Powersports Business January 2024 | Page 29

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Powersports Business • January 2024 • 29

Polaris donates over $ 100,000 to off-road and snow organizations

Polaris Inc . has donated more than $ 100,000 to off-road vehicles ( ORV ), all-terrain vehicles ( ATV ) and snowmobile organizations across the United States and Canada as a part of its Trails Grants program .
The program promotes safe and responsible riding , supports trail preservation , and helps protect the environment and natural resources that are part of the off-road trail systems . Combined with the 14 Spring Trails Grants recipients announced in April ‘ 23 , Polaris has awarded 25 organizations in 19 U . S . states and three Canadian provinces nearly $ 250,000 through this year ’ s Trails Grants program .
“ The local riding groups are the backbone of the off-roading and snowmobiling communities ,” says Steve Menneto , president of Off-Road , Polaris . “ The joy they find in riding and the work they put in so that others may have a similar experience embodies everything special about our industry . The collective impact of these organizations is far-reaching . Polaris is proud to amplify their efforts and celebrate those who are helping to preserve the outdoors for the next generation of riders through our Trails Grants program .”
These 11 organizations were named Fall 2023 Trails Grants recipients and received awards of up to $ 10,000 each :
Grand Lake Trail Grooming Inc . ( Grand Lake , Colo .)
Lexington Highlanders Snowmobile Club ( Lexington Township , Maine )
Mollyockett Sportsman ’ s Club ( West
Paris , Maine ) Alborn Sno-Devils Inc ( Alborn , Minn .) Woodtick Wheelers ATV / OHM Club
( Hackensack , Minn .)
Lutsen TrailBreakers Snowmobile Club ( Lutsen , Minn .)
E C Riders Snowmobile Club Inc . ( Mora , Minn .)
Great North Woods Riders ATV Club ( Pittsburg , N . H .)
Sno-Bees Snowmobile Club Inc
( Barre , Vermont ) Sno-Eagles Inc . ( Eagle River , Wis .) Thompson Valley ORV Club ( Kamloops , British Columbia , Canada )
“ A part of our Club ’ s mission is to promote safe ATV riding for youths and adults throughout Cass County and surrounding Minnesota communities ,” says Paul Vashro , president , Woodtick Wheelers ATV / OHM Club . “ In addition to helping enhance education of safe riding overall , the grant will enable us to purchase a youth ATV that we can use as a part of our Youth ATV Safety Training classes , helping us enhance the hands-on learning experience for students .”
Since the start of the Trails Grants program in 2006 , Polaris has supported more than 370 ATV , off-road and snowmobiling organizations across the U . S . and Canada with more than $ 3.3 million in donations .
“ The severe storms and torrential rains this summer wiped out our trails – over 50 % of our trail system was devastated . Polaris was there to help with a generous grant . We would not have been able to start fixing our system this year without it ,” says Dianne Matott , president , Great North Woods Riders ATV Club .
Awarded twice annually , Trails Grants support the efforts of nonprofit organizations and
In 2023 , Polaris donated nearly $ 250,000 to off-road and snowmobile organizations in U . S . and Canada through its Trails Grants program . Photo courtesy of Polaris
local riding clubs that use the grant for trail development , maintenance projects , safety and responsible riding education initiatives and other projects .

AFTERMARKET

Turn 14 Distribution recently released a news statement addressing its transition into powersports after it acquired the assets of Tucker Powersports in August . Below is the statement from Turn 14 :
LEADERSHIP Bob Schuetz was recently appointed president of Turn 14 Distribution ’ s Powersports Owned Brands team , which includes product development , R & D , brand management and marketing of the eleven brands acquired from Tucker Powersports . Schuetz has been a senior leader at top aftermarket companies like Warn Industries , Öhlins USA and premium suspension manufacturer KW Automotive .
Schuetz ’ s connection to powersports started as a child with dirt bike adventures on the fire roads of New Jersey . When he started working as a pyrotechnician at Six Flags Great Adventure , he used ATVs almost daily . Warn Industries has a culture that is all about four-wheeling , and while there , Schuetz became an avid side-by-side
pilot . Öhlins USA exposed him to motorcycle racing , which started his love affair with two-wheeled competition . In addition to his affinity for powersports and competition , Schuetz is a passionate leader and looks forward to impacting the industry through the Turn 14 Powersports Owned Brand team .
STAFFING The Turn 14 Powersports Owned Brands group includes seasoned employees from Tucker that have transitioned to roles with the new organization . This includes wellknown names such as James Simonelli , Brent Ash , Aaron Whitney , Bill Mullins and Paul O ’ Brien . Each of the brands acquired from Tucker are using their new resources to develop products that will launch in 2024 , several of which have been on dealer “ wish lists ” for many months . Marketing for Owned Brands will continue to be led by Lesley Madsen . Several of her team members from Tucker are now employees of Turn 14 Powersports , Owned Brands .
The Turn 14 Powersports Owned Brands group will be based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is seeking a permanent location for the team ’ s home .
AIMEXPO NEWS Plans are underway for AIMExpo in February . Turn 14 Distribution is slated to host the Industry Party , an event that dealers and exhibitors use to reconnect and wrapup the first day of the show . At AIMExpo , the Turn 14 Powersports Owned Brands team will also showcase their newest products and share a glimpse of what ’ s to come to show attendees .
Turn 14 Distribution will be the sole distributor for the company ’ s Powersports Owned brands in North America . To make the transition easy from Tucker Powersports to Turn 14 Distribution , dealers need only to call Turn 14 Distribution to establish an account . New dealers will be welcomed by familiar faces , as key Tucker employees have migrated to the Turn 14 Distribution staff .
The following is a list of the powersports brands owned by Turn 14 Distribution : Answer , Biker ’ s Choice , BikeMaster , Dragon Fire Racing , FirstGear , Kuryakyn , ProTaper , QuadBoss , River Road , Speed and Strength and TwinPower .