Hometown: Missoula, MT
Occupation: Battalion Chief
Age: 50
Growing up in the country just outside of Missoula, Montana some of my fondest and earliest memories were being towed on inner tubes behind and old Willy’s Jeep and riding around the yard and the hills around our home on a couple of Skiroule snowmobiles my fathers buddy let us use. At that time I was 8-10 years old and remember how cool I thought that 440 and RT500 looked and how fast it seemed you could go on them, not to mention how cool that green was and how sleek they looked at the time. I kept hoping Santa would leave one under the tree. I believe the 440 was putting out a whopping 35 horsepower back then. My how times have changed!
Well Santa never did get around to dropping off a nice shiny snowmobile but he did leave behind some skis one Christmas so I grew up skiing and once in awhile got to ride the same snowmobiles mentioned earlier around our friend’s cabin and on Seeley Lake. That was the extent of my snowmobiling growing up and shortly after graduating from High School I joined the NAVY and was stationed in climates that were not conducive to snowmobiling.
Several Years later I moved back to Missoula and that year my Dad purchased a used 1996 Arctic Cat/Mountain Cat 550 EXT and discovered that snowmobiling in the mountains is not something one should do alone. Aside from a safety standpoint he needed someone to help him dig out numerous times a day so we went looking for another sled so I could follow him around, keep him from getting lost (mostly) and more importantly dig him out!
Snowmobiling for me then became more then just a hobby it became a passion which I shared with my three boys as soon as they were old enough to get their legs over the seat. Actually before that I found an old Arctic Cat towable sled, I used to drag them around in when we were out for the family outings. When the powder was really good they would get left at home until they were old enough to ride a sled solo. The boy’s and I have many great memories of our snowmobile adventures to Lolo Pass, Garnet Ghost Town, Seeley Lake and West Yellowstone.
In late December of 2011, Robin Black from SnoWest Magazine called and left a message on my cell phone informing me that I was the Grand Prize winner in their 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway. The Grand Prize being a 2013 Ski-Doo Summit 800 XM and a trip to Carl Kuster Mountain Park (CKMP) near Sicamous, BC. At first I thought my co-workers were playing a very good practical joke on me but after calling Robin and talking to her over the phone I was assured it was real.
In April I was able to make it to CKMP and it was an amazing experience. You can read about it in the September, 2012 Issue of SnoWest!
I can’t thank everyone enough! It’s been an amazing experience and thanks SANTA (SnowWest) for the bright shiny snowmobile under my tree this year!
Matt Potratz
On a snowmobile, Matt Potratz was viewed as one of the elite mountain
free-riders in the world. He captured the attention and following of
thousands of fans. Then life changed course. While filming a hill-climb
segment for one of his seven appearances in back-country snowmobile
motion pictures, Matt triggered a large avalanche that very nearly took his
life and changed everything.
Attend his seminar presentation where you'll first view incredible highlights
of Matt on the snow followed by the actual avalanche footage. As the video
fades, he’ll walk out to share his story of survival through the avalanche
rescue, a month-long coma, and 100+ days and nights behind the walls
of hospitals. His intense story is followed by a series of powerful lessons
he learned through the experience. It’s gripping, emotional, and heartfelt
from start to finish.
AND, just released last week is the highly anticipated audio version of Matt's book "Two Hands". You get the complete story narrated by Matt in studio quality and delivered very genuine with passion and emotion. Be one of the first to get access the his audiobook at the Idaho Snow Show!
Dave McClure
Dave “Mo” McClure is No. 150 on the RMSHA race circuit for Team Arctic. McClure is also heading up the Arctic Cat backcountry team this season and for good reason—he’s got more talent than a flat bed truck loaded with the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra (don’t let the tuba player fool you … he’s a sleeper on an 800 mod). Keep an eye on McClure—he’s a rising star in the backcountry segment.
McClure is the poster child of the freerider-turned-racer crowd. It’s almost like the excitement and adrenaline of pushing the limits in the backcountry just isn’t quite enough for some sledders. You have to throw a timing light and a marked course into the mix to satisfy the competition addiction. With that being the case, imagine how crazy guys of this nature get in the back country.
David is from Swan Valley, Idaho. David spends his summer working so he can take the winters off. He also uses his free time to hang out with his wife, ride dirtbike/race enduro and ride his trial bike, and camp.
Rob Kincaid
If Rob Kincaid wore a mic everywhere he went, you’d have enough comedy to sell an 18-disc Time Life set on late-night TV. From backcountry rides to treeing mountain lions, Kincaid is a Cat man through and through. He’s currently the Hillclimb Race Director for Arctic Cat and RMSHA racer. Last season, Kincaid conquered the mountain at the World Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb in Jackson, WY.
Rob has been racing for 14 years. He is from Victor, Idaho and spends his summers riding motorbikes with Dave McClure, horseback riding, looking for big game and working as little as possible.
