Riding dad’s sled
Sledding in the Andes
Polaris sent their test team to an exciting destination this summer.
While most snowmobilers are enjoying a late summer barbecue on the deck or a boat ride, six members of the Polaris Snowmobile Test Team recently returned from a 14-day trip to the rugged Andes mountains in South America. Eight off-the-line production sleds of the 800 Rush Pro-R and 800 Pro-RMK were air freighted to South America for final confirmation in real world conditions. We experienced true “winter” riding conditions—the same temperatures and riding conditions our customers ride on all season long. It was absolutely amazing to experience deep powder in August!
We’ve ridden in places all over the world, and what we found in the Andes Mountains of South America were areas where no snowmobile has ever been before. We put the eight sleds through their paces over thousands of miles during the trip. Upon their return, the test riders declared both models winners and confirmed they are ready to ship.
Scott Swenson, general manager of the Polaris Snowmobile Division, joined the test riders for a few days of riding during the trip and said, “The sleds worked great and consumers are absolutely going to love them.”
During last winter’s Demo Tour across the U.S. and Canada, consumers asked us time and time again to build the production sleds exactly the same as what they rode on the Demo Tour. We promised to do that, and went all the way to South America to prove it. We can hardly wait for the snow to fly so consumers can start riding these awesome new sleds.
Boiling hot
Efficient engines
Calgary Snow Show
Vancouver Snow Show
Rider, turned racer, turned guide
Tim Hurst grew up on a snowmobile on the flatlands of Ontario
Tim Hurst, a full time ATV and snowmobile guide for Toby Creek Adventures near Invermere, B.C., has always been a sled head at heart. He was raised in Oshawa, Ontario, and spent his days on his old 1978 Ski-Doo Citation. Days turned into months and then years. Hurst was hooked.
“To be honest, I rode every day all winter long for my whole life,” said Hurst.
When Hurst got a little older, he decided to try his hand at snocross. While he only raced competitively for one year on his Ski-Doo 1998 MXZ in the 440 open class in Ontario, he learned a lot and decided to move to British Columbia to turn his passion into a real job.
“When I moved to the mountains it really became a job,” said Hurst.
Initially, Hurst wanted to be a ski bum in B.C.—and once that wore off, he wanted to be a ski guide. Eventually, he found his way to Toby Creek Adventures where he has been guiding for the past nine years. Now, Hurst can snowmobile everyday, just like he did when he was a kid.
“I worked a bunch of different jobs,” said Hurst. “I (did) construction at Whistler and I was a dishwasher in Banff. I did all the usual transient gigs and I was also running tree planting projects. One summer I made enough money so that I could go to school for mountaineering in Canmore. Afterwards, I got hired at a bunch of places for ski patrol and . . . at a few snowmobiling outfits, and this was the job that seemed the best.”
Hurst said that learning to snowmobile in B.C. was a lot different than learning to snowmobile in Ontario. As Hurst was coming from quite the sledding background, he was confident that he had all the moves. Although he was mistaken, he learned quickly and is now a skilled and confident rider and guide.
“We rode up in cottage country, which is north of Toronto,” said Hurst. “ I did not learn how to ride in deep snow or big hills until I moved out west. I kind of had to re-learn how to ride. When I first came down here I was pretty cocky, thinking that I could ride in the mountains, but I learned quickly.”
Boost performance
A portable airbag
Reaching out to every sledder
Chris Brookes, the executive director of the Alberta Snowmobile Association (ASA), discusses the many safety initiatives the ASA is involved in
Chris Brookes, the executive director of the Alberta Snowmobile Association (ASA), has a lot on his plate for the coming sled season. As the ASA prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2011, host the International Snowmobile Conference in June and hold its annual Edmonton tradeshow in October (the largest sled and ATV show outside Toronto), they are also dedicating time and resources to promoting safety in several ways. Their flagship initiative is Sled Smart, a youth program that is presented at schools around the province.
“We’ll have three instructors roaming the province this coming year presenting our Sled Smart program,” said Brookes. “Schools phone in and book the instructors. We reached (out) to every corner of the province and presented to almost 16,000 students last year. We teach proper riding habits, environmental respect, respect for the machine, ice and avalanche safety—everything the junior rider should be aware of when they’re off the road on a machine.”
Now in its 10th year, Sled Smart is targeted at students in grades 7 through 9, though it has been shown to a variety of ages. Offered free of charge, the program covers issues as basic and important as wearing a helmet. Other topics include riding an appropriately sized machine, and safe riding locations. It is a program that has been growing slowly but steadily since its inception; Brookes said that knowledge of the program’s existence via word of mouth has helped it grow.
The ASA takes its education programs from the grade school level up to post-secondary. At Portage College, located in Lac La Biche, Alberta, the ASA supports a “train the trainer” program. Industrialists can send their educators and safety co-ordinators for lessons in how to instruct staff on safe snowmobiling. This partnership has been going on for the past seven years.
Outside of the schools, the ASA partakes in media campaigns and has safety demonstrations at its trade shows in Edmonton and Calgary. Brookes said that the ASA wants its message of safe riding to reach as many sledders in the province as possible.
“We (had) close to 4,000 members last year that we reached through our meetings, shows and messaging,” he said, “but we feel part of our mandate is to promote safe riding in general, to the public. There’s over 30,000 registered sleds in the province, so there’s a lot (of riders) who aren’t members.”
As more and more Albertans head to B.C. for mountain sledding, there has been a stronger focus on avalanche awareness. Brookes notes that there is a split between those who enjoy Alberta’s 5,500 miles of groomed trails, and those who head to Revelstoke, Valemount or other B.C. destinations for the mountains. In order to reach travelling sledders earlier, Brookes said that the ASA is working on developing safety materials that could be presented when the sleds are registered.
Though several high-profile incidents have put avalanches in the spotlight, Brookes said that the number one cause of snowmobile fatalities in Canada is ice accidents. Like avalanche awareness, education is key for ice safety; crossings, trails, open water and other conditions all give clues about ice thickness. Brookes said that prairie riders often travel at higher speeds than mountain riders. Sledders should exercise caution and keep speed to a controllable maximum. Wherever the snowmobilers head, though, the message from the ASA will remain constant.
"Our mandate is safe, environmentally sustainable riding," said Brookes.
Teaching after tragedy
After surviving an avalanche, Jeremy Hanke got involved with the Canadian Avalanche Association to share his story and promote safety
Every person deals with traumatic events differently. Some turn to counsellors, friends and family for consolation and advice. Some forge ahead, seemingly unaffected. Others retreat into the recesses of their own minds. Jeremy Hanke, an avalanche survivor, has found solace in working with the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) to tell his story to other sledders. He is encouraging strong mentorship within the snowmobiling community while still enjoying trips into the backcountry on his sled.
A life-changing event
Six years ago, Hanke was sledding at Empress Lake when he was involved in a Class 3 avalanche that took the life of a fellow snowmobiler. Members of his party dug him out of the snow and pulled his tongue from the back of his throat. His ability to concentrate suffered for several years afterwards; he believes the oxygen deprivation was to blame. Miraculously, he escaped without life-threatening injuries and walked away from the mountain. By the following week, he had purchased a replacement snowmobile.
“I left that scene not fully understanding what had happened to me,” said Hanke. “I went back to work and realized that I loved the sport so much (that) I wanted to be back on the mountains.”
Getting back on the sled
This isn’t to say that Hanke wasn’t apprehensive about sledding after the avalanche. At the time of the accident, he was confident of his avalanche assessment skills due to years spent backcountry snowboarding and skiing. A native of Alberta, he spent the winters in Revelstoke when on vacation from his job in the oil fields. He discovered snowmobiling when he purchased a sled to travel into the backcountry for snowboarding. Hanke’s snowboard was quickly relegated to the back burner when he realized the snowmobile’s potential for backcountry adventures.
Though he credits his prompt return to the mountains after the accident as being the reason he sleds today, it forced him to totally revamp his approach. For several years post-accident, he said that he spent much of his time in the backcountry fearing for his life.
“(It took until last year for me) to feel confident in my levels of judging snow conditions and training,” said Hanke. “I didn't realize what I was doing until I got involved with the Canadian Avalanche Association a year ago to make myself feel safe. I had people help me along (and) do a little more teaching to develop the skill sets to be confident again.”
Making the most
His involvement with the CAA began after a chance meeting at a dinner party, when a curriculum specialist with the CAA offered him the chance to get involved with the association. Hanke jumped at the opportunity to share his story at the CAA’s general meeting.
He is careful not to lay blame for the incident on any one person. On the day of the accident, two groups of sledders set out, with one group sledding above the other. The higher group cut out an avalanche that buried Hanke’s group.
“One group made choices for the other group and some of those were bad,” said Hanke, “but I think each group could have done something better on the day and (could have been) a lot more wary of the conditions.”
Giving back
Now, Hanke is a member of a nine-person advisory committee with the CAA. Comprised of snowmobilers, the committee suggests ways that the CAA can approach the sledding community. Hanke credits the association with being an excellent source of information and encourages other sledders to support their work.
One thing Hanke is adamant about is that education is key and that sledders need to think for themselves, regardless of what other members of their sledding groups may be doing. After noticing a lack of mentors within the snowmobiling community, he is now starting a new business in snowmobile orientation and education to help others learn from his experience. He hopes that he can show that riding hard and being safe don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
“I'm hoping that my approach will get more people intrigued and out there mentoring . . . we're not saying don't go,” he said. “We're saying know the risks and minimize them.”
My debut as a trail rider in eastern Manitoba: Gallery
My debut as a trail rider in eastern Manitoba
This B.C. mountain girl went snowmobiling at Whiteshell Provincial Park in eastern Manitoba during the second week of February
This trip was a new adventure for me. I had never been to Manitoba, and for my first visit I was treated to snowmobiling for two fun-filled days within the park. I also enjoyed the camaraderie with my new Manitoba friends; their hospitality was the high mark!
Manitoba Conservation, with a little help from Mother Nature, laid out the white carpet—providing me with perfectly groomed trails for my debut as a trail rider. I think the first thing I noticed was the signage. I don’t think—even with my lousy sense of direction—that I could ever get lost on these trails. Every curve, bump and steep hill is marked. OK, I did chuckle over the “Caution: Steep hill” signs, they were just a mogul to my way of thinking, but I can appreciate that these hills would be hazardous if you were riding at the speed of light.
Day one: Riding the south end of the park—171-kilometre ride
The day started at 8 a.m., it was a little cool at -30 something, but the sun was shining brightly and glistening off the snow. I was eager to let my adventure begin. My tour guide Kris (the Whiteshell Snowmobile Club’s vice president), along with some other club members and a representative from Manitoba Conservation, left from my home base during my stay at the Inverness Falls Resort on Brereton Lake. Our first stop was to fuel up, and then we rode across the street for breakfast at the Rennie Hotel. Ernie Smelski, Snoman Inc. president, joined me there along with representatives from conservation.
No jerry can to strap on my sled, no frozen lunches, just ride up to the pumps or stop in at a restaurant for a hot lunch—pure bliss!
Down the Rennie trail, off to Rock Lake then onto Falcon Lake, our next stop was West Hawk Lake for lunch at the West Hawk Inn. As we were getting ready to hit the trail again we were visited by some local wildlife, two deer sauntered over to say hello. We were soon suited up and continued the day’s journey.
I followed Kris into some fresh powder near the shoreline of one of the lakes within the park, and came to an abrupt halt. Kris’ eyes were widened in shock. He asked if I hit something, I said “yeah, the kill switch.” Kris said he often jumps off the trail in that particular spot and was pretty sure there were no hidden obstacles. We shared a laugh and I said that I had a quick fix for the kill switch for tomorrow’s ride. A ponytail elastic at the base of the kill switch does wonders—it still works, but it is not as sensitive—a little trick I learned back home a few years ago after getting severely stuck on one of B.C.’s steep hills because I hit the kill switch at in inopportune time.
Our group departed once we were back on Brereton Lake. Gary escorted me back to my cottage so I could get ready to head out for dinner at the Brereton Lake Resort. It was an entertaining evening with lots of laughs as sledding stories were shared with members of the Whiteshell Snowmobile Club.
Day two: Riding in the north end of the park—195-kilometre ride
After an enjoyable breakfast with Judy, my host at the Inverness Falls Resort, I was soon joined by Kris and other members of the club. Snowmobiling is considered a male dominated sport, but the female riders are growing in numbers . . . yahoo, girl power! I was happy to see that Barb was joining me for today’s ride.
We’re off heading towards Beauchemin Lake; I can’t believe all the lakes. I can see why there are an abundance of resorts and private cottages in this beautiful setting. Along the route we were joined by two more club members, Juanita and Len, who served hot chocolate at one of the shelters—more girl power. The men still outnumbered the three of us, but it is great to see ladies who enjoy sledding.
Lunchtime! We headed down the trail to the Pinewood Lodge on Dorothy Lake for lunch. While there, I enjoyed visiting with members of the club.
Kris and Jordon took me for a couple of short detours to the top of the Betula Lake and Lone Island scenic viewpoints. Climbing to these viewpoints involved what I would consider an almost steep hill, the view overlooking the lakes was spectacular.
We departed at the end the day, and it was time for a quick shower and it is off for dinner at the White Lake Lodge. The hospitality on my last night was awesome; many resort owners joined me for dinner as well as those from the club. Kris from the Whiteshell Snowmobile Club presented me with some great gifts with the club logo which is a bear riding a snowmobile—with the caption “Why hibernate?” How appropriate, given Canadian winters.
During my prairie snowmobiling excursion to the Whiteshell Provincial Park, I came to realize that trail riding and mountain riding are two very different sports even though they are both done on a snowmobile. A performance sled verses a mountain sled are like comparing a cheetah to a mountain goat, they each excel in their own habitat. Another analogy would be x-country and downhill skiing—both are done on skis, but are very different sports.
For my Whiteshell two-day adventure I was given the use of a 2011 SkiDoo Mx Z with the new E-Tec 800 engine, thanks to Derek at Enns Brothers in Winnipeg. Having this machine made me the one to envy on the trail. This hot new sled was agile on the trail and has the power to do impressive catwalks with very little throttle.
A whole different kind of ride
Trail riding here should be called destination riding; winter resort living with all the luxuries, including a private cottage with your very own spa. I never ate so well while sledding, and this deal about jumping off the trail to access the numerous amenities and having indoor bathroom breaks, are high on my list of luxuries. If you want to take a break in riding, take along your fishing pole; with the abundance of lakes in the park you could be lucky enough to have fresh fish for dinner that could be barbecued from the deck of your cottage.
Within the park there are nine warm up shelters, eight of those were built and maintained by the Whiteshell Snowmobile Club. There are 475 kilometres of trails that are groomed within the park and numerous year round resorts and services. There seems to be only one way to see the vastness of this truly spectacular park and it’s by snowmobile. Unless you can fly and swim you would miss so much of its radiance. Some of the lakes are not accessible by roads; I am told these are some of the favourite fishing spots.
While Manitoba Conservation and Mother Nature rolled out the white carpet, giving me pristine trails to ride on, the businesses of Whiteshell rolled out the red carpet with their genuine hospitality. At every stop along the way I was greeted by many of the resort and business owners within the park. Special thanks to Travel Manitoba, Judy at the Inverness Falls Resort, the Whiteshell Snowmobile Club and Enns Brothers. Thank you to the Rennie Hotel, the West Hawk Inn, Brereton Lake Resort, the Pinewood Lodge and the White Lake Resort for providing me with superb food during my stay.
I would highly recommend a visit to the Whiteshell Provincial Park for a destination snowmobiling adventure. From the resorts that I visited you could plan a very luxurious getaway with your main squeeze or with a group of family and friends; it would be a memorable winter vacation.
Chatter Creek chills
International Snowmobile Hall of Fame induction 2010
A story to warm your heart
Ev Howie is a member of the Rum Runners, a group that fundraises and rides in memory of a fellow sledder
Hearing Ev Howie talk about Pam Johnston is both heartbreaking and a testament to the strength of those fighting cancer. In 2006, Howie and friend Lynne Martin met Johnston at an orientation in Pinewa, Manitoba, for a breast cancer fundraising walk.
“At the meeting, a young girl got up and said she had terminal breast cancer,” said Howie. “Her main wish was that she could stay alive until her daughter turned two.”
That young girl was Pam Johnston. At the time, she was beginning to weaken and was able to complete a portion of the walk before riding a bus for the remaining part. A resident of Beausejour, Manitoba, Johnston would have had to commute to the walk, but Martin offered Johnston a stay at her home nearby.
The idea for the first fundraising sled ride happened around Thanksgiving of that year, when Johnston and several friends, including Carole Page—a future Rum Runner—hatched the idea of a fundraising sled ride. Johnston saw the group off on their debut ride in February of 2007. Sadly, she passed away in April of 2007.
2010 marked the fourth year that the Rum Runners completed Pam’s Ride for the Cure. On February 11, the group took off from Lac du Bonnet, passing through the communities of of Pine Falls, Grand Marais, Gimli, Beausejour and LaBroquerie. Howie said that the ride takes extensive pre-planning and organization.
“We pay our own way completely,” said Howie. “Gas, food, equipment—it’s pretty much a matter of everyone pitching in. Every year someone takes a turn at booking rooms and Carole Page does the route for us.”
Howie said that the Rum Runners always pass through Beausejour, as it was Johnston’s hometown. They also hold fundraising events throughout the year, both for Cancer Care Manitoba and for an education fund for Johnston’s daughter, Chamonix. On their 2010 ride, they raised over $7,000 and to date have given more than $20,000 to Cancer Care.
Expo Sno 2010
Harness the sun’s power
See everything clearly
West Yellowstone
Southern Alberta
Central Alberta
Northern Alberta
East central Saskatchewan
Northern Saskatchewan
Montana
Yukon
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
McBride
Mackenzie
Tumbler Ridge
Nipawin
Yorkton
Canora
Kelvington
Kamsack
Preeceville
Hudson Bay
Melfort
Archerwill
Williams Lake
70 and 100 Mile House
Revelstoke
Radium Hot Springs
Lake Land
Whelan Bay
Big River
Candle Lake
Lac La Ronge
Prince Albert
Whitecourt
Westlock
Swan Hills
St. Paul
Rocky Mountain House
Iron Horse Trail
Cold Lake
Bonnyville
Barrhead
Athabasca
Crowsnest Pass
Mighty Peace
Fort McMurray
La Crete
High Level
Vancouver Island
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Northern British Columbia
British Columbia
Kootenay Lake
Golden
Fernie
Elkford
Cranbrook
Terrace
Stewart
Castlegar
Smithers
Prince George
Houston
Chetwynd
Logan Lake
Valemount
Sicamous
Shuswap
Kelowna
Kamloops
Kootenay Rockies
Thompson Okanagan
Enderby
Assembly required
I just put new pistons and rings in my 74 Sno-Jet 340 SST. I also changed the points while I had it apart. But I am not sure I have set the points correctly. Could you advise me on to set the points? I can’t go much further until I get this figured out.
—Jim
Hi Jim,
I would advise checking with the gang in the bullsessions (in the repair section) at www.VintageSleds.com as there are a few Sno-Jet folks on there that would know the answer for sure.
Insurance question
I have contacted you a few times regarding my model 200A Hus-Ski, my question now is who insures these machine so I can take a ride on the lake? I have contacted a few insurance companies only to be told that they will not insure because of the year of the sled. I hope you have the answer I require, so I can take a ride on our local lake without running into trouble from the police if they stop me. I have it registered now, so insurance is the only thing stopping me.
—Stephen
Hi Stephen,
Many snowmobile clubs offer special rates for vintage machines. This is the case in some areas of Ontario and here in Quebec. You will have to contact your local club to see what they offer. I would doubt that you need a permit to ride on the lake. Trail riding is another question.
—Barrie Graham
Harley sled value
I just came across a 440-cc Harley motor with electric and pull start, all complete as it appears to me. What is it worth, and is there any interest in it? It was stored in an old car so it was not exposed to the elements. I ride a Harley and I didn’t even know they made a snowmobile—I’m still learning. Can you tell me a little about it? From what I have read on your site it is a 1974-75.
—Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Regarding the 1975 Harley snowmobile value—is it complete? Is it in good shape, i.e. original paint/decals, no rust, good windshield, no rips in seat, good track, does it run?
A rule of thumb—if it is complete and runs, start at $500. If it is better than average, the price goes up. If it is exceptional, it may bring a premium price (over $1,000). If it is less then average, the price goes down. If it was sitting uncovered in a backyard and not run in 30 years, then it would be worth $0 to $100.
There is some interest in Harley sleds (actually all sleds have a following, just like old cars, but some are more sought after than others). The Harley sleds were built by AMF, that is correct.
Pictures and serial tag information are always a big help. You may also want to check with the gang in the Bull Session at http://www.VintageSleds.com as there are some Harley collectors around there.
Hope this helps.
Hus-Ski 600
Hi Barrie, I am glad I found your site. I have the Hus-Ski 600 that I got when I was a kid, but the motor is seized. I would like to restore it with a JLO motor, but I am having trouble finding one. Is there anywhere that I could find a motor? I have a Rotax 251 that I could put in but I would have to modify the jack shaft and receiver to make it work. I would rather use the JLO. It is going to be my retirement project. My 600 has twin tracks—I pulled the tracks off a number of years ago and stored them inside. I will probably use them as patterns for new ones. I appreciate the history that you have presented, but is there more about the 600 like mine?
—Jim
Hi Jim,
If your 600 has a chrome bumper then it is an original 600 double track. If there is no bumper, then we can assume it has been converted from a single track chassis which had no bumper from the factory. The best place to find a motor is at snowmobile flea markets and web sites. Even the 292 JLO will fit as it is the same size as the 252 but you must use the cam from the 252 to make it turn in the opposite direction.
—Barrie Graham
Unidentified sled
Do you know the history of the sled shown below—the maker, age, anything?
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/8415/1003656.jpg
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/169/1003652f.jpg
I am thinking this is an Johnson/Evinrude. Any input is appreciated. Thank you.
—Terry E.
Hi Terry,
This appears to be one of the generic makes—looks somewhat like a Ski-mo cutter. In the 1970’s a variety of companies were making them and the snowmobile manufacturers just order them in their colours, put on their decals and tags—so it is possible to have a generic that looks like a manufacturer’s sleigh. This is definitely not one from the Ski-doo Ski-boose line. Hope this helps!
1985 Ski-Doo Citation
I have a 1985 Ski-Doo Citation LS with the little 253 single cylinder engine (248cc). What is the horsepower on these little sleds? I am hoping it can pull my ice-fishing trailer around. Any help would be great.
—Cody
Hi Cody,
The 1985 Citation 253 LS is rated at 22 horsepower. Should be OK to pull a small ice-fishing trailer around. Make sure to put a new belt on it if it has not been changed in a few years.
Sleds and parts wanted
I am looking for the following sleds: a JD300, 76 400 Liquifire and an 81 Trailfire, as these were what we had when I was a kid. For the Trailfire I need the plastic sides for the tunnel, as on all the sleds I have they are wrecked. For the 300, I would like a whole unit. Also, in terms of paint colours, is there a place where I could get the right ones mixed?
—I. Claughton
Hi I. Claughton,
It ultimately depends on where you are located—there are lots of vintage snowmobile websites out there—and some are more regional then others. For parts and information, one of the top resources is www.jdsleds.com and be sure to check out the community forums.
Restoring a Harley
Hi, I just bought a 1970 Harley 440 snowmobile. Do you have a picture that I can go by to restore it?
—Gregg
Hi Gregg,
One of the best places to find photos is: http://www.vintagesnowmobiles.50megs.com/BROCHURES.html Just scroll down to the Harley brochures. You may want to verify the year as I think 1971 was the first year for Harley snowmobiles.
Cheers,