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Kindergartner’s Act of Kindness Goes Viral

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Kindergartner’s Act of Kindness Goes Viral

Ishpeming, Mich (November 9, 2017) — Sunshine Oelfke, the 5-year-old who emptied her piggy bank to buy milk for her classmates who couldn’t afford it, received a big surprise in celebration of her selfless act.

During a schoolwide gathering at Birchview Elementary, Textron Specialized Vehicles presented Sunshine with her own Arctic Cat® ZR® 120 model snowmobile, which is the dream sled Sunshine had been diligently saving for prior to realizing she had friends in need.

Sunshine’s’ Milk Mission, which began when Sunshine donated all of her own savings, has been tugging at heartstrings across the nation, with donations to her Go Fund Me page now exceeding $13,000. That’s 16 times the amount it would take to buy her entire classroom milk for one whole year.

“We are all so thrilled for the positivity Sunshine has helped bring to our school,” said Birchview Elementary Principal Bernie Anderson. “We encourage our students to treat others the way you want to be treated. For Sunshine to see the needs at our school and do something about it, makes us very proud.”

During the schoolwide celebration, Sunshine and her grandmother, Jackie Oelfke, presented the first check to the school of $5,000, which will cover the cost of milk for the 74 pre-Kindergarten and Kindergartners for the rest of the year. The check presentation was followed by the surprise reveal of the youth Arctic Cat snowmobile.

“We were so touched by Sunshine’s generosity that we were eager to do something special for her and show our support for the Ishpeming community,” said Kale Wainer, Snow channel marketing manager at Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., which designs and manufactures Arctic Cat snowmobiles. “I think we can all afford to be more compassionate and fearless, and Sunshine sets a great example for us.”

“Sunshine is a snowmobile fanatic. We rode over 800 miles together just last year, and she never touched her Arctic Cat piggy bank prior to this mission because she had her heart set on that snowmobile,” said Jackie Oelfke. “That’s why I was so taken aback when I saw her emptying her coins into baggies and taking them to school. To see this little girl, have such a big heart at her age is amazingly heartwarming, and I am just so glad that people want to spread her message of kindness.”

The company is also donating snow gear to the school for those who may not have access to adequate winter gear. For more information about Arctic Cat’s youth snowmobiles, visit www.arcticcat.com/snow/snowmobiles/youth.

About Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.


Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., a Textron Inc. company, is a leading global manufacturer of Snowmobiles, side-by-sides, all-terrain vehicles, golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles, professional turf-care equipment, and ground support equipment. Textron Specialized Vehicles markets products under the Arctic Cat®, Textron Off Road™, E-Z-GO®, Cushman®, Jacobsen®, Dixie Chopper®, Ransomes®, TUG™, Douglas™, Premier™ and Safeaero™ brands.

About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc.

(NYSE: TXT) is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Arctic Cat, Textron Off Road, Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information visit www.textron.com.

About Ishpeming Public Schools
The Ishpeming Public School District is located in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with a K-12 population of over 800. The ongoing mission of the district is to prepare all students to be self-motivated, responsible and productive citizens in a rapidly changing world.

Legendary Gaspésie

Craig Nicholson
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Legendary Gaspésie

In North American snowmobiling, a few destinations are legendary, their mystique spread through social media and word of mouth. One is the Quebec Maritime Region called Gaspésie.

Also known as the Gaspé Peninsula, it’s bounded in the north by the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and south by the Bay of Chaleur (with a great view of New Brunswick from the lookout above the town of Point-à-La-Croix).

Gaspésie boasts oodles of snow, plus a sledding season that starts early and lasts well into April. This bucket list Canadian destination also delivers breathtaking scenery, panoramic lookouts and a superb network of wide, sweeping trails that may be the best you’ll ever ride day after day.

Typically tabletop smooth with minimal traffic, these snow corridors also provide good access to English speaking services and amenities.

The premier Gaspésie route is Trans Quebec Trail 5. It follows the coastline to circumnavigate the eye-candy topography of the Peninsula. But that’s just part of Gaspésie’s sledding appeal. The picturesque Matapedia Valley on Quebec Regional Trail 587 in western Gaspésie is a standout – and so are the awesome wilderness Trails 595 and 597 through the heart of the Notre Dame Mountains, a northern extension of the Appalachian range (several interior trail loop options are shown on the Gaspésie Trail Map.)

If powder riding’s your thing, connect with one of the boondocking outfits located in the Chic-Chocs, part of the northern Notre Dame Mountains (Aventure Chic-Chocs Mountain Riding).

Frankly, I’ve never figured out how to do all this in a one-week trip. To get on the snow sooner, our self-guided saddlebag tour launched from Hotel Universel in Rivière-du-Loup. It’s located in the Gaspésie’s neighbouring western region, Bas-Saint Laurent. We returned five days later after racking up 1,800 kilometres (1,118 miles).

First, we rode a mountainous Trail 587 through the Matapedia Valley, then picked up the Trail 5 loop counter clockwise along the south coast from Point-à-La-Croix east to the town of Percé (check out the famous Percé Rock and the Mont-Saint-Anne lookout behind the town church).

Going this direction, the going gets progressively more steep and stunning, culminating along the north shore. Here, the best lookouts are between Petite-Vallée & Saint Madelaine, and again from Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis & La Martre. You’ll experience some long, high climbs and sharp descents on this section of Trail 5, so be prepared for popping ears!

Adding the equally alluring interior trail loops to this itinerary would tack on another couple of riding days to the five we completed. Considering the trailer drive to and from Gaspésie is a full day or more each way depending on where home base is, you’re into at least a ten-day expedition to get it all done out of Rivière-du-Loup.

One alternative to cram more into your visit is to trailer farther east 200 kilometres (125 miles) past Rivière-du-Loup to stage within Gaspésie from Matane. While lengthening the drive, this launching point knocks a total of 600 kilometres (372 miles) off the ride we did – effectively two days, mostly in Bas-Saint-Laurent – so you could use these two days for more Gaspésie exploring.

Having visited Gaspésie multiple times, I should note that it’s wise to allow a spare day or two for a snow bound layover. Massive storms can and do occur throughout the winter that temporarily bring all traffic – even mountain sleds – to a full stop until roads and trails are cleared again.

Also worthwhile to know is that Trail 5 on the south coast generally doesn’t last as long as its northern counterpart, and that’s when the interior trails provide excellent options. Finally, be prepared to be slammed by blustery winds in open areas along the north coast, and don’t attempt Gaspésie without studs – or without a driver’s side mirror affixed to your sled as required by Quebec law.

That all said, a one-week Gaspésie tour will blow your mind even if you don’t have time to do it all. But that’s good news, because then you’ll have to go back for more real soon!

Planning Websites

* Quebec Tourism
* Gaspé Region
* Routing & Snow Info
* Trail Permits & Conditions

Maps Needed

* Gaspésie
* Bas-Saint-Laurent

Where We Stayed on Our Counter Clockwise Loop

* Hotel Universel, Rivière-du-Loup (fuel beside hotel) 1-800-265-0072
* Selectotel, Amqui (fuel down trail)– 1-800-463-0831
* Hostellerie Baie Blue, Carleton-sur-Mer (fuel nearby) 1-800-463-9099
* Auberge La Table à Roland, Percé (fuel up in Grande-Rivière) 418-782-2606
* La Délice Motel, Mont-Saint-Pierre (fuel up in Sainte-Madelaine) 1-888-797-2955
* Riotel Matane (fuel on way to hotel) 1-877-566-2651

New Helium Pro Jacket from Ski-Doo

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New Helium Pro Jacket from Ski-Doo

BRP’s Ski-Doo snowmobiles is introducing the new Helium Pro Jacket to bring the next level of advanced outerwear to active crossover and cross-country riders both on and off trail. The jacket combines features and technology from hyperactive mountain wear and extreme cold weather riding gear to form a product that will answer these riders’ needs.

The contemporary styling is aggressive but tasteful, with a fit and key features to provide ultimate functionality for demanding riders. The thoughtful design includes many elements like front and bicep venting that is accessible even when wearing a backpack back.

The shell of the Helium Pro Jacket was developed with lessons learned in the mountains; it features a tough, high-tech Cordura material with a Sympatex membrane to provide high performance breathability and the best water and wind resistance. Riders will appreciate the toughness in tight tree riding and the ability stay warm and dry even in wet conditions as the membrane protects against outside elements while allowing perspiration to evaporate. All Sympatex gear features a lifetime warranty also.

Balance in warmth is key to Helium Enduro gear design. Insulation in the Helium Pro is high performance Primaloft Black in a lighter amount than typical insulated jackets so riders remain comfortable in active riding – in cold conditions. Primaloft Black works with the Sympatex membrane to facilitate better breathability also.

Design features:
• Highly windproof, waterproof and breathable membrane
• 100% of seams and logos are sealed
• Water-resistant zippers
• Easy to reach vents
• Powder skirt
• Hem, collar and wrist adjustments
• Inner microfleece cuffs
• Silicone backpack grip at shoulders
• Reflective highlights on back and sleeves
• Cordura reinforcement in key areas

There’s matching Helium Enduro Highpants available in XS-3XL also.

For those wanting less branding the Helium Enduro Jacket offers a modern adventure motorcycle type look with the same benefits.

Helium 30 Lightweight Gear from Ski-Doo

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Helium 30 Lightweight Gear from Ski-Doo

BRP’s Ski-Doo snowmobiles is expanding and renewing its Helium 30 mountain outerwear with new colors and more options in both men’s and women’s styles for 2018.

Helium 30 gear was first introduced to provide a super lightweight outer shell, with all the benefits of a Sympatex membrane, for riders that wanted the least restriction possible. It’s become a favourite of most Ski-Doo Backcountry Experts who value that ease of mobility, yet absolutely need the protection and performance of a waterproof, windproof and breathable shell.

The jackets and pants are constructed of a Sympatex 2-ply Laminated Polyester with all seams and logos sealed for maximum protection against water and wind intrusion, while allowing perspiration to evaporate through the membrane. Design details on jackets include water resistant zippers, a removable hood, powder skirt and venting under the arms and on the biceps.

Pants were designed with feedback from hard-core mountain riders featuring high panels front and back for additional protection against snow and wind intrusion along with must haves like properly shaped, reinforced knee and shin pads, reinforcement on the inner legs for abrasion protection, storm gaiters that connect to boot laces and stretch fabric in the waist for ease of movement.

All Sympatex gear features a lifetime warranty.

Men’s jackets are available in four colors, while pants are available in Charcoal Gray or Black and sizes for both jackets and pants range from Extra Small to 3XL and tall versions also. Women’s jackets and pants are one color available in Extra Small through 3XL.

Pricing is from $369.99 – $399.99 USD/$479.99 – $519.99 CAD

Ski-Doo Enduro EX-2 Helmet For 2018

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Ski-Doo Enduro EX-2 Helmet For 2018

Ski-Doo snowmobiles is adding a new helmet to their line-up for model year 2018, the versatile Enduro EX-2 model that delivers performance in all conditions.

The Enduro EX-2 combines many features found on other helmets with some new ideas and crisp styling for a helmet unlike anything else. The look is familiar to the adventure motorcycle world, but the heated dual lens shield gives it snow world credibility.

Add to that the retractable tinted sunshade that’s interchangeable and what separates it from the pack becomes more apparent.

Other features snowmobilers will appreciate include an oversize air deflector on the chin, easy adjust air vents that can be completely closed on cold days and the aerodynamic visor that can be easily removed or reattached.

Construction is of an advanced composite outer shell, multi density EPS liner and ultra comfortable, removable and washable Dri-Lex inner liner.

Pricing is $279.99 USD/$364.99 CAD

HOW CHEAP CAN A SLED BE BUILT?

Kent Lester
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HOW CHEAP CAN A SLED BE BUILT?

This is a huge question in our sport and one that frankly, is sort of baffling.

For the last decade the OEM’s have been offering a few sleds in their line-ups that come under the category of “price bargains”.

Certainly, the 550 and 570cc fan cooled 2-strokes offered by Cat, Polaris and Ski-Doo have fallen into that category and the Polaris Indy 600 and Ski-Doo’s XP-based MX-Z and Renegade 600 carb are attractively priced – or are they?

Each sled is purely a case of getting less for less: Less horsepower, less technology, less suspension sophistication, less electronics, for less bucks. It just makes sense the OEMs cannot offer a lower priced sled with the same equipment as a brand new all-bells-and-whistles highly equipped model. Lack of equipment is one of the factors that helps them keep the price low on those select models.

The second factor for cheaper prices is sales volume. If the sales numbers on a low-priced sled are high enough, the sled remains profitable. However, if demand for those sleds drops off, it becomes more costly on a per-unit basis to keep offering it.

Here’s the rub: In comparative studies, those bargain sleds are not increasing in sales volume. When it comes to what we used to call “entry level fan-cooled sleds”, those are being rapidly replaced by identical power-output (60-65-hp) 4-strokes that are actually rather expensive. You, the customers, are actually opting for a higher priced sled that offers the same range of power. Maybe you’re thinking about payback in lower gas and oil consumption. Makes sense.

Likewise, when it comes to the choices in liquid-cooled 600cc sleds, the masses are buying the latest, teched-out models instead of the lower priced ones. This isn’t a bad thing, but it doesn’t always bode well for new people coming into the sport.

The cost of becoming a snowmobiler is already high and sno-mo-shoppers need new, reliable alternative sleds to entice them into the marketplace.

We sure hope there are either new value sleds in the pipeline or the OEMs will bite the bullet and keep building the ones we already have for a while longer.

Timbersled Snow Bike Engine Oil

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Timbersled Snow Bike Engine Oil

Timbersled has released a new 4-stroke engine oil aimed specifically at the snow bike market.

The industry’s first 4-stroke snow bike oil, Timbersled Full Synthetic 0W-40 4-Stroke Engine Oil features an advanced moisture control additive package engineered to emulsify moisture and prevent corrosion and engine wear, a common problem found in snow bike applications.

Blended from full synthetic PAO and Ester base stocks, Timbersled Full Synthetic 0W-40 4-Stroke Engine Oil offers easy starting, advanced lubricity and is highly shear stable to withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations that occur in snow bike use.

Timbersled Full Synthetic 0W-40 4-Stroke Engine Oil features include:

* Engineered from PAO and Ester full synthetic base oils, resists shear and provides superior lubrication and anti-wear protection under extreme conditions

* Full synthetic 0W-40 formula offers easy engine starting in cold temperatures and superior engine protection in high heat and high load situations

* Advanced additive package emulsifies moisture buildup commonly found in 4-stroke snow bike engines to maintain lubricity and protect internal engine components

* 4X more corrosion and storage protection vs. leading aftermarket 4-stroke powersports engine oils

* Optimized wet clutch additives prevent slippage and glazing in heavy load and/or race applications

Timbersled Full Synthetic 0W-40 4-Stroke Engine Oil is recommended for use in all 4-stroke snow bike applications. It will be available at Timbersled dealers and online beginning November 2017.

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) is a global powersports leader that has been fueling the passion of riders, workers and outdoor enthusiasts for more than 60 years. With annual 2016 sales of $4.5 billion, Polaris’ innovative, high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; the Sportsman® and Polaris ACE® all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle® midsize and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; and Polaris RMK®, INDY®, Switchback® and RUSH® snowmobiles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets globally include military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.

Visit polaris.com for more information.

THE CHANGING FACE OF SNOWMOBILING

Mark Lester
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THE CHANGING FACE OF SNOWMOBILING

Regular readers of Supertrax know I’ve been crowing about the emergence of the “Free Rider” and his or her predisposition to ride off-trail with different expectations than those of past participants.

I’ve heard positively from younger riders – exactly the demographic our sport is looking to attract and I’ve also heard from snowmobilers of the median and older age demographic who disagree with my assertion we should try to embrace the freeriding legions.

Interesting to me that those who think we shouldn’t embrace any attempt to accommodate the freeriding demo offer up virtually no alternatives. Before you fire up your keyboard with hate mail, let me explain.

This emerging demographic is exactly what the sport must attract for longterm sustainability. We need these younger, affluent participants. We need them badly and we need them now.

Does this make older, traditional snowmobilers bad people? No and in fact we must tread carefully here. The sport would not be what it is without this important generation of trail building, trail riding, club-centric participants.

Truth is, we need these people to teach younger participants about trails, land use, land access, grooming, trespassing and dozens of other foundational issues surrounding the sport.

Unfortunately, an amicable marriage of the older with the younger isn’t happening.

I attend a number of snowmobiling events each year that revolve around state and provincial trail sanctioning and governance. Important issues of trail funding and trail development, groomer purchasing and groomer funding are just a few of the issues these high level meetings wrestle with.

Sadly, the average age at many of these forums continues to climb year after year. That’s not to say there isn’t new, younger blood emerging, but the new blood we’’re seeing isn’t in the volume needed to ensure our sport remains the number one trail based motorized recreation in North America.

On the up side, we’re seeing a healthy increase in younger participants on the trail the past five winters as well as younger participants bolstering our social media channels here at Supertrax Media Inc, which is both encouraging and exciting.

Here’s where it’s not so good: I talk to these younger riders all season long on the trail, in pit stops and at events. They are passionate about snowmobiling but many don’t appreciate the current rejection of their interpretation of the sport. They want to know what’s next for snowmobiling. In reality they are already defining the “what’s next” without the support or approval of the sport’s stalwart, mature demographic.

There’s another issue with younger riders: Many in this generation have little free time and as a result are not interested in attending meetings and conventions or contributing to the betterment of the sport’s most important asset, trails.

To maintain lifestyles, moms and dads work full time. Snowmobiling is still part of their lifestyle but the time required to take on club leadership just isn’t there. Instead, many would rather pay more for trails and not be expected to contribute to their sustainability the way the older generation has.

Frankly, time is flying by. Trails are being lost from inconsiderate, unregulated, illegal off trail riding. At the same time little direction or answers have come from state and provincial sanctioning bodies to manage the much maligned, growing snowmobile genre called “freeriding” – unless you count “no” as an answer.

While this is going on, the people we’ve taken for granted who anchor the sport from the club and association level are getting older and less likely to continue working.

With sales of freeriding sleds and flatland deep snow sleds growing every year, it’s time to look the new and changing face of the sport straight in the eye.

REACH FOR THE SUMMIT SHARED EXPERIENCES

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REACH FOR THE SUMMIT SHARED EXPERIENCES

Congratulations to Ryan Peitzsche for sharing his REACH FOR THE SUMMIT experiences! Ryan picks up the Cyclops GEAR CGX2 4K Wi-Fi Action Camera! A great camera for capturing your experiences!

Ryan writes:

On May 2nd, 2016 my wife and I lost everything we owned in the wild fires in Fort Mcmurray including my Aerocharged 2015 T3 174 monster, which I’ve replaced with the new 850 154.

Sledding has always been my passion and since our loss I have pushed myself to become a more aggressive rider in all areas. I started sharing some of my pictures and videos on social media and then a fella named Joe Gill reached out to me and asked me to be part of the High Country Octane film crew. I sent him some footage and now I have some epic clips in the Sleddiction 6 sled video.

The main reason I’m sharing this story with everyone is because even though life changing events can bring you down, there is nothing like throttle-therapy and exploring the back-country with good friends to bring you back to life and make you feel good again!

Submit your story at at supertraxmag.com/summit and enter Enter and you can WIN an all expense paid mountain riding adventure at CKMP (Carl Kuster Mountain Park) in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. While there you’ll not only enjoy 5 star accommodations, you’ll also get to hang out and ride with Ski-Doo Mountain Ambassadors Carl Kuster, Rob Alford and Tony Jenkins.

The lucky winner will also star alongside Luke and AJ Lester in a feature story on SnowTrax Television and be the focus of an article in Supertrax Magazine.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH TURBOS?

Kent Lester
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WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH TURBOS?

Every year we examine the progress of high performance sled sales and try to gauge the sizzle factor of certain models.

There’s no question, in the high performance category, sizzle is a big factor when a customer walks into a dealer’s showroom. As a matter of fact, when the sales contract is being filled out and the checkbook is on the desk, it can completely cloud some buyer’s minds and convince them it’s worth it to spend extra big bucks.

Sizzle is a powerful, magnetic force in snowmobile marketing and it’s one of the reasons sleds are so brightly colored and have blinding graphics.

Probably no other industry development has influenced sizzle like turbocharged sleds. Why? On one hand there are reasons these sleds are kinda impractical.

For instance, the price tag is always pretty intimidating. Then there’s the weight factor. Snowmobilers are obsessed with weight and when you factor in a 4-stroke engine and a turbocharger and its plumbing, the whole weight-saving thing goes out the window.

It leaves one common factor: Power. Turbocharged sleds put power into the stratosphere. Back in the day Cat was getting 110-hp out of a 600cc 4-stroke triple and then Polaris came with a 750 twin that made 140 and boosted itself for short intervals to 180.

Meanwhile, Cat had evolved its Suzuki turbo program into sleds capable of generating power mighty close to 200-hp (claimed 177). The latest Yamaha SideWinders and 9000 Series Cats are openly confessing their 180-hp claims are actually pretty much actually 200-hp.

This kind of power is what becomes totally arresting and makes potential buyers see themselves as power kings within their riding groups. Shoot, if it isn’t fast enough stock, you can just add a chip and some tweaking and drive the power up close to 300-horses!

As much as the lightness of 2-strokes is appealing, the limitless power of a turbocharged 4-stroke is simply mind-boggling. You just can’t count on getting that much power from any other engine configuration in snowmobiling!

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    SNOWTRAX has established itself as the most watched snowmobile TV series in North America.
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