David Johnson, Founder of Polaris, Dies at 93
Polaris employees and Polaris riders worldwide are celebrating the life and mourning the passing of one of the company’s co-founders, David Johnson. He passed away yesterday in Roseau, Minn., after an extended illness. He was 93 years old. Since he ...Read more
Published on Monday, October 10, 2016 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, manufacturers, people, press release, vintage
2016 Recreational Trails Program
The Baker-Polito Administration announced the awarding of 30 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants for projects in local communities throughout the state totaling $1,052,985. The RTP grants, ranging from $500 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project, serve as ...Read more
Published on Saturday, September 24, 2016 in Awards, News & Updates
Tags: clubs, DCR, environment, in the news, legislative, press release, public lands
Top 10 Snowmobile Stories of 2015
Here are the Top 10 Snowmobile Stories of 2015, all written by SAM members for your reading and riding pleasure. It’s a mix of products, experiences, opinions, humor and fun. It’s also an invitation for you to send a story ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 in Awards, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, opinion, people, sam, volunteers
Snowmobilers Rescue Moose
Three snowmobilers rescue a moose on December 28 after an avalanche on an Alaska mountain buried it alive. The Alaska Dispatch News reports that three Matanuska-Susitna Borough residents spotted the animal’s snout sticking out of the snow and used shovels ...Read more
Published on Saturday, January 3, 2015 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: environment, in the news, people
Farouche a Wild Snowmobile Design Concept
A wild snowmobile design concept, The Farouche, posted at charlesbombardier.com lights the imagination of snowmobile enthusiast all over the world and makes a statement about the direction that snowmobile recreation could go in the future. Charles Bombardier tells us, “The ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, people, sleds, tech
Surcharge on Massachusetts Snowmobile Registrations
A new 10% surcharge on recreational vehicle registrations in Massachusetts was added to the state budget, costing snowmobilers, ATV riders and boaters an additional $4. The increase went into effect September 1. The sledmass crew first got a whiff of ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, legislative, opinion, people
Lavallee Retires From Snocross Racing
Levi LaVallee officially announced his retirement from racing snocross September 6, 2014, at the 48th Annual Sno Barons’ Snowmobile Club Hay Days, in North Branch, Minnesota. LaVallee, who started racing at age 12 worked his way through the ranks and ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: competition, in the news, people, press release
Farmers’ Almanac Predicts Copious Amounts of Snow
Snowmobile fans have something to celebrate as the heat of August fades away. The Farmers’ Almanac just predicted another snowy winter, proclaiming “More Shivery And Shovelry!” in their 2014 forecast. “Over the eastern third of the country, we are expecting ...Read more
Published on Monday, August 25, 2014 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, opinion, weather
Northern Light Snowmobile Movie Debuts
Set against the backdrop of a town’s annual snowmobile race, Northern Light interweaves captivating stories of recession-era America. The lives of three families change profoundly in the north woods of Michigan, where winters are unforgiving, jobs are hard to come ...Read more
Published on Monday, June 16, 2014 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, opinion, people, press release
Arctic Cat CEO Claude Jordan Out, Chris Twomey In
Several stories have been circulating about Arctic Cat’s chairman and CEO stepping down. However, Twin Cities Business out of Minnesota has published a report that Arctic Cat’s chairman and CEO Claude Jordan was fired. When the company announced Jordan’s departure ...Read more
Published on Thursday, June 5, 2014 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, manufacturers, press release
EPA Considers Lowering Ethanol E-15 Production
An earlier post concerning E-15 ethanol fuel outlined that the EPA had not approved the blended gas for use in Snowmobiles. This followed concerns by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association requesting proper scientific testing of E-15 before being introduced into ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 in Environment, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: environment, in the news, ISMA, manufacturers, National, opinion
Conway Snowmobile Club Featured in Recorder
The Recorder posted a detailed story about the Conway Snowmobile Club, in particular the volunteer efforts of Paul Sokoloski and club president, Ron Sweet. “Though he wouldn’t take credit himself, club members credited Sokoloski for building much of the equipment ...Read more
Published on Saturday, January 4, 2014 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: clubs, in the news, people, volunteers
Ware River and Easy Riders Featured in Newspaper
The Worcester Telegram and Gazette featured a story about the upcoming snowmobile season “Mass. snowmobiles go where the cover is deep” by George Barnes. Quoted in the story were SAM members Jay Pease and Herb Hilton. “Mr. Pease of the ...Read more
Published on Sunday, December 1, 2013 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: clubs, in the news, people, sam, volunteers
Snowmobile Water Speed Record (video)
Two men from Anchorage Alaska are staking claim to the snowmobile speed record on water. The Anchorage Daily News reported that Rick Coffman piloted the modified Yamaha to 106 MPH on the Knik River, besting an old record of 102.5 ...Read more
Published on Monday, October 28, 2013 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: competition, in the news
Canadian Military Test Stealth Snowmobile for Covert Operations (Dan Gould)
In a scene out of a James Bond movie, The Globe and Mail reports that the Canadian Department of National Defence has been secretly testing a “stealth snowmobile” to use for covert operations in the Arctic. The $620,000 hybrid-electric snowmobile ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 in In The News, News & Updates, Snowmobile Tech
Tags: in the news, opinion, sleds, tech
DCR Volunteers in Parks Program Guide Draft
The DCR released a draft of their newly proposed policy as it relates to volunteers and non-profit organizations working at DCR properties. All snowmobile clubs should review the document and comment, both to the DCR and the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts. ...Read more
Published on Sunday, June 23, 2013 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, in the news, legislative, public lands, volunteers
Maine House OKs $5 Snowmobile Fee Hike
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network reports via AP that a bill in the Maine House of Representatives would increase the Maine snowmobile registration fees an extra $5 that would go toward the state’s Snowmobile Trail Fund. The bill, which will ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, travel
2014 Arctic Cat Snowmobiles (video)
Huge news! For 2014 Arctic Cat introduces two new engines. As previously reported, Cat is now building and installing the 1049cc 4-stroke engine that was previously used in the Yamaha Nytro. That was part of the deal with Yamaha that ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates, Snowmobile Tech
Tags: in the news, manufacturers, press release, sleds, tech
2014 Ski-Doo Snowmobiles Announced (video)
Ski-Doo announced new 2014 snowmobiles that feature chassis and suspension upgrades. The big news is a new four-stroke Rotax 900 Advanced Combustion Efficiency (ACE) engine that achieves 23 MPG. The inline 899cc triple is an outgrowth of the existing 600 ...Read more
Published on Sunday, February 24, 2013 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, manufacturers, sleds, tech
2014 Yamaha Snowmobiles Revealed (video)
Yamaha introduced five new snowmobiles for 2014 that will be assembled by Arctic Cats’ factory in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The chassis will in fact be the well respected Arctic Cat’s ProCross, called the SRV chassis by a Yamaha, and ...Read more
Published on Friday, February 22, 2013 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, manufacturers, press release
Happy Valentine's Day
A Winter Romance By Matthew Holloway The air cold, crisp to the lung Breath circles skyward bound Days fall short, shadowed by the night Nature climbing into hibernation Trees standing bare, flowers wilt away A world still beautiful to the ...Read more
Published on Thursday, February 14, 2013 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: in the news
SAM Assists With Blizzard Recovery (Dan Gould) UPDATED
The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts was contacted by NSTAR as part of the Governor’s Command Center to assist in the restoration of electric power caused by the Blizzard of 2013. NSTAR reached out to SAM once it realized that specialized ...Read more
Published on Sunday, February 10, 2013 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, people, sam, volunteers
2014 Snowmobile Sneak Peak
The 2013 sleds have just hit the snow but the march of progress never stops. The snowmobile manufacturers are already getting ready to introduce the latest and greatest sleds and have announced the 2014 Manufactures Sneak Peak Tour. See the ...Read more
Published on Friday, January 18, 2013 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, manufacturers, sleds
Explosion at BRP Plant
The Montreal Gazette reports that an explosion and fire damaged the BRP plant in Valcourt. “Officers patrolling in the Eastern Townships town of Valcourt witnessed a ball of fire at the Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) plant early Friday (11/9/12). An ...Read more
Published on Sunday, November 11, 2012 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, manufacturers
Recreational Trails Program Reauthorized for Two More Years
From the Coalition For Recreational Trails: Washington, D.C. -The Recreational Trails Program (RTP), the funding program that has sustained state trail programs for two decades, has been reauthorized as part of the transportation bill approved by the U. S. Congress ...Read more
Published on Monday, July 9, 2012 in Featured, General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, press release, public lands