We wanted to thank our loyal fans for another successful year of SnowTrax Television! Get your engines revved up for an all new landmark season coming to you Christmas Day as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary!
SnowTrax Television airs on OLN and WILD TV in Canada and Outdoor Channel in the United States.
We’ve evaluated a ton of sleds this season and now we want to know which test ride YOU liked best!
Visit our YouTube channel and tell us in the comments section which test ride was your favourite and why and you can win a brand new FXR Blade Helmet! Yep, it’s that easy!
SKI-DOO X-TEAM HILLCLIMBERS TAKE NINE TITLES AT JACKSON HOLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The annual Jackson Hole World Championship Hillclimb event is in the books with Ski-Doo racers taking home five titles in the Pro classes led by once a year RMSHA racer Carl Kuster who took two wins.
Blaine Mathews, Jay Mentaberry and Trent Handsaker got in on the action by claiming their own World Championships in the Men’s divisions while Chrystal Cooper and Jadian Pfaff battled it out in the women’s classes with Cooper taking two and Pfaff one. Cooper also claimed Queen of the Hill.
In the final edition of Test Ride for the season, Mark Lester zooms over the frozen lake on a 2017 Yamaha Sidewinder R-TX SE.
Dear Motorhead:
It is disturbing that you promote illegal exhaust modifications (MBRP Turbo Exhaust System). The Ontario Motorized Snow Act makes it illegal to modify the exhaust if it makes it louder. There are enough complaints about noisy sleds in and around private property and this is leading to closure of many trails on private property.
Why not do a program about quiet exhaust and riding responsibly on trails on and around private property. Include speed limits, not leaving the trail on private property, not leaving garbage at stops, not leaving spin bumps every time you stop and go again, they just freeze and the next unsuspecting family coming around the corner hits the bump, and goes off the trail, etc. It would make a great PR episode.
– Adrian Tessier
Adrian!
Thanks for your Facebook post.
We agree, Ontario does have regulations relating to exhaust modifications. We stand in support of obeying the law in your jurisdiction. In all fairness Ontario’s law is too broad – it should only relate to vehicles producing recorded decibel levels above a certain limit. The presence of an aftermarket exhaust does not necessarily mean the noise level has been elevated. Agreed, in the past aftermarket exhausts have become known for outrageous noise. The law should regulate decibels – not the act of modification.
Our position on the show and in the magazines relates to this reality – we service the entire North American snowmobile marketplace with our content. Ontario is only one province out of many provinces and states in the USA. We simply cannot preclude a quality aftermarket supplier from exposing their products because of one jurisdiction’s rules.
You are correct about and we don’t disagree – using a too loud exhaust system in Ontario or any other place is not a good idea. Not sure how that relates to the other issues you’ve raised but responsibility and common sense is at times in short supply in our sport. However it is my experience there is about 3% of participants in most activities which essentially create the problems for the 97% who are responsible.
Motorhead Mark
Dear Motorhead:
I see that you guys named the 850 Doo over the Assault 800 as real world snowmobile of the year. Are you guys on crack? Seriously the thing is a belt blower at $200.00 per belt and the two piece connecting rod is a total failure with rod bolts letting loose destroying engines. How much did Doo pay you guys to name their 850 as real world sled of the year? The failure rate of this sled is 35% and this number is from a Doo dealer.
– Ed
Ed!
Thanks for your email!
Appreciate your complimentary candour.
No, we don’t use crack. Not even occasionally.
Do you really think the 850 G-4 motor has had a 35% failure rate? Do you believe NASA never actually went to the moon but covertly filmed the event in Sudbury, Ontario?
If the engine had a 5% failure rate there would be a huge outcry – and any OEM in that position would be in trouble. Skidoo has eclipsed the 50% marketshare level. They’re not in trouble.
Ski-Doo did not pay for the SOFTY or RAD Award. Polaris didn’t pay for the SOFTY the past two years either.
The 850 engine has not been unreliable and our contacts throughout the industry have confirmed this.
Some Summit 850’s had heat induced belt failures – SD issued a bulletin to deal with that. The 2018 Summits have improved venting.
We put close to 7000 kms on three G-4’s and never had a belt issue.
Thanks,
Motorhead Mark
PS: Polaris makes great sleds – we’ve awarded them the SOFTY two years running. This year Ski-Doo got it by a hair. You can feel good about that.
AJ presents the winner of the 2017 Revolutionary Advanced Design Award to the technology that pushed the industry forward the most.
Our pick for 2017’s Real World Sled of the Year in a final showdown between Yamaha, Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo and Polaris.
Luke goes in-depth on the best of the best 2017 models that were evaluated in Test Rides throughout this season of SnowTrax Television. For a quick reminder of the last three seasons, Polaris claimed years 2016 and 2015 while Arctic Cat captured 2014. Who will be victorious in 2017?
Dear Motorheard:
I have a comment on two editorials that were written by Kent and Mark Lester in the SuperTrax issue I received this week – Vol 28 #4.
I have been participating in the sport of snowmobiling since we had our first 1960 Bombardier Skidoo that we used to get around the farm and ice fish. I now own late model Skidoo and Yamaha sleds and actively volunteer with my local snowmobile club in the Kawartha’s.
This trail system is probably the busiest do to its proximity and accessibility from the GTA and cottage country and generally the conditions are as good as we can make them given weather conditions. I promote and believe in our trail system and the access it provides for people and related businesses to derive value out of the winter months.
Over the last three years specifically however, I have noticed a very disturbing trend in riding behaviour and general lack of respect for the rights of others.
This has resulted in trespassing and permanent trail closures that we as clubs worked very hard to open and to maintain access – concerns both voiced by Kent and Mark.
Granted it may be that the culprits represent the small minority but in our region of Ontario 96% of all the trails run across Private Property and the owners rights must be respected. As a land owner myself with close to 300 acres of forest abutting the trail system and Crown Lands I have had to deal with many instances of trespass by all types of “recreationalists”.
At one point we did support a snowmobile access through the property and for the most part the riders behaved. It was actually the 4-wheeler’s (A whole other problem that’s growing) that considered our property fair game to “Freeride” that caused us to shut everybody out and now I see snowmobilers looking for powder doing exactly the same thing. Other landowners – regardless of Bill 100 implications – see this behaviour and are considering closing access.
The excitement of taking a 160HP mountain sled up a pristine slope is portrayed by manufactures and media alike and it has its place to promote the sport. The reality is that in Central Ontario there are very. I repeat very, few places to do this and private property is not the place.
The other aspect of irresponsible and downright dangerous, behaviour I am witnessing now is the advent of the “Stand-up Racer” traveling singly and in groups at speed and tearing up the grooming and blasting out the corners on our trail systems. Again, how much of this behaviour is caused by a small group trying to emulate either the Manfactures promotional videos and the corresponding media reviews?
I cannot quantify scientifically, however; I can say that on Sunday Feb 5, 2017 while cruising south on B103 between Haliburton and Fenelon Falls I counted 54 sleds running at high speeds with standing riders, evidencing minimal control on their machines who neither signaled their position in the pack, slowed down because of approaching riders or even stopped at driveway and road crossings. By the time I could even think about stopping safely and getting my phone out of my pocket to take a picture the perpetrators were long gone in snow dust and the only evidence were the snow piles left behind by their aggressive use of the throttle.
This is a community shared trail system, operating on public right-of-way and on any given weekend extremely busy with more than just snowmobilers. Since the STOP program and OPP patrols have disappeared there is no consequence – other than damage, injury or death – that will deter this continued behaviour.
It is a requirement of the industry and sport to promote itself in a responsible manner. Just because my sled (truck, boat or motorcycle) can easily crush the C-Note does not mean I should be doing so in anything but other than proper controlled conditions.
While I read and support the editorial comments in your magazine I am concerned – no, make that positive – that the offenders cannot read. Otherwise they might just show some respect for others that use the system and the land owners that generously provide access to their properties for no compensation and much liability.
Maybe every sled commercial needs voice-over and huge font statements that overwrite the video and soundtrack with messages about responsible behaviour. If it doesn’t stop then the side of the road will be the norm for a while until the interaction with other traffic becomes a problem and then it will be shut down.
Thank you for the forum to express my opinion and concern.
Best Regards,
Peter Fortune
Peter!
Thanks for your email!
You make a lot of sense and in principle I do not disagree with you one bit. However, this sport is important to me and I think we need to try to look for and work hard at getting some workable answers.
My context on this problem is as follows. For years the OEM’s and the sanctioning bodies have been crying over our ever aging demographic and the problems that reality foreshadows.
We now have a younger demographic entering our sport and causing trouble as they participate in a somewhat “tweaked” version of snowmobiling – albeit a version which has been widely marketed by the OEMs in an effort to grow the sport and sell more product.
We now have this younger emerging group participating but in doing so creating havoc. We have to manage this situation in an effort to preserve the sport.
Denying free riders a place to vent is not the answer. Providing viable places to free ride legally is the answer.
I truly believe the leading sanctioning groups like the OFSC, the FCMQ, NYSSA and MNUSA need to have a meeting of the minds and bring together these new snowmobilers, the OEMs and the clubs in an effort to begin a constructive, positive dialogue that presents something more than “no” as the answer.
Thanks for your concern – I respect your position.
Motorhead Mark
SnowTrax Television Announces Coveted 2017 SOFTY & RAD Award Winners
Supertrax Media, producers of SnowTrax Television, North America’s most watched, longest running, snowmobile enthusiast television series, is pleased to announce the winners of the show’s annual Real World Sled of the Year and Revolutionary Advanced Design awards for Model Year 2017.
REAL WORLD SLED OF THE YEAR AWARD:
Ski-Doo G4 MXZ-X 850
The battle for SnowTrax SOFTY laurels reached a new level of intensity as the hardcore snowmobiling staff at SUPERTRAX Media cast their ballots for the snowmobile industry’s ultimate award.
The nominees were impressive: The Yamaha Sidewinder RTX, Arctic Cat’s ZR 9000RR, the Polaris 800 Switchback Assault and the G4 850 Ski-Doo MXZ-X.
This year the high caliber of nominees produced voting so tight the decision came down to a tie-breaking analysis of the total number of category wins the Ski-Doo G4 and the Polaris Switchback Assault carded. Although the Switchback Assault waged a formidable battle, the Ski-Doo G4 850 MXZ-X emerged on top.
Because of its myriad design and performance innovations the all-new G4 is nearly impossible not to recognize. It’s the first sled to tackle the issue of centralizing engine mass from side-to-side, a feat previously limited by the physical layout of all modern big-bore twins.
By re-thinking the design of the stator into a flat, rather than tubular structure, Ski-Doo was able to centralize the 850 engine’s positioning by over four inches. The result is a dramatically smaller frontal profile and improved rider ergonomics because of its revolutionary “Ergo-Step” side panels. The tunnel now contains the coolant, rather than carrying heat exchangers, reducing weight while improving efficiency.
The G4 uses both Ski-Doo’s industry-leading rMotion rear suspension and the brand’s effective RAS double A-arm IFS. Handling and ride quality produced by the new G4 is a full notch up from the former platform and right at the top of the industry.
Ski-Doo’s ability to innovate and break new technological ground in the snowmobile industry is unrivaled in MY 17.
REVOLUTIONARY ADVANCED DESIGN AWARD:
Ski-Doo E-TEC 850 Engine
Ski-Doo takes home all the hardware this year, sweeping both the SOFTY and RAD Awards. Without any doubt, the new E-TEC 850 twin powering all G4 chassis variants displays impressive technology in one efficient, powerful package.
From its flat stator that narrows up the engine dramatically to a two-piece forged crank with pin-point oiling for durability, to its diesel engine-derived cast iron ring lands, the 850 is bristling with both performance and durability enhancements.
Its second-generation E-TEC direct injection system uses all new booster jets to provide a claimed 30-percent improvement in throttle response. Moreover, the new engine, in concert with the second generation E-TEC system, produces fuel economy better than all competing 2-stroke engines, whether 600 or 800ccs.
Any description of the new 850 Rotax must acknowledge the revolutionary pDrive roller primary clutch. For decades the concept of using rollers instead of friction-laden buttons to power the primary’s moveable sheave has been debated, however it took the fertile minds at Ski-Doo to make the undeniable benefits of a roller tower design a reality.
Clearly, Ski-Doo’s Rotax 850 E-TEC and the pDrive primary clutch are deserving of this year’s RAD Award.
On behalf of Supertrax Media we extend hearty congratulations to Ski-Doo on these landmark accomplishments in MY 2017.
Go to snowtraxTV.com and watch SnowTrax TV’s annual awards episode on the video portal.
For more info contact: Supertrax Media Inc. 705-286-2135.
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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.
SNOWTRAX can be viewed weekly during the winter season in Canada on City TV, Wild TV, REV TV and Sportsman Channel Canada and across America on Sportsman Channel.
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