AJ pays a visit to our friends at FXR Racing to have a look at an all-new PRO FISH lineup of clothing launching this year.
Luke met up with Arctic Cat’s Factory Sponsored Rider, Dave McClure at the Fox Shocks booth at Hay Days this year to learn all about his new fully customized Speedwerx Alpha One sled that Dave feels puts out between 210 and 220 horsepower.
I’ve been a touring rider for a long time, typically racking up more than 6,000 miles a season visiting a multitude of destinations. By trial and error, I’ve learned a lot about planning a trip and here are some of my best tips…
Snowmobile touring is not the same as spending time on your local trails with family and friends or even going on a long day ride with your buds. Snowmobile touring typically involves visiting a distant and unfamiliar destination, saddlebagging it from location to location over multiple days. At its best, snowmobile touring can be an incredible experience. At its worst, it can be a living hell. And good planning can be the difference.
PLANNING APPROACHES
I’ve found two approaches to planning. One, is to pick a destination and then make whatever plans are necessary to do a successful tour there. This works best for experienced touring riders. Two, is to determine first how many days you are able to ride and when, and then pick a destination that fits your availability. Frankly, number two is a better choice for most snowmobilers because you control your planning according to what best suits your schedule. Whereas a locked-in destination tends to control your planning and may limit your scheduling flexibility.
GET THE TIMING RIGHT
So I’m going with approach number two for this article. I advise getting started early with your planning, preferably well before Christmas. The first question to answer is: How much time do you have and when do you have it? Your destination choices are very different for a four-day weekend or a ten-day vacation.
The “when” is also important, because many destinations deliver their most reliable riding conditions in February (also tends to be the most crowded), while others are at their prime in March. Meanwhile, January tends to be more of a crapshoot for early conditions and definitely can be the coldest riding month.
Whichever time I choose, my preference is to build in an extra day if possible. This allows for an unexpected layover due to a winter storm, sled breakdown or simply to do some extra exploring of a particularly appealing place.
COMPANIONS MAKE IT OR BREAK IT
The second question to answer is: Who is going? The planning for your snowmobile tour varies considerably depending on whether it’s a family, couples’ or a guys’ ride. Also, what everyone’s expectations are and how experienced each rider is with touring. Remember, what your ride group is able to do will be determined to a large extent by the limited capability of any snowmobiler with less experience or ability.
So the “who is going” answer plays a major role in deciding how far to trailer to a destination, daily ride distances, number of pit stops each day, style of accommodations and the overall compatibility of participants. Deciding the “who” before Christmas makes it easier to complete all of your other planning.
Whatever your choice of riding companions, I recommend an absolute maximum of eight sleds. Four to six is more ideal, with an even number of riders for room sharing. Anything more than eight sleds presents extra logistical issues, such as longer to gas up every time, to get served at restaurants, and to get everyone started in the morning and after every stop.
If you have too many participants or riders with varying riding abilities, don’t count on riding as far each day. This may affect your destination decision and certainly your daily routing.
INSIST ON RELIABLE MACHINERY
There’s another huge determinant in deciding who’s going: Is each rider’s sled capable of doing the tour? As much as every sled may be able to complete local rides at home, a snowmobile on tour has to be in good enough condition to make the entire trip without incident.
Certainly there’s no guarantee even with new sleds, but why take the chance of all your best laid plans going down the dumper because someone’s sled is too old, always requires tinkering after each day’s ride, or is simply not well enough maintained? Another consideration is that even if a sled is in great shape, is it capable of keeping up with the others?
Along the same lines, you also want to ensure that towing and trailering won’t be a problem for any participants. So before confirming riders, verify there’s enough equipment in good working order for everyone to share the driving there and back safely and on time. Also, make sure each rider has the legalities in order well in advance, such as any necessary trail permits, sled and vehicle registration or insurance papers, and passports if required.
PICK A SUITABLE DESTINATION
Note that up until this point, you’ve decided how long, when and who, but not where. So why not make your destination a group choice? But don’t be lured into choosing one just because a rider really pushes to go there or everyone’s heard how popular it is. Instead, pick one that takes as little time as possible to drive to, offers a good staging location, has enough different trails and towns for the number of days you want to ride, and that has sufficient amenities and services available on route to satisfy everyone in your riding group.
So for example, a hardcore riding crew might choose a more remote region with greater distances between occasional towns. They might also be more willing to trailer many more hours to get there.
Meanwhile, a couples’ group might lean toward a more populated area that’s closer with numerous trailside towns and more choices for eating, accommodations and nightlife. Both are great choices if they fit your schedule and group expectations.
In either case, it’s important to select a destination that is more likely to have good snow and trail conditions during the time you’ve chosen to visit. But given the variable winters we’ve had recently, the destination decision may not be able to get finalized until early January. By this time, it’s more likely you’ll have better information available about how the winter’s shaping up in various regions to assist you with deciding where to go.
HEDGE YOUR DESTINATION BETS
Today, my inclination is to narrow the destinations down to three possibilities prior to Christmas, and then choose one and a back-up in early January. With my primary choice, I’d plan my staging location, tour route and book snowmobile friendly places to stay from those who advertise on trail maps and in snowmobile magazines.
I always reserve my lodgings ahead. This not only ensures I have a place for all of my group to stay, but also that it’s my first choice, with safe sled parking, on-site restaurant, fuel nearby and direct trail access.
For my back up location, I’d do all of the above except book the lodgings, so it’s ready to go if I need to make a switch closer to the planned start date. If you do have to make changes, please have the courtesy to cancel any previously booked accommodations right away.
Hopefully, the tips and advice in this article will help you plan a successful tour. But I’ve only been able to skim the surface with the space available, and so haven’t said enough about such considerations as actual route planning, choosing a staging location and nightly lodging, what to bring on tour or how to handle emergencies. But I guess that’s good fodder for future articles!
While in attendance at Hay Days 2019 we caught up with a quick Q&A session with Polaris Expert Rider – Chris Burandt about the all-new 2020 Polaris KHAOS.
September 23, 2019 (Mississauga, ON) – Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney addressed over 200 members of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs at their annual meeting in Mississauga on Friday, committing to long-term, sustainable funding of $500,000 annually to support Ontario’s snowmobiling industry. Minister Mulroney also reiterated the government’s support for online snowmobile driver training and permit vouchers, streamlining processes and cutting red tape.
“On behalf of our clubs, thousands of volunteers, and more than 100,000 snowmobilers who come from near and far to enjoy over 30,000kms of trails each winter, I want to thank Minister Mulroney and the Government of Ontario for their incredible support of the snowmobiling industry. With an annual economic impact of up to $3.3 billion in Ontario, this announcement provides a model for how industry and government can work in partnership to deliver world-class experiences. A multi-year funding agreement affords us the ability to plan our infrastructure renewal well into the future, a key pillar in ensuring our long-term sustainability” said OFSC Chief Executive Officer Ryan J. Eickmeier.
In addition to the long-term funding, Minister Mulroney announced that online driver training would be available in October and that Ontarians would soon be able to purchase gifts cards and redeem them for a permit, locking in the permit price at the time of gift card purchase.
“The OFSC has listened to its members and is happy to deliver on these two important initiatives,” Eickmeier said. “I thank the Minister as well as Ministry of Transportation officials who have worked closely with us for over a year on developing the online course and gift cards. The launch of the online driver training course will open up our sport to a whole new generation of Ontarians, and the new permit gift card is unquestionably a welcome and convenient option that directly benefits consumers.”
Further details on the online training course and permit vouchers will be available shortly.
For further info, please contact: Andrew Walasek 705-739-7669 x251 awalasek@ofsc.on.ca
We’ve noted with interest that for MY2020 Yamaha has gone to 137-inch tracks on its whole product line.
Arctic Cat has followed suit and most of its high performance 2020 offerings have the longer track too.
It seems like only yesterday we were talking about the demise of the 120-121-incher and now that the rest of the industry (Ski-Doo & Polaris) have pretty much gone to 129-inch track lengths, the market seems to be saying: “We want an even longer track”! What’s this all about?
Here’s what we think is going on: Snowmobile sales are highly driven by consumer demand. What that means is, if a certain track length isn’t being requested by potential purchasers as much and dealer unsold inventories are building up with sleds built with certain features (or without them), it’s only a short matter of time before the OEM says: “Less people want this, so why should we be offering it”?
Such is the case with the 137 track. If customers are coming into dealers, walking past 129-inch models and requesting the dealer sell them a 137-incher, it doesn’t take long for the manufacturer to see how the order volumes at dealer shows are moving skyward for the longer track and going down for the 129. Supply-demand!
Here’s another reason. Have you noticed sleds are getting more expensive? It looks like today’s buyers shelling out big coin, want sleds that can do more than one thing. Trail riders want the ability to go off-trail once in a while.
They may not want to commit to a full-on powder sled (the way most Crossovers have gone the last few years) but at least want the option to get into the deep and not get stuck. 1
37-inch sleds are extremely competent in the foothills and can shred pow quite decently because of the new-age weight savings and 1.5-plus inch track depths these sleds offer these days.
Yep, it’s about supply-demand and about versatility. Now that the handling is so good on 137s, there’s a huge upside to ponying up for the extra cost of the longer track. We also think the resale on these sleds is going to be much better than on shorter tracked ones.
AJ gives a quick run through of the latest Timbersled products while in attendance at Hay Days 2019.
Taiga Motors, the Canadian company behind the world’s first electric snowmobiles, presents their first electric personal watercraft, Orca. It represents the next phase in product development for Taiga and a new segment of personal watercraft, defined by conscious luxury, high performance, and connectivity.
Taiga’s electric drive platform translates seamlessly to a jet propulsion system that sends the craft flying silently across the water with precise control. Orca features a full carbon fiber hull construction, clean puristic body lines, and a floating seat made possible by the absence of a combustion engine. At under 600lbs ready to drive and up to 180 horsepower available with instant torque, the craft offers leading power to weight and agility for an unmatched ride experience.
Dynamic design: Form follows function
Orca was designed from a clean sheet to embody the elegant, powerful, and playful characteristics of its namesake. Without the restrictions imposed by combustion engines, our designers were free to rethink traditional design practices that have constrained personal watercraft design over the past decades.
Orca introduces a new era of design sophistication for personal watercraft, from its aerodynamically sculpted body to its unique seat design and carbon fiber body. At the same time, it retains the unmistakable Taiga DNA, from the organic hyperbolic upper profile lines to the signature lateral fins.
The new suspended seat design highlights the reduced packaging height of the electric drive, allowing for the lowest center of gravity of any personal watercraft. For the rider this translates to enhanced stability and precision carving on the water. Adjustable sponsons allow users to easily adjust the ride dynamics from leisurely play to racing characteristics.
At 2.90 meters (9.5 ft) long, 1.2meters (3.9 ft) wide and 1.01 meters (3 ft) tall, the design breaks away from the tradition of building bigger and more powerful personal watercrafts. With up to 180 horsepower and under 600lbs ready to drive, the Orca delivers one of the highest power to weight ratios in the industry while remaining nimble, silent, and practical for every day use on the water.
Powerful efficiency: The electric drive for a new era of powersports
Taiga’s electric drive platform is at the heart of the shift towards a new era of powersports without compromise. Born out of the single-minded vision of enabling the best possible electric off-road vehicles, the platform was engineered from a clean sheet to deliver unyielding performance across snow, water, and dirt trails. The shared powertrain architecture not only offers enhanced performance and reliability under extreme conditions, but also drives down costs across vehicle segments to make electric powersports accessible to all.
The performance package equipped Orca can generate over 134kW (180hp) for incredible acceleration and a top speed up to 104km/h (65mph). With a sub 5-milisecond response time, the drive delivers incredible control on any terrain. Precision impeller speed control is achieved to maximize efficiency and reduce noise levels under varying conditions. Unlike many electric vehicles, a high-power output can be sustained thanks to Taiga’s advanced thermal management system. The innovative closed loop cooling circuit running through the battery, motor, and inverter has been tested to maintain temperature regulation from arctic to tropical conditions.
Orca’s lithium-ion battery runs on an automotive standard system voltage of 400 volt. This has the advantage of greater efficiency and, for the first time, brings automotive levels of reliability and safety to powersports. The sealed and vibration isolated battery has been designed to be safely operated across its lifetime under high shock loads, high humidity environments, and even under temporary submersion. The 23kWh battery capacity provides energy for up to 2 hours under typical drive conditions. Weighing in at approximately 125kg, the Orca’s battery delivers one of the highest energy densities of any electric vehicle and the most specific power for any battery of its size. Orca can be charged from a regular outlet for convenient overnight charging, from standard automotive chargers at a rate of up to 10kW, or by DC fast charging to 80% in 20 minutes for high throughput operators.
Redefining personal watercraft reliability and convenience: Just unplug and play
No more trips to the gas station, no more hauling fuel down to the dock or spills into the lake, and no more engine maintenance; Orca redefines the experience of owning a personal watercraft. Spend an afternoon on the water, charge overnight, unplug and repeat. Orca will keep delivering year after year so users can focus on what matters- escaping into the great outdoors and sharing unforgettable experiences with friends and family.
Careful attention has been paid to every aspect of the design for a seamless user experience. A closed loop cooling system designed for Taiga snowmobiles means no winterization is required. The auxiliary systems have been designed for extremely low quiescent currents so that the vehicle can be left unplugged up to 5 years while still periodically waking itself to check on systems. Users will no longer have to disconnect their 12V batteries for fear of draining them. Going one step further, Orca will be backed by an industry leading 5 year no-maintenance powertrain warranty and remote diagnostics anywhere they are sold.
Controls & connectivity
It’s time for personal watercraft users to experience a display in line with automotive standards. Between Orca’s handlebars lays a color integrated digital display, the first of its kind. Everything that matters is now accessible and configurable to the user in one place. Behind the dashboard is a powerful onboard computer offering intelligent connectivity via built in GPS mapping, LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Users can choose from a full suite of integrated sensors from water temperature to cameras and sonar to explore their environment.
From the dashboard or the connected app, users can adjust vehicle parameters for their perfect ride. Connected Orca users will also benefit from continuous updates to their vehicles as the latest advancements are made available via remote updates.
A craft like no other: Tailored to every driver
From the inside out, Orca rewards those leading the charge towards a sustainable future. Customers can customize Orca’s exterior elements to their specific preferences. Seat upholstery will be available in a variety of durable high-end fabrics and colors. Beyond a set of 10 stunning base colors, Orca’s bodywork is offered in an almost limitless color options with metallic and pristine gloss finishes. Deck mat textures and colors can be selected to complete the look. Customization doesn’t stop at the factory; riders can adjust, tune, and lock in a wide range of drive parameters to find their perfect ride.
Environment: Exhilaration without compromise
The heated debate over personal watercraft use in bodies of water shared by homeowners, marine life, and other recreational watersport enthusiasts has been active since the late 90s. At the heart of the controversy is pollution and noise levels. Although manufacturers have made the switch to cleaner 4- stroke engines, a modern personal watercraft produces up to 16 g/kWh of hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 300 g/kWh of carbon monoxide (CO). This is more than 80 times the EPA’s Tier 2 emission standards for automobiles. Their noise levels can exceed 90 dBA at distance of up to 100 feet, especially in wavy conditions when the jet impeller breaches the waters surface. Orca presents a solution to bridge the societal rift between those ultimately looking to enjoy a day by the water, producing 0 g/kWh of emissions and a quiet ride.
Rollout: The time for electrification is now
Taiga invites their first customers to own a piece of history. A watercraft like no other, the Orca model will be limited to a total production run of only 500 units. The first 100 Orcas produced will be badged Founders Edition models, featuring exclusive design elements and high-performance packages. Pricing of the exclusive founder’s edition will begin at $28,000 USD and will be delivered to North American customers in summer 2020.
Taiga will continue production with 400 Orcas starting at $24,000 USD that will be available to customers in North America and Europe for delivery shortly thereafter. Reservations are now open online for Orca and Orca Founders Edition. All units will be delivered through local Taiga certified dealerships for a seamless ownership experience.
This is the first step in Taiga’s mission to accelerate mass market adoption of electric alternatives. Owners of an Orca will proudly hold their place in history as having led the transition towards better watersports. Following Orca, Taiga will be entering the recreational personal watercraft segment with models priced below $14,000 USD and expanding their electric propulsion platform to bring electric inboard and outboard products to the boating industry at large.
Unveiled on Toronto’s Harbourfront
The Taiga Orca was unveiled on Toronto’s Harbourfront on September 17th. Guests were the first to see footage of Orca in action on North American lakes, demonstrating Orca is beyond the preliminary concept phase. Taiga is ready to deliver viable electric alternatives, because the ‘when’, is now.
Specifications
Exterior Design
▪ 2.90 meters (9.5 ft) long, 1.2meters (3.9 ft) wide, 1.01 meters (3 ft) tall ▪ Full carbon fiber construction
▪ Suspended seat design for 2 riders with rear grab bar.
▪ Weight capacity: 181kg / 400lbs
▪ Front storage and glove box storage
▪ Front and rear anchor points for lifting and towing
Performance
▪ Ready to drive weight: 263kg / 580 lbs
▪ Top speed: 104kph / 65mph
▪ Cruise speed: 70kph / 44mph
▪ Range: 2 hours on typical driving conditions ▪ Rated for fresh water and ocean use
Drive System
▪ Directly driven impeller jet pump.
▪ Taiga integrated PMAC drive unit delivering 134kW (180hp) up to 9,000rpm.
▪ Reactive impeller speed control for maximum efficiency and minimized noise levels. ▪ Closed loop liquid cooling system requiring no flushing or maintenance
▪ Rated for temperatures down to -40OC/F not requiring winterization.
Battery and Charging
▪ 23kWh of energy, 355V nominal voltage, weight approx. 125kg.
▪ Low quiescent drain, can be left up to 5 years unplugged
▪ 5 year, 20,000km warranty
▪ Shock and vibration isolated structure with IP68 rating for marine environments ▪ Onboard charger compatible with automotive standard connectors and chargers ▪ 10kW level 2 charging on 240VAC and overnight level-1 charging on 110VAC
▪ Optional DC fast charging to 80% in 20 minutes for commercial operators
Controls and Connectivity
▪ Configurable 7-inch center console with handlebar controls
▪ GPS speed & built in mapping
▪ LTE, Wi-Fi for over the air updates and upgrades
▪ Bluetooth connectivity via phone for app settings, vehicle monitoring and music
▪ Automatic and manual adjustable trim angle
▪ User configurable power, acceleration and speed modes with lockout capabilities
▪ Powerful onboard computer with extension capabilities for sonar fish finder and other
sensory integration.
AJ is up at Hay Days 2019 checking out the 2020 Ski-Doo MXZ TNT.
Glenn Welch and the team at BITEHARDER have just released a new program called “Better Traction – Better Trails” that is sure to be a win-win for the snowmobiling industry.
Born out of the necessity for repeatable traction performance that provides better handling and safety, BITEHARDER’s full line of carbide runner and stud sharpening tools have become widely recognized for their ability to provide riders with a simple and cost-effective method to “stay sharp” all season long.
As the developer and owner of BITEHARDER Products, Welch describes that he attended the 2018 International Snowmobile Congress in Halifax to understand more about what was needed in improving the future of our sport.
The two issues that resonated the loudest were reducing accidents/fatalities, and improving overall funding mechanisms for better trail maintenance.
Welch says, “With what I learned at the congress, I set out to develop a program that would help to solve these issues. The result was our Better Traction – Better Trails program where 10% of all BITEHARDER product sales are returned directly to the participating state snowmobile association (or provincial snowmobile federation), from where the sale originates. The win-win scenario comes in the form of snowmobilers riding on Better Traction and associations/federations having more funding for “Better Trails”. It could not be easier.”
The program was officially released at the 2019 International Snowmobile Congress in Grand Rapids Michigan where all of the associations and federations BITEHARDER approached agreed to participate in the program. Welch commented, “The states and provinces recognize the safety benefits snowmobiler’s get from better traction and welcome the extra monies BITEHARDER donates back.”
Over the 2018/2019 season BITEHARDER tested the Better Traction – Better Trails program in their home state of New Hampshire, and in the province of Ontario, with great results. Dan Gould, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association stated, “The board earmarked the monies to the trails committee.” In Ontario the monies were flowed down to support better trail maintenance and operations.
Welch commented, “We are extremely excited about watching this program grow over the next few years. It will definitely be a win-win for both snowmobilers and their respective associations/federations.”
To learn more about the “Better Traction – Better Trails” program or to purchase BITEHARDER products, visit biteharder.com. Additional informational can also be found on BITEHARDER’s YouTube Channel.
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