The Fantasy Snowmobile Racer’s Look

As a young snowmobiler, I fancied myself an upcoming snowmobile racing all-star. I did okay against the locals in club events and even fared well enough in larger statewide races. And I once even rode in the famous Winnipeg-to-St. Paul endurance race, but as a journalist getting a story, not as a full-fledged serious competitor. All of those experiences taught me that many of us harbor a fantasy of being a snowmobile racing all-star.

The four snowmobile manufacturers are well aware of that fantasy as they market to the racer wannabe within us. Why else do sled makers offer trail and mountain hot rods with racing-inspired style and features? Not all Ski-Doo MXZ X-RS 800 E-Tecs make their way to the racetracks. Nor does every ZR 6000 Tucker Hibbert RR. And, not all Arctic Cat M8000 HCR or M8000 Rob Kincaid Special Edition models bust the gates in hillclimb competitions. No, the sled makers cater to our fantasy with racer-type sleds that allow us to pursue our dreams on our local trail rides. As for me, I still play around in the tight and twisted trails aboard a 2006 Blair Morgan “Bumble Bee” race replica Ski-Doo MXZ.

Not only can you fantasize the sleds of the various snowmobile-racing stars, but you can suit up like them as well. These dreams of being a snowmobile-racing look-alike don’t come cheap. The Tucker Hibbert replica retails for nearly US$13,000 – a full $1000 more than a ZR6000 El Tigre. To dress like a Team Arctic racer will add US$869.75 to your racer fantasy. And that’s cheap compared to the more than US$1400 it will cost to emulate a rider from Ski-Doo’s X-Team.

An old saying suggests that you can’t put a price on your dream. Well, that’s not true in snowmobiling. We shopped online for the garments and accessories you’d need to buy to get that special racer look for each of the four snowmobile manufacturers and priced out a racing outfit for each brand that includes jacket, bibs, helmet, boots and gloves. Of course, when it comes to serious racing, we’re talking top-notch gear, which offers warmth, flexibility and technically superior materials. You can dress for less, but if you want to style yourself after a top Polaris snocrosser or Yamaha cross-country rider, this is the best racer-oriented gear available.

Arctic Cat

To look like a true-green Team Arctic competitor, start with the Team Arctic Sno Cross Jacket and add the complementing bibs.

The obvious choice for styling like a Team Arctic racer would be Tucker Hibbert gear, which is available as a signature line at the Arctic Cat online store.

To look like a true-green Team Arctic competitor, start with the Team Arctic Sno Cross Jacket. It reflects the lightweight versatility of many racing pieces of apparel. Cat’s shell jackets and pants are not insulated, but offer a choice of three zip-in Flex liners to customize comfort. These racer-look pieces are constructed with ATEX waterproof, breathable-coated fabric to block snow, wind and rain while wicking away perspiration. The jacket and bib combination features a 3M Scotchlite reflective material to increase visibility.

New Snowmobile Gear from KLIM in 2015

Arctic Cat’s MX Team Arctic ZR Flat Green helmet continues the Cat green theme with a Snell-approved fiberglass shell design that incorporates a twin air intake/exhaust ventilation system. The liner is removable and washable.

Cat’s Champion Gloves offer 200 grams of microfleece insulation and a reflective Tem Arctic logo to complete the racer look.

Cat Tracker Extreme Boots feature water-resistant leather uppers with a comfortable 20mm removable Zylex liner and durable synthetic outsole.

Cat’s Champion Gloves come with 200 grams of microfleece insulation and a breathable A-Tex insert. The reflective Tem Arctic logo completes the racer look.

Arctic Cat Racer Look Snocross Jacket – $299.95 Snocross Pants – $209.95 MX Team Arctic ZR Helmet – $159.95 Champion Gloves – $69.95 Cat Tracker Extreme Boots – $199.95 Total – $869.75

Polaris

Polaris’ Pro Jacket features ample use of Gore-Tex and reflective 3M Scotchlite panels.

Polaris, which has been a winner in snocross for years, lets you style like a winning snocrosser in its black, white and red Mens Pro Jacket. Designed to keep you dry, the garment features ample use of Gore-Tex. Like other racer-style apparel, the Pro Jacket is not insulated but designed for layering. Plentiful use of 3M Scotchlite panels reflect to help you be seen day or night.

This garment includes a credit card pocket, elastic snow skirt, Velcro cuffs and ample pockets.

The complementing black Pro Bib also features Gore-Tex, 330 D nylon shell construction, a quilted liner, fleece seat panel, and 3M Scotchlite panel reflectants.

To top off the look chose the white and red Dominate Fly F2 Open Face Snowmobile Helmet. The shell is of carbon fiber with Kevlar material for rugged use. To keep you comfortable on the trail you’ll find 11 intake and four exhaust vents. This multi-port air induction cooling system creates strong airflow to keep an aggressive rider’s head cool.

Polaris’ Dominate Fly F2 Open Face Snowmobile Helmet keeps you comfortable on the trail with a multi-port air induction cooling system that features 11 intake and 4 exhaust vents to create strong airflow.

A pair of Switchback boots in black/grey will give you traction for icy runningboards. You’ll appreciate the lace-lock system that allows you to tighten the lower laces, lock them, and then tighten the upper portion to keep you dry longer. Comfort is a given with the boot’s articulated ankles and durable leather reinforcements for increased protection in the sides and heel.

2015 MotorFist Snowmobile Gear

Polaris’ black Guardian Insulated Glove includes gauntlets for full-coverage to keep hands warm and dry. Added features include: rolled fingertips; a synthetic suede wiper on the back of the thumb; plus a polyurethane wiper blade on the left index finger for clearing your shield.

For more choices, check out: http://www.polaris.com/en-us/snowmobiles/shop.

Polaris Racer Look Men’s Pro Jacket – $349.99 Men’s Pro Bib – $349.99 Dominate Fly F2 Helmet – $289.99 Men’s Guardian Insulate D-Gloves – $109.99 Switchback CK Boots – $209.99 Total – $1309.95

Ski-Doo

Ski-Doo’s XP-R2 Carbon Light Blaze Helmet is ultra lightweight and 100 percent multi-directional carbon fiber composite for strength.

When it comes to style, few companies in powersports do it better than the marketers from Valcourt, Quebec. Ski-Doo understands the feeling of being a competitive rider – fantasy or real!

Start with the official factory X-Team Winter Race Edition Jacket. It comes complete with racer logo styling in a garment fitted with adjustable collar, removable insulated quilt liner, back and underarm venting and powder skirt.

The right combination of bibs for this jacket is the high pants X-Team Winter Race Edition bibs, which includes a fleece-lined seat for added comfort as well as storm gaiters and premium Primaloft insulation.

The XP-R2 Carbon Light Blaze Helmet is ultra lightweight and 100 percent constructed  of strong multi-directional carbon fiber composite for strength. Available in sizes up to 3XL, the Blaze helmet adds an integrated rear fin for added stability and aerodynamic performance. The helmet’s Full Air System has 10 ventilation points, plus double rear extractor.

Ski-Doo’s TEC+ Boots are designed specifically for highly intense, serious riding and feature extreme impact protection in the tongue, a tapered rear shape for better Achilles and ankle support, durable anti-slip outsole for running board traction, plus 600g PrimaLoft Eco Footwear insulation for maximum comfort.

Ski-Doo’s TEC+ Boots feature impact protection in the tongue, a tapered rear shape for better Achilles and ankle support and 600g PrimaLoft Eco Footwear insulation for maximum comfort.

Hands down, the X-Team gloves offer rugged leather construction with warm Primaloft Gold insulation. Waterproof, windproof and breathable, the X-Team gloves add padded knuckles along with shaped, articulated fingers.

For more styles, visit: http://store.ski-doo.com/.

Ski-Doo Racer Look X-Team Winter Race Edition Jacket – $369.99 X-Team Winter Race Edition Highpants – $279.99 XP-R2 Carbon Light Blaze Helmet – $429.99 X-Team Leather Gloves – $109.99 Ski-Doo TEC+ Boots – $219.99 Total – $1404.95

Yamaha

Yamaha adds Outlast technology to its X-Country Jacket to provide a garment that has a fully seamed sealed 305D Cordura shell, a DuPont Teflon finish and reflective piping.

Yamaha doesn’t currently have the racer-cred of a Polaris, Ski-Doo or Arctic Cat, but this brand has put sponsored riders in this year’s tough cross country races with some success. Riders carrying the Team Yamaha colors can rely on the high quality of Yamaha gear.

Yamaha Snowmobile Gear and Accessories

You can wear the look of the Yamaha terrain racer and gain serious on-trail comfort with the likes of the Yamaha X-Country Jacket with Outlast. This garment technology is top shelf with a material that restricts wind, but allows your body perspiration to escape for a comfortable experience. The X-Country jacket has a fully seamed sealed 305D Cordura shell, a DuPont Teflon finish and reflective piping.

You’ll want to pair the jacket with the similarly featured Yamaha X-Country Bib with Outlast Technology. This bib set adds reflective patches on the back of the lower legs for high night time visibility.

For comfort and safety, Yamaha offers one of the best selling helmets in snowmobiling, the 509 Carbon Fiber C2 helmet. This durable carbon fiber helmet features safety technologies like a dual density, interlocking liner material that’s not used in cheaper, lower quality snowmobile helmets.

Yamaha’s Polar III Waterproof Boot features a dual-density, anti-slip and snow dispensing treaded sole design. Other features include: double-stitched sealed seams for increased durability, a new breathable waterproof membrane, molded rubber toe cap and heel counter, plus a closed-loop lacing system.

With a genuine buffalo hide palm, Yamaha’s C-Zip Throttle Mitt combines mitten-like warmth with glove utility.

Yamaha C-Zip Throttle Mitts combine mitten-like warmth with glove utility in a unique C-Zip design where the finger portion zips off to allowing free use of your hands without taking your gloves off. With its genuine buffalo hide palm, this is not an average mitt!

For  more information visit: http://www.yamahapartsandaccessories.com/.

Yamaha Racer Look Men’s Yamaha X-Country Jacket with Outlast – $249.95 Men’s Yamaha X-Country Bib with Outlast – $229.95 Evolution Carbon C2 Helmet by 509 – $369.95 Yamaha C-Zip Throttle Mitts – $101.49 Yamaha Polar III Waterproof Boot – $167.49 Total – $1118.83

Pony Up for Style!

Prices for the look of a racer have multiplied since the days of one-piece Ski-Doo suits and purple-striped Cat outfits. Depending on how faithful to your favorite racer styling you want to wear, you can expect to pay nearly $1000 for a replica outfit. The quality will be worth it, but does your fantasy have a budget?