It’s all about the math. Some like more, some like less—more power, less weight. How about more suspension, more durability, more track, more track speed, more paddles, less trenching, less effort, less cost and less weight? Sometimes you can’t have both more and less. You have to decide your priorities according to your riding style.

During the 2021 SnoWest Deep Powder Challenge, the one thing that did add up was the awesome power delivered by the Ski-Doo Summit X Turbo that caused our test riders to take note.

Some may question the fairness of a turbo competing with naturally aspirated snowmobiles. Well, if your snowmobile comes stock from the factory with a turbo, it’s still a stock sled. And there’s no question that it was the best snowmobile on the mountain during our deep snow event.

The release usually begins with a powerpoint presentation over breakfast, and then we suit up and spend the day getting acquainted with what could be your next purchase.

Well, that’s how it’s been for the past decade or so. This year, however, everything has been turned upside-down. Schedules have been messed up and travel has been restricted. However, we still managed to find a way to get seat time on some of the new iron for 2022.

Back for a very limited (one year) run after a 14-year hiatus, the Mach Z will give trail riders something to talk about. Technology-wise, Ski-Doo is also releasing Smart-Shox, the first semi-active snowmobile suspension that adjusts on the fly according to the real-time conditions.

But first, let’s talk about what’s new for mountain riding.

“For the past decade, I have dreamed of bringing Lynx to the North American market not only to expand riders’ snowmobile options, but also to give them the oppor-tunity to enjoy a very different riding experience,” said José Boisjoli, President and CEO.

Geared toward hardcore enthusiasts, Nordic snowmobil-ing is a very active riding style without a lot of cruising or relaxed riding. It’s about exploring the unexplored. The Lynx RAVE RE and Boondocker DS models match that style with unique, high-end features that provide excellent handling characteristics to match the conditions of the ride.

The Lynx mystique is born from its deep Nordic heritage, a rugged and tough grit to persevere and conquer. The demanding conditions of riding in or near the Arctic Circle shaped the design and engineering to withstand punishment where trail groomers don’t exist and to allow for Lynx snow-mobiles to thrive in all snow conditions.

The Lynx RAVE RE and two different length Lynx Boondocker DS models are now available for purchase this spring only, with a retail program that requires a deposit at select BRP dealers in North America.

Every year about 100,000 avalanches sweep down mountains across the United States, damaging everything in their path and killing 28 people on average.

During the first two months of this winter, avalanches took the lives of seven people while skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling.

Since much of avalanche activity occurs on public lands, Simon Trautman, a national avalanche specialist for the USDA Forest Service, offered a few pointers to help make sure fun days in the snow stay that way. Or, if the worst happens, how to increase your chances of survival.

If you’re making a descent and going straight down will generate too much momentum (gravity) to keep your speed at a safe pace, try to zigzag your way across the slow. This will compensate for the degree of the slope since you are going more sideways than vertical. With the wider profile of a turning sled, there will be more natural resistance from the slope. Try to find natural features in the terrain (such as bumps, bushes or old sled tracks) to help you initiate your turns. Keep your speeds manageable and you will be able to safely navigate your way off the mountain.