SUPERTRAX and SNOWTRAX TV have received an exclusive invitation to check out Ski-Doo’s highly anticipated 2025 snowmobile line-up in advance of it being released to the public this coming February.

What makes this invitation even better, is that we’ve been asked to invite a special guest to attend with us to evaluate the newest rides and participate in some of the coolest Ski-Doo special events!

Who might this special guest be? Well, it might just be you! That’s right, we’re seeking the ultimate Ski-Doo fanatic, someone that lives and breathes Ski-Doo, someone who has become an urban legend and has the social following to support his or her status. You might say this special person is such a die-hard Ski-Doo rider that they bleed yellow.

The special guest will participate alongside AJ and Luke revealing the latest Ski Doo snowmobiles for 2025 model year. This exclusive event is scheduled to take place in Valcourt, Quebec between the dates of February 18-21, 2024.

If you think you’re this person and you don’t want to pass up on this exclusive opportunity, here’s what we want you do. Create a short video that demonstrates your die-hard love for Ski-Doo, showcases your yellow blood personality and expresses why you think you are the ultimate Ski-Doo fanatic most deserving to attend this exclusive Ski-Doo event and share it with us.

TO ENTER:

1. Compose an email to yellowblood@supertraxmedia.com with your First and Last name in the subject heading.
2. Complete the list of entrant credentials listed below and include information within body of email.
3. Provide a link to your submission video for us to view.

ENTRANT CREDENTIALS:

First and Last Name:
Email:
Phone Number:
Country of Residence:
Full Address:
Date of Birth:
Social Media Accounts: (Please include links to all valid social media and video posting accounts registered to your name; including but limited to the following: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X, TikTok, etc.)

TIPS FOR SUBMISSION:

• Make it easier for us to identify your video. Include your first and last name within the video title.
• YouTube: Upload video and mark video as “unlisted” Select share and copy and paste link into email.
• Vimeo: Upload video and mark video as “unlisted”. Select share and copy and paste link into email. 

Contest Rules/Eligibility: This Contest is open to legal residents of Canada, the United States who have reached the age of majority in their country/state/province/territory of residence as of the date the Contest Period begins, who must have all applicable valid driver’s license and who have a valid email address and provide valid contact information. No purchase necessary.

Employees of BRP, their subsidiaries, distributors, dealer’s, vendors, service providers, affiliates along with advertising and promotional agencies of BRP as well as Trax Media, and their respective immediate families (spouse, parents, children, siblings, and their spouses) and individuals living in the same household of such individuals (whether related or not), are not eligible.

Entrants must submit video along with links to applicable social media accounts demonstrating worthiness of contest parameters as detailed in contest description. Entrants must abide by the local laws and practice safe and responsible actions. Always wear a helmet and don’t drink and ride.

Responsibility: This promotion is not administered by Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. and its affiliates.
All federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must provide proof of age. Entrants must allow their video submission along with his or her identity and image to be used for promotional purposes. Winner assumes all responsibility and liability for actions, injury, or accident during contest fulfillment event. No prize substitutions are allowed. Winner must be available for prize fulfillment on dates set out at time of winner’s notification. Winner must be able to travel in either the United States or Canada without restriction. All decisions by judges are final. Contest closes January 15, 2024. Sponsor will attempt to contact the Winner between for a period of three (3) days following the date of the judging. If Sponsor is not able to make contact directly with the Winner within the allotted time, using the email address and telephone number the Winner will have provided, then Sponsor may, at its sole and absolute discretion, either select another Entrant or proceed without involving another Entrant. Sponsor is not responsible for failed attempts to notify the Winner. Prize fulfillment is to take place in Valcourt, Quebec between the dates of February 18-21, 2024. Demo rides related to a portion of the prize fulfillment are weather permitted and shall be operated at the sole discretion of BRP.

Keep in mind this is all in the context of trail sleds. Over the past five years the mountain market has pretty much walked away from 4-stroke power. The reason? Weight.

For sure, this is a question worth answering. The arrival of factory-built, warranted turbocharged, trail-destined 2-stroke engines means big bore multi-cylinder 4-stroke engines equipped with turbochargers may have less appeal to weight conscious, ultimate performance trail riders who currently ride 4-stroke turbos.

I said “may have less appeal”. Let me clear this up. OEMs build snowmobiles you’ll want badly enough to lay down your hard earned dollars and take one home. The over-arching issue here is this: Is there a large enough market for turbo charged 2 stroke flat land snowmobiles to make all the costs associated with developing and building an admittedly pretty specialized (and pretty expensive) sled worth the effort? Yes, it is worth it.

Earlier I commented on whether or not the pursuit of 2-stroke trail turbo sleds would be worth the effort. Clearly, the development of 2-stroke turbo power is more than “worth it”.

These sleds have sold to the bare walls this season. We can’t say for sure who is buying these rides, but we can speculate as we suspect it’s the ultimate power, first-to-the-end-of-the-lake crowd who want to own the baddest, fastest ride their fave OEM builds.

Beyond this inescapable issue comes the reality of 4-stroke power convenience. If you ride in the Canadian Province of Quebec as many US east coasters do, you will see an inordinately large number of 4-strokes on the trails. Why? Big mile touring riders love 4-stroke fuel economy and the absence of the need to carry injector oil.

Surprisingly, this issue on its own remains pervasive in the admitted reality of a universal 4-stroke weight penalty.

So are 4-stroke turbos going away because lighter and probably faster 2 stroke turbos are now fully consumer accessible?

Nope.

AJ gives a quick summary of the updates to the 2024 Yamaha snowmobile lineup, then he takes a quick look at what Polaris is offering for 2024.

Then Luke and Mark have a look at how the Ski-Doo Neo line appeals to a variety of riders and has brought their family closer together.

Then in TEST RIDE, Mike covers off yet another iteration of the turbocharged Sidewinder and explores the differences between the pre-order L-TX LE versus the in-season L-TX SE looking at what would entice a Yamaha buyer to lay down his money to order one of these bad boys during Spring Power Surge.

While the MXZx 600 RS has been the class of the field, resting on laurels isn’t how the BRP Race Team operates, and this year’s snocross racing snowmobile clearly demonstrates that – as did the previously announced MXZ X-RS with Competition Package and Summit Hill Climb Edition that were heavily influenced production-based models.

The newest version of the MXZx 600RS will deliver more performance and durability for top pros and independents alike with key features from the REV Gen5 platform.

The list of improvements doesn’t stop with the platform as it also includes a re-engineered rear suspension and engine updates to take things up another notch.

The REV platform with its open cockpit design and centrally balanced engine provide superior rider ergonomics and handling in rough conditions. The layout delivers agile and responsive behavior to rider input while the Ergo Step side panels and beveled tunnel allow racers the room to attack – without interference from the chassis.

It features the REV Gen5 four-point engine mounting system and improved CVT alignment for more consistent clutch performance plus a stiffer chassis that provides more precise handling and better feedback to the rider. Another Gen5 feature is the quick-change drive axle for easier and faster track changes, making race weekends easier for the pit crews.

The RS specific front S-Module is also reinforced for improved durability and because racing can lead to unexpected events, the ignition coil and RAVE motor have been relocated inboard to protect from impacts.

Changes from last year carryover in the RAS RS front suspension with shorter shock length that maintains the same travel to help lower the center of gravity, and a spring rate that was increased to reduce roll, for better cornering.

The front suspension continues to feature a long spindle design that allows high cornering speeds and a unique power steering system exclusive to the MXZx RS race sled that provides ultra-precise handling with less effort.

The legendary rMotion RS rear suspension has also undergone many engineering updates for improved performance including a refined center arm for improved traction in rough conditions – especially the ice edges and ridges that develop in snocross racing.

The motion ratio of the rear arm is changed with a new linkage that provides a softer initial feel and when combined with the improved coupling it delivers better traction and weight transfer for more control in wicked snocross conditions.

The MXZ RS continues to use bespoke 46 mm KYB Pro Series shocks that have Integral Base Valves with the ability to adjust not only High and Low Speed Compression but also High Speed rebound and calibration has been updated to match the rear suspension geometry changes.

The engine powering the MXZx 600RS E-TEC is as sophisticated as any 2-stroke on earth – except maybe the Rotax 850 E-TEC Turbo R that features water injection, where it draws technology from like booster injectors, a short intake tract with double reeds and digital eRAVE. But that doesn’t mean it’s finicky or high maintenance – it’s actually just the opposite.

By using E-TEC advanced systems, this 600cc high output monster is a hands-off package that compensates for weather and altitude conditions while delivering maximum horsepower at all times without human intervention.

This year the engine uses new larger injectors and further refined calibration that improves reliability and overall performance yet again.

2024 MXZx 600RS HIGHLIGHTS:

NEW REV Gen5 Platform DNA

● Taper/tilt tunnel design
● NEW 4-point engine mounting
● NEW quick change drive axle
● Short heat exchanger with internal loop
● 137″ Track
● Lightweight Lexan Hood
● Quiet, high flow Airbox Design
● LED Lightweight Headlights
● NEW Reinforced S module
● MX inspired seat and hi-traction cover
● Racing foot box
● 5-gallon fuel tank
● Lower center of gravity
● High Air Flow Left Vent

RAS RS Front Suspension

● Kashima coated 46mm KYB Pro Series shocks (High Speed /Low Speed compression and High Speed / Low Speed Rebound adjustments)
● Integral Base Valve Adjuster
● Rack steering with power assist
● Long Spindle design (Stronger + better speed cornering)
● Lightweight Pilot R2 Ski – Reinforced

NEW rMotion RS Rear Suspension

● Race proven rail design, higher front arm mount, new color
● 137″ length
● NEW refined front arm
● NEW motion ratio (softer initial)
● NEW improved coupling
● Kashima coated 46mm KYB Pro Series piggyback center shock w/ High Speed / Low Speed compression and High Speed Rebound adjustment
● Kashima coated 46mm KYB Pro Series piggyback rear shock w/ High Speed / Low Speed compression and High Speed / Low Speed rebound adjustment
● Integral Base Valve Adjuster
● Revised geometry
● Holeshot Device

Rotax 600RS E-TEC Engine (599.4 cc)

● E-TEC direct injection
● Monoblock cylinder design with Plasma coating- delivers high horsepower
● NEW larger injectors
● NEW engine calibration
● Intake booster injectors (850 E-TEC-inspired)
● Shorter intake length (850 E-TEC-inspired)
● Double reed valves (850 E-TEC-inspired)
● eRAVE (850 E-TEC-inspired)
● Lightweight exhaust system (Stainless steel tuned pipe)
● Racing Throttle Block – Ready for 50% throttle applications
● Reinforced engine mounts
● Hot Start Button

Drivetrain

● Brembo Brake System – large diameter rotor, easy maintenance caliper
● pDrive primary clutch
● TEAM TSS-04 secondary clutch
● Slip gear – Better durability, less maintenance
● Lightweight belt guard – better air flow

skidoo.com

In TEST RIDE a storm is brewing and we’ve got just the sled to tackle every trail condition you can think of – The 2023 Ski-Doo MXZ 850 Blizzard.

Then Motorhead Mark dissects Yamaha’s snowmobile lineup and walks through the company’s evolutionary stages from the newbie up to the seasoned snowmobile veteran.

Then Luke gets an exclusive invite to the home of Arctic Cat to ride the brand new and highly anticipated Catalyst platform. You’re not going to want to miss this exclusive first rip aboard Arctic Cat’s 2024 Catalyst ZR 600 RXC.