The Yamaha Nytro MTX earned his first podium finish of the year in the 2013 RMSHA hillclimb series. Chad Jorgensen piloted his four-stroke sled to a third-place finish in the Pro 600 Modified class at Beaver Mountain in Garden City, Utah. This is just the second podium in RMSHA history for a Yamaha four-stroke snowmobile.

Jorgensen added a top-five finish in Pro 600 Improved, with Cable Willford finishing eighth in the class. Willford then grabbed a sixth and Kody Malmborg a 10th in Pro 700 Improved, while Jorgensen took a sixth in Pro 700 Modified and Kolton Malmborg added a sixth in Semi Pro Modified. Finally, Kolton put his Nytro MTX into the Semi Pro Stock final, marking the first time a Nytro has qualified among its 800cc two-stroke rivals in a stock class.

Yamaha has had a resurgence in cross-country snowmobile racing this season and the effect seems to be rubbing off on the hillclimb racers as well. Kody Malmborg, Jr. did what many doubters thought was impossible on Sat., Mar. 24 – top the Snow King on a four-stroke snowmobile at the Jackson Hole World Championship Hillclimb put on by the Jackson Hole Snow Devils.

Malmborg piloted his Yamaha FX Nytro MTX to the top of the steep course as the first four-stroke to do so in the 37 years the event has been held – while also becoming the first Yamaha to qualify for the Pro finals since 2001.

The Jackson Hole World Championships are, as one observer put it, the Daytona of snowmobile events, and the mountain course practically defies description. It presents itself as a nearly vertical face of about a half-mile in length, with 28 gates that the machines and drivers have to negotiate on the way up. Favoring immense horsepower, traction, responsive handling and of course major riding talent, the course quickly weeds out all but the best. “It’s basically like driving up a skyscraper,” says Yamaha snowmobile marketing manager Wade West.

Team Arctic hillclimb racers started the 2012 season with a bang, winning nine of 18 classes and two King titles at the Bear Lake Hillclimb in Montpelier, Idaho.

It was the potent combination of the new ProClimb HCR and an experienced crew of racers that dominated the big-engine classes. Kyle Tapio delivered a career-performance by winning 800 Improved, 800 Mod and Open Mod, then topped it off with the Improved King title. Hot on his heels, brother Nels won the 700 Mod final and had enough mojo to overtake Kyle to win the Mod King title.

Arctic Cat racer and M-sled engineer Todd Tupper showed he’s still the man to beat in the Masters classes, winning both Stock and Improved finals aboard his 2012 M800 HCR in the ProClimb chassis.

BRP’s Ski-Doo Freeride Ambassadors program is entering its second year and brings a new perspective with the addition of two women riders, Ashley Chaffin and Stephanie Schwartz. This group of talented riders will once again be sharing their ride experiences, thoughts and opinions on everything for the deep powder market of western North America.

For those unfamiliar, the Summit Freeriders are this year comprised of seven mountain snowmobilers with a wide range of riding styles, riding interests and unique talents. A couple of them are seen in some of the extreme back country videos, one has an impressive collection of X-Games medals, one is a former racer and another is an adventure athlete who has competed in almost every kind of human powered race there is. It’s a wide range of people who can offer something for all riders. But they all share a passion for mountain riding.

Last year the Summit Freeriders gave you some great insight on what they’re up too all winter long – how they prepare before the season starts, the gear they use, sled set-up and some great riding tips – that will continue this year and you’ll get the added benefit of a women’s perspective.

As the summer begins to heat up in Minnesota Polaris is starting to crank out 2012 snowmobiles. Polaris Team Riders Chris Burandt, Randy Sherman, Dan Adams, and Keith Curtis were on hand to kick off the build of the 2012 RMKs in Roseau, Minn.

The guys tried their hand at applying graphics and met line workers as the first Pro-Ride RMKs rolled off the line. Check out the video below to see these brand new machines before they hit the dealerships.

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