Snowmobile Insider
Polaris Offers Snocross Fans FREE Pit Passes for ISOC National Races
Participating Polaris Dealers Have Passes That Provide FREE Pit Access Polaris is helping snocross fans get close to their favorite racers by offering a limited number of FREE passes into the pit area at Amsoil Championship Snocross Series (ACSS) races on the ISOC race circuit. Race...
2009 Polaris Snowmobile Adventure Tours
The 2009 Polaris Adventure Snowmobile Tour schedule has been announced, and it includes guided, turn-key tours in destinations from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the mountains of Idaho. These tours are open to all makes and models, so bring your friends. These tours are sponsored by Polaris Indu...
Illinois Girl Makes Award-Winning Polaris Quilt for Snowmobiling Dad
At Haydays, we received a photo from the Hand family of Illinois showing Alyssa Hand and her father David with the beautiful Polaris Snowmobile quilt she made for him. Here’s the story behind that special delivery photograph. When Alyssa Hand of Green Valley, Illinois, made a specia...
Loyal Sponsors Provide the Polaris Racing Program With Outstanding Support
Racing Teams Benefit from Premium Racing Equipment, Excellent Backing Polaris snowmobile racers and racing teams receive outstanding equipment and fiscal and technical support from the sponsors of the Polaris Snowmobile Racing Program. Polaris Racing Coordinator Bill Rader sai...
Polaris Snocross Racing Factory Team Profile: TEAM SOUTHSIDE RACING
TEAM SOUTHSIDE RACING Crew Members: Owner Bruce Gaspardi, Sr., Bill Turner, Bob Davis, Chris Acker, David Livingston, Sr., Jim Ackerman, Jim Graham, John Williams, Mark Flach, Mark Shoestock, Mike Stock, Peter Kelley and Robert Gaspardi Pro Racers: Derek Graham (#829) and Robin Norberg (#3...
Polaris Snocross Racing Factory Team Profile: SCHEURING SPEED SPORTS
SCHEURING SPEED SPORTS Team Owner/Crew Chief: Steve Scheuring Mechanics: Tony Clement, Steve Thorsen, Rich Felegy Pro Racers: D.J. Eckstrom (#25), Shaun Crapo (#3) Semi-Pro Racer: Ryan Carey (#483) Scheuring Speed Sports Notes: • D.J. Eckstrom has been with the team for 10 years and ...
Polaris Snocross Racing Factory Team Profile: JUDNICK MOTORSPORTS
JUDNICK MOTORSPORTS Team Owners: Scott & Colleen Judnick Crew: Roger Faber, Tony Swiontek, Tom Rager, Jr. Pro Racers: Ross Martin (#837) and Matt Judnick (#58) Semi Pro Racer: Mike Bauer (#717) Judnick Motorsports Notes: • For the 2007-’08 season, Ross Martin was the National Pro Ra...
Polaris Snocross Racing Factory Team Profile: HULTEN SPEED SPORTS
HULTEN SPEED SPORTS Co-owners: Lisa and Ray Hulten Team Manager: Rick Cote Team Spokeswoman: Michaela Lemieux Pro Racer: Danny Poirier Junior Racer: Jake Scott Hulten Speed Sports Notes: • The team is based in St. Johnsville, New York. • The team will race on the ISOC circuit, the fi...
Polaris Snocross Racing Factory Team Profile: HENTGES RACING
HENTGES RACING Team Co-Owners: Nate Hentges, Steve & Jeanette Hentges Team Manager: Tim Bender Athlete Manager: Todd Wolff Crew Chief: Rob Schatzle Pro/Semi-Pro Open Racer: Bobby LePage (#244) Crew Chief: Glen Kafka Pro Racer: Levi LaVallee (#108) Semi-Pro Racer: Chris Kafka (#991...
Polaris Snocross Racing Factory Team Profile: AVALANCHE RACING
AVALANCHE RACING Team Co-Owners: Mike and Bonnie Glefke Crew Chief: Jayme Cheney Truck Driver: Dean Turcotte Additional Crew: Chris Glefke, aka “Hot Rod” Pro Driver: Andrew Johnstad (#255) #255 Mechanic: Chad Kyllo Semi-Pro Driver: Derek Ellis (#106) #106 Mechanic: Cody Braaten ...
Polaris Snowmobile Racers Gear Up for Winning Season in Ovals, Cross-Country & Hillclimbs
Racers Had Great Season Last Winter & Will Defend Several Titles Polaris snowmobile racers will be busy this winter defending championships they won last season and shooting for even more titles in racing disciplines such as cross-country, ice ovals and hillclimbs. They will p...
Equipped With Improved ’09 Race Sled, Polaris Snocross Racers Gunning for Winning Season
Racers to Compete on New Race Circuit on New ’09 600 Race Sled With their cumulative race wins, points championships and season-end awards, Polaris snocross racers and teams last winter enjoyed one of the best seasons ever for a single snowmobile brand. But racing is a “what h...
Mark A. Larsen: ‘Gotta Love It!’ in the Deep Snow of Island Park
Mark A. Larsen submitted this photo of him on his 2007 SwitchBack with the brief note: “Gotta Love it!” He said the photo was shot last winter on a riding trip to Idaho. “It was last January out in Island Park, Idaho,” Mark said. “We have a group of friends, fathers and sons that go out every yea...
Lighter New ‘09 Polaris 600 IQ® Race Sled Delivers Increased Power, Excellent Durability
Polaris Racers Will Run With New IFS and Improved 600 Engine Last season’s Polaris Race Sled was a proven winner. It carried Polaris racers to points championships in four of the five premier classes and helped them earn three “Racer of the Year” awards. But a new season me...
Alaska Gov.-Elect is Wife of Former Polaris Snowmobile Racer Doug Palin
Sarah Palin, the wife of three-time Iron Dog Classis winner Doug Palin – who won the grueling trans-Alaska race on a Polaris in 1995 with Dwayne Drake – is the new Governor-elect of the State of Alaska. Considering her love of snowmobiling, this is extremely good news to snowmobilers in terms of ...
Roger Rioux: ‘Doing His Thing’ On Polaris Sleds for Nearly 40 Winters
My name is Roger Rioux of Hebron, Maine, and I started riding Polaris snowmobiles in 1970. It was a 1971 Mustang that my dad bought brand new. Since 1986 my wife and I have purchased 21 new Polaris sleds. Our current dealer is Chandler Farms of Mapleton, Maine, in Aroostook County, where we ride a...
Supertrax Crew Has Great Time With Polaris Snow Staff on SHIFT Visit
Supertrax Magazine held a promotion over the winter – The SHIFT FREE RIDE – in which one Canadian winner and one U.S. winner would win a free Polaris Shift 600 snowmobile. The winners also received expenses-paid trips to Roseau, Minnesota, birthplace of Polaris and home of the Polaris snowmobile...
SLEDHEADS: Let’s See Your Smilin’ Faces & Your Polaris Sleds Here on ESCAPE
We’ve had (and are still enjoying) one of the snowiest winters in the past decade, so we all got to ride. You put on some miles, but did you also snap some photos? If so, send them to us here at Polaris ESCAPE Online so we can show off your good times and great-looking rides. Send some info about...
Polaris Snocross Racers Overflow Podium at Valcourt; Win 3 of 4 Classes
Polaris snocross strengthened their WPSA points leads in the premier classes as they won both Pro titles and one of two Semi-Pro titles at the Grand Prix de Valcourt in Valcourt, Quebec, on Feb. 16. Ross Martin (Judnick Motorsports) won the Pro Open class and Dennis Eckstrom (Scheuring Speed Sports...
Ice Oval Racer Dustin Wahl Scores Hat Trick With Trio of Valcourt Wins
It was fitting that in hockey-mad Canada, Polaris ice oval racer Dustin Wahl scored a hat trick. The Greenbush, Minnesota, racer won the Pro Champ class – the premiere class at the Valcourt (Quebec) Grand Prix – three times in three days, establishing him as the most successful racer on ice during t...
‘Go Snowmobiling’ Invites Newcomers to Become Riders
This winter the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) has provided thousands of people with the opportunity to learn more about snowmobiling and what makes it so appealing. Along with safety training and a presentation on today’s snowmobile technology and gear, the participants get to go...
Snowmobilers Set Fundraising Record on Black Woods Blizzard Tour to Fight ALS
Snowmobilers took to the trails in Northern Minnesota and raise more than a half-million dollars for the Minnesota chapter of the ALS Association during the 2008 “Black Woods Blizzard Tour, Never Surrender, A Ride to Fight ALS.” During the ninth annual tour held February 6-9, 136 snowmobilers and 42...
Brett Campbell & Family: Have Fun in the Mountains On Their SwitchBacks
GREAT Times in Washington (Stampede Pass)… My name: Brett Campbell What I do for a living: Sales for www.ascentium.com. Sleds: 2007 Switchback 600 CFI (Buying a new Dragon RMK 800 VERY soon) Purchased from Gary at Hamilton Farm Equipment , Okanogan, Washington Family pictures: Bambi , Casey, C...
Flippin’ for Gold: Levi LaVallee Makes X Games History With Freestyle Win
Second X Games 12 Gold Gives Him Medals in Four Disciplines Polaris snocross racer Levi LaVallee made Winter X Games history on Sunday by becoming the first competitor to win medals in four different snowmobile disciplines when he won the gold medal in snowmobile freestyle. It was the s...
Polaris Snocross Star Levi LaVallee Wins X Games Gold in Speed & Style
Polaris snocross racer Levi LaVallee became the answer to a trivia question on Thursday night. The question? “Who was the first to win the gold medal in Winter X Games Snowmobile Speed & Style?” A parallel questions might be: Which brand of snowmobile swept all three podium positions in that firs...
ATTENTION SNOWMOBILERS: Let’s See Your Smilin’ Mugs & Your Sleds!
Calling all Polaris snowmobilers! Send us photos of you and your family and friends out enjoying some great riding this winter and we’ll post them here on Polaris ESCAPE. We want to see you and your personalized, customized Polaris sled, but we also want to see your smiling mugs. So be sure to take...
Polaris Wins 10 of 12 Podium Spots, Finishes 1-2-3-4-5 in Pro Super Stock
The competition would probably like a “do-over” after the Polaris snocross racers exploded out of the gate and completely decimated the competition at the WPSA season opener, earning 10 out of the12 Pro/Semi-Pro podium spots and claiming the top five places in the Pro Super Stock class. Polaris race...
Team Southside Racing Has Strong Roster for Upcoming Snocross Season
North Adams, Massachusetts-based Team Southside Racing heads into the upcoming Rock Maple Racing (RMR) snocross season with its strongest roster ever and high hopes of retaining the momentum the team created last season. To learn more about the team and its racers, check out the article posted on ...
Haydays 2007: Polaris Racers Sign – and Sign and Sign – Autographs for Race Fans
If you see Polaris racers with ice packs on their arms, it’s because they signed so many autographs at Haydays. There was a Polaris racer autograph signing session at the Polaris display on Saturday morning, and the racers – snocross, ovals and cross-country racers – practically wore out their pe...
Haydays 2007: Behind the Scenes, Mugs Are Shot – And They Like It!
While crowds swarmed around the Polaris display at Haydays, a much-quieter scene took place inside Judnick Motorsports team transporter. In the back area of the transporter – which during race weekends will serve as a shop area where race sleds are prepped – photographer Wayne Davis had created a ...
Haydays 2007: Polaris and Victory Riders Get to See Snowmobiles – And Much More!
Snowmobile enthusiasts who visited the Polaris exhibit at Haydays got to see race sleds, the 2008 Polaris snowmobile lineup and much more. They also got to see other Polaris products that could satisfy their motorsports cravings on dirt and on the open road: Polaris ATVs, RANGERs, RANGER RZRs and V...
Haydays 2007: Sled Shoppers at the Polaris Display Are Filled With Hope
The most precious commodity at Haydays each year carries no price tag, yet it’s something everybody acquires at the event. It’s hope. Hope for a terrific, snowy winter so they can enjoy thousands of miles on their Polaris snowmobiles. The Polaris display at Haydays was crowded throughout the we...
Haydays 2007: The Faces of Haydays at the Polaris Display
The Polaris display at Haydays attracted a big crowd all weekend and snowmobilers were kept busy: • Checking out the 2008 Polaris models • Seeing the new 600 IQ Race Sled • Looking over title-winning Polaris race sleds from last season • Seeing new Pure Polaris apparel • Getting autographs from ...
2008 Polaris Snowmobile Adventure Tours Schedule Announced
From the pristine forests of the Midwest to the peaks of the West, the 2008 Polaris Snowmobile Adventure Tours will take riders to several memorable riding destinations. “Polaris Snowmobile Adventure Tours are not about racking up big-time miles, but are instead about enjoying beautiful natural sc...
Polaris Asphalt Drag Racer Jeff Cullen Wins 3rd Straight ‘King of the Tar’ Title
In any season, on any surface, Polaris Winning Performance puts Polaris racers into the winner’s circle. Polaris racer Jeff Cullen proved that on July 15 when he won the “Power Adder King of the Tar” title for the third straight year in the National Pro Sled Shootout. His Abbott Powersports / PCS P...
‘Congress’ Delegates Visit Polaris Factory, Experience Center
An international delegation of snowmobilers enjoyed a special trip to northern Minnesota for tours of the Polaris and Arctic Cat factories and the Polaris Experience Center. The bus trip and tours were hosted by Jean Skomoroh and her husband and Ed Skomoroh, the retired Polaris Vice President of Sal...
Here’s Your Chance to See You & Your Favorite Sled(s) Online!
Want to see a photo of you and your favorite ride (Polaris ATV, snowmobile, RANGER, watercraft or Victory Motorcycle) on the Polaris website? We’re about to make exciting changes to the website that will allow us to feature photos of you enthusiastic riders, your customized machines and your ridin...
Snowmobiling Loses a Great Friend: Journalist & Advocate CJ Ramstad
Everyone at Polaris, and snowmobile and ATV riders everywhere have lost a great friend with the death of CJ Ramstad, an author and photographer whose passion and career centered around motorsports, especially snowmobiling. CJ Ramstad and his son JJ died in a traffic accident on May 6. CJ was 61. JJ...
Polaris Aviation Team Brings Serviceman Home to Visit His Family
Polaris and its aviation team have once again stepped up to assist the family of a serviceman who was seriously wounded while serving in Iraq last December. The most recent flight service provided by Polaris allowed the serviceman – 25-year-old Minnesota National Guard Sgt. John Kriesel – to leave ...
Polaris RMK Models Win 45% of All Titles, Dominate Jackson Hole Hill Climb
Rick Ward Wins 3 Titles, Jeremy Osler Wins 2 and is Mod King of the Hill Which brand dominates in the steep and deep? Check the facts: Racers on Polaris RMK® deep snow models won 45% of the class titles and the Mod King of the Hill title at the 32nd annual Jackson Hole (WY) W...
Buddy Pawloski Gets to Enjoy Riding the Sled That Began as a Sketch
Lots of enthusiasts have sketched cars, motorcycles, airplanes and snowmobiles. But rare is the person who ends up actually riding or driving a vehicle that looks just like what he once sketched. Buddy Pawloski is one of those rare riders. He is now riding a 2007 Polaris Dragon, a snowmobile that i...
Polaris Freestyler Wins X Games Silver, TJ Gulla Takes Third in Snocross
Aleksander Nordgaard Lands Record-Setting Backflip to Earn Silver Polaris snowmobile freestyle rider Aleksander Nordgaard of Norway landed a record-setting backflip on his final jump and earned a silver medal with a second-place finish at the ESPN Winter X Games on Sunday nigh...
X Games Report: Snocross Racers Catch Immense Air on Aspen Course
The “X”, after all, stands for xtreme. That is one way of explaining why the snocross race course for the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, features such immense jumps. The racers – including 12 Polaris racers –got their first chance to take practice runs on the course on Thursday. They discove...
X GAMES UPDATE: Polaris Freestyler Daniel Bodin Perseveres to Compete
As we noted earlier, two Polaris riders were among the four snowmobile freestyle competitors to advance from Thursday’s preliminaries to Sunday’s finals at the ESPN Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. One of the Polaris riders, Daniel Bodin, was the first alternate for the competition, and he advan...
WINTER X GAMES ALERT: Two Polaris Riders Advance to Snowmobile Freestyle Semis
Winter X Games Two high-flying Polaris riders who inject an international flavor into their snowmobiling will compete for the first-ever Winter X Games Snowmobile Freestyle gold medal this weekend. The first-round eliminations were held Thursday in Aspen, Colorado, and Polaris riders Aleksande...
Haydays 2007: Riders Learn About Awesome Value & Performance at the ‘Shift Experience’
Snowmobilers have never before had such an opportunity to get so much sled for so little money. The 2008 Polaris IQ Shift is a stealthy, all-black, no-graphics IQ model with a powerful Liberty 600 H.O. engine and the innovative IQ chassis, yet it carries a remarkably low manufacturer’s suggested r...
Polaris Employees Rev it Up, Access ‘The Way Out’ on Their Polaris Snowmobiles
Polaris employees don’t just design, engineer, manufacture and provide Polaris and Victory vehicles to dealers for you to select and purchase. They also ride these vehicles every chance they get. Around Polaris, it’s called “living the experience” and “enjoying the ride.” Here are a few photos of...
Haydays ’06 Report: Fun, Faces, Sleds and Dreams of a Snowy Winter
Strange but true: The largest annual snowmobiling event in the world takes place without a flake of snow on the ground. That’s the truth and it occurs each year on the weekend after Labor Day when the Sno-Barons Snowmobile Club hosts Haydays, a grass drag, swap meet and general snowmobile expositio...
Haydays '06 Report: Tougher-Than-Ever New 440 IQ™ Snocross Race Sled Unveiled
One of the annual highlights at Haydays is when Polaris pulls the cover off its new race sled, and this year was no exception. A large group of snowmobile media representatives took part in a special unveiling of the 440 IQ™ on September 8, one day before it was shown to the public. Over the wee...
Haydays ’06 Report: Polaris Racers Provide Fans With Thousands of Autographs
Polaris snowmobile racers made a group appearance at the Polaris display at Haydays on September 9, meeting fans, posing for photos and signing thousands of autographs. Fans enjoyed the chance to talk with their favorite Polaris racers, who autographed racing posters just feet away from a display f...
Haydays ’06 Report: Riders Take the Challenge But Can’t Fog the AF-1 Helmet
Snowmobilers visiting the Polaris exhibit at Haydays on September 9-10 got to experience first-hand the incredible anti-fogging performance of the new Polaris AF-1 helmet. They didn’t simply try the helmet on. They went into a freezing cold chamber in a refrigerator truck, pedaled an exercise bike...
Michigan Rider Loves His ‘Dragon’; Now Lives in a ‘Polaris Household’
Robert “Bob” Novak of Saginaw, Michigan, is a long-time snowmobiling enthusiast who, a year or two back, had doubts he might ever buy another snowmobile. But then he got the chance to ride the ”Dragon” and his entire family’s winter lifestyle has changed considerably. “Last year my son and I went ...
US Forest Service Staff Enjoys ‘Enlightening’ Snowmobile Experience
Snowmobile industry representatives recently hosted several key staff members of the U.S. Forest Service on the annual “Enlightenment Ride” designed to keep the forest officials abreast of new sled technology and issues affecting the sport and industry. The 2006 Enlightenment Ride was held recently...
Winning Entry in Annual Clean Snowmobile Challenge is a Polaris 4-Stroke
A tip of the helmet to the University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering students who won the 7th annual SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge with a Polaris 4-stroke snowmobile. The Polaris FS engine-powered sled configured by the Badger engineering students won top overall honors and also placed first in...
Canadian Snowmobilers: Get Your First Look at the 2007 Models at These Shows Nationwide
Canadian snowmobilers who want an early look at the new 2007 Polaris snowmobiles should check out the 2007 Premier Snowmobile Shows being held in several cities from now through April 8. You can see and learn about the new models – and the limited-time Snow Check Factory Connection order opportunit...
2006 WOW Relay Crosses Canada Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Research
Women snowmobilers from all across Canada have completed yet another epic journey for a most worthwhile cause. It’s called the WOW – Way Out Women – Relay sponsored by Polaris. Women snowmobilers rode Polaris snowmobiles from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to White Rock, British Columbia, to raise fu...