Seeing this makes me feel good.

Soon...winter will be here.

Today Arctic Cat Reported its Fiscal 2017 Second Quarter Results.

Summarized by a non-financial writer who barely made it through high school math classes: the company is still losing money as it faces tougher circumstances than originally forecast; the powersports market is still soft; there is still too much dealer inventory. 

Here's how Cat says it:  

-Second quarter net sales totaled $164.6 million;

-Net loss $0.98 per share;

-Continued progress made on strategies to reposition company, including signing two strategic partnerships;

-Commitment letter signed to extend and increase revolving bank agreement to $130 million year round to support future growth initiatives;

-Company lowers fiscal 2017 revenue and EPS outlook on weaker powersports market, increased promotional costs and unfavorable product mix

I'm thankful for the great, extended season of snowmobiling that saw us eke out one final ride on July 4, 2016.

I'm thankful for the incredibly short off-season that snowmobilers must suffer through while #waitingforwinter.

I'm thankful that we'll all (potentially) be riding in continue reading ...

We're now seeing the fruits of Arctic Cat's partnership with off-road racing champion Robby Gordon that was first announced roughly 14 months ago.

First came the new-for-2017 Wildcat X models featuring the RG Pro suspension.

Now comes a full line of SPEED accessories for Wildcat enthusiasts developed with both Gordon and Todd Romano. This premium stuff is aimed at the hardcore rider and racer, as well as those aspiring to be.

Click to read Cat's announcement.

There's no denying the added comfort a windshield offers on side-by-sides. If you're skeptical, think about the last car you bought that didn't have a windshield.

Arctic Cat offers all kinds of windshield options for its various sport and utility side-by-sides.

Here is the Flip-Up Polycarbonate option for Prowler and HDX models. Click for more info.

It is the human condition to fill to capacity whatever storage space we have. If you need proof, look at your garage.

Fortunately, there are ways to increase the storage capacity of certain things, such as the Wildcat Sport or Trail.

Yep, there are several handy storage solutions available from Arctic Cat. Click to see them.

I used to think backrests were kind of corny. You know...like old-people's gear that looks goofy and suggests slowly riding through the world.

Maybe because I'm older than I was 20 years ago (Duh!) or because I've actually ridden with backrests on ATVs and snowmobiles, I no longer think of them as corny. Yes, they still look goofy to me, but you can't argue with the comfort.

Arctic Cat has a new SpeedRack Backrest for its Alterra ATV models. Click for more info.

On this day WAY back in 1991, a low-pressure system carried precipitation from the Gulf of Mexico straight up the midsection of the country, where it collided with a massive, cold high pressure system from the north.

Three days later, upwards of 30-40 inches of snow had blanketed a large swath of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Dubbed the Halloween Blizzard (10 inches of snow fell that night), it was a watershed weather event that paralyzed cities and certainly caused a lot of hardship for some, yet gave snowmobilers the greatest candy of any Halloween ever.

Friends and I snowmobiled all over the Twin Cities (on major roads, highways and even freeways) for two days until the plows finally got on top of the situation. I know of people who did laps around the Metrodome in Minneapolis. It was incredible.

Click for some swiped photos of that storm.

Nothing unusual going on here in the parking lot today at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls.

Just the same, good ol' passion that's been burning bright since 1962.

I'm thankful that, when it was time to park the sleds for the summer, Elmer was careful to take care of his precious fleet.

I'm thankful that vintage top deck systems are dang cool and badass (just like vintage snowmobiles).

I'm thankful that all these sleds will "run on spray," and that they'll be ripping along nicely just as soon as the snow flies.

And I'm thankful that I rose from my slumber on this, Friday October 28, 2016.

Last week Arctic Cat announced its renewal partnership with the National FFA Organization (FFA), an organization it first partnered with last year.

The goal is to assist a great organization in helping young people to develop their potential for leadership, personal greowth and career success through agriculture education.

Since agriculture is foundational to this country, I believe FFA is a dang important organization. Thus I'm pleased that Cat is helping the cause.

Click for the press release.

How fast is the new Arctic Cat Thundercat?

This fast.

When it comes to customization, billet aluminum has a substantive, enduring appeal.

That was the inspiration behind an array of new billet snowmobile accessories for 2017.

Click for the down-low.

Recently, D&D Racing out of Lowville, NY, uncrated a 2017 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Cross Country with the new 9000 Series Turbo, put it on their dyno and let 'er rip.

The result: 205 horsepower and 127 ft.-lbs. of torque.

I'm just sayin'...

Yummy!

Last month, Brian Fandel embarked upon a 14-day, 1,542-mile ATV adventure from his home in Thief River Falls to northern Michigan, and back on a 2017 Arctic Cat Alterra TRV.

For an extra measure of sportiness, he did the trip alone.

Fandel, who is an NVH engineer at Arctic Cat, rode nine of the 14 days, logging 251 miles on the longest leg and 67 miles on the shortest. Impressively, there were four days that exceeded 200 miles.

Click to see how he did it.

Riding a new 2017 Arctic Cat ZR 9000 Thundercat, Glenn Hall behaves in a way that I've ALWAYS wanted to behave myself!

#onthegas

Let's fact it, Tucker Hibbert himself might look kinda...well...goofy*.

But the sweet threads he wears while shredding the snocross circuit are cool as can be.

Likewise, so is the Team Arctic Hibbert jacket available to us mortals for 2017.

Click for the details.

*Just kidding Tucker, you look more like Pluto

It's a proven fact that music improves the experience of 87 percent of all the things we do in life.

Which is why any owner of a Wildcat X or Wildcat 1000 might me interested in the sweet new KICKER/SSV Sound System from Arctic Cat.

Pumped up kicks? Heck Yes!

Click for some sound bites.

David Johnson died this past Saturday at age 93.

Johnson was one of three founders of Polaris Industries of Roseau, Minn., along with brothers-in-law Edgar and Allen Hetteen.

Johnson is widely credited as the one who build the first Polaris snowmobile in 1955.

He was a humble, gracious man who left indelible tracks for the company and the sport of snowmobiling.

The world is a better place today because of David Johnson.

As if the sleds themselves weren't already incentive enough...riders who buy a new/unused 2013-2017 Arctic Cat Snowmobile from an authorized Arctic Cat dealership from Oct. 1-Nov. 30, 2016, will be reimbursed for the cost of a 2017 Canadian Trail Permit.

It's a sweet way to support the Canadian trail system and buyers of Arctic Cat snowmobiles.

Click for more details.