After about 45 years of snowmobiling,

I’m over it. Done. Outta here.

Sorry, but that’s where it’s come to after the pure misery of the past four months.

Click to read how I arrived at this sorry state.

Just how far has snowmobie hillclimbing progressed in the past three-plus decades? Take a look at this gem from Kirkland Lake (Ontario) circa 1983.

Man, what a difference suspension makes on a snowmobile. Oh, and track design. And....

Textron has begun to incorporate Arctic Cat into its brand, as evidenced by this well-done video about the newly-named Textron Off Road division in which Cat now resides.

There's a lot more to come on this, I'm sure. Enjoy the video.

Last February, Jeff and Bruce Schroeder had an Arctic Cat-themed family reunion near Tomah, Wis., for their 10 siblings and their families.

One the day of the reunion, the family reprised the classic Johansson Family Reunion advertisement/postcard that Arctic Cat created for the 1987 model season.

If you ask me, I’d say they nailed it perfectly!

Click to read Jeff Schroeder’s REALLY cool version of the story.

Arctic Cat held its 2018 snowmobile dealer in the Twin Cities a couple weeks ago. Here's an inside look at what the dealer saw, and what many of them thought of the machines (including the Wildcat XX). 

It even has some thoughtful words from the legend, Roger Skime.

Definitely worth checking out (other than the terrible microphone stand that was utilized).

The 2017 ISOC National snocross season concluded last weekend in Lake Geneva, Wis., where Team Monster/Arctic Cat's Tucker Hibbert had another mixed bag of results.

In his words: “Winning the final Saturday night was awesome and I feel like I rode really well. With a crash Friday night and a third Sunday, I’m a little disappointed. I feel like my speed didn’t match my results.”

“It feels good to have won the most races. I felt really strong most of the season. I had some low points but, overall, it was a pretty successful year. It’s awesome to finish the season healthy and strong.”

When you're used to winning everything, a 1st, 3rd and 10th must seem ho-hum.

Regardless, check out the vid!

The University of Minnesota-Duluth team finished third (with their Arctic Cat ZR 3000) in the recent SAE International Clean Snowmobile Challenge competition in Houghton, Mich. Plus they took home additional prestigious awards.

The team was featured HERE on ArcticInsider last year. They're a great group of passionate, smart people who seem destined to do cool and innovative things.

Click HERE to read a nice report on their experience at this year's CSC, and click HERE to watch a 2:31-minute video.

Congrats!

I love seeing a great sled restoration, especially one that adds a twist of customization to the final outcome.

Mike Miller's Patriot edition 2004 Arctic Cat F6 Firecat is a perfect example of a ground-up resurrection, as the resto magician from Michigan illustrates in the above video.

This isn't the first Arctic Cat that Miller has brought back to life. A few years ago I featured this stunning Crossfire restoration. Clearly, Miller's handiwork is as thorough as it is stunning.

Check out the video, then see where your imagination (and Craigslist scouring) might lead.

See what's new and savory about the 2018 line of Arctic Cat ZR trail/ditch rippers.

Watch, learn and enjoy the 2018 Arctic Cat M Series Tech goodness (er, greatness).

If this doesn't make you want to go snowmobiling, then check your pulse.

The 2018 Arctic Cat snowmobile get-you-in-the-mood overview video...watch it!

Holy Schamoly! Team Arctic cross-country and snocross racers delivered a combined 41 class wins and 109 podium finishes during a two-weekend stretch of racing, including a historic win in the Alaskan Iron Dog xc.

Click to read the official Team Arctic press release.

ISOC national snocross racing debuted in Dubuque, Iowa, last weekend, and Tucker Hibbert came oh-so-close to scoring another win. Watch the recap video and ponder what two more laps might have meant.

Two weeks ago I OWNED a piece of the backcountry for the first time in my riding career.

When I say "owned" I mean I carved, climbed and threaded my way through the trees and sidehills like I was an amalgamation of Brett Turcotte, Dave McClure and Rob Kincaid, only better looking.

The difference between this day in the trees and any other time I've ridden in the backcountry over the past 15 years?

This time I was on the Arctic Cat SVX 450 snow bike.

Click to read more.

It's official: Textron has acquired more than 50 percent of Arctic Cat's outstanding stock shares, which means that it downs the 55-year old brand.

After the merger, which is expected to occur today, Arctic Cat will be an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Textron, Arctic Cat’s shares will cease to be traded on the NASDAQ.

What this MEANS in terms of the product we love, the dealers we buy from and the brand's path forward is TBD. I expect more news on those big questions to come sooner rather than later.

Click to read the official financial release.

Last weekend, Team Arctic racers Cory Davis (Right, 28, from Soldotna, AK) and Ryan Simons (34, Camrose, Alberta) won the 2017 Iron Dog cross-country race, a seven-day 2,100-mile romp across the Alaskan wilderness that goes from Anchorage-Nome-Fairbanks.

It was a huge win for the duo, each of whom is a talented and accomplished terrain racer in all forms of competition.

They were kind enough to tell their story of this year’s race, including their perspective on the disqualification of another team.

On Saturday night in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Team Monster/Arctic Cat snocrosser Tucker Hibbert stamped his usual style of authority on snocross.

Watch it.

In addition to announcing its 2018 line of snowmobiles (and a few future dirt products) this past week, Arctic Cat also unveiled its 2018 Arcticwear & Accessories catalog.

Not only is it loaded with all the newest gear, it's redesigned to be easier to use, including an Index; Pro Tips from engineers and athletes; more technical specs; and an accessory locator.

Catalogs are arriving at your local Arctic Cat dealer now and in the next few days.

Well, the court of law in Canada has ruled in favor of Arctic Cat in the patent litigation brought by BRP regarding the chassis of Cat snowmobiles built from the Twin Spar in 2007 through the ProCross and ProClimb in 2015.

Apparently Ski-Doo did NOT invent the pyramid. Or something like that.

Either way, great news for Arctic Cat and justice. And, as was predicted years ago, the real winners were the lawyers with the billable hours.

Click to read more.

Arctic Cat just took the wraps off of its 2018 line of snowmobiles, and there's a WHOLE BUNCH of new stuff.

Here are the 11 key things to know about it.

Click into next year.