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Tucker Hibbert extends points lead at challenging Eastern Snocross National

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Tucker Hibbert extends points lead at challenging Eastern Snocross National

February 19, 2018 – Tucker Hibbert extended his points lead in the ISOC National Snocross Championship at the Eastern National in Salamanca, NY. Hibbert was untouchable in qualifying and with points being awarded for qualifying rounds, he racked up valuable points despite going 13-2 in the final events.

In Friday night’s final, after winning both qualifiers, Hibbert lined-up on the far outside due to ISOC’s pro start rule which requires riders to take their pick in an inverted order based off their results earned in qualifying races. To avoid getting pushed off the track in the tight left first turn, he grabbed the brakes and slotted to the back of the 15-rider field. He made passes quick and on lap seven of 22, moved into seventh. Two laps later, he misjudged the speed and position of another rider and put himself in a line that caused him to get partially landed on. Hibbert was unharmed but the incident left his throttle cable broken. Unable to continue racing, he exited the track and was scored 13th based on the number of laps he completed.

Saturday night, Hibbert was once again the number qualifier for the final event. Instead of starting on far outside of the front row, he opted to start from the back row with the goal of being in a safer position through the first turn. He got through the first turn clean then ran into a rider who was stopped at the top of the first jump, leaving him in last place. With minor damage to his right ski and a-arm, he charged forward. Lap eight of 22, he moved into eighth place. With a 14-second deficit to make up on the leader, he clicked off fast lap after fast lap and with two laps to go, passed Logan Christian for second place. Hibbert kept the pressure on to the end to finish 1.3 seconds behind race winner Kody Kamm.

Next up for Hibbert is the Michigan National this weekend in Mt. Pleasant. The 10-time champion now holds a 61-point lead in the 2018 points championship. For more information on Hibbert and his schedule, visit tucker-hibbert.com.

Tucker Hibbert – #68 Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck
Friday night recap:
“The race didn’t go quite as planned after getting a bad start. It took me a few laps to get into a groove and make forward progress. Once I did that, I started feeling a lot better and charging towards the front. It fell apart about halfway through the race when I was trying to make a pass on a rider. I thought he went over the inside berm to the outside and at the last second I realized he was still on the inside berm and I had drove basically underneath him. At the last second, I saw and heard his sled and I was able to lean back and get my right hand off the handle bar before his track caught my bars. I was lucky to not get hurt but unfortunately the mistake took me out of the race with a broken throttle cable. I was definitely bummed to be sitting on the sidelines when I wanted to be charging to the front.”

Saturday night recap:
“We [the team] tried to figure out the best scenario for the starting line and the first turn to avoid getting taken out and improve our chance of a better start. We decided to go to the back row. I feel like it was right decision but unfortunately I got tangled with another rider right out of the first turn. It didn’t work out and I had to come from last place. I didn’t really get a good look at where Kamm was until I was in third place and had passed Logan for second. I was focused on not making mistakes and charging hard. I got real close. I was feeling like I could get the win, especially if Kamm made a mistake. I have won a lot of races like this in the past so I knew I could do it but came up a little short of getting it done.”

Overall thoughts on the weekend:
“I’m excited about the championship and where we’re at with that. Obviously extending the points lead each weekend is awesome and that’s a goal for us but, for me, winning races is where it’s at, so it’s a little frustrating. It’s unfortunate that it’s so challenging to race for final wins after winning all the qualifiers and being so fast. We’re staying focused on our season goals which are to win every time we’re on the track and to win the championship.”

Tucker Hibbert – Eastern National Results
Friday, February 16 – Pro Round 9
Round 1 Qualifying: 1st
Round 2 Qualifying: 1st
FINAL: 13th
Saturday, February 17 – Pro Round 10
Round 1 Qualifying: 1st
Round 2 Qualifying: 1st
FINAL: 2nd

CBS Sports Network Broadcast 
Eastern Snocross National Day 1: Sunday, February 25 – 11:00 am ET
Eastern Snocross National Day 2: Sunday, March 4 – 11:00 am ET

Remaining 2017/2018 ISOC National Snocross Events
Mt. Pleasant, MI // February 23-24, 2018
Dubuque, IA // March 9-10, 2018
Lake Geneva, WI // March 16-17, 2018

About Tucker Hibbert
Tucker Hibbert, 33, entered his first race at the age of eight and today stands as the most decorated snowmobile snocross racer in history. He’s a two-time FIM World Snowcross champion, 14-time X Games medalist and 10-time national snocross champion. Now in his 18th professional season, he holds 134 Pro National victories. For more information on Hibbert, visit tucker-hibbert.com.

Full REVIEW: 2018 Ski-Doo MXZ 600R

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Full REVIEW: 2018 Ski-Doo MXZ 600R

Motorhead Mark investigates whether or not Ski-Doo has set the standard in the 600cc class in his Test Ride of the recently announced 2018 Ski-Doo MXZ 600R.

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Split Rail Dual Axis Snowmobile Skis

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Split Rail Dual Axis Snowmobile Skis

They’re different, they’re eye catching and you’re sure to have a trail side conversation with anyone that you happen to come across when you’re running a set of Split Rail Skis.

On the market now for close to 8 years, Split Rail skis has yet to break through as mainstream, but anyone that runs them will tell you they couldn’t live without them.

If you’re a rider that gets an uncomfortable feeling when your sled suddenly darts from left to right, or have a hard time keeping it flat and tight when turning in corners then you need a set of Split Rail skis.

They will make you go from zero to hero in as much time as it takes to install them. We’ve often said, power means nothing without control and installing a set of Split Rail Skis really does an excellent job of getting everything out of your sled and truly elevating your riding capabilities.

Built around the concept of dual axis’ Split Rail skis flex independently to maintain constant contact with the changes in snow surfaces for precise steering control.

They eliminate darting due to the fact that the spaced out rails and carbides can never be caught in the same groove at the same time.

One of the other spill over benefits to Split Rails skis is the turned up ski ends that shoot snow behind to your track thereby improving slide rail lubrication.

For more information on Split Rail Skis go to splitrailski.com

SnowTrax Television 2018 – Episode 8 Sneak Peek

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SnowTrax Television 2018 – Episode 8 Sneak Peek

We connect with Dan Adams – owner and lead instructor of Next Level Riding Clinics – in Alpine, Wyoming. While there, Dan instructs us on the importance of avalanche safety and awareness while personally reflecting on his time as an avalanche rescuer in 2007.

Then, Luke and Dan climb aboard a pair of customized 2018 Polaris PRO-RMK 155 snowmobiles and some KTM 450 SX-F powered Timbersleds with ARO 120 kits for some of the best backcountry riding available in North America.

Then in TEST RIDE, Mark reviews the highly powerful, race-ready crossover sled – the 2018 Ski-Doo Renegade X-RS 850.

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WILL SKI-DOO’S NEXT-GEN 4-STROKE BE A GEN-4?

Kent Lester
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WILL SKI-DOO’S NEXT-GEN 4-STROKE BE A GEN-4?

No word yet on when Ski-Doo is coming with its next line of 4-strokes or if it will be this year or next. However, we’ve been wondering about whether or not any new SD 4-strokes will be housed in the Gen-4 platform.

Based on past history, when Ski-Doo simply offered a modified XP and XS chassis called the XR to accommodate the larger and heavier 1180cc 4-TEC, we’re not sure the G-4 will work using the same theory.

Because the G-4 chassis is designed to place the 850 and new 600 E-TEC 2-stroke twins very centered in the chassis so the sled can be narrower, we’re having a problem believing SD is just going to do a patch job and shoehorn its wider 4-stroke triples into the same platform. To us, it makes more sense the new 4-strokes will be used in something completely new.

Although that statement seems impractical from a production perspective, here’s why we think Ski-Doo will start fresh for its 4-strokes. The fact is, Ski-Doo is leading in 4-stroke sales in this industry.

That stat is pretty impressive when you consider one competitor offers nothing but 4-strokes and another has a pretty wide selection mixed with its 2-stroke sleds.

Not only that, but owners we know who have been riding Ski-Doo 4-strokes for the last few years are flat-out in love with them. These people seem to have the same rabid attitude Ski-Doo 2-stroke owners have. Sick, but true. However, a good number are looking for something different.

Here’s where we’re going: It looks like Ski-Doo has created its own distinct market for 4-stroke people. Their sales are big enough in that sector to support the investment it would take to offer a completely different foundation just built for 4-strokes. We think this may even be a boon to SD being able to expand its 4-stroke sales.

The truth is, many 4-stroke owners don’t really want their sled to look the same as the 2-strokes being offered. As long as it’s fast, handles good and rides good, they’ll buy it!

Ski-Doo is known for upsetting the apple cart and coming in with shocking new concepts to capture market dominance. Why not here, too?

WHY POLARIS NEEDS A 4-STROKE!

Kent Lester
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WHY POLARIS NEEDS A 4-STROKE!

We’ve been speculating on Polaris’ plans for MY2019 ever since the snow started falling a couple of months ago.

Although we’re only guessing, we can’t help but think this is the year Polaris gets into the 4-stroke biz – again!

Why is this so important? Well, as of today, Ski-Doo is so dominant in the snowmobile business, the other guys aren’t catching up. Polaris’ main competitor is kicking butt in 2-stroke, 4-stroke in the whole snowmobile market – and in nearly every segment Polaris has a foothold.

Our research has shown 4-stroke sleds continue to hold between 25-30-percent of the overall market. This is no wink-wink, nudge-nudge tally. If you’re not serving 25-percent of the wishes of your marketplace, one in every four sleds sold is not your brand – you’re not even getting a shot at it, and that’s a lot of moolah!

Hey, we’re right onside with Polaris’ argument that 2-stokes perform better because of their inherent lighter weight. No argument from us at all. However, thousands of riders prefer 4-strokes for a jillion reasons and although they love the Polaris brand, end up buying a competitor’s offering just because it’s a 4-stroke. Some of those customers come back, but a lot don’t.

Hey, we know we’re not telling you something Polaris is simply ignoring. These guys are smart and read the snowmobile market like the daily newspaper. Here’s what we’re thinking: We have often speculated Polaris will use a version of its 1000cc turbocharged 4-stroke twin presently inhabiting it’s RZR off-road Side by Side.

We now think that may not be the case. Although that engine is powerful enough and durable enough to win favor in the snowmobile market, we thing it lacks the sizzle the competition is generating with big-inch triples.

This would mean an all-new 3-cylinder engine, probably tooled in the USA, that could incorporate variants for both turbo use and natural aspiration (EFI).

Whatever is sitting on the back burner, it’s way past time to get it to consumers. Maybe this is the year!

HOW MUCH WILL ARCTIC CAT CHANGE?

Kent Lester
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HOW MUCH WILL ARCTIC CAT CHANGE?

At this point there have probably been about a thousand different diatribes and even more opinions cast about the future of Arctic Cat.

I’m not talking about the viability of Cat as a brand or its survival as a company. Rather, I’m speaking to its strategy and ability to grow, and even more, about whether it’ll continue to be identifiable as the snowmobile maker we’ve known and loved for over 60 years, now that it’s governed by a multi-national.

Arctic Cat has always been known as an innovator and the genius of its success has been faithfully rooted in the individual creativity and brilliance of it engineers and designers.

These unique artists have had considerable free rein in the past to dream and develop snowmobiles that nail the desires of hardcore users focused on superior performance and rideabilty.

How does this happen? In all the years I’ve been witness to how Arctic cat builds snowmobiles, it has stood out boldly to me that this company perceives the wants of its market so well because its key people are avid, rabid enthusiasts who love snowmobiling and love snowmobiles.

When they conceptualize a new sled, I’m pretty sure those dreamers, even the ones at the very top, are thinking about sitting on the seat of it and putting it though its paces as their sled. I think the question is asked every day: “Would I want my snowmobile to work like this?” or, “Even if it costs more, it will be better if it’s built this way”.

Thus, Cat’s greatest strength has been its people. Over the years, I’ve met dozens of Arctic Cat product managers, engineers and designers and it always impresses me how many of these people are more than just bean counters and classroom trained engineering grads who look at charts and graphs and sit in front of computers all day.

There’s a hands-on attitude in play and a genuine concern the sleds the company builds have their fingerprints all over them. The snowmobiles are personal.

Call it a soul if you like, but when you talk to these folks, there’s so much concern the product be deemed satisfactory to their customers, instead of making excuses, they absorb criticism and move forward on improving or changing the things that come up short. This attitude has been a constant over the years, and I respect it.

Naturally, when a change as vast as the purchase of Arctic Cat by Textron comes up, there’s concern the “home town” attitude Cat has thrived on will be altered. Only time will tell and there’s no doubt there’s been a more complex corporate structure set in place, likely driven by maximizing profits and eventually building up a war chest of cash. This is business and it’s how things need to operate. The truth is, it’s extremely important Cat continues to be profitable.

In our recent conversations with the chiefs at Textron, it’s been very comforting to see they don’t intend to mess much with the internal structure or strategy of how Cat builds snowmobiles.

The first positive is that the Textron people have identified the “soul” of Arctic Cat and, unlike its off-road division, want to keep the snowmobile division separate and distinctive from other Textron identifiers. This is big and it clearly indicates Textron “gets it” about Arctic Cat.

The second thing encouraging to me is how Textron views its role as a provider of A) unique management potential drawn from its involvement with a dozen other large companies it has purchased and made more successful, and B) promises to utilize its corporate wealth to grow Arctic Cat into a bigger player in the industry.

That last item is particularly important because it appears the company does not intend to squeeze everything tighter, pare jobs and design budgets to eke out fatter margins. I honestly believe Textron wants to invest in Arctic Cat and grow it into a stronger, more influential force in the industry.

To me, this is the best news of all!

WILDCAT SLED CLUB

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WILDCAT SLED CLUB

As most students were on the way to school today, 12 sledders from Eastview Secondary School, along with two of their teachers and two community volunteers, were meeting in their outdoor classroom along the OFSC trail B112B in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada. This was the inaugural trail ride for the Wildcat Sled Club.

Student requests, a shared love of snowmobiling and a desire to reinforce safe sledding, led teachers Jason Beer and Marianna Rallis to work hard to make this club a reality.

The journey started just over a year ago with a proposal to the Simcoe County District School Board. Despite the fact that there were no clubs of this kind in province of Ontario, Principal Jane Seymour, Corporate Risk Officer Erin Schwarz and the Superintendents and Director of the Board gave the club a green light.

After a thorough safety meeting held at the school and conducted by the OPP, the dates were set and sledders prayed for snow. While the OFSC trail groomers worked hard to open the trails, other community partners such as Royal Distributing, St. Onge Recreation, St. John Ambulance and the Sno Voyageurs reached out to the Wildcats and offered tremendous support by way of donations.

Unfortunately January’s lengthy thaw saw the first trail ride cancelled. However, the snow returned and the trails reopened with near perfect conditions.

As the 16 sledders departed they toured along the B112B trail to Hawkestone and headed north along trails 203, B and B205C to Waubaushene where they stopped for lunch. After fueling up they continued north and west along trails C and 309 ending up just north of Elmvale.

From there the club headed south along the C, B and B103 trails to the SCDSB office in Midhurst where they thanked Erin Swartz and took at picture with her and Mayor Harry Hughes of Oro-Medonte, a long time educator and major supporter of community sport and recreation. Afterward, the sledders toured back to their original meeting place in Shanty Bay.

Overall, the first outing was a great success and we look forward to more riding in the near future, weather permitting. The Wildcats would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who made this club a reality.

2019 POLARIS INDY EVO

AJ Lester
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2019 POLARIS INDY EVO

The 2019 Polaris Indy EVO just might be the sled for the masses…or possibly for the missus, or the kiddos or the family member you just don’t trust with anything liquid cooled or able to go over 50 MPH.

The EVO is a total rethink of the midsized sled. It’s really not all that mid-sized actually; it’s a full size Indy chassis with standard size bodywork, a real track, skis, and the works.

It has a very powerful 550 fan-cooled engine and while it sounds like it might not be a mid-sized sled at all, the truth is while it isn’t…it actually is.

The CDI box makes the engine top out at 50 MPH and the fact Polaris Engineers limited power electronically is really interesting, because you get full power right up to that speed, which eliminates the stigma surrounding mid-sized sleds, which typically have a lazy, old or just not fun motor under the hood.

The 550 is linked to a new, easy-to-operate and more controlled throttle flipper that will reduce the amount of effort required to squeeze it and reduce surging through the whoops typically experienced by novice or new riders. This means the confidence level goes up and the risk goes down.

Acceleration is surprising because you get a whole lot of giddy up and go. While the skis will stay planted if you sit down and gas it, they will get light and wheelie well over a hundred feet should you just stand up and pull back only every so slightly, adding to the fun factor for those whose confidence is building.

While there is an EVOlution kit available for the EVO making it essentially a full powered 550 Indy with full width and full suspension travel, the stock model has a very lowered look to it.

Polaris put its focus on massaging the Indy chassis so it works perfectly for a smaller rider. This attention to detail means smaller pilots can rail corners just like someone riding a full-sized Indy.

Travel has been pulled out of the front and rear suspension of the sled to lower the ride height and add confidence by dropping the center of gravity. When you do this the sled becomes more stable and further inspires confidence.

Experienced riders will use up the suspension on the EVO, but this is not a sled for the average rider, it is a stepping stone to a sport we are all addicted to and a great start for those lacking the skills or confidence required to handle a full-sized sled.

I don’t for a second believe the EVO is only targeted at 12 to 16 year olds. This is a sled for riders 12 years old to 85 years old. It’s the sled sled your wife will feel more confident on, the sled you know is the right fit for the neighbour you’ve always wanted to take for a ride, it’s a sled for the masses who don’t have the muscle, the skill or the confidence yet to ride a full sized sled.

The Indy EVO is the sled we’ve all been asking for. It’s the sled that’s going get a new generation addicted to snowmobiling and that’s an addiction I have no problem feeding.

2018 Crossover Shootout: Ski-Doo VS Polaris

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2018 Crossover Shootout: Ski-Doo VS Polaris

It’s time to see who can deliver the best of both worlds in terms of on and off-trail experience as we host a Crossover Shootout involving the 2018 Ski-Doo Renegade Backcountry X 850 E-TEC against the 2018 Polaris Switchback Assault 800. Which sled will come out on top in this eight categorical battle involving on and off trail riding and handling, power, ergonomics, features and fit & finish.

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    SNOWTRAX has established itself as the most watched snowmobile TV series in North America.
    Each season, the SNOWTRAX crew guides viewers through informative and entertaining content; revealing the inside scoop on the latest snowmobiles, accessories and riding destinations that make snowmobiling winter's greatest adventure sport.
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