new look Ski-Doo is more than just fresh showroom bling. Both the XM and XS version have been sculpted to improve rider ergonomics and performance for both deep snow and trail applications. The XM version features a rounded, lower hull for ease of maneuverability, along with an extruded running board that allows the rider to stand 8-inches further forward on the chassis. Joined by a flat mount gauge package for stand-up viewing, new center grab handle, shorty seat, and new handlebar mounted controls that are less likely to be engaged by your legs or knees, and you have a more, purpose built Summit. On the flip side, the XS version touts a rounded shape and sculpted side panels, allowing the rider to hang a knee and get low in the corners. This key, ergo change coupled with integrated wind deflection for a warmer ride, speaks to the performance trail rider.
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Nytro RTX… all black… all business… and with Tuner skis… much improved.
More 20 Four Than Six
During the new model, first look meeting that Arctic Cat held with the snowmobile media this past January, two statements were made that immediately had us asking for more details. First, Cat proudly proclaimed that they were the number one selling four-stroke company in total retail sales, ending in December of 2011. While we almost fell off our tuning fork chair initially, given the larger market share held by the feline brand, we can see how this could be the case. Subsequently, the data went on to show how incredibly well the normally aspirated F1100 did compared to other two-stroke competitors. While we believe there may have been some spin doctoring of the numbers, after spending several days on a normally aspirated XF1100 in the company of comparable two-stroke company, we can honestly see where the appeal lurks. ✪ A new Limited Edition spring only model joins the Polaris fold. Say hello to the Switchback Pro-R LE.
NG I R SP
s ’ r e y u b guide
THE VERTICAL FROM FXR Warmer weather is on the way. It might be time to consider a soft-shell layering jacket for the warmer riding days. The Vertical from FXR is wind and water resistant, with warm, moisture wicking bonded fleece interior. With cool features like a waterproof front zipper, waterproof side vent zippers, two waterproof chest zippers, and what we think is the best feature, an inside Lycra pocket and ear bud retention system for your phone, GPS, or MP3 player. www.fxrracing.com
DRAGON SUNGLASSES Simply put, it is springtime, and you need a new pair of sunglasses. The new Orbit from Dragon offers 100% UV protection, grilamid frame material, and a 5 barrel stainless steel spring hinge. All features aside, the LCV (look cool value) is set pretty high on these bad boys. www.gammasales.com
TORCO BELLY PAN CLEANER PENETRATING LUBRICANT FROM BIO-KLEEN SledBrite Belly Pan is a biodegradable, non-toxic snowmobile cleaner/degreaser that specializes in removing black exhaust stains and deposits from sled exterior. Safe on decals and plastics, this cleaner and degreaser quickly and safely eliminates black streaks, carbon and petroleum deposits, clutch belt dust, oils and regular build-up Simply spray on and wipe clean. Never, ever, ever put a sled away dirty please. www.biokleen.com
A trick when storing the sled for the season is a little dusting of penetrating oil, sprayed over all the moving parts, to displace moisture and protect against rust. The PL-50 from Torco Oil is a multiuse lubricant that will put a light film on all sliding and pivot points, and will not harm plastic or painted surfaces. The PL-50 also works as an excellent fogging oil. Lubrication and fogging in one can? ItĘźs like magic. www.gammasales.com
High Performance Sled Cleaning Products
www.snowmobilehoodcleaner.com & NBJM 4BWFMMFOU!UFMVT OFU t ! $
See website for a dealer near you.
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SCOTT JACKET AND PANTS New from Scott, is the faux denim Montley TP Jacket and Enumclaw TP Pant. Made from lightly insulated, TriPhase waterproof and breathable material, with features like zip ventilation, power skirt, Lycra cuffs, removable hood and adjustable waist and wrists. Did we mention it looks like denim? www.micasport.com
SLEDWRAPS Crying in your cereal because the season is wrapping up and the sled is about to be put away? What about a spring project that will keep you in touch with your sled, and have you peaking under the cover all summer long. A new wrap from Sledswraps could be the answer. Sledwraps.com has full tunnel and tank add-ons for every 2013 model available, and offer free colour changes on the largest selection of designs. Watch for their new website that will make ordering and customizing online even easier. Just donʼt forget - Wrap it before you ride it. www.sledwraps.com
BUY AFTERMARKET AND SAVE 50% OVER OEM PARTS YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR AFTERMARKET ELECTRONICS STATOR REPAIR IN 24 HOURS! 1000S OF NEW PARTS FOR YOUR SNOWMOBILE, ATV, MOTORCYCLE OR PWC UNEQUALLED TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL OUR PARTS DEALER PROGRAM AVAILABLE ON SNOW MAGAZINE
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’s r e y buguide ING R P S
C-TEK BATTERY CHARGER This is a must have item this spring for putting away the sled. The Smart Charger from C-Tek is above all, an optimal maintenance charger for seasonal vehicles with batteries up to 100Ah. This handy charger is fully automatic, and will analyze, fix, charge and maintain your battery throughout the off season. Once it is finished charging, it will automatically switch to a maintenance phase, which is a patented pulse charging mode. The best part is that it can be connected for months. Fit it and Forget It. Could you ask for anything more? www.ctek.com
STARTRON FUEL TREATMENT With todayʼs new fuel demand and the introduction of ethanol-blended fuels, it is time to use a treatment that keeps up. StarTron Enzyme Fuel Treatment is an innovative, unique and very effective way of solving wide range fuel-related problems. Engines powered by StarTron treated fuel, start easily and run smoothly, even after sitting idle for extended periods. Additionally, StarTron helps prevent phase separation that can occur when water and ethanol bond together and then “fall out” of the gasoline, resulting in degraded fuel and ultimately, an engine that canʼt perform at its best. www.starbrite.com
INSIDE
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HEAVY DUTY DELUXE COVER Are you still using that old, ripped, mildew stink cover this season? It might be time to invest on your sled. The 600D polyester deluxe cover from Royal Distributing covers the entire snowmobile from skis to seatback. It has a Polyester felt windshield and hood area with an expandable lycra adjustment system that that will fit to all sizes. Most importantly it is approved for trailering. Please donʼt be the guy trailing your sled with a half inch of road salt on the hood. Available at www.royaldistributing.com
COBRA WINDSHIELD The season is wrapping up, and maybe you were not happy with the way the stock windshield performed on your Polaris. Powermadd, makers of the Cobra Windshield have unveiled a new windshield that will fit 2010-12 Rush; '11 RMK 800, Switchback 800; '12 RMK, Switchback. The new shield features a hard-line, aggressive design that matches the sled's style and provides maximum protection. The shield comes in a clear with a black fade at the bottom and is available in a Tall (20.5") and Mid (19") height. Cobra windshields are made from premium, optical-grade polycarbonate for a brilliant surface and distortion-free viewing. www.powermadd.com
•Fully Amphibious •All Season •All Terrain •Up to 6 Passengers
Call for a FREE TEST RIDE! 1-877-274-6288 • ARGOutv.com Vehicles shown with optional accessories.
NUTRITION AND TRAINING DREW ROBERTSON
IT'S ALMOST SPRING AND THE SNOW WILL SOON DISAPPEAR I've had the great opportunity to write for OSM for a couple of years now, and you readers have been fantastic. I’ve received a large number of emails regarding training, nutrition and other general fitness and health questions. Thank you all for that! The readers of this great magazine are obviously fans, racers, or enthusiasts of the sport of snowmobiling; so by nature, you’re active. I’ve heard comments like, “it's all the machine, the riders just sit there…” I hear that from fitness professionals and people who don't know the demands of riding a sled on a trail, never mind in the mountains or racing on a track! This tight knit community of snowmobilers tend to be active, so I don't want to offend any of you by busting out my soap box here, but the trends in our society with respect to our nutrition, exercise and general health are appalling and we need to act fast.
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Now, by no means do I think the average person needs to train like my top end athletes do; the average person wouldn't have the time, and for the athletes, it's their full time job. However, the parents out there, their kids, and all the rest of us, need to be active everyday! You don't need to run a marathon, or go to the gym for 4 hours a day, but try to take the dog for a walk, or take the kids out for a walk more often. Go for a trail ride if you have that ability. Play a game of basketball, volleyball or floor hockey. Good grief, I remember growing up when all the kids in the neighbourhood were out in the middle of winter or the heat of the summer, it didn't matter; we only wanted to play street hockey! Now the kids are just sitting around on the couch, hooked up to video games and lounging inside. This lack of exercise has even prompted some game manufactures like Nintendo and Wii, to take a break and go outside mid-game! Some video games available for the Wii, Playstation Move and the X-box 360's Kinetic are actually great for you, as you’ll need to get up and move to play the game. This leads me into my next point; in order to have an effect on your health, it has to have an effect on you. In other words, if you stand there and sway your hips back and forth while playing Dance Revolution, while also eating chips and drinking pop, you might not be achieving a whole lot. Like I stated previously; walk the dog, play volleyball, go snow shoeing, or whatever it takes. Fresh air is so good for you. If you’re currently extremely overweight, don't go out and run hills right away. Consult your doctor first, and come up with a health plan to make a change. We don't want anyone having a heart attack because I said to go out and be active! I watch the TV show, The Biggest Loser whenever I can. I enjoy it and I have told some of my clients to watch it. What do I like about it? Some of the workouts I've seen have been on a beach, climbing stairs in office buildings, and even in the gym; they’re practical exercises. The trainers on the show do a great job of varying the workouts from ropes to sandbags, to intervals on the treadmill or elliptical. That variation in activity is the point I'm trying to make; don't get stuck in the rut of the same old, same old! More recently, I’ve had two parents of my athletes start working out, inspired by the passion their kids had for training. Both Dads have lost over 30 lbs each, and this is from a simple change like watching what they eat and exercising 3-4 days a week. They aren't
starving themselves, talking some goofy pill, or following some trendy, new diet. Just regular exercise and clean eating; it’s that easy. I started this soap box session by saying that I believed our community of snowmobile lovers are active. Be that they’re weekend warriors, or even the mechanics in the pits; they can move lightning fast. Having seen two athletes, inspired by good eating and physical activity, achieve such results, I believe we can help spread the word! For all the racers reading this; maybe you can inspire your parents or mechanic to eat better, or maybe take them to the gym with you twice a week. Trail riders and mountain maniacs; take one of the guys or girls you work with on a ride with you. Not only will they appreciate our great sport by buying a new sled and getting a subscription to the greatest magazine – OSM, but they are getting active! Why, all of a sudden did I feel the need to bust out my soap box? Well, almost five years ago, I was doing seminars about healthy eating and I was targeting young hockey players, when I came across a shocking study: For the first time in over 70 years, kids entering kindergarten were expected to die before their parents! This information shocked me. With all of our medical advances and moder n medicines, we had found a way to go backwards. And why? Lack of exercise and poor nutrition! I was originally going to submit a completely different article for this issue, talking about the core and some new thoughts on how to better train these muscles, when I received an update from a medical site I subscribe to. We may be getting worse, not better. Let's all work together and help our friends and families become more active, live a healthier life style, and get them out riding and walking. Let's lead by example and help ourselves, while sending a message to the next generation to discover a healthier lifestyle! Thank you for reading, and if you need any tips on workouts that you can do anywhere, or healthy eating suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. In late August we will be hosting our third annual Evolved / Motopark / OSM Boot Camp for all racers, so stay tuned for dates and more information. “Do today what others won't, so tomorrow you can do what others can’t.”
Drew Robertson Sports Nutritionist / Conditioning Coach drew@evolvednutrition.com www.evolvednutrition.com
The New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs La Fédération des Clubs de Motoneige du Nouveau-Brunswick
NBFSC Celebrates 30th Anniversary, Wall of Fame Weekend
The 2012 winter tourism season has been the NBFSC’s celebration of 30-years of organized snowmobiling in New Brunswick. Multiple events were spread out over all three months to offer a variety of opportunities to participate and to include as many snowmobilers, member clubs and Corporate Partners as possible. The NBFSC’s 30th Anniversary just completed and celebrated its largest weekend of the year, in Bathurst, on March 2nd to the 4th, 2012. Our 30th Anniversary Wall of Fame weekend was combined with our annual Irving Oil President’s Ride this season. NBFSC Corporate Partner Atlantic Host was our base as more than 100 Club Presidents, volunteers, Past Presidents, Wall of Fame members and Corporate Partners joined together for a weekend of fun, recognition, memories…..and a Ride! Our first Wall of Fame, in 2007 was created and celebrated during our 25th Anniversary. Twentyfive deserving volunteers from all Zones in New Brunswick, including the very first NBFSC Board of Directors from 1982 were inducted that evening. Many of the current members were in attendance on Saturday evening as five new NBFSC Wall of Fame members were inducted.
www.nbfsc.com Snowmobiling is New Brunswick’s Winter Tourism… 62
In 2012 we are pleased to have inducted to the NBFSC Wall of Fame: • John MacLellan, Woodstock Trailmakers S.C. • Margaret McCann, Fredericton S.C. • Bernard Savoie, Club Motoneige Voyageur (Lameque) • Darryl Stothart, Nepisiguit Sports Lodge S.C. • Don Kenny, Nepisiguit Sports Lodge S.C. These five new members were all honored at Saturday evening’s banquet. President, Jody Tower welcomed everyone to the weekend on Friday evening by thanking all those who came before him and giving special thanks to the new members. Master of ceremonies was NBFSC President Jody Tower who handled the evenings ’ events on Saturday. The Atlantic Host has been the home of the NBFSC’s Wall of Fame and with recent renovations we will now have a more prominent display, of all 30 existing members of the Wall of Fame. We are grateful to Keith and his team for always ensuring that the NBFSC’s best volunteers have such a lovely and prominent home. On your next snowmobile trip through Bathurst we encourage you to take time to visit the 30 plaques of all the members, just a few feet around the corner of the Atlantic Host’s main lobby.
La FCMNB célèbre son 30e Anniversaire – Fin de semaine du Mur de la renommée La saison du tourisme d’hiver de 2012 a marqué la célébration par la FCMNB de 30 ans de motoneige organisée au NouveauBrunswick. Plusieurs évènements furent réalisés sur une période de trois mois de sorte à offrir une variété de possibilités de participer et d’inclure autant de motoneigistes, de clubs membres et de partenaires commerciaux que possible. Le 30e Anniversaire de la FCMNB vient de compléter et de célébrer sa plus importante fin de semaine de l’année, à Bathurst, du 2 au 4 mars 2012. Notre fin de semaine du Mur de la renommée de notre 30e Anniversaire était combinée avec notre Randonnée annuelle Irving Oil des présidents pour cette saison. Le partenaire commercial de la FCMNB, Atlantic Host, était notre base alors que plus de 100 personnes (présidents de clubs, de bénévoles, d’anciens présidents, d’intronisés au Mur de la renommée et de partenaires commerciaux) se sont rassemblées pour une fin de semaine d’amusement, de reconnaissance, de souvenirs… et une Randonnée ! Notre premier Mur de la renommée en 2007 fut créé et célébré lors de notre 25e Anniversaire. Vingt-cinq bénévoles méritants de toutes les zones du NouveauBrunswick, y compris le tout premier Bureau de direction de la FCMNB en 1982, furent intronisés ce soir-là. Plusieurs des
membres actuels étaient présents le samedi soir alors que cinq nouveaux membres étaient intronisés au Mur de la renommée de la FCMNB. En 2012, nous avions le plaisir d’introniser au Mur de la renommée de la FCMNB : • John MacLellan, Woodstock Trailmakers • Margaret McCann, Fredericton • Bernard Savoie, Club Motoneige Voyageur (Lamèque) • Darryl Stothart, Nepisiguit Sports Lodge • Don Kenny, Nepisiguit Sports Lodge Ces cinq nouveaux membres furent tous honorés lors du banquet du samedi soir. Le vendredi soir, le président, Jody Tower, a souhaité la bienvenue à tout le monde à cette fin de semaine en remerciant tous ceux qui sont venus avant lui et en remerciant plus particulièrement les nouveaux
membres. Le maître de cérémonie était le président de la FCMNB, Jody Tower, qui a dirigé le programme du samedi soir. L’Auberge Atlantic Host est le siège du Mur de la renommée de la FCMNB et, grâce aux récentes rénovations, nous aurons maintenant une plus grande visibilité pour tous les 30 membres du Mur de la renommée. Nous sommes reconnaissants à Keith et à son équipe pour toujours s’assurer que les meilleurs bénévoles de la FCMNB aient un affichage si beau et bien en vue. Lors de votre prochaine promenade en motoneige à travers Bathurst, nous vous encourageons à prendre le temps de visiter les 30 plaques de ces membres, juste à quelques pas en sortant du hall principal de l’Auberge Atlantic Host.
www.nbfsc.com
La motoneige est le Tourisme d’hiver du Nouveau-Brunswick… 63
The New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs La Fédération des Clubs de Motoneige du Nouveau-Brunswick President’s Report…
NBFSC Club President, Jody Tower It’s that time again for a mid-season update from New Brunswick. It has been a busy season so far with our 30th Anniversary and the NBFSC hosting many events. To start with the weather has not been all that good to us this year but better than most of Canada. That being said the Northern part of the Province has had good snow with the Southern just getting open the first week of February, at least 85% of the trails were open for the month of February. Our first of the 30th Anniversary events was held in Doaktown on January 21st. The event was hosted at our Corporate Partner O’Donnell’s Cottages. A good time was had by all with demo ride, BBQ, cake, antique sled show and to top it off with a bon fire. We raise money for Easter Seal who is also celebrating their 30th Anniversary. Our next event was held at Adair’s Wilderness Lodge in Shepody on the 28 Jan. With the weather not cooperating and little snow the event was still quite successful thanks to the devotion of owners Larry and Ida Adair along with long-time volunteer Vern Seeley. Again with our toy snowmobile races and 50 / 50 tickets we raised over $200 for Easter Seals. With little snow in Zone 8 we had to make the call on Sunday morning to move our “Go Snowmobiling” ride to Doaktown for the 31 Jan. The NBFSC in partnership with SANS (Snowmobilers Association of Nova Scotia) and PEISA (Prince Edward Island Snowmobile Association) host these rides each year, one day in each Province. With the support of the snowmobile manufacturer District Sales Managers (Arctic Cat - Chris Thebeau, Ski-doo BRP – Rick Lingley and Yamaha – Pat Hick & Clad Cock) we were able to provide a wonderful day of riding on our “White Gold”. This year again we had the pleasure of having the Premier of New Brunswick the Hon. David Alward along with five Ministers (Hon. Trevor
Holder, Hon. Blaine Higgs, Hon. Claude Williams, Hon. Robert Trevors and Hon. Bruce Fitch) and host MLA Jake Stewart. We are very fortunate to have such a great partnership with our Provincial Government, which supports New Brunswick’s winter tourism. Everyone had a great day of riding and our host, corporate partner The Ledges Inn, provided an excellent lunch and the prefect spot to start and end the ride. We just finished up our 3rd annual Groomer Workshop in Edmundston on February 18th, again another successful event thanks to the manufactures and our Trail Manager Kyle Good. Participants were able to try new groomers and also take in seminars on equipment. This same weekend was our Snowarama with Easter Seal at Mactaquac Provincial Park. This was monumental as each group celebrates its 30 year partnership in New Brunswick. Many activities were taking place such as a poker run, demo rides and toy snowmobile races to name a few. A special thanks to BRP Skidoo and the dealers of New Brunswick for sponsoring this event. Our next event is March 3rd in Bathurst hosted by our Corporate Partner The Atlantic Host Hotel. We will be having our Irving Oil President’s Ride and the 30th Wall of Fame Event. Five years ago, on our 25th Anniversary we created the Wall of Fame, which can be viewed year around at the Atlantic Host, and this year, we will be adding five more inductees to the Wall. Right around the corner is the Trans Canadian Snowmobile Trail ride across NB March 6-8th, starting in Sackville and ending in Edmundston. The final 30th Anniversary Ride-In event will take place on March 17th at Chalets Restigouche in Kedgwick River. As most know we have installed GPS units in each of our groomers to give an active trail condition status this year on line. As this is the first year and with not great snow conditions, we are working out the bugs to make this system better. We have taken the suggestions from our members to incorporate and make the system better, all this takes time so please be patient as we work on these changes and challenges. In closing I would like to say thank you to all the volunteers who make this organization work, along with the land owners who allow us to use their land. We have built great partnerships over the 30 years and would like to grow these even more in the future and that is why “Snowmobiling is New Brunswick’s Winter Tourism”. For any information regarding our events or stories of past events and trail conditions / status please check out our web site www.nbfsc.com
Snowmobiling is New Brunswick’s Winter Tourism… 64
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Rapport du Président… Encore une fois, le temps est venu pour une mise à jour du Nouveau-Brunswick à la mi-saison. La saison est assez occupée jusqu’à date avec notre 30e Anniversaire et la FCMNB qui organisait plusieurs évènements. Tout d’abord, la météo n’a pas été favorable pour tout le monde cette année, mais mieux que pour la plupart du reste du Canada. Ceci étant dit, la partie nord de la province a reçu de la bonne neige ; la partie sud ne s’est ouverte que durant la première semaine de février et au moins 85 % des sentiers étaient ouverts pour le mois de février. Notre première activité du 30e Anniversaire eu lieu à Doaktown le 21 janvier. L’hôte de cette activité était notre partenaire commercial, O’Donnell’s Cottages. Tout le monde s’est amusé : des promenades de démonstration, un BBQ, du gâteau, une exposition de motoneiges anciennes et un feu de joie pour clôturer le tout. Nous recueillons des fonds pour Timbre de Pâques, qui célèbre également son 30e Anniversaire. Notre prochaine activité avait lieu chez Adair’s Wilderness Lodge, à Shepody, le 28 janvier. Même avec la météo qui ne coopérait pas et le peu de neige, l’activité fut tout de même une réussite grâce au dévouement des propriétaires Larry et Ida Adair, ainsi qu’au bénévole de longue date, Vern Seeley. Une fois de plus, avec nos courses de motoneige-jouets et nos billets 50 / 50, nous avons recueilli plus de 200 $ pour Timbre de Pâques. Avec peu de neige dans la Zone 8, nous avons dû décider le dimanche matin de reporter notre randonnée « À vos motoneiges » à Doaktown pour le 31 janvier. La FCMNB, en partenariat avec la SANS (Snowmobilers Association of Nova Scotia) et la PEISA (Prince
Edward Island Snowmobile Association), organise ces randonnées à chaque année, une journée dans chaque province. Avec l’appui des Directeurs commerciaux de districts (Arctic Cat - Chris Thebeau ; Ski-doo BRP – Rick Lingley ; et Yamaha – Pat Hick & Clad Cock), nous avons été en mesure d’offrir une merveilleuse journée de randonnées sur notre « Or Blanc ». Une fois de plus cette année, nous avions le plaisir d’accueillir le Premier ministre du Nouveau-Brunswick, l’Hon. David Alward, accompagné de cinq ministres (l’Hon. Trevor Holder ; l’Hon. Blaine Higgs ; l’Hon. Claude Williams ; l’Hon. Robert Trevors ; et l’Hon. Bruce Fitch), ainsi que le député-hôte, Jake Stewart. Nous sommes très fortunés d’avoir un si bon partenariat avec notre gouvernement provincial, qui appuie le tourisme d’hiver du Nouveau-Brunswick. Tout le monde a profité d’une merveilleuse journée de randonnées et notre hôte, le partenaire commercial “The Ledges Inn”, a fourni un diner excellent et ce fut l’endroit parfait d’où partir et revenir avec notre randonnée. Nous venons tout juste de finir notre 3e Atelier annuel sur les surfaceuses à Edmundston, le 18 février, une autre activité réussie, grâce aux fabricants et à notre Gestionnaire des sentiers, Kyle Good. Les participants furent capables de faire l’essai de nouvelles surfaceuses et aussi de participer à des séminaires sur l’équipement. Cette même fin de semaine, il y avait également notre randonnée Snowarama avec Timbre de Pâques au Parc provincial de Mactaquac. Ce fut une activité monumentale puisque chaque groupe célèbre son partenariat de 30 ans au Nouveau-Brunswick. Il y avait plusieurs activités, telles qu’une randonnée poker, des promenades de démonstration, des courses de motoneiges-jouets, pour n’en nommer que quelques-unes. Des remerciements particuliers à BRP Skidoo et à ses concessionnaires au Nouveau-Brunswick pour avoir parrainé cet évènement. Notre prochaine activité est prévue pour le 3 mars à Bathurst, dont l’hôte sera notre partenaire commercial, l’Auberge Atlantic Host. Ce sera l’occasion de notre Randonnée annuelle Irving Oil des présidents et l’activité de notre
30e Mur de la renommée. Cinq ans passés, lors de notre 25e Anniversaire, nous avons créé le Mur de la renommée, que l’on peut voir à l’année longue au Atlantic Host, et cette année, nous allons y introniser cinq autres personnes. Tout juste à côté se trouve le site de la Randonnée de motoneige transcanadienne à travers le Nouveau-Brunswick du 6 au 8 mars, partant de Sackville et se terminant à Edmundston. La dernière activité du 30e Anniversaire aura lieu le 17 mars aux Chalets Restigouche, sur la rivière Kedgwick. Comme vous le savez, nous avons installé des appareils GPS dans chacune de nos surfaceuses pour nous donner un état à jour des conditions de sentiers en ligne cette année. Puisqu’il s’agit de la première année, et que les conditions de la neige n’étaient pas extraordinaires, nous sommes en train d’éliminer les pépins pour améliorer le système. Nous avons reçu les suggestions de nos membres et nous voulons les incorporer pour améliorer le système ; tout cela prend du temps, alors soyez patients alors que nous travaillons sur ces changements et ces défis. En terminant, j’aimerais dire merci à tous les bénévoles qui font en sorte que cette organisation puisse fonctionner, ainsi qu’aux propriétaires de terrains qui nous permettent d’utiliser leurs terres. Nous avons bâti de solides partenariats durant ces 30 années et nous aimerions en accroître le nombre à l’avenir ; c’est pourquoi « la Motoneige est le tourisme d’hiver du Nouveau-Brunswick ». Pour plus d’information concernant nos activités et nos anecdotes sur les activités antérieures, sur les conditions/état des sentiers, visitez notre site Web au www.nbfsc.com
www.nbfsc.com
La motoneige est le Tourisme d’hiver du Nouveau-Brunswick… 65
LUCKY 13
KELLY SHIRES BREAST CANCER SNOW RUN
Kellyʼs legacy continued strong this year through the amazing enthusiasm that riders brought to the 13th annual Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Snow Run. 121 amazing ladies suited up on February 2, 2012, and hit the gorgeous Muskoka trails. By raising over $400,000.00 for breast cancer patients across Canada, the ladies brought the 13 year fundraising total to over $3,000,000.00! This is a remarkable feat that proves how passionate snowmobilers are about making a difference in the lives of those battling breast cancer. This is an amazing success story that even original CoFounders, Kelly Shires and Suzy Stenoff could not have envisioned when the inaugural ride took place in 2000. Kelly lost her personal battle with the disease in October 2004, but her spirit was felt by those riding in her honour on this special weekend. Again this year, the Ontario event committee decided to bring back the vibe from earlier years when the group 66
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completely took over a resort. This yearʼs event took place at Hidden Valley Resort in Huntsville, which has become a favourite to those riders who have attended year after year. “The owners and staff at Hidden Valley Resort have embraced the charity. Whether you are dealing with the owners; managers; front desk staff; chef; kitchen staff; maintenance or housekeeping; they all contribute to making the Snow Run Volunteers and Participants feel at home,” said Barb Mair, event Registrar. The event kicked off on Friday evening with a fun MeetʼnʼGreet, hosted our by emcee, Carey Moran from KICX 106FM. Itʼs always a great night to catch up with old friends and mingle with the new ones. Camaraderie, games and dancing were enjoyed by all, and highlighting the evening was the decorated bra contest, sponsored by Parkbridge Lifestyle communities. Congratulations to Shelly Kerley, this yearʼs decorated bra winner. Participants also had the opportunity to
shop at the “Pink Market,” where a variety of vendors offered great items in support of the cause. Saturday morning started off with a brisk temperature of -10, but the spirit and energy were high, and the air was filled with excitement as the ladies prepared to head out on the trails. The judging panel secretly viewed the designs for the
KELLY SHIRES BREAST CANCER SNOW RUN
decorated sled contest. Everywhere you looked you could see pink; from sleds to suits to pink wigs and wings! Opening ceremonies commenced with a welcoming speech by Co-Founder, Suzy Stenoff, followed by a heartfelt moment of silence in memory of those who lost their battle to the disease and to those battling it every day. A special, pink hot air balloon was ignited and sent on its way as a tribute to Kelly by repeat participant Alison Walker. Taking it up a notch prior to hitting the
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trails, the ladies showed super spirit as they danced to the event theme song “Man, I feel like a Woman” by Shania Twain. The theme song was chosen by Kelly Shires years ago to represent the spirit of the event, and it rallies an unexplainable enthusiasm from the crowd. Even though this snowmobile season we have experienced limited trail systems in various areas, the trail committee planned a perfect route, and the ladies experienced a wonderful
160km ride on fantastic trails. A special thank you goes to the MSR, Hill & Gully Riders and the Algonquin Snowmobile Club that helped to make the day and trails exceptional. Participants rode with their team of choice and comfort level including; Team Turtle, Team Rock, Dream Team and the Hooter Haulers. Each team rode their designated routes to Dorset for lunch, and then headed back to Hidden Valley Resort to be greeted by hot chocolate and treats before hitting the showers to get ready for the Saturday night gala. The evening gala was kicked off with a warm welcome by Mistress of Ceremonies, Beverly Thomson, Co-Host of Canada AM and a breast cancer survivor. Beverly was able to enjoy the ride, courtesy of Dave Larmand from BRP Inc. Kellyʼs Father, Bob Childerhose, was on hand to start off the meal by saying grace, and tell the group a little about Kelly, prior to enjoying a wonderful dinner. Special thanks to our dinner sponsor again this year, Royal Distributing. A special thank you goes to Taera McLean for being our guest speaker and providing us with an exceptional video presentation, re-capping the day and past year of fundraising events. Surprise cheque
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KELLY SHIRES BREAST CANCER SNOW RUN
presentations were made by the team at Royal Distributing, FXR Racing and Hidden Valley Resort. The event was full of fun including speeches, awards, silent and live auctions, raffles and give-aways. Congratulations to the following award winners: Betty Black Memorial Award (highest pledges) Trina Chruszcz Kelly Shires Memorial Award (creative fundraising) Jelisa St. Peter Kim “Sparks” Fish Memorial Award – (love of life) Lindsay Draper Sled Ed Award – Funny Mishap on the trails Taylor Dale The grand finale of the banquet is the announcing of the winners of our annual raffle who were: 1st prize - 2012 Ski-Doo (donated by BRP and Factory Recreation, Midland) Sonya Stuckless-Aikman, Cambridge 2nd prize - $500 Gift Certificate for Royal Distributing (donated by Royal Distributing, Guelph) John Meares, Muskoka 3rd prize – Stay for 2 at Hidden Valley Resort (donated by Hidden Valley Resort) Valts Groskropfs, Fergus After dinner, the group continued to embrace Kellyʼs favourite saying, and danced like nobody was watching into the early hours. Sunday morning, everyone was treated to breakfast before heading home, full with wonderful memories. Special appreciation goes to the Ontario Event Committee, who works so hard throughout the year– Sarah Adams; Brian Fish; Barb Mair; Blair Munn; Dara Haggarty; Helen Stenoff; Suzy Stenoff; Jeff Wice; Joan Wice and Deanna Wright; along with every single volunteer who made this event intimate and colossal at the same time, in Kellyʼs Honour. Particular gratitude to all of our sponsors, with special mention to our platinum level sponsors; BRP INC.; Choko Designs; Divas Snow Gear; Factory Recreation – Midland; FXR Racing; Royal Distributing and The Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show. Your unwavering support gives us the strength to make an impact together – thank you. Sincere appreciation is extended to everyone who participated in this event. Whether you were a first time participant, volunteer or sponsor; without you, none of this would be possible! Thank you for keeping Kellyʼs legacy and dream alive. 68
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We look forward to seeing you February 13, 2013 for the 14th Annual event! And be sure to come and visit us at the upcoming Toronto Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show, October 19-21 at the International Centre; just follow the pink carpet! We are also very excited to announce that the 7th Annual Randonnee Des Neiges de Kelly Shires took place in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Feb 11, 2012, and raised over $274,000 for the Quebec chapter of the charity. For more details visit www.randonneedesneiges.org Calling all ATVs - We are excited to announce that the charity will be hosting its 3rd annual ATV ride, in conjunction with the Spring Jam ATV event in Parry
Sound, April 27 & 28th. Come out and ride your quad for the cause, with proceeds to the Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation. For details please visit www.trax4bc.com The Kelly Shires Foundation provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients across Canada, for items that are not covered by OHIP or private medical plans. To learn more about the event, or to make a donation, please visit www.breastcancersnowrun.org. For more information on the charity, visit www.kellyshiresfoundtaion.org Together we DO make a difference!
Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Snow Run
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919 Canada Rd., Edmundston, NB E3V 3X2 (506) 735-5525 • 1-866-612-9800 Fax (506) 739-6243 WWW.CHOICEHOTELS.CA/CN529 (case sensitive) • Located directly on Trails #12 & 17. • Free long term parking for trucks & trailers. • Fuel, Oil & Repairs nearby. • Indoor Pool, Sauna & Jacuzzi. • Enjoy Victoria Restaurant. Join us at PJ’s Bar & Grille or our Victoria Restaurant. Ask any knowledgeable snowmobiler and they will tell you that the Edmundston area is among the best maintained Trails in Eastern Canada. At Quality Inn, we have snowmobile packages available starting at $47.95 per person (based on double occupancy). Package consists of one night’s accommodation, hot breakfast for two and trail map. Call now to book your accommodations to "Blaze Throgh the North".
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or much of the snowbelt, this past season was one weʼd rather soon forget. Oh sure, there were pockets of epic snowfall, just ask our friends to the far north in Alaska, where depths reached beyond 20-feet. But even in areas where there was consistent and pleasantly deep snowfall for much of the season, the end came abruptly, with record warm temperatures and mid-March motorcycle rides replacing planned “one last burn” rides for many of us. From the outside, a winter such as the one we just experienced is an assured sign of doom and gloom for the still recovering snowmobile industry. Not a day went by this past winter, when a neighbor wouldnʼt make an uneducated comment of the imminent demise of my favorite winter pastime. While theories range from a freak anomaly to forewarned, dramatic climate change dubbed global warning, (one that I resoundingly disagree with by the way) itʼs hard to argue the fact that this past winter was one of the warmest ever on record. In my home community of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the proverbial hub of snowmobile activity in North America, records were broken from December through March. In fact, as I pen this column in early March, our late snowpack has completely vanished, and temperatures are expected to climb past 70-degrees! Itʼs also hard to argue the fact that snowmobiling is alive and well, and in many
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cases, far healthier as an industry than it has been in the past 10 years. After struggling with decreasing sales, and an overburden of new models being produced by not-yetready-to-face-the-facts manufacturers, the industry eventually self corrected itself. Build numbers were reduced, dealer inventories were cleaned up, and overall, model counts were slashed. Then in 2010-2011, we were blessed with an incredible winter, with snow coming often and early, and staying late. Consequently, early orders and pre-season sales were some of the best experienced in recent years, and by mid-December of 2011, many savvy dealers were healthier than they had been for many years. Yet, despite all this inside the huddle information, itʼs the mindset of the enthusiast that really matters. In over 20years of covering this sport as a journalist, Iʼve learned to never underestimate the positive thinking of a snowmobiler. Itʼs been said, snowmobilers are the eternal optimists. Problem - Heavy rain in the middle of December? Snowmobiler ʼs Answer - At least thereʼs no snow pack to destroy. Problem - Sub-zero temperatures in January, but no snow in the forecast? Answer - A perfect opportunity to ensure the swamps and rivers are frozen sufficiently, before the big one hits. Yup, no matter the situation, snowmobilers can find a silver lining when it comes to snow and cold. Still, this winter I had my doubts. By the
end of February, rideable snow had yet to show face, and in its place were several days with temperatures well above freezing. Even January, typically our most frigid month, saw temps creep near 50-degrees! Despite these set-backs, hard-core enthusiasts made alternative plans. With sleds in tow, trips to Michiganʼs Upper Peninsula, the high speed groomed trails of Quebec, and to the mountains in the far west were scheduled and enjoyed. Yet, it was the casual rider that would be of greatest risk to loose from the snowmobile fold. Whether they purchase a used sled, or a new one, the casual rider is the snowmobiler who enjoys an evening ride from home, or perhaps takes a few trips to the cabin each season. More importantly, itʼs the casual rider who makes up the bulk of our estimated 1.5 million registered snowmobiles in North America; a number that has remained relatively flat, despite significant swings in new snowmobile sales over the past 25 years. While its true we have lost a significant chunk of casual riders in recent years due to poor snowfall, competing interests, and the rising cost of participation, many have stayed true to the sport, despite these challenges. Then it happened. With winter nearly over, at least according to the calendar, suddenly Old Man Winter made an appearance, and it was a dramatic one at that. In a little over five days, many parts of the snowbelt were inundated with snow. From the mountains of the west, to the heart of the sport in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, the snow piled up fast and furious. More importantly, the casual riders followed. In the days that followed the heavy snows in my little part of the world, I saw countless riders; many on older sleds, and many with young riders and family joining them, enjoying the late arrival of winterʼs bounty. The winter of 2011-2012 may have been short and sporadic, but the winter season remains alive and well. Whether you are a seasoned snowmobiling veteran, a passionate enthusiast, or a recreational rider; those few lasting memories of last winterʼs ride has each of us optimistically looking forward to the next one. ✪
LAST GASP
JOE
DUNCAN XFS Drawing upon his Minnesota roots and his early days as a cross-country and snocross racer, Joe Duncan has become recognized as the sport’s preeminent promoter and organizer. Before Winter-X, Joe founded the World Snowmobile Association, (WSA) the organization often viewed as the one responsible for laying the groundwork for today’s national snocross tour. For the past 15-years, Duncan has been the sport organizer for ESPN’s Winter X-Games, and has been conducting snowmobile and other powersports events all over the world. When we tracked him down, he just returned from Russia, where he helped organize and run the FIM World Championship Snowcross.
Last thing you raced? I went TerraCross ATV terrain racing with Daryl Rath. The courses are gnarly with rocks, logs, mud, and a lot more. I wasn’t that good, but it sure was fun. Last food on your plate, you questioned putting in your mouth? Quail Eggs, while in Aspen, Colorado. Last snowmobile you rode? Polaris RMK 800, with Chris Burandt. Last time you were hassled by the man? About a week ago… I was pulled over for my truck being a few inches too tall. Could it be my tires were over inflated… ha ha! Last time you stayed up all night? Every year for about the past ten; we pull an allnighter at Jimmy’s in Aspen, Colorado. Last place you traveled to? I just got back from Russia. I was there for the FIM World Championship snowcross. Later in March, I’ll be heading to France, Sweden, and Finland. Last band you listened to that you thought kicked ass? Kid Rock… its not the latest, but its too damn good to ignore. Last television show you watched and thought WTF? Gold Rush… Great show, but just shows you can put anything on TV these days. Last snowmobile you crashed? All of them, ha ha. My nickname was the “Logger” when I raced cross-country. 74
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Last thing you saw that blew your mind? The EXO Skeleton by Unequal; it’s a new protection system that Levi LaVallee is wearing. It’s amazing what it is going to do for all our athletes. Kevlar based impact protection for head and body. Last near-death experience? Drinking at Jimmy’s in Aspen, Colorado…ha ha. Last thing your mother always told you do? Treat others as you would have them treat you. I should have listened to her more. Lasting snowmobile memory? I had the best ride ever with Chris Burandt at Rabbit Ears in Colorado last year. We were in 6feet of fresh powder and I couldn’t see a thing all day. Or it could be the start of the 1994 I-500 cross-country race. We were on the river, outside of Thunder Bay; temps were 20-below Fahrenheit, with a brutal wind chill. I was running open water to pass guys who chose to ride along the side of the river. There were also those seven attempts at Jackson Hole; I never made it over the top, but what a ride. Hmmmm, there are simply too many to list. Last thing you read? OSM magazine, what else? Last time you laughed so hard, you nearly wet your pants? Every day; laughter is the key to life. Last person you hugged? My Grandfather; he is 94-years-old and my idol.
Last time you were injured? Knock on wood; it hasn’t happened very often, despite a lot of “offs”. About 10 years ago I blew my ACL out, pretending I could ride my dirt bike. Last celebrity you met? I am fortunate to be around many with the X Games. Last project you worked on that you were truly excited about? All of them, or I wouldn’t work on them. Last time you went on vacation? I like to think my work is my vacation, but I did go to a friend’s wedding in Mexico a few years back. That was a true vacation. Last beer you recently drank? Grain Belt Nordeast, with Toni Haikonen, near the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. Last time you went over 100mph? Far too often; hence the reason for too many speeding tickets and getting hassled by the man. Last words of advice? Enjoy life to its fullest because its too short, and respect the people around you. You don’t have to like them, but respect them. Last shout out to sponsors? I would like to thank HMK; Mystik Lubricants; Nielsen; Prinoth; BVK; FOX Shox; EVS; all the Manufactures; ESPN X Games; Unequal; and all the amazing athletes I have been so fortunate to work with over the years. Special thanks to Glen Kafka; Sportech; ERX; Haydays; PK; KK; RG; MG and all the staff that have worked side-byside with me over the years.
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