Carlson Motorsports racers couldn’t catch a break at the season-opening Duluth National snocross event this past weekend.

The first victory of the season was ripped from the hands of Marcus Johansson as he bombed the uphill run during Sunday’s Pro-Lite final at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minn. With both Johan Lidman and Andrew Carlson experiencing misfortune in Pro-Open and Pro-Lite respectively, it was the young Swede who set the tone early during Sunday’s Pro-Lite final, leading the 15-sled field for nearly the entire race.

“Up until that race we were feeling pretty down,” says team owner and manager Chris Carlson. “Marcus came out of the hauler on Sunday with fire in his eyes and he hit the track like an animal. I think everyone on the team was impressed with his tenacity.”

Johansson won his first heat race and found himself on the front row for the final. After a blistering holeshot, Johansson slowly began to open up a lead over the rest of the field and stretched it as the 20-lap race wore on. Then fate struck, as a previous lap yellow flag atop the hill tightened up the pack, Johansson bobbled on the up-hill run and ejected himself from his sled. By the time he remounted, he found himself out of podium contention.

The Christian Brothers snocross racing team did not get off to the strong start it was looking for at the Duluth National Snocross in Duluth, Minn.

Fresh off a Thanksgiving Day of turkey, stuffing and football, fans and racers funneled onto the hill at Spirit Mountain Friday night for the Dominator race, a head-to-head bracket-style elimination event that held a $10,000 check for the winner. CBR riders Logan Christian and Garth Kaufman were eliminated by two riders who ultimately faced each other in the money round.

“The Dominator was a lot of fun,” says Garth Kaufman. “It’s the first race of the season and it helps us get our feet wet and get the sleds dialed in.”

Ski-Doo racers put together what can only be described as a dominating performance at the ISOC snocross series opener in Duluth, Minn. With four Pro and Pro Lite classes up for grabs, Ski-Doo racers took wins in all of them.

Robbie Malinoski had a phenomenal weekend as he led the Ski-Doo/Scheuring Speed Sports podium sweep in Pro Open Sunday afternoon, adding to his Saturday night win and establishing a substantial points lead. Having a great weekend of his own was defending Champion Tim Tremblay who claimed a third on Saturday and second on Sunday with rock solid rides every time he hit the racetrack. Completing the Sunday sweep was Darrin Mees, who claimed his first Pro podium in third, backing up an eighth-place run on Saturday. Everyone suspected the Scheuring Speed Sports team would be tough and saw the potential for a podium sweep, but most wouldn’t have expected it so early in the season.

Anybody who buys a new Arctic Cat snowmobile this month can ride Quebec or Ontario snowmobile trails for free.

Arctic Cat is providing a free Ontario or Quebec Snowmobile Trail Permit with every 2010 – 2012 Arctic Cat Snowmobile purchased from November 1 – November 30, 2012. This offer excludes 120s, Race, Rental, Government and Special Service Models.

For every qualifying 2010 – 2012 Arctic Cat snowmobile retailed during this promotion period, Arctic Cat will issue a refund to the consumer for the amount of the Ontario or Quebec snowmobile trail permits – $210 for Ontario and $280 for the Quebec.

With the goal of helping keep snowmobilers safe this and every winter, the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association has put together a list of avalanche safety and awareness guidelines.

If you plan to ride in the steep and deep this winter, play it smart and take all the necessary precautions to make sure you get home safe and sound.

Avalanche Safety – Awareness Guidelines

1. Take an Avalanche Skills Training (AST) course.
2. Carry Avalanche Safety Equipment: Transceiver (beacon), shovel and probe – AND KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.
3. Check the Avalanche bulletin (plan your trip according to current conditions)
4. Don’t group up in terrain that is threatened from above; allow a wide margin of safety around avalanche run out zones.
5. Speak up when you see others grouping together in avalanche threatened areas.
6. Don’t tolerate fellow riders not being prepared with rescue gear.