With another winter fast approaching, the Wyoming Attorney General filed a new Yellowstone winter management legal action in Cheyenne, Wyoming on November 20th.  The suit challenges the Park Service’s interim rule that would allow 318 snowmobiles and 78 snow coaches per day for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons while the Park Service comes up with a permanent plan.
 
As previously stated, this allocation of 318 snowmobiles is not sufficient to provide for a viable winter economy in gateway communities and many visitors could be denied access.  It should be noted that the Park Service’s 2007 EIS decision, referred to in Wyoming’s latest suit, determined that 540 was an appropriate number of daily entrances by snowmobiles.  Jack Welch, BlueRibbon Special Project Consultant, stated, "people will be turned away this winter. The reason is not because there is a biological or scientific reason to do so - it is because winter visitors are caught in a game of politics and 318 is a convenient number between 0 and 540."
 
What will happen next? BlueRibbon and its pro-access partners will continue to review and monitor any legal actions that could affect snowmobile access to Yellowstone. In addition, we will continue our proactive work with the Park Service to provide a long term winter recreation solution in Yellowstone.
 
Finally, there continues the possibility that a courtroom development could somehow change things.  As always, we will continue to post updates at www.saveyellowstonepark.com. 
 
In the end and perhaps most importantly, Yellowstone will open for the 2009-2010 season on December 15th.  Think snow!

Article Courtesy of Jack Welch, BlueRibbon Coalition

The AMSOIL Duluth National has been rescheduled. Due to unseasonably warm temperatures and an extended forecast for more of the same, the 18th annual race at Spirit Mountain has been moved to run the weekend of December 11–13.
 
Representatives from Visit Duluth, Spirit Mountain and ISOC have been watching the weather and considering all options. The staff at Spirit Mountain was prepared to work around the clock to make the required snow for the event, but Mother Nature has not cooperated with snowmaking efforts.
 
"The cold weather just didn't make it to Minnesota by Sunday like we had hoped," said Terry Mattson, Visit Duluth President and CEO. "While it is expected to get cold enough later in the week, there would not be enough time to 100% guarantee there would be enough snow to pull off the event. We are concerned about the safety of our riders and putting together a good show for the fans."
 
The AMSOIL Duluth National will be held on December 11 - 13 with the schedule of events running exactly as it had originally been planned. All tickets held by spectators will be valid for the new weekend. All racers registered for the event will be transferred to the new weekend. If you are not able to compete, please contact the ISOC office for a refund.
 
The postponement of the AMSOIL Duluth National will have no affect on the schedule for the Milwaukee Mile National on December 18-19.
 
A Minnesota Regional schedule for the season will be released this week with confirmed dates resulting from the rescheduling of the AMSOIL Duluth National.

Oval Racers Alliance (ORA) has announced its full racing schedule for the 2009-2010 racing season. ORA is a non-profit racing organization that is hosting ice oval events for both vintage and late-model snowmobiles.

The first event of the season will be held on February 5-7 at I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. This huge three-day event will feature the top ice oval racers in the world competing for three days on the banked 3/8-mile track. 

“This is truly one of the best venues in all of ice oval racing,” says Mike Meagher of the I-94 Rec Club, which is co-sanctioning the event along with the ORA.

The second stop of the ORA season will be “The Race on Trace” in Grey Eagle, Minnesota. This event is scheduled for February 20-21

The final stop for the ORA in 2010 will be February 27-28 at the spectacular “Thunder on Ice” event on Mille Lacs Lake in Garrison, Minnesota. The addition of the Saturday “Dash for Cash” (a “winner take all” special race) will surely add to the excitement of this great event.

For more information about ORA, visit www.ovalracersalliance.com. 

Minneapolis, MN (11/19/09) ‐ As of today, the AMSOIL Duluth National is still on as planned for its 18th annual race on Thanksgiving weekend. However, a final decision will be made on Monday morning of next week at 9am if the
race will run as planned or if it will be postponed.

“If on Monday morning at 9am, we are not 100% certain the race can be run and the snow necessary for the event will be made, the event will be postponed for two weeks,” said Scott Lorentz, ISOC Director of Operations. “We know a lot of fans and race teams travel a long way for this event and we are trying to be as proactive as possible with this decision.”

In a collaborative effort between Visit Duluth, Spirit Mountain and ISOC, it was decided that if the race is postponed it will run the weekend of December 11‐13. The rescheduling of the AMSOIL Duluth National will not affect any other dates for the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series and the Milwaukee Mile National will run as planned the following weekend.

“We have twenty‐one snow guns waiting in place to make the snow for the event,” said Terry Mattson, Visit Duluth President/CEO. “Based on the years of experience with this event and looking at the weather forecast, we believe we can still have enough snow for a great race. But if we cannot guarantee it for our fans and racers, we want to make sure they can plan accordingly.”

A final decision on this year’s event will be released on Monday morning. Until then, the 18th Annual AMSOIL Duluth National is on as expected and we are looking forward to another great season. If you have specific questions please contact either ISOC Racing at (763) 497‐8474 or Visit Duluth at (218) 722‐4011.

Goodridge, Minn. (Nov. 17, 2009) - Tucker Hibbert is set to pilot his trademark, blacked-out Monster Energy/Arctic Cat Sno Pro 600 at six select snocross events this winter. Hibbert will hit two exciting new venues on the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series (ACSS) tour in Milwaukee and Salt Lake City. He will return to New York, after a two-year absence, and will also be racing fan favorite events in Duluth and Shakopee, Minn. He already received his official invite to ESPN’s Winter X Games 14, where he hopes to win a record-breaking ninth medal in the snocross event with a gold medal four-peat.

Monster Energy is returning as the team’s title sponsor and is committed to supporting Hibbert’s racing year-round. As announced earlier, he is continuing his career-long partnership with Arctic Cat to race the third generation Sno Pro 600. Other returning sponsors are: Castle X Racewear, Stud Boy Traction, Fox Racing Shox, Spy Optic, Speedwerx, Kicker, One Helmets, Digital Ink Design & Graphics and Asterisk. Joining the team this winter is Leatt-Brace. Hibbert began wearing the Leatt neck brace the summer of 2008 and has not rode without it since. Leatt is the leader in neck protection and its highly praised brace was recently named “Product of the Decade” by Motocross Action magazine.

Last season, Hibbert rode flawlessly in every snocross race he entered. He begins his quest for another undefeated season on Thanksgiving weekend at the ACSS tour’s season opener in Duluth, Minn. If you cannot make it to a race this winter, watch the all-new, one-hour, Sunday afternoon race coverage of the ACSS tour on VERSUS. For Hibbert’s complete schedule, check out www.tucker-hibbert.com.

According to the latest data from the National Climatic Data Center, the United States just slogged through its wettest October on record. The nationwide precipitation of 4.15 inches was nearly double the long-term average of 2.11 inches, the center noted in an online report. Precipitation was most extreme in the central USA, where three states — Iowa, Arkansas, and Louisiana — saw their wettest October ever.

Only three out of the 50 U.S. states had below-average amounts of rain and snow: Florida, Utah, and Arizona.

In addition to the damp, October was also extremely cool, measuring the third coldest since records began in 1895. The average national temperature of 50.8 degrees was 4 degrees below average. Only the Octobers of 1976 and 1925 were cooler. Oklahoma shivered through its coldest October on record, while Nebraska and Kansas were the second chilliest ever.

In the report, the center noted that the month was marked by an active weather pattern, which reinforced unseasonably cold air behind a series of cold fronts. Temperatures were below normal in eight of the nation's nine climate regions, and of the nine, five were much below normal. Only the Southeast climate region had near normal temperatures for October.

While the wet weather helped to ease drought conditions across much of the United States, the cold temperatures also poked uncomfortably at proponents of global warming. The near record cold month of October along with other recent indicators has slowed the momentum of global warming hype machine, which has dramatized concerns of rising global temperatures, melting ice-caps and other major global calamities.

Te see the full report and other interesting weather data nuggets, visit www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html

Source: Doyle Rice, USA Today

For the fifth consecutive year, state and provincial snowmobile organizations across North America are receiving contributions from the Polaris “Winning Riders” program, which generates support for the groups based on sales of new Polaris snowmobiles.

From Newfoundland to Oregon and Alaska to Quebec, snowmobile associations are receiving “Winning Riders” funds proportionate to the number of new Polaris snowmobiles sold within each state and province. Polaris is making contributions to snowmobile associations in 14 Canadian provinces and territories and 28 states in the United States.

Polaris also announced it is extending the Winning Riders program through the 2010 sales season, meaning contributions will be made next year based on retail sales of new Polaris snowmobiles between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010.

Polaris makes the “Winning Riders” contributions with “no strings attached,” allowing each group to decide how to use the funds it receives. Projects funded by Winning Riders donations in recent years have included membership drives, trail and grooming programs, legislative efforts, tourism promotion and more.

MEDINA, MN (Nov. 6, 2009) –  Chris Burandt signs with Polaris and will ride Polaris RMK snowmobiles this winter.

Burandt will be ripping his Polaris snowmobiles at Winter X Games, tearing up the backcountry for cameras shooting Slednecks and other industry videos and of course pushing his clients comfort zones at his adventure based company Burandt’s Backcountry Adventures.

Burandt is extremely pumped about his new sleds. “I have never been so excited for an upcoming season as I am for this one. The new challenge, the new people, the new sleds and my new team at Polaris... what a way to start the year!”  Chris is also excited about bringing over with him his support crew that has helped him every step of the way throughout his career.  These major industry players include VOHK Performance, Boondocker Performance, Slednecks and Monster Energy.  Be sure to check out the entire list of Chris Burandt’s support team at www.burandtsbackcountryadventure.com

Burandt has been snowmobiling for more than 25 years, and has achieved great success in the back country, hillcross, hillclimb and especially freestyle competition. He won the snowmobile freestyle gold medal at the 2007 Winter X Games, and has won multiple Red Bull Fuel & Fury championships. He is also a two-time Freestyle Sno-X (FSX) Rider of the Year.

Starting this winter, Burandt will take his extreme riding customers to new heights as he makes Polaris RMK Deep Snow models the sleds of choice in the Burandt’s Backcountry Adventures rental fleet.

“With Colorado being blessed with early snow again I’ve been able to spend quite some time on my new ride.  All I can say is that I truly feel the RMK has the ability to take me and my customers into areas where very few if any have dared to venture!  I can’t wait for the deep stuff!”

This is the third winter he has operated his adventure riding business near Kremmling, Colorado.  Located smack dab in the heart of the Rocky Mountains it only makes sense that Chris would choose the Polaris RMK (Rocky Mountain King) to negotiate the crazy technical terrain Colorado has to offer.

Burandt’s Backcountry Adventures provides groups and individual riders with the opportunity to experience Colorado’s backcountry with some of the world’s premier deep snow riders as their guides. The business is located near Kremmling, Colorado, about 90-miles from Denver, with riding adventures offered from December 1 until June 1, riding conditions permitting.  Polaris plans to leverage this by rolling out a contest this November giving consumers and dealers a chance to win a Backcountry Adventure complete with lodging and hosted by Chris Burandt.

The race-only Sno Pro 600 builds upon its place atop snocross and cross-country competition via a handful of improvements aimed at improved durability.

The 4130 chrome-moly and extruded-aluminum chassis sees reinforcement to the rear of tunnel for increased strength where the heat-exchanger mounts. A longer, more durably-mounted rear bumper complements the stiffened upper-chassis spar brackets for increased rigidity.

Additional focus was given to both suspensions, with more durable tie-rod ends for the upper A-arms (and on the steering arms), and a more robust front arm, idler arm and rear shock pivot in the Slide Action rear suspension.

The race-only 600 laydown engine proved to be the performance-leader last season and returns for 2010 with a new exhaust manifold that emphasizes quicker throttle response for improved holeshots. Stainless steel baffle plates in the resonator and additional welding on the exhaust pipe seams reinforce the system’s durability. A new metric-threaded crankshaft bolt is now used for commonality with other Arctic Cat engines. Horsepower for this ultra-light, high-performance engine remains 127 with pump gas.

The drive train on the Sno Pro has also been beefed up, with a 15-wide chain and gears, a stiffer driven shaft and stronger drive belt.

As it did last year, Arctic Cat produced dedicated snocross and cross-country versions of the 2010 600 Sno Pro to bolster its commitment to terrain racers and circuits.

The snocross Sno Pro incorporates a 15 x 128 x 1.7-in. lug Camoplast track, the Peak Torque Limiting (PTL) driveshaft system and 9-tooth drivers, C&A Pro skis, a 7-gallon fuel tank and unique calibration for the clutches and suspensions.

The cross-country Sno Pro utilizes a 1.25-in. Ripsaw track; a dash-mounted choke cable; 11-gallon fuel tank; the new ACT skis; 10-tooth drivers on the standard (non-PTL) driveshaft; a dash-mounted speedometer/tachometer; standard snow flap; and taller mid-height windshield.

Both versions of the 600 Sno Pro are equipped with high-performance goodies like V-Force Reeds, remote-reservoir FOX IFP shocks and TEAM driven clutch.

“Last season, Team Arctic racers won 32 out of 60 finals in the ISOC Pro, Semi-Pro and Sport snocross classes, as well as 39 of 87 possible class victories in USCC cross-country competition,” said Team Arctic Race Manager, Mike Kloety. “Clearly we have the best race sled in the business, and our focus for 2010 was to introduce this incredible platform to new and experienced racers, and to build upon our unmatched success.”

The United States Cross Country (USCC) schedule was recently announced. The USCC series will be racing in the Twin Cities metro area in Prior Lake as well as Grand Forks and will also be heading back to Fargo. Favorites Grafton and Gonvick are also on the schedule as well as Warroad, Minnesota. Of course, the Red Lake I-500 is set to take place January 15-17, 2010. Please note the I-500 is a non-points event for USCC East. Schedule is tentative and locations and dates are subject to change. Visit the USCC website for the latest updates at www.usccracing.com.

2009-2010 USCC Schedule
December 27 - Grafton Equipment 100, Grafton, ND
January 3 - Gonvick 100, Gonvick, MN
January 15-17 - Red Lake I-500, Thief River Falls, MN
January 31 - Prior Lake 100, Prior Lake, MN
February 13 - Grand Cities 100, Grand Forks, ND
February 14 - F-M 100, Fargo, ND
March 6-7 - Munising, MI, Munising, MI
March 14 - Seven Clans 125, Warroad, MN

Plymouth-based Arctic Cat Inc. on Thursday reported net earnings in its fiscal second quarter of 81 cents per diluted share, down 12 cents from the same period last year but 19 cents higher than analysts expected.

Shares of the company’s stock responded to the news. They were up 78 cents per share, or 13.5 percent, to $6.54 at the close of trading.

Arctic Cat (Nasdaq: ACAT) said it earned $14.8 million, or 81 cents per share, for its quarter ended Sept. 30. During the same period a year ago, the maker of ATVs and snowmobiles earned $16.9 million, or 93 cents per share.

The company’s second-quarter sales declined nearly 19 percent, to $166.3 million, from the $204.3 million sales it reported a year ago.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting Arctic Cat would earn 62 cents for the second quarter, on sales of $155.8 million.

Arctic Cat said its quarterly snowmobile sales declined 13 percent, to $85.7 million from $98.4 million in the same period a year ago. ATV sales slipped 28 percent in the quarter, to $51.7 million.

Sales of parts, garments and accessories totaled $28.8 million, down 16 percent from a year ago.

Arctic Cat reiterated its fiscal 2010 estimate of sales as between $425 million and $460 million. The company has not provided fiscal 2010 earnings-per-share guidance, but it did say today that it “expects improved per-share results compared with fiscal 2009.”

“This is a challenging year for the recreational-products industry. Near-term, we remain focused on conservatively managing our business to meet lower anticipated demand,” according to a statement from chairman and CEO Christopher Twomey. “We are continuing our efforts to improve the company’s operational performance. We also are taking appropriate actions to preserve cash and maintain dealer health, as well as developing select innovative products that position Arctic Cat to emerge as a stronger company once the economy recovers.”

CREDIT: Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - by Sam Black Staff Writer

The 2010 winter season will mark thirty years of providing snowmobile tour packages around the World for the Eagle River, Wisconsin based company, Decker Sno-Venture Tours.  The oldest and most experienced Sno tour Company in the business.


Started as a retirement project by Richard and Audrey Decker, a pair who were known and respected in the snowmobile community for their racing activities and dealership success, the idea of complete travel packages for snowmobilers had a good reception.  The company enjoys an 86% client return rate.



Decker Sno-Venture Tours opened an office in Arbor Vitae (near Eagle River and Minocqua), printed a brochure and set up a trip from this base to Copper Harbor, Michigan and back.  Six of these trips were done that first year – 1980.


By 1982 a trip to Togwotee Lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming was added, as well as a Yellowstone package.  From there the trip locations expanded and eventually the Deckers took people on week long snowmobile vacations in Alaska, Arctic Circle, British Columbia, Crater Lake (Oregon), Finland, Iceland, Idaho, Lake Tahoe, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ontario, Quebec, Russia, South Dakota, Sweden, Utah, West Yellowstone, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Yellowknife (Northwest Territories).


The Deckers 2010 schedule again includes Iceland, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario. They also will put together private and corporate packages.  If you have a group of people you can request any destination and time frame and Decker Tours will put it together for you.
 
To get a free brochure with a description, dates and pricing for each of the 2010 offerings call 715-479-2764, or visit their web site at www.sno-venture.com