The 2019 Cats Are Coming 2.25.18

Sunday night we find out what Arctic Cat has in store for 2019.

Got any ideas what the future will bring?

Snow Report for Feb. 20, 2018

Winter has been hit-or-miss throughout much of the snowbelt this season, but it seems to have truly arrived in several areas over the past few days (with more on the way).

I was in the St. Germain/Eagle River area of Wisconsin over the weekend, and I've NEVER seen so many snowmobilers in one place. This despite less-than-perfect conditions.

If there isn't riding in your backyard, chances are it's only a few hours (or less) away.

Click HERE for the NOAA interactive snow depth site.

Huss and Sottosanti Iron Dog Pre-Run

Just how gnarly is cross-country racing in general (and the Iron Dog in particular)? Check out this short video of Team Arctic's Micah Huss and Ryan Sottosanti final pre-race shakedown on a portion of the course in preparation for this year's race, which began two days ago.

Unreal!

The duo are currently sitting in sixth place, stopped in Unalakleet at mile 841.

Click HERE to jump to the Iron Dog website.

I-500 Cross-Country Recap

The USXC I-500 cross-country race concluded last Saturday at the finish in Bemidji, Minn. After three days and 500 miles of ditch, river and woods, Team Arctic racers notched 11 of 15 class wins, which is pretty remarkable.

Due to a couple untimely mechanical issues, the team didn't capture the overall win.

Alas... that's racing.

Click to see a few pix of (most of) the class winners.

Product Spotlight: Arctic Cat Garage Collection

Got a man-cave that needs some more cool stuff?

The Arctic Cat Garage Collection might be exactly what you want.

Check these things out (along with the official ArcticInsider recommendations.)

Q&A with 2018 Soo 500 Winners Zach Herfindahl & Wes Selby

This past weekend, the Team Arctic/Christian Brothers Racing duo of Zach Herfindahl and Wes Selby captured a hard-fought, dramatic win in the 50th Anniversary Soo International 500 enduro. The last 100 or so laps of this race will go down as some of the best racing in the history of an already iconic event, with four sleds in the hunt to win plus an epic battle with Polaris’s Aaron Christensen during the closing laps.

It marked just the third time Arctic Cat has won the Soo, the first coming from Troy DeWald &  Jeff Luenberger in 2010 and the second with Selby and Brian Dick in 2015.

Click to read what it was like for the two winning drivers.

Legends Retire: Arctic Cat Engineers Begin Next Chapter

Celebration and sadness unfolded in equal measure this past week with the retirement of six legendary engineers: Donn Eide, Greg Spaulding, Kim Chervestad, Ron Bergman, Russ Ebert and Darrel Janisch.

Click to read about the day.

ERX Eliminator and Demo Ride Weekend

This weekend ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minn., is celebrating its 10th year as a premier event destination with a special Eliminator snocross event this evening followed by snowmobile demo rides on Saturday.

Check it out in person if you're in the area, or watch the livestream this evening.

Click for more info.

Team Arctic Freezes Competition in January

We're smack-dab in the heart of the snowmobile race season. And the girls, boys, women and men on Team Green have continued to win and finish on the podium in record numbers.

Click to read the chilling summary of a January to remember.

Riding with Roger: A January Christmas at Skime Ranch

Five of Roger Skime's favorite things in the whole world are snowmobiles, racing/racers, family, dancing and cattle. I'm not sure in what order. So when his family were considering what kind of gift to give him for Christmas, they hatched a plan that combined 4 out of 5.

On an open weekend in January (“open” in Roger’s world means that there isn’t a snocross or cross-country race somewhere), with plenty of snow on the ground and more still falling, a couple dozen friends and family gathered at Skime Ranch near Skime, Minn., to surprise Skime the man.

And wow, was he ever surprised!

Click to read about a day with Roger.

Talking with P.J. Wanderscheid about His World Championship Career

This weekend marks two years since P.J. Wanderscheid graced the famed banked oval track in Eagle River, Wis. After several major injuries mixed with the time constraints that evolved from the family’s growing business, P.J. took the checkered flag on a truly remarkable racing career:

72 Pro wins

4-time Eagle River World Champion (2002, 2003, 2006, 2011)

2003 Snow Week Racer of the Year

3-time 525 Champion (2009, 2010, 2011)

2-time CPTC Canadian Champion (2010, 2011)

2012 TLR CUP Winner

2003 Woody’s Triple Crown Winner

2010 Central Wisconsin Triple Crown Winner

2011 U.S. Nationals winner

17 Pro High Points Championships

No doubt, P.J. is one of the all-time great oval racers. But while he won’t be on the track at this weekend’s World Championship, he’ll be at the track as part of Country Cat’s sponsorship there. And there’s a chance his team’s expertise will one day support another Arctic Cat racer to chase the World Championship title. Here’s what P.J. had to say about his retirement and more.

Donn Eide's 50 Years of Arctic Cat

With 50-plus years of designing and building engines at Arctic Cat, Engine Design Manager Donn Eide has a history and knowledge of the brand that's truly staggering.

Check out this photo of him with his 1965 120 D. What does he have to say about it in comparison to his 2015 XF 6000?

"The 120 D had a longer track than the standard 100 D of it’s time. So even back in 1965 we realized the need for a long track version, just like the XF models of today.

The 120 also had reverse (in a gearcase instead of the reversing the engine). The 120 had a foot operated drum brake vs. the hand operated hydraulic disc of today.

The CVT is still around, but it's been advanced many, many iterations.

The engine went from the 8 HP Kohler to our own Arctic Cat-built 600 twin 2 stroke with DSI. You still pull a rope today to start both.

I recall breaking the dipstick off on the Kohler damaging the camshaft and having to take the engine apart and fix in my dad's basement. Little did I know back then what would define my career for the next 50-plus years!

Not sure if will do complete restore or leave it as it is. Either way, I sure enjoy both machines for what they are."

Tucker Hibbert's 2018 Canterbury Snocross Recap

Canterbury was an especially memorable weekend of 2018 ISOC National snocross racing uber champion Tucker Hibbert.

Christian Brothers Racing Canterbury Recap

The Christian Brothers Racing team threw done more seriously impressive results at the recent ISOC National Snocross at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

High-Speed-Cold: Pine Lake USXC Cross-Country Opener

The last weekend of 2017 brought the first USXC cross-country race of the 2018 season, held at its traditional spot on Pine Lake in Gonvick, Minn.

Also known as the Gerald Dyrdahl Memorial Classic, this fine event was once again the showcase for sled speed and handling, racer talent, sled preparation and ridiculously cold temperatures.

Like, it was -750 degrees F, not including the windchill.

I'll spare you the suspense: Team Arctic kicked rear end AGAIN.

Like 17 wins out of 21 possible classes.

Like more than 50% of all the podium positions.

Click to see some winning pix.

Watch ISOC Snocross Live Tonight and Tomorrow

ISOC National Snocross is happening today and tomorrow at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN.

Will Team Arctic continue its unabated dominance? Will Tucker Hibbert win 2,368th Pro final? Will the announcer refer to Tim Tremblay as the "big, strong Canadian" EVERY SINGLE TIME he talks about him?

For the answers to these and other questions, tune in to the free Livestream by clicking on the image above and watch it unfold.

In Times of Bitter Cold...Polar Plunge

A New Year.

Resolutions.

Perhaps a polar plunge?

If so, one brand is ready to rumble.

#EveryDaySledder: A Story of Snowmobiling 31 Consecutive Days

Ever wish you could snowmobile every day?

Me too. So I did it.

Last January I rode at least once every single day.

I called it #EveryDaySledder, and it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had on a snowmobile.

Click for a fun ride.

U.S. Snow Cover Report

Here's the snow cover over the U.S. and portions of Canada for Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017.

Verdict: The Christmas snow storm that hit the eastcoast on Christmas was a gift from above! Plus there's decent snow in many areas of the Midwest, and lots of deep stuff out west.

CLICK HERE to hit up the NOAA site directly to get more detailed info on specific areas.

Christmas Came Early: First Ride of the Season

Christmas came a few days early for me and a few friends, with each of us hitting pause on the myriad work and life responsibilities during the gnarly prelude to Christmas, to instead enjoy our first ride of the 2017-2018 snowmobile season.