Get ready for some surprises as AJ fills up fluids and weighs our entire 2024 snowmobile fleet, revealing model and brand differences!
The Ski-Doo MXZ Neo might just be the perfect snowmobile for smaller-stature riders and more! Luke and his family explore the features of this sled tailored to provide an optimal riding experience anyone seeking a machine that fits just right.
It’s time to look more closely at what Polaris might be up to for MY 2025. Clearly the S4 4-stroke twin was one of the most anticipated new Polaris models to come to the market in a couple of years. True statement. What might not have been anticipated as much is the outcry for a turbocharged version of this ready-to-pump-air powerplant.
Some history is required. Polaris produces the ProStar 4-stroke, twin cam 999cc twin with a turbocharger for the Off-Road Division’s use in the wildly successful RZR lineup. The turbo engine has been in use for a couple of years and is known for stout reliability under what we’ll call abusive conditions.
Even though the ProStar’s arrival in the new MATRYX snowmobile chassis appears like a tight fit, we think there’s ample room for a turbo under the MATRYX S-4 skin.
Why is this of any importance for Polaris? Ski-Doo literally slays the turbo 4-stroke segment with three HP versions of the ACE 900 turbo engine package. Add this to our rationale: The normally aspirated 95-HP ACE 900 is likely the largest selling 4-stroke snowmobile in the market. Clearly Polaris needs to have a 130-HP turbo S-4 model to compete with Ski-Doo.
Now that Polaris is in the mainstream 4-stroke market with a solid and credible sled it may be time to go head to head with Ski-Doo in the turbo 4-stroke segment.
Odds of such a sled appearing late this winter? We’ll go out on a limb and say 50 percent.
For those riders that like the fit of a MX helmet but want the warmth of a closed face then the Clutch X Prime Helmet was made for you.
This cold-weather adventure style helmet from FXR includes a new dual lens anti-fog face shield that ensures a clear view of the trail ahead while keeping all the cold winter elements out.
The lightweight shell is constructed of advanced polymer alloy combined with a comfortable Dual-density EPS liner that protects you from high impacts. The peak reduces lift and drag at high speeds and protects you from sun glare and roost.
The new Anti-fog and scratch resistance shield provides a distortion free view while offering a high degree of UV filtering.
The lock & seal technology which keeps the shield securely in place and fog free has proven to be the best yet offered from FXR.
The Clutch X Prime helmet features an adjustable breath box along with an extended rubber nose and roost guard and the easy open front nose guard vent allows you to moderate air flow and temp.
The hygienically treated and moisture-wicking comfort liner is removable and washable, and the quick-release buckle makes for easy securement and detachment even with gloves or mitts.
The helmet comes with chin skirt, breath box and vent plugs. Optional shields are available.
The Clutch X Prime helmet is EU-CND-USA ECE 22.06 / DOT certified and weighs approximate 1490 +/– 50g depending on helmet size.
For more details visit: fxrracing.com
We take a closer look at the diversity within Yamaha’s snowmobile lineup as the company has a sled designed for every level of rider, from beginners to adrenaline junkies craving the highest horsepower machines.
Luke and AJ answer the call and respond to common questions we get about riding in Québec. Tune-in and get all their insights to some of the best regions to visit based on the type of riding and terrain preferences you may have along with fun and interesting peripheral actives you and your family can enjoy. If you’re not hooked on Québec by now, you certainly will be after you’ve ridden its trails this winter. Plan a trip this year and you’ll be visiting again every year – guaranteed!
SUPERTRAX and SNOWTRAX TV have received an exclusive invitation to check out Ski-Doo’s highly anticipated 2025 snowmobile line-up in advance of it being released to the public this coming February.
What makes this invitation even better, is that we’ve been asked to invite a special guest to attend with us to evaluate the newest rides and participate in some of the coolest Ski-Doo special events!
Who might this special guest be? Well, it might just be you! That’s right, we’re seeking the ultimate Ski-Doo fanatic, someone that lives and breathes Ski-Doo, someone who has become an urban legend and has the social following to support his or her status. You might say this special person is such a die-hard Ski-Doo rider that they bleed yellow.
The special guest will participate alongside AJ and Luke revealing the latest Ski Doo snowmobiles for 2025 model year. This exclusive event is scheduled to take place in Valcourt, Quebec between the dates of February 18-21, 2024.
If you think you’re this person and you don’t want to pass up on this exclusive opportunity, here’s what we want you do. Create a short video that demonstrates your die-hard love for Ski-Doo, showcases your yellow blood personality and expresses why you think you are the ultimate Ski-Doo fanatic most deserving to attend this exclusive Ski-Doo event and share it with us.
TO ENTER:
ENTRANT CREDENTIALS:
First and Last Name:
Email:
Phone Number:
Country of Residence:
Full Address:
Date of Birth:
Social Media Accounts: (Please include links to all valid social media and video posting accounts registered to your name; including but limited to the following: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X, TikTok, etc.)
TIPS FOR SUBMISSION:
Contest Rules/Eligibility: This Contest is open to legal residents of Canada, the United States who have reached the age of majority in their country/state/province/territory of residence as of the date the Contest Period begins, who must have all applicable valid driver’s license and who have a valid email address and provide valid contact information. No purchase necessary.
Employees of BRP, their subsidiaries, distributors, dealer’s, vendors, service providers, affiliates along with advertising and promotional agencies of BRP as well as Trax Media, and their respective immediate families (spouse, parents, children, siblings, and their spouses) and individuals living in the same household of such individuals (whether related or not), are not eligible.
Entrants must submit video along with links to applicable social media accounts demonstrating worthiness of contest parameters as detailed in contest description. Entrants must abide by the local laws and practice safe and responsible actions. Always wear a helmet and don’t drink and ride.
Responsibility: This promotion is not administered by Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. and its affiliates.
All federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must provide proof of age. Entrants must allow their video submission along with his or her identity and image to be used for promotional purposes. Winner assumes all responsibility and liability for actions, injury, or accident during contest fulfillment event. No prize substitutions are allowed. Winner must be available for prize fulfillment on dates set out at time of winner’s notification. Winner must be able to travel in either the United States or Canada without restriction. All decisions by judges are final. Contest closes January 15, 2024. Sponsor will attempt to contact the Winner between for a period of three (3) days following the date of the judging. If Sponsor is not able to make contact directly with the Winner within the allotted time, using the email address and telephone number the Winner will have provided, then Sponsor may, at its sole and absolute discretion, either select another Entrant or proceed without involving another Entrant. Sponsor is not responsible for failed attempts to notify the Winner. Prize fulfillment is to take place in Valcourt, Quebec between the dates of February 18-21, 2024. Demo rides related to a portion of the prize fulfillment are weather permitted and shall be operated at the sole discretion of BRP.
It’s time for my annual responsible use harp. In an effort to maintain your attention I will attempt to make this report moderately entertaining.
I’m saying moderately entertaining because I believe the issue of responsible use is the most important challenge organized snowmobiling has faced in its storied history. I’m not joking. The reality we are a well organized, safety conscious and committed-to-good-behavior group of sanctioning bodies, makes it seem pretty crazy we’ve gotten ourselves so far down this troublesome road.
Yes, we are in a serious pickle. It is the undisputed truth that the OEMs (AC, Pol, SD, Yamaha and Lynx) have had to build what their customers want or they will not be viable businesses. However, it does seem strange a serious response to off-trail “Free Riding” (the bane of every hard-working snowmobile club volunteer) has taken so long.
It’s not like the first off-trail excursion generating a trail closure happened two or three years ago. The original Ski-Doo Summit (at that time targeted at vertical riding) and the Polaris SKS came to market in the early 90’s. Trail riders bought them because they offered expanded use beyond the realm of groomed trails. Not much was said about this in the snowmobile media. Now it’s the start of the 2024 season and it might be time for a serious and sobering response from the industry.
When things got really out of control, in the late two-thousands and early twenty teens – the backlash to “Free Riding” pivoted 180 degrees. All of a sudden, riders thought of trails as nothing more than a route to get to a never-before-seen world of untouched powder in the flatlands.
We all know what happened next. Landowners lost their minds and vented on the volunteers who run our snowmobile trail systems across North America. The landowners had every right to be ticked. Acting on nothing but landowners good graces, clubs and their members (that’s you and I) have established a mostly interconnected groomed trail system across most of North America. Suddenly we saw trails being closed wholesale. Make no mistake about this – trails are closing and the number one reason is off-trail free riding.
Let’s make this clear: We need our landowners way more than they need us. Having the rules set out for 30 to 40 years about staying on the trail, torn up and shredded by snowmobilers who actually believe they can go “anywhere there’s snow” is the best description of the problem. It’s actually way too simple.
The images promoted by everyone in this business from the OEMs to the clothing manufacturers to the, dare I say it, the media and many more stakeholders perpetuate the falsehood you can go anywhere with an X-Over snowmobile. Let me counter this with a bizarre thought. Reality is this: If we don’t fix this problem we’re going to be able to go nowhere with any kind of snowmobile – as far as groomed trails on private land are concerned.
Friends, here’s the truth: Private landowners from the east coast of North America through the central snow belt states and provinces to the midwest and further west are supremely agitated and – read this twice – are closing trails on their property every day.
They’re doing this because a number of snowmobilers think wearing a backpack, having three tattoos and carrying a foldable snow shovel makes them a freerider. It might, in their minds. However, when we all end up sitting around the smoking hole that was dug by irresponsible use, these freeriding pilots will be in the same situation as all trail riders – no place to ride.
So where will we ride if we don’t stop riding off-trail on private property? Oh, we’ll still ride! You can be sure of this. The trespassing won’t stop until every entry point on landowner’s properties are gated. Many snowmobilers will ride lakes. Many will go through the ice or drive into rivers. Then there’s roads. You know those conveyances built for wheeled vehicles that grind our carbides off in a few miles? Yep, there’s our destiny if we don’t wake up and do something.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
That’s a good start. Let’s get serious about this and preserve our trails in an effort to keep our landowners happy.
AJ delivers an exclusive, in-depth peek at the 2024 Arctic Cat Catalyst ZR 600 129 with ATAC and dives into every aspect of this sled.
Luke sits down with Ski-Doo’s Global Product Manager, Robin Martel and Pascal Vincent, Director of Global Product Strategy for an informative discussion on the all new Rotax E-Powered Grand Touring Electric snowmobile and their go-to-market strategy of servicing commercial tour operators within their Unchartered Society network.
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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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