Ski-Doo wins 2004 sled honors

Snow Goer magazine named the Ski-Doo MX Z 600 H.O. SDI as its 2004 Snowmobile of the Year in its November 2003 issue. The award is given annually and is based on new snowmobile technology.
“Ski-Doo’s MX Z 600 H.O. SDI stood out above the other snowmobiles in the 2004 model year not only for its futuristic design but more so for the semi-direct injected engine that gives a glimpse into the future of what snowmobiling might become,” Eric Skogman, editor of Snow Goer, said. “The advance design of the engine offers a cleaner-burning alternative that snowmobilers have been asking for.”
Snow Goer has been awarding Snowmobile of the Year since 1991. Ski-Doo has received the honor two other times for the 1996 MX Z 583 and the 2002 MX Z 800.

NATM Starts Marketing Campaign
The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) based in Topeka, Kan., has initiated a public awareness campaign for its Compliance Decal program.
NATM members who qualify to use the compliance decal have been asked to send posters and a counter-top display to their dealers, said Allison Francis, membership director for NATM. The poster and display explain the compliance sticker to consumers.
NATM certifies trailer companies who are in compliance with federal regulations and other industry standards, with an emphasis on safety features. Approximately 80 of NATMs 300 members have been certified to use the compliance sticker on their products. The program is voluntary and was instituted in May, 2002. For more information on the compliance campaign, call 785/272-4433 or view www.natm.com.

Colorado To Require special Permits
Starting Jan. 1, 2004, non-resident snowmobiler owners must have a special permit to ride in Colorado. In September, Colorado State Parks Board approved the request of the Colorado Snowmobile Association (CSA) to implement the permit system.
The permits will cost $20.25, which is the same as an in-state registration. The permit will be available at Colorado State Parks offices and locations, as well as select snowmobile dealers. Funds generated from the non-resident permit will help to increase support for the winter trails grooming program run by the Colorado State Parks Snowmobile Program.
“The money from snowmobile registrations and permits goes right back into improving the experience for the user,” said said David Hause, Snowmobile Program Administrator for Colorado State Parks. Sixty-two percent of the total program budget is allocated for grooming efforts on more than 2,700 miles of winter trails in Colorado.

WSA/Indoor Snocross Partnership
The World Snowmobile Association (WSA) of White Bear Lake, Minn., has formed a partnership with Super Snowcross Inc., Waterford, Mich., to sanction four indoor snocross events. The series will be known as the Super Snocross Stadium Tour. The events will take place in Minneapolis, Minn.; Toronto, Ontario; Detroit, Mich.; and Fargo, N.D. The indoor race dates will not conflict with the outdoor WSA schedule.