text: San Diego, CA - BRP reveals its 2012 Ski-Doo snowmobile line-up, raising the bar on product innovation and market-shaping technology introductions. Launched to an audience composed of North American, Russian, Japanese and Chinese dealers, the new line-up promises to excite consumers with new models and a full array of state-of-the-art features, all designed to please a broad owner base and new entrants to the sport of snowmobiling.
  "BRP's focus on the consumer experience is at the core of the 2012 Ski-Doo line-up," stated Yves Leduc, vice-president and general manager for the North America division. "The success of our more recent introductions has laid the foundation and provided the opportunity to refine a line-up that will continue to reshape the industry and attract newcomers to snowmobiling."
  The leading news at this year's annual dealer meeting is the introduction of the rMotion rear suspension, delivering new levels of comfort, capability and exclusive means of customizing the ride. The new system features a progressive motion ratio rear shock, the most travel in the industry, a wide performance window, easy adjustability and controlled transfer. An optional Quick Adjust system puts the preload and compression damping controls on the running boards for even faster, more precise fine-tuning. These benefits deliver an easy customization for the ultimate personal ride experience. The all-new rMotion suspension will be available on the Ski-Doo MX Z X-RS and MX Z X models for 2012.
  Dawson, vice-president and general manager for the International division, said. "BRP is enhancing the consumer value proposition around the globe and this new line-up will unlock the potential for our selling networks to capitalize on the industry rebound."
  On the heels of the 2011 introduction of the Summit Freeride model, BRP adds to this emerging freestyle riding market by offering new models with three different track length packages: 154, 146 and 137 inches (392, 371, and 348 cm); all featuring the proven Rev-XP RS chassis, KYB Pro 40 shocks and plenty of trick features for extreme freeriders.
  In the utility segment, where BRP has the most complete offering in the industry, the Ski-Doo Skandic SWT sled moves to the REV-XU platform, making the 2012 Ski-Doo snowmobiles 100 percent built on the REV-X platform. The new Skandic SWT model boasts a monster 156x24 inch track (391x61 cm), 6 percent more fuel capacity and 52 fewer lbs. (24 kg)-not to mention all the benefits of the modern platform such as sleek styling and flexible riding position.
  Since both the Ski-Doo GSX SE and GSX LE models are built on the REV-X platform, they are easy to drive and even easier to secure a comfortable riding position. New for 2012, BRP is offering a choice of three engine options with the Ski-Doo GSX SE model: the 4-Tec 1200, E-Tec 600 H.O. and the E-Tec 800R engines. The REV-X platform, coupled with the premium Rotax engines, ensures a satisfying ride every time.
  BRP's Ski-Doo brand continues to lead the industry with the broadest selection of power options-all state-of-the-art technologies meeting and exceeding today's environmentally friendly standards. This new model year expands the offering of the successful Rotax E-Tec 800R, the lightweight E-Tec 600 H.O. and the wildly successful 600 ACE (Advanced Combustion Efficiency) engines; still the industry's best fuel economy at *29 mpg (8 L/100 km) and range of 310 miles or 500 kilometers. Many Ski-Doo snowmobile models now offer expanded use of these cleaner technologies and more fuel-efficient engines, including the Ski-Doo GSX SE, Tundra and Expedition models.
  Island Park, Idaho -- Snowmobilers won a battle Dec. 19 when Sen. Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The Montana Democrat's bill included an amendment to move a proposed Wilderness boundary. The change would allow snowmobilers to continue to ride on some 3,000 acres of high country terrain on Mount Jefferson near the Idaho-Montana border.
  The premier Montana snowmobile wonderland is accessed via Fremont County and Idaho's snowmobile trail system. Snowmobile industry and county officials have been fighting to keep it open for years. It was viewed as so vital to the Fremont County economy that three years ago, a county commissioner testified before a Senate committee hearing in Washington, D.C.
  While the bill passed last month with bipartisan support from the committee, and will likely be approved in the Senate, it still must pass the House, where its prospects are uncertain. Introduced in 2009, Tester's bill proposes to create timber industry jobs through logging as a way to support the state's outdoor economy and protect its resources.
  The bill is supported by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and, in amended form, by Idaho Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo. Risch said he voted for the amended bill because it affects Idahoans who have argued against the closing the southern portion of Mount Jefferson to snowmobiling. "For years, I have insisted that the southern portion of Mount Jefferson must remain open ...," he said.
  For now, it remains open. But Sandra Mitchell of the Idaho Snowmobile Association has doubts about the bill's future in the House and beyond. "I would be very surprised if it got to Obama's desk," she said. Still, after years of working to keep the area available for recreationists through administrative, judicial, and now, legislative channels, Mitchell said snowmobiling advocates won't let their guard down. "My experience is that a bad idea never goes away," Mitchell said. "It (Mount Jefferson) is a snowmobiling icon and has been since the late '60s and '70s. It's an Idaho resource in Montana. "It's unique. It's important to the quality of life and the economy of the area." That importance has only increased with restrictive changes in snowmobile regulations in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Mount Jefferson is considered the No. 1 destination for those renting snowmobiles in Island Park.
  Locally, the effort to keep the area open has shifted toward making sure the existing boundaries are obeyed because the area is being monitored closely for violators-snowmobilers that cross from open to closed areas.
  "We're getting the word out to stay out," Fremont County Parks and Recreation Director Tamra Cikaitoga said. "If too many cross into the closed areas and are in violation, then we've lost."
  The county has put up signs in five parking lots that could be used to access trails into Mount Jefferson. "It's actually double signing," Cikaitoga said. The same warning signs to obey boundaries have been placed about a half-mile from the lots on the trails to make sure snowmobilers see them. "We're doing a public relations campaign with the snowmobiling association for newspaper and radio ads," Cikaitoga said. The ads explain the stakes involved in obeying the boundary closures. "Yielding to temptation could lead to more closures," Cikaitoga said.
  Just read on the SW homepage the article about Mr. Zinke moving ahead on the previous comments about opening up access to our public lands. I hope all of you guys are as jazzed about this as I am. Special interest groups like the quiet recreation group have gone too far. This is a great step in the right direction in making our public lands more available to more who wish to use it.
  The charming ski resort Valmeinier lies, easily accessible, amid the National Parks of Ecrins and Vanoise. The mountain pass road from Valloire to Col du Galibier is legendary as the highest alpine pass in the Tour de France. Valmeinier 1500 is a picturesque mountain village with old, traditional stone houses. Valmeinier 1800 is, in comparison, a young ski station built to fit into the surrounding mountain landscape. The chalets, furnished in wood, are grouped in a horseshoe-shape around the valley station, so that you can reach the sun terraces of the cosy cafes on skis. You'll also find numerous restaurants, bars, shops and 3 cinemas, all just a few metres away!
  In the sun-drenched Maurienne Valley lies the region of Valmeinier-Valloire, where the sprawling ski area is often labelled as the small version of Trois Vallées. And in fact, the foundation stone for the 3 Valleys should have been placed originally in Valmeinier. However, the residents there in 1946 spoke out against this because they felt there would be too much commotion, so it was set slightly to the north in Courchevel. Valmeinier was developed in 1986 with the creation of a 3-valley ski area, whose magnificent pistes, wide mountainsides and deep valleys don't fall short of those in Trois Vallées!