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
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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 .
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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 .
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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 .
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