SNOW CHECK exclusives include your choice of:

3 Year Warranty on all Patriot engine models – or – 1.99% APR for 36 months – or – $1500 credit for PG&A

SNOW CHECK ENDS MARCH 28, 2025

Visit polaris.com/snowmobiles to build your new sled and visit your local Polaris dealership for more!

It’s time for a good ol’ fashioned SHOOTOUT! Luke and AJ pit two of this season’s hottest high-horsepower 50/50 crossover sleds against one another in a battle to see who will reign supreme; featuring the Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 146 vs the Backcountry X-RS featuring the Rotax 850 Turbo R engine.

Then in TEST RIDE, Luke gets his hands on the 2025 Polaris 850 Indy VR1 137 featuring DYNAMIX electronic suspension showcasing how this technology elevates the already impressive ride and handling traits of the MATRYX chassis.

This nostalgic edition pays homage to the legendary XLT family of the 1990s, bringing back its signature purple and blue over black color scheme.

The Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 70th Anniversary Limited Edition showcases Polaris’ cutting-edge two-stroke performance with the Patriot 9R engine, along with a color-matched front Sentry Bumper and RGB Handguards for enhanced 90s nostalgia and style, and a fresh design inspired by the classic XLT model.

Two additional 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Snowmobiles, which combine iconic 90s sled designs with contemporary innovations, will be revealed at Hay Days on September 7, 2024.

“To mark the 70th anniversary of Polaris, we set out to create truly special Anniversary Editions, drawing from 70 years of innovation and snowmobile history. The iconic sleds from the 90s emerged as top contenders. The 90s era influences are prominent in pop culture, and the nostalgia is also resonating within the snowmobiling community,” said Nels Eide, Polaris Snow Product Manager.

Visit the Polaris booth at Hay Days on Saturday, September 7 at 12:00pm CST in North Branch, Minnesota to learn more about all three Limited Edition snowmobiles offerings. Each snowmobile will be available in limited quantities and available on a first come, first-serve basis.

Orders can be submitted on www.polaris.com/snowmobiles beginning at 12:00pm CST on September 7 through September 28, or while snowmobiles last. Beginning at 12:00pm CST on September 7 through September 28, or while snowmobiles last.

For more information on these Limited Edition snowmobiles visit polaris.com/snowmobiles or by connecting with us on Facebook Polaris Snowmobiles and Instagram PolarisSnow

About Polaris – As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris’ high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER, RZR and Polaris XPEDITION and GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves nearly 100 countries across the globe.

Then AJ presents the recipient for this season’s Revolutionary Advanced Design (RAD) award which highlights new and innovative, game-changing technology introduced in the sport of snowmobiling.

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Even though there are competitive differences that allow for picking winners in SNOWTRAX comparos and shootouts, there’s one sled that has continued to stand at the front of the X-Over class year after year.

Yes, my snow obsessed friends, Polaris has been slaying the rabidly popular X-Over class steadily with the AXYS-based Switchback Assault in either 600 or 850cc flavors. So successful at doing dual duty is the Assault, Polaris elected to continue production of the AXYS-based ride in MY 2021, in the face of the all-new MATRYX based Assault 146.

So maybe you’re wondering why and how the 144 Assault continues to capture the approval of the highly selective SnowTrax and Supertrax crew? FYI, we have both a 144 AXYS Assault 850 and a 146 MATRYX Assault 650 at World HQ this winter.

Here’s the simplest way of explaining why, in the face of formidable competition, including the excellent Ski-Doo BackCountry X-RS and Arctic Cat’s RIOT, the Polaris Assault continues to be our pick for best sled in this class. It’s not about doing one thing well; it’s about doing two things well and minimizing compromises. We’ll explain.

This class is not solely a deep snow, freeriding segment – although the expectation of buyers in this segment is they definitely will be riding off-trail.

Okay, we’re not going to posit a diatribe on the wrongness of off-trail riding. For the sake of this report we’ll assume everyone who rides a X-Over sled only goes off-trail where it’s 100 percent copasetic. Back to the sleds…

Clearly the Switchback Assault 144 850 is a capable boondocker/freerider. The sled, when equipped with a 2-inch Camo-shredder (our favorite shoe for this ride) is exceptionally potent and can, in some situations, run with full-on shorter tracked mountain rides. However, the Assault is not targeted at the vert crowd – it’s positioned precisely as a deep snow flatland and groomed trail ride.

Here’s my point: The Assault always pleases when taken off-trail, however, the G4 based Backcountry XRS Ski-Doo with 850 power is just as capable – arguably more capable – than the Assault off-trail.

So if we just admitted that reality, why do we think the Switchback Assault is the ultimate X-over ride? Simple again. The Assault is a really good trail sled with its IGX uncoupled skid, variable castor IFS and light weight.

Did we mention the Assault’s dual purpose ergonomics? You can ride this sled all day on trails and not feel the least bit strained by excessive body roll, understeer, unrepentant skid-frame ride quality or a too-tall bar riser.

This is where Polaris makes hay with the AXYS Switchback Assault. It’s really good off trail and its really good on trail. Being better at one of these two riding disciplines isn’t what its about.

The class is called Crossover – and that quite simply means a sled of this designation should be able to cross over between two riding disciplines – a dozen times a day if necessary, delivering top performance in both riding genres.

So there you have it: The Polaris Switchback Assault 850 144 is still the king of this hill.

Frankly, the AXYS, powered by the company’s 850 twin, was and still is a huge force to be reckoned with. When it comes to mountain and powder-targeted sleds, this combo is pretty much unbeatable – even in 2020 – when comparing weight, power and handling to any of the competition.

However, although it won’t be this year, certainly at some time in the future Polaris’ vertical sleds will undoubtedly become Matryx-based snowmobiles.

Looking at it on the surface and trying to draw conclusions on why the Matryx was introduced in what seemed to be the middle of the AXYS platform’s hayday, we’ve had to give the answer a lot of consideration.

Frankly, we’re pretty sure it didn’t have anything to do with handling or riding flaws with the AXYS. It’s pretty much at the top of the industry in those categories, especially when it comes to handling. It may be a skinny second to Ski-Doo’s rMotion when it comes to ride quality – but it’s certainly not far off the mark in head-to-head comparisons. The shortage, if any at all is likely due to calibration, not some inherent shortfall with the AXYS chassis.

When you look at weight, it raises more eyebrows. The AXYS is still the industry leader for lightness. Maybe the Matryx is a tad lighter (not confirmed yet) but the AXYS RMK and Assault 144 have led their categories in lightness for a few years decisively taking that advantage away from Ski-Doo.

Here’s what we’re thinking. Polaris has been on the hunt to increase market share beyond Ski-Doo’s stranglehold since before SD’s G4 chassis was introduced. Looking into the crystal ball, we believe Polaris felt by the end of the G4’s run, any new Ski-Doo (G5?) could possess the lightness and handling upgrades necessary to possibly equal Polaris.

Keep in mind, it’s always easier to raise the engineering ante when the model of what you want to exceed is clearly before your eyes. This was the case with Ski-Doo. It could see where it needed to go and would potentially be able to come with a Polaris-beater any time before the AXYS was finished its run.

Same goes for Arctic Cat. Cat’s mountain and deep snow sled program has been very aggressive, and Polaris knew it wouldn’t be long before there was a new ProCross II chassis coming out of Thief River Falls. Undoubtedly, it would be as light as the AXYS, would handle as good or even better and ride with the same level of comfort as the G4 or the AXYS.

Sure, the difference wouldn’t be blinding and the AXYS would still be competent, but how many riders might walk away from Polaris showrooms and buy something just as good – maybe even better – from Ski-Doo or Cat?

It’s all about planning and taking aim at the competition. Not necessarily where the competition is right now – but rather – where it’s going to be a few years down the road! Thus the Matryx!