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28 • September 2024 • Powersports Business

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Polaris celebrates 70 years of innovation with limited edition snowmobiles

In celebration of its 70th anniversary , Polaris Inc . has unveiled the first of three limited edition snowmobiles – the 2025 Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 146 70th Anniversary Edition . This nostalgic edition pays homage to the legendary XLT family of the 1990s , bringing back its signature purple and blue over black color scheme .
“ We are excited to offer 70th Anniversary Limited Edition sleds that bring back memories for our riders and highlight our heritage and innovation ,” says Jenny Nack , Polaris Snow vice president and general manager .
The Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 70th Anniversary Limited Edition showcases Polaris ' cutting-edge two-stroke performance with the Patriot 9R engine , along with a colormatched front Sentry Bumper and Signature Accent Light 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 .
“ We set out to create truly special Anniversary Editions , drawing from 70 years of innovation and snowmobile history ,” says Nels Eide , Polaris Snow product manager . 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 .” Visit the Polaris booth at Hay Days
The 2025 Polaris Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 146 70th Anniversary Edition pays homage to the legendary XLT family of the 1990s , bringing back its signature purple and blue over black color scheme . Photo courtesy of Polaris
on Saturday , September 7 at 12 pm 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 the Polaris website beginning at 12 pm CST on September 7 through September 28 , or while snowmobiles last .

2024 International Snowmobile Hall of Fame honorees named

The International Snowmobile Hall of Fame is living up to its “ international ” name with its recently announced Class of 2024 . A group of Canadians is joined by big names from Minnesota and Wisconsin to make another star-studded cast for 2024 .
The International Snowmobile Hall of Fame ( ISHOF ) focuses on grassroots leaders , trail supporters , inventors , explorers , and media , among others . The actual induction ceremony will be in Eagle River , Wisconsin , in September . The new members of the each class , though , are typically announced early each summer .
ROSS ANTWORTH OF LOWER KINGSCLEAR , NEW BRUNSWICK
Ross Antworth , the longtime general manager of the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs ( NBFSC ) is eminently friendly , knowledgeable , and engaging . Antworth ’ s snowmobiling journey began in 1972 . He soon became involved in leadership roles in his local snowmobile club , and eventually took on the top job at the provincial federation by 1997 . He held that role for 24 years before retiring in 2021 .
Under his leadership , NBFSC funding grew by a factor of 10 , which of course is reflected in the support for the province ’ s
trails . Antworth was also instrumental in countless nuts-and-bolts things – like liability insurance , trail permits , enforcement programs , and more – that most sledheads never think about , but that make the trail network possible . Simultaneous to that work , he also became very active in leadership roles in the the country-wide Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations ( CCSO ) and the International Association of Snowmobile Administrators . It all led to his receiving recognition and awards from many national organizations .
MIKE HETTEEN OF ROSEAU , MINNESOTA
Mike Hetteen is the son of Polaris pioneer Allen Hetteen and nephew of the famed Edgar Hetteen . That gave him a front row seat to the snowmobile world and its incredible growth and challenges over the years . A 36 year professional career at Polaris , where he held various positions in sales and purchasing , gave him further insight .
Hetteen also earned his stripes by helping to form and lead the Roseau County Trailblazers snowmobile organization in 1987 . Among his many accomplishments as a club organizer and trail developer , he spearheaded the creation of a cutting-edge international snowmobile trail .
MARK & KENT LESTER OF MINDEN , ONTARIO
The snowmobiling history of brothers Mark and Kent Lester dates back to the late 1970s . Their passion for the sport led them to launch Supertrax Magazine starting in 1989 . It was exclusively focused on Canada at first , but after the duo partnered with CJ Ramstad , it became Supertrax International in 1991 .
The Lesters ’ reach then expanded to TV and video in 2009 when they purchased Snow Trax TV after the passing of its founder , John Massingberg . The resulting Trax Media Inc . empire is a family business , with Mark and Kent ’ s sons often front and center in what has now mostly become an online video company covering snowmobile and ATV / offroad products .
DAVE NEWMAN OF UNITY , WISCONSIN
Newman followed the path of many grassroots inductees . He first got involved in leadership positions of his local club .
That led to involvement on the county level and eventually his state association . What makes Newman ’ s story different is his many accomplishment while being the longesttentured president of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs ( AWSC ). He served in that role from 2014 until 2023 . He ’ s also held national roles , including the role of vice president of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations .
BRENDA WELSH OF HUNTSVILLE , ONTARIO
Dubbed by some as the “ Canada ’ s first lady of snowmobiling ,” Brenda Welsh made a major impact in her 34 years of snowmobiling volunteerism . She started as a club volunteer in Huntsville , Ontario , in 1987 . She then held leadership positions in the Muskoka Snowmobile Region . That led to leadership roles in the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs ( OFSC ), the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations ( CCSO ), and the National Trails Coalition .
In fact , in 2010 Welsh became the first female president of the OFSC , and in 2012 she was honored with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for two decades of volunteering for organized snowmobiling in Canada .