Snowmobiling 2011

2 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Friday | October 28, 2011

THE CROWN OF MAINE

By David M. Fitzpatrick

CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

With the recent opening of the newly redeveloped Lake ParlinLodge & Cabins, the Kruse family is ready for plenty of visitors, fromthose staying at the spectacular facility to those wayward backwoodssledders just stopping by for a bit of culinary heaven.

The Lodge opened on Jan. 8, 2011 with four lodge rooms and a five-bedroom, five-bath mini-lodge. At the time, the six cabins were unfin-ished shells, but now are ready for the 2011-2012 winter season. Thecabins feature full kitchens and flat-screen TVs and high-speed inter-net access, and one cabin is ADA-compliant. This is why the Lodge’sWeb site bills it as “luxury in the rough.”

The Lodge sees loads of snowmobile traffic. “We had a great winterlast year, real positive,” said Joe Kruse. “A lot of people stumbled uponus that didn’t know we were there.”

Kruse’s family has deep roots in the region. His parents built theBriarwood Mountain Lodge in Jackman, now the MountainviewResort, in the early 1970s. Kruse lived in Jackman until 1977, when thefamily returned to his parents’ native Florida. But they spent summersand Christmases at the family camp on Lake Parlin, which abuts thecurrent lodge property.

“In 2006, we decided we wanted to get out of south Florida,” hesaid. “I love hunting and fishing and the outdoors and wanted to goback to Maine to raise our kids. We never looked back.”

Snowmobiling has long been a part of the Kruse family. Kruse’sfather had once worked with local folks to start the first groomedsnowmobile trail in the area and helped to get a grant to build the firstsnowmobile bridge across the Moose River. Recently, Kruse has beenpart of a dedicated group that recently merged the Forks Area Recre-ation Club and the Bulldog Summit Riders into one club, the CoburnSummit Riders.

“We have an awesome trail system,” Kruse said. “We have the high-est groomed point in the state, Coburn Mountain. We plan to groomthe trail to the summit on a regular basis to make it accessible for allriding levels.

“It will be done now and will easily be one of the key attractions toanyone on a sled,” Kruse said. “It’s easy with the great board and array

of eager volunteers. “There’s a lot of positive energy for the club, andeveryone’s real excited,” he said.

The Lake Parlin Lodge is an ideal jumping-off spot for sledderswith its location at a major nexus on the Interconnected Trail System.Located 10 miles south of Jackman on Route 201, the Lodge is situat-ed on ITS 89 and just three miles from ITS 87 using the Lake ParlinConnector Trail. Best of all, it’s in a region that could have two feet ofsnow on the ground; “we get a lot of snow at our elevation,” Krusesaid.

And in the works: a USCC snow race on Jan. 28, 2012, starting atthe Lodge. This will be a 100-mile race with approximately 20 5-milelaps.Anyone with a 600cc or less can enter. You can find rules on theUSCC site, and information about the race will soon be posted on theLodge’s Web site.

Whether running a race, cruising the trails, or gunning it upCoburn Mountain, there’s always good food waiting for you. TheLodge features a bevy of talented chefs — including 2011 Maine Lob-ster Chef of the Year finalist Ryan Campbell. Campbell, originallyfrom Winslow, trained at the Culinary Institute of America andworked at prestigious eateries around the nation before returning to

Maine.“We’re really fortunate to have that kind of food in the middle of

nowhere,” said Kruse.To learn more, visit www.LakeParlinLodge.com.

Snowmobilers enjoy “luxury in the rough” at Lake Parlin Lodge

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAKE PARLIN LODGE

Snowmobilers speed away from Lake Parlin Lodge &Cabins, located on ITS 89 just 10 miles south of

Jackman.

The interior view of a new cabin at Lake Parlin Lodge& Cabins reveals all the “comforts of home” thatsnowmobilers can experience this coming winter.

On a sunny day during winter 2010-11, snowmobilesare lined up outside the Lake Parlin Lodge.

During winter, Maine snowmobile clubs sched-ule regular meetings. People interested in joining aparticular club are always invited to attend such ameeting, of course.

Some clubs also host events open to the public,too. Among such activities slated for winter 2011-12are:

• Nov. 5, 4:30-8:30 a.m.: The Dixmont GoldCrest Riders will sponsor a hunters’ breakfast andraffle drawing at the clubhouse on the Cates Road,Dixmont;

• Nov. 5, 4:40-8:30 a.m.: The Eastern MaineSnowmobilers will sponsor a hunters’ breakfast at

the clubhouse at 263 Levenseller Road, Holden;• Nov. 5, 5-10 a.m.: The Pushaw Lake will host a

hunters’ breakfast and a rifle raffle at the clubhousein Hudson;

• The Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club ofGreenville will sponsor a Family Movie and Pop-corn Night at the clubhouse;

• Nov. 7, 4-6 p.m.: The Readfield Blizzard Busterswill sponsor a public supper and fund raiser at theRed Barn on Bangor Street in Augusta;

• Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m.: The Narraguagus Snowmo-bile Club will host a public supper at the clubhouseon the Ridge Road in Cherryfield;

• Nov. 19-20: The Dixmont Gold Crest Riderswill sponsor a Christmas fair and bake sale at theclubhouse on the Cates Road, Dixmont;

• Jan. 7, 5:30 p.m.: The Narraguagus SnowmobileClub will host a public supper at the clubhouse onthe Ridge Road in Cherryfield;

• Jan. 8, 7:30-11 a.m.: The Pine Tree SnowmobileClub will host a public breakfast at the clubhouseon the Outer Call Road, Milford;

• Jan. 8, 9 a.m.: Registration will begin for a pokerrun sponsored by the Narraguagus SnowmobileClub, with riders departing the clubhouse on theRidge Road in Cherryfield;

• Jan. 15, 7:30-11 a.m.: The Pine Tree Snowmo-bile Club will host a public breakfast at the club-house on the Outer Call Road, Milford;

• Jan. 15, 9 a.m.: Registration will begin forradar-run races hosted by the Portage Lakers Snow-mobile Club in Portage Lake. Races will start at 10a.m.;

• Jan. 19-21: Snodeo 2012 will take place inRangeley. For more information, log ontowww.rangeleysnowmobile.com;

• Jan. 21, 1 p.m.: The B-52 Commemorative Ridewill depart the Moosehead Riders snowmobile club

Snowmobile clubs schedule meals, rides that are open to public

See CALENDAR, Page 4

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Friday | October 28, 2011 | 3

By Jerry Bassett

SNOWMOBILE.COM

A couple of years after leaving Polaris behind, Edgar Hetteenmoved 90 minutes south of his native Roseau, Minn. to Thief RiverFalls where he introduced a new line of Arctic Cat snowmobiles. His1962 launch built on principles learned as president and co-founder ofPolaris. Now 50 years later, Arctic Cat engineers launch another sig-nificant set of snowmobiles built from scratch but showcasing lessonslearned from parts of six decades of on-snow knowledge and experi-ence.

The latest 2012 Arctic Cat models cover the top tier of today’s per-formance spectrum: trail performance, crossover, and deep powder.The more casual models for touring and utility are pretty much thesame as before. But it’s this top tier of performance Cats that will carrythe load for 2012.

Right away you recognize these are not your everyday pre-2012Arctic Cats. The styling is aggressively pointed with sharp angles. And,as if you could miss it, the newest Arctic Wishbone Suspension show-cases tall spindles and skinny A-arms that sit further apart than anyother set of upper and lower pieces in snowmobiling history. The frontsuspension shocks angle back slightly to maximize stroke to aggres-sively absorb bumps. As a result the steering feels light while lock-to-lock action is incredibly sharp. This Arctic Cat series carries shapelybodywork that belies clever engineering touches underneath.

The Torque Control Link is a plate that connects the power take-offside of the engine to the bearing housing of the jackshaft and isdesigned to keep consistent center-to-center distance and alignment.Incorporated into the design of the new ProCross chassis, the TCLhelps improve belt life, allows quicker acceleration and more consis-tent overall performance.

As with many things in these new sleds, one change begat another.The torque linkage could only be used because Cat engineers wentaway from the planetary Arctic Cat “diamond” drive and replaced itwith a more conventional, but lightweight magnesium chaincase withchangeable gears. The outer case cover houses the oil reservoir for two-stroke models and fits the oil tank for 4-stroke engined sleds.

Just as Polaris brought more of its race-sled front suspension tech-nology to the latest Rush-based Switchbacks, Arctic Cat borrows ideasgleaned from its racers.

The new lower A-arms mount at a 30-degree angle from the chas-sis centerline, which provides optimal angles for cornering tractionand a reduction in bump steer. The new A-arms are both thinner andlighter and made in one piece with ball joints to free up their move-ment.

You’ll notice this change as a signature design of the top of the line2012 Arctic Cats. As we discovered in test rides, the result is an effec-

tive, yet light feel with exceptional steering angles compared to Cat’sTwin Spar models, many of which will continue into 2012.

New nomenclature

Arctic Cat comes to 2012 with a new fleet of trail sports models andcrossers. The short track ProCross models retain the “F” designation,while the stretch track models will carry the “XF” designation. Themountain units with the ProClimb chassis will remain “M” models.

In addition to revised chassis and model designations, Arctic Cat’snewest models come with only three engine choices. Deep snow riderslose the one-liter two-stroke, but gain the 177-hp turbocharged1100cc four-stroke in the new lightweight chassis.

The 600cc two-stroker disappears to be replaced with the non-turbo 1100cc four-stroke twin, which develops more than 125-hp and78-ft/lbs of torque. The popular and potent 800cc two-stroke remainsand we’d imagine will be Cat’s most in demand powerplant.

For 2012 there will a series of F-models using the ProCross chassisand available in Sno Pro performance or LXR sport/luxury attire. Thestretch series of XF models and M-series will also offer Sno Pro pack-ages as well. The powder set will get an aggressive HCR (hill climbracer) model with the 160-hp 800cc twin and Fox Float shock packagefront and rear. In addition to the new for 2012 ProClimb and ProCrossmodels, you can still find 2012 versions of the popular twin spar sledssuch as the easy to afford and fun to ride fan-cooled F570.

To learn more about the 2012 Arctic Cats, visit these Maine ’Catdealers:

• Bangor Motor Sports, Bangor;• Cat Trax, Lagrange;• Huff Forest Products, Pittsfield;• Jackman Powersports;• Kramer’s, Sidney.

New Arctic Cat sleds showcase lessons learned in past 50 years

2012 Arctic Cat F Turbo MTS

By Snow Goer

Polaris’ rush into the future continues, as the fac-tory that debuted the Pro-Ride chassis on the 2010600 Rush and then expanded parts of it with the2011 800 Pro-RMK is bringing its light weight andhandling benefits to three new 2012 models.

The Roseau, Minnesota-based manufacturerannounced the 2012 800 Switchback Pro-R, the 600Switchback Adventure, and the 600 Pro-RMK 155,each in a Pro-Ride chassis.

800 Switchback Pro-R

After introducing the Pro-Ride setup on short-trackers and then following with a revised versionon long-trackers, it isn’t shocking news that Polariswould fill the middle of the lineup. What is interest-ing, however, was the company’s approach.

The new 800 Switchback Pro-R most closelyresembles the Rush Pro-R models, meaning itshares the unique Pro-Ride rear suspension withthe Rush, complete with the rear coil-over shockmounted above the track, instead of having themore traditional rear suspension setup found in theRMK.

Polaris officials said they are going to market themachine as having “the heart of the Rush, and thesoul of a crossover,” noting that, from the stirrupforward and from mid-tunnel back, the newSwitchback really duplicates the Rush in many

ways. At mid-tunnel, however, about 7 inches wasadded to the machine, allowing for a longer trackfor improved flotation.

Standing beside a new Switchback, it’s actuallysomewhat easy to forget that you’re not looking at aRush – the front bodywork is the same, and thelength of the track is masked by the distinctive rearsuspension setup. The visual tip-off is the longer,more aggressive running boards and the slightly

taller handlebars.Aside from the longer track, the Switchback also

gets all-new front suspension geometry aimed atstabilizing the front end. It’s adorned with WalkerEvans shocks, like the Pro-R Rush models.

But before you assume this is just a long Rush, itgets many of the treatments also found on last year’s800 RMK models, including a hollow jackshaft,drilled brake rotor and lightweight silencer. Thetrack that drives it is a 15- by 136- by 1.35-inchCobra.

600 Switchback Adventure

Sharing many of those same features whileadding a few more is Polaris’ new 600 SwitchbackAdventure, a machine patterned after popular,adventurous on- and off-road motorcycles with go-anywhere, do-anything auras.

The Switchback Adventure comes with Polaris’“Adventure Cargo System.” It includes two over-

sized, hard-side saddlebags that mount behind theseat on each side of the machine, utilizing the Lock& Ride fastening system found on the company’sATV racks.

The sled also has electric start, reverse, mirrors,power outlets, a tall windshield, and special winddeflectors that protect the driver’s legs.

The bags and general design make the machinelook like something a motivated rider may use totry to cross the Snowbelt.

The 136-inch track with 1.35-inch lugs gives itoff-trail capabilities. It’s a mold-breaking machinethat Polaris hopes will becomes the preferred alter-native for high-mile riders who want a full-featuredsled but without a geezer-sled stigma.

600 Pro-RMK 155”

Two of the best-selling sleds in the entire snow-mobile market this year are Pro-RMK 800s fromPolaris.

For 2012, the company is expanding the featuresthat made those machines so popular to the new600 Pro-RMK 155”.

Escaping the old chassis on the 600 Pro-RMK155” brings with it complete re-engineering, withstructural bonding, lightweight jackshaft and rotor,punched snowflap, carbon fiber rear bumper, LEDtaillight, redesigned silencer, RMK coil-over rearsuspension, Walker Evans shocks, Pro Taper handle-bars, and weight savings wherever possible.

In fact, Polaris says its 600 Pro-RMK 155 willweigh 431 pounds, 53 pounds less than last year’s600 RMK.

All of this adds up to what should be a greatboondocking sled, with excellent ergonomics andpowder-riding capabilities.

Learn about the 2012 Polaris sleds at:• Audibert Polaris, Fort Kent Mills;• B&D Marine, Brewer;• Chandler Farms, Mapleton;• Friend & Friend, Ellsworth• Jackman Powersports, Jackman;• Tidd’s Sport Shop, Hodgdon.


Polaris introduces new Switchback and Pro-RMK models for 2012

PHOTO COURTESY OF POLARIS

2012 Polaris 600 Switchback Adventure

in Greenville and proceed to the B-52 crash site onElephant Mountain;


• Jan. 28, 5-7 p.m.: The Pine Tree SnowmobileClub will sponsor a chili chowder supper and auc-tion at the Milford Municipal Building, with theauction starting at 6 p.m.;

• Jan. 28, 5:30 p.m.: The Narraguagus Snowmo-bile Club will host a public supper at the clubhouseon the Ridge Road in Cherryfield;

• Jan. 28-29: The Oxford Hills Snow Fest will behosted by the Norway Trackers Snowmobile Club;


• Feb. 4, 6 p.m.: The Portage Lakers SnowmobileClub will sponsor Supper On The Run and a Twi-light Poker Run, starting at the clubhouse;

• Feb. 5, 7:30-11 a.m.: The Pine Tree SnowmobileClub will host a public breakfast at the clubhouseon the Outer Call Road, Milford;

• Feb. 5: The Pushaw Lake Snowmobile Club ofHudson will sponsor an ice-fishing derby onPushaw Lake;

• Feb. 12, 7:30-11 a.m.: The Pine Tree Snowmo-bile Club will host a public breakfast at the club-house on the Outer Call Road, Milford;

• Feb. 12, 9 a.m.: The Narraguagus SnowmobileClub will hold a poker run, with registration start-ing at 9 a.m. at the clubhouse on the Ridge Road inCherryfield;

• Feb. 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Pine Tree Snowmo-bile Club will sponsor a poker run that starts at theclubhouse on the Outer Call Road, Milford;

• Feb. 17-18: Celebrate Snofest Week in theMoosehead Lake Region by participating in varioussnowmobiling-related events. For more informa-tion, log onto www.mooseheadriders.org;

• Feb. 18: The Molunkus Valley Sno-Drifters willhold a poker run starting from the clubhouse at 58North St., Patten;

• Feb. 19, 7:30-11 a.m.: The Pine Tree Snowmo-bile Club will host a public breakfast at the club-house on the Outer Call Road, Milford;

• Feb. 19: The Pejepscot Sno-Chiefs Snowmo-bile Club of Lisbon Falls and the Maine FarmersDraft Horse Club will sponsor the World’s Great-est Sleigh Ride, with the proceeds to benefit PineTree Camp;

• Feb. 25, 10 a.m.: The Moosehead Riders Snow-mobile Club will sponsor a Family Guided Ride thatdeparts the clubhouse in Greenville;

• Feb. 26, 7:30-11 a.m.: The Pine Tree Snowmo-bile Club will host a public breakfast at the club-house on the Outer Call Road, Milford.

CalendarContinued from Page 2


American Snowmobiler has named BRP’s Ski-Doo MX Z X-RS asthe “Best Sled” for 2012 in its annual Best of the Best awards. Thismarks the second straight year this model has been chosen for themagazine’s most prestigious award.

In reviewing the Ski-Doo MX Z X-RS American Snowmobiler stat-ed “after our test rides of all the new 2012s we didn’t find anything thatcould outright steal the crown from this trail king.” They went on tosay “This Ski-Doo still corners better than any 800 … and now has thebest suspension in the industry,” referencing the new rMotion rear sus-pension.

There were other Ski-Doo models recognized, too. The Ski-DooMX Z TNT snowmobile grabbed the “Best 600” and the GSX SEmodel was named “Best Luxury Touring” snowmobile for 2012.

“Ski-Doo has been innovating and pushing new technology for-ward at a torrid pace the past decade, replacing great products and fea-tures with even better equipment,” said Mark Savage, editor of Amer-ican Snowmobiler. “The MX Z X-RS with rMotion and E-TEC exem-plifies this with great performance in all aspects valued by hard coreriders.”

“In the powersports world it is unusual for the same manufacturer,and especially the same model, to win an award like this two years ina row,” stated Robert Lumley, vice-president, sales and marketing, Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo. “This is a testament to the lightweight razor-sharphandling of the REV-X chassis and to the powerful, efficient Rotax E-TEC engines. These are the kind of technologies that separate Ski-Doosnowmobiles from the rest of the pack.”

BRP’s 2012 version of the Ski-Doo MX Zx 600 RS will see bigimprovements in engine and chassis performance to propel Ski-DooX-Team racers to even more wins this year. The engine, front and rearsuspensions and drive train were all changed with sno-cross and crosscountry racers in mind.

Headlining the list of changes will be the new engine which deliv-

ers an additional six horsepower and better throttle response acrossthe entire operating range. The list of new components is lengthy butstarts with a new crank case, a new patent pending crank shaft designand new cylinders – all directed to provide better flow and higherhorsepower. The engine is designed to be very efficient from 8300 to8800 rpm with a broad powerband.

The front suspension was also analyzed for ways to improve chassisperformance and balance to better match up with the new skid frameintroduced last year. The change to new, taller spindles improves skipressure and cornering while the new powder coating will reduce anysnow or ice buildup. A redesigned steering post and bushing further

reduce any bump steer to non-existent. Finally a newupper A-arm which creates a new steeper caster anglerounds out the geometry package.

The rear suspension was introduced last year as“PCX” but that was only intended to disguise the rMo-tion name until the consumer version was introduced.For 2012 the rear suspension is named rMotion Rac-ing. Both skid frames share the same basic geometryfeaturing a rising rate rear shock and long front arm,but each are optimized for their intended uses. TherMotion Racing has a new reinforced rear arm,improved coupling system, and new reinforced pow-der coated rails for reduced ice buildup.

Once all the new parts were put together, significanttime was spent on chassis calibration. All four shockshave been re-worked to deliver more compliant per-formance in small bumps for less rider fatigue, yet stillhandle the nasty kickers and big jumps.

The drive train changes were aimed at improvedbelt and clutch performance to deliver consistent RPMand performance lap after lap.

The new engine mounts are stiffer to keep the clutches betteraligned and new specs for the secondary clutch will allow it to float alittle to improve belt life.

Be sure to check out the 2012 Ski-Dos at:• B&D Marine, Brewer;• Fort Kent Ski-Doo, Fort Kent;• Jackman Powersports, Jackman;• Lincoln Powersports, Lincoln;• Moosehead Motorsports;• The Sled Shop, Presque Isle;• Tidd’s Sport Shop, Houlton.


2012 Ski-Doo MX Z X-RS named “Best Sled” by top sled magazine

American Snowmobiler has named the 2012 Ski-Doo MX Z X-RS asthe “Best Sled” for 2012 in its annual Best of the Best awards.


Yamaha’s most powerful trail sled, the Apex,brings snowmobile technology to a whole new levelwith electric power steering, Exhaust Ultimate Per-formance technology, and a host of other luxuriousfeatures that set the bar high above the competi-tion.

The Apex has been a great flagship with itsindustry leading 4-cylinder Genesis power plantand fully adjustable Mono Shock II RA rear sus-pension.

This sled features the industry’s first ExhaustUltimate Performance technology that adds to theoverall power of the engine, making for an amazingride.

Add on the industry’s first EPS technology and a128” track, and you’ve got a sled you can ride all daywithout feeling it tomorrow!

The 2012 Apex features the industry’s first elec-tric power steering system. This system is velocitysensitive, delivering maximum assist at trail speedand gradually tapering at higher speeds.

You’ll love the EPS system because it helps isolatethe rider from rough trail feedback, alleviates theexertion required to move the bars, provides excel-lent handling and predictability, and, most impor-tantly, makes the sled feel 100 pounds lighter.

This combined with the Apex’s third generationfront suspension geometry and new ski design cre-ates an experience that makes it impossible to goback to the old sleds without some regret.

The new 2012 RS Vector LTX offers even morecomfort and luxury then ever with the addition ofElectric Power Steering. In addition to the EPS sys-tem, the RS Vector LTX receives Apex-style trailskis, new third generation front geometry equippedwith HPG front shocks, an oil-pressure sensing sys-tem, a redesigned windshield, a new clicker rearshock, and new graphics.

All of this on top of the impressive bump-bridg-ing Mono Shock CK 136 suspension and ultra-rigidDeltabox III chassis, make the RS Vector LTX theultimate mid-class crossover sled.

The new 2012 RS Vector LTX features the indus-try’s first electric power steering system. This sys-tem is velocity sensitive, delivering maximum assistat trail speed and gradually tapering at higherspeeds. Complementing the EPS is the new third-generation front suspension with Apex-style 8HVskis. This setup helps minimize inside ski lift due tocentrifugal force during turns.

And, by optimizing the amount of resistancefrom the snow surface that’s applied to the rear end

of the ski, includingforces from bumps andruts, this offset helps theRS Vector LTX achieveits amazingly smoothhandling, including itsexcellent straight lineperformance.

Check out the 2012Yamaha sleds at:

• Friend & Friend,Ellsworth;

• Friend & Friend,Orono;

• Gary’s Yamaha,Caribou;

• Jackman Power-sports, Jackman;

• Moosehead Motor-sports, Greenville Junc-tion;

• North CountryPowersports, Oakland.

2012 Yamaha Apex

The 2012 Yamaha Apex featuresnew performance technology

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

A Yamaha 2-up carries snowmobilers over the Central MaineAdventure Trail bridge spanning the Sebasticook River in

Corinna.


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Snowmobiling 2011