Snow Goer January 2026 | Page 8

Two dedicated snowmobilers rode their final mile in October: Ed Skomoroh, 87, retired Polaris vice president of sales and marketing, and Nick Keller, 71, the man behind the Snowball Cancer fundraiser.

Skomoroh, of Annandale, Minnesota, was Polaris’ best connection to the average snowmobiler – he was an industry giant but never lost touch with the grassroots of the sport. His first job was at the family Arctic Cat dealership in Dryden, Ontario, and he landed a job at Arctic Cat in 1969, eventually becoming the vice president of sales and marketing and general manager for Canada, a role he held until Arctic Cat’ s bankruptcy in 1982. He then moved over to Polaris’ Canadian operations and then to the Minnesota corporate office until he retired in 2002. He and his wife, Jean, continued to be a present and active force for snowmobiling, offering their time and ideas for the betterment of trails and clubs. Plus, he was always willing to tell a story. He was inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 2010.

Ed Skomoroh

Keller, of Richmond, Minnesota, used his snowmobile as a vehicle to raise money for cancer research in memory of his mother, who died from cancer. He started with high-mileage endurance rides in 2010, and by 2015 he reached

Nick Keller

his goal of 99,956 miles and raised more than $ 150,000. He rode his final mile to his mother’ s grave site. He wasn’ t finished, though, and his solo endeavor turned into the Valentine 500 challenge to support families experiencing cancer. In honor of Keller and his legacy, snowmobilers are invited to participate in a special Valentine 150 / 500 ride on February 5 in Bergland, Michigan, and February 12 in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. Find more information at www. snowballcancer. org.

The barrier to enter snowmobiling can be high, but an easy way to get people started is to invite them on a ride. The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association( ISMA) encourages this by supporting two events: the International Snowmobile Ride Day on February 14 and the event of which it is a part, Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week, February 7-16.

These events invite clubs, dealers and snowmobile enthusiasts across North America to celebrate the sport, welcome new riders, and build community. ISMA supports local snowmobile clubs with grants to host events, encouraging fun, safety and camaraderie both at the start of the season and mid-winter. It also provides an action manual for clubs that want to plan something special.

Grant recipients for 2026 include snowmobile clubs in Vermont, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Utah, New York, Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Illinois.

Go to www. snowmobile. org for more information on these events.

Polaris will donate more than $ 135,000 to 14 off-road trails organizations as a part of its Trails Grants program. Polaris makes these grants in the fall and spring, and its 2025 total is at $ 255,000. Grant applications for the spring cycle are due on March 1. Grants for snow-related activities include:

• Alliance for Trail Vehicles of Maine( Caribou, Maine): Replace or update youth safety trailers and equipment to support statewide education efforts.

• Childwold Snopackers Inc.( Tupper Lake, New York): Improve rider safety and trail accessibility by repairing flood-prone trail sections and promote environmental stewardship through signage and outreach.

• Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance( Wingham, Ontario): Revitalize a key section of unassumed road allowance to support multi-use trail access for both motorized and non-motorized users.

• Friends of Utah Avalanche Forecast Center Inc.( Salt Lake City, Utah): Enhance avalanche safety through daily forecasting, trailhead signage, and free or low-cost education programs tailored to the riding community.

• Hatcher Pass Snow Riders Club( Palmer, Alaska): Equip trail crews and volunteers with avalanche safety gear and protective equipment to improve safety, emergency response, and promote responsible snowmobiling.

• Village of Edgar( Edgar, Wisconsin): Inspect, repair, and preserve an essential connector bridge for local ATV and snowmobile trails to enable safe, longterm access across public and conservation lands.

8 / JANUARY 2026 / SNOWGOER. COM