Two leading Idaho-based recreation organizations have sued the United States Forest Service, challenging the Clearwater National Forest’s decision to impose the same public use restrictions on areas they have recommended for possible Wilderness classification as one would find in lands actually designated by Congress.

The Forest recently issued a new Travel Plan limiting motorized and mountain bike access to designated trails and areas.

Motorized vehicles and mountain bikes are prohibited uses in the 1964 Wilderness Act, and this prohibition is in effect in the vast majority of designated Wilderness areas ever since, now about 110 million acres nationwide.

However, these uses have previously been allowed in areas recommended for Wilderness designation unless they were proven to negatively affect future Wilderness qualification.

The new Travel Plan changes that, imposing the same prohibitions on motorized and mechanized transport in areas the Forest considers Wilderness candidates, as are found in formal Wilderness, such as Idaho’s Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness areas.

“Only Congress can designate Wilderness,” noted Sandra Mitchell, Public Lands Director of the Idaho State Snowmobile Association, the lead plaintiff. “For many years we have heard rumors the Northern Region was going to start illegally limiting their management options in potential Wilderness areas, effectively creating a new system of administratively designated Wilderness. In the Clearwater Travel Plan they have followed through on that vision. We cannot stand idly by and watch them change the long-established system for managing these treasured lands,” Mitchell concluded.

“The Northern Region’s guidance to its National Forests contradicts not only the law but the reality of modern-day Wilderness,” added Brian Hawthorne, Public Lands Policy Director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, a co-plaintiff in the suit. “Any Wilderness designation today will necessarily be a creative balance that allows a variety of uses that would be prohibited under a pure reading of the 1964 Wilderness Act. Congress has allowed energy and water developments, military overflights, or continuing motorized access in dozens of Wilderness bills. This illegal imposition of a ‘pure’ Wilderness standard for public use of proposed Wilderness areas on the Clearwater almost certainly goes further than Congress would in formally designating the areas as Wilderness,” Hawthorne said.

The suit particularly focuses on management of the “Great Burn” area near the Idaho-Montana border.

That area has been a popular snowmobiling destination for decades, and, prior to issuance of the Travel Plan, also received occasional motorcycle and mountain bike use.

None of these activities are allowed by the Wilderness Act, unless specifically authorized in a particular piece of legislation.

Yet with these uses the Great Burn area has always received “high” ratings for Wilderness attributes in all assessments undertaken by the Forest Service. There is no documentation of resource impacts or other threats to Wilderness character from existing recreation activities that would limit Congressional discretion should Congress ever decide to formally designate it as Wilderness.

The case is entitled Idaho State Snowmobile Ass’n v. U.S. Forest Service, Case No. CV-09-2523.

Arctic Cat is happy to announce the sponsorship of the recently formed USXC (United States X-Country), the premier cross-country snowmobile racing circuit that will provide a series of terrain races in the Midwest during the 2012-2013 season.

USXC owner, Brian Nelson formed the cross country race organization after the USCC announced they would be ceasing operations for the coming year.

As a decorated cross country racer, Nelson said, “Cross-country snowmobile racing has been my life for more than 40 years, and during that time there have been many great people and circuits that provided an outlet for cross-country racers. Starting USXC is my way to give back to the sport I love and preserve a quickly growing form of snowmobile racing.”

The USXC series will consist of six to eight events, including a premier three-day, 500-mile cross-country race held in Northwestern Minnesota.

Team Arctic Race Manager, Mike Kloety said, “We are looking forward to running the USXC events this winter. Brian Nelson has an undeniable passion for cross country racing and we know he will work tirelessly to grow this segment of snowmobile racing.”

For more information on the USXC, please visit www.usxcracing.com.

About Arctic Cat – Arctic Cat Inc., based in Thief River Falls, Minn., designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles under the Arctic Cat brand name, as well as related parts, garments and accessories. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the ticker symbol “ACAT.”

More information about Arctic Cat and its products is available on the Internet at www.arcticcat.com

BRP is offering a kit to update older Ski-Doo Summit model snowmobiles to the revolutionary new tMotion rear suspension.

Combined with a FlexEdge track, riders can gain many of the benefits incorporated in the new 2013 REV-XM platform.

The tMotion kit will fit any Summit REV-XP model with the SC-5M rear suspension and is value priced at$319.99 USD/$369.99 CAD.

All the parts needed to complete the conversion are included; split front arm, rear arm, drop link with ball joint, shock relay rods and two wheel rear axel.

The installation instructions make it simple to update a machine and be back on the snow within hours.

For riders wanting to complete the upgrade, the Flex-Edge track is also available in the different lengths required to fit most Summits, and they can also get the 2103 Spindle and new Pilot DS II ski.

For information on all the genuine BRP accessories to fit your ride visit www.store.ski-doo.com or your local Ski-Doo dealer.

The snowmobile manufacturers are completing production of the 2013 model snowmobiles as snowmobilers eagerly await the upcoming snowmobiling season.

2013 brings renewed optimism and a positive outlook for the manufacturers and related suppliers. The 2013 models were introduced to the public at the Sneak Peek shows held across North America this past spring.

We are happy to report that attendance at shows across the country was healthy and enthusiasm for new snowmobiles strong. Outdoor enthusiasts and snowmobilers alike have pent up demand to enjoy the winter on a snowmobile.

Enthusia sts realize the manufacturers are building quality, clean, quiet, responsive machines for all of us to enjoy.

New engine technologies and ride performance technologies have been introduced with the 2013 models as well as improved efficiencies and handling characteristics.

The fall show circuit is shaping up to be strong and many of the snowmobile show promoters are forecasting strong attendance and new product offerings.

The manufacturers are are also encouraged by the dramatic increase in visitation to the Go Snowmobiling web site, which is designed for new snowmobilers and non-snowmobilers.

This past year, 24% of the visitors to the Go Snowmobiling web site were non-snowmobilers and a high percentage of those visiting the site stated they were in the market to purchase a snowmobile and planned to do so within a year.

Not only are non-snowmobilers visiting the site for the first time but they are doing so in record numbers.

During the 2011-2012 snowmobiling season, over 3,528,000 visitors came to the www.GoSnowmobiling.org web site.

This data compares to 1,512,000 who visited the site in 2008-2009. The interest level is high, the fall shows look like they are going to be sold out and full of excitement.

We are looking for a great snowy winter in the snowmobile community. Plan on visiting your local snowmobile dealer and your local snowmobile show this fall and bring a friend to go snowmobiling.

In what will be a pairing of two Minnesota two-time World Champions, snowmobile snocross racer Tucker Hibbert will throw the honorary first pitch at a Minnesota Twins baseball game on September 12.

Hibbert is the two-time defending snocross World Champion, while the Minnesota Twins were Major League Baseball’s World Series Champions in 1987 and 1991.

“It’s an exciting honor to throw the first pitch for the Twins, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous,” said Hibbert of Pelican Rapids, Minn. “My experience on the track probably won’t help me on the field and my ball skills are limited to one summer of youth baseball. I’m hoping to throw close to home plate and without hitting the mascot!”

Hibbert has amassed two snocross world titles, six national championships and 10 ESPN Winter X Games medals while racing a Minnesota designed and built Arctic Cat snowmobile. Arctic Cat was formed in 1961; the same year the Twins played their first season in Minnesota.

Hibbert’s pitch will take place Wednesday, September 12 at 6:45 p.m. kicking off the second of a three-night series against the Kansas City Royals. The game will be live on FOX Sports Net.

Tickets are available on www.minnesotatwins.com or by calling (800)-33-TWINS.

BRP is joining forces with Bret Rasmussen and his Ride Rasmussen Style snowmobile riding clinics to use Ski-Doo snowmobiles for all of its activities.

Rasmussen is widely recognized as one of the leaders in mountain riding, instructional videos and providing world-renowned clinics for improving a rider’s skills.

In the realm of mountain snowmobiling Rasmussen has done it all, from hillclimb racing, managing a race team, forming a race circuit, owning dealerships, to consulting on design and producing instructional videos, his credentials speak for themselves.

As a pioneer in the new trend of back country riding, where the challenge has evolved from a conquering the slope mentality, to add elements of challenging your skills on tight and difficult terrain style, he has led the way with techniques like the “wrong foot forward” method many riders are using today. Currently Rasmussen concentrates on his clinics, videos and seminars spread across North America.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to bring Bret on board with the Ski-Doo team” said Robert Lumley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo Division. “His credibility with the mountain community is undisputed, and the confidence he’s demonstrating in our new REVXM platform positions Ski-Doo as the snowmobile of choice for Western riders.”

“Having ridden the 2013 Ski-Doo Summit, I know that they have created a product that has set new benchmarks and will appeal to consumers in the mountain market and meet the needs of the western rider.” said Bret Rasmussen. “To be able to work with a great company as BRP is a great occasion, I am looking forward to a relationship that will create opportunities to improve the consumer experience on Ski-Doo snowmobiles. Those who I’ve met at BRP have a vision for the mountain market and are passionate towards this effort. I will reinforce their desire to meet this demand.”

Rasmussen will attend the annual snowmobile season kick-off known as Hay Days on September 8th and 9th in North Branch, Minnesota to visit with riders looking to learn more about the Ride Rasmussen Style clinics.

More information and links to the Ride Rasmussen Style clinics website will be available soon on the Ski-Doo website and Elevation blog.

For more information on Ski-Doo snowmobiles visit www.ski-doo.com