So today just by accident my group lead by a legend guide happened upon the artic cat test team.m in island park up in the hills. No shi$! So iam a terrible new rider and after a full day of stucks and challenging terrain and deep snow I was really worked and tired. So legend guide is stopped talking to a group of guys and he yells back hey Charlie you wanna try wanna these guys sleds? I was confused and tired and said not really? Then he says are you sure take a better look? And I saw they where all the new ones! Then a cool guy says here take this one and I’ll ride yours. I said I am new and kinda suck and he said perfect. So by now we where about out of the mountains coming down but it was a gentle glade with deep snow and so I rode it. Was a 600 obviously with 154x3 . I can tell you it felt way different than mine (21 hardcore 154x2.6) it was way smaller and lower and compact. The boards where good and the fit felt more organized. I suck at snowmobiling and struggle to do all the edge stuff but I know the theory on how and why. It was much easier and much more stable than mine. It took a quick counter stear and just a shift and it would start to lean over. It was nicer than mine cause it was easy and slow to fall and had a way bigger sweet spot. I usually can’t just edge and I fall down the fall line alot and I could just hold it and go slow or a little fast (not like you guys) it was really awesome. We got down and they let me go in a giant field with about 18 inches of snow and I tore it all around doing all the carve stuff. It really is smooth and the center of gravity/tip/balance thing is way way easier better than my hardcore. Since iam really not good I don’t go super fast but I thought I better cause it’s my chance. It wasn’t the same feeling as mine but it was way smoother and it was quick and it was plenty fast for me . I even did a wheelie from rolling start on flat. Not a cool big wheelie but a jr wheelie. It had the cool belt drive hum like a supercharger but they wouldn’t let me pull the panels off or take pictures lol. It has a cool tunnel too like a mod style taper and a tiny seat more like a skidoo. Legend guide (has worked as a test guy, worked for magazines and hill climber from the day) said he thought it was going to bring guys back to cat. Head artic cat guy did t say no when I said ,”you think the turbos going to be ready soon?” He did say ,”big motor 25” the sled was awesome. Reminded me of a race car all used and abused and taken to the test. Iam going to try and get one. Only thing is the powder blue is kinda to much lol. Oh has cool bumpers too like after market look to them. Better steering post no slop and no jerk when you hit hard stuff on edge , new riser and bars same buttons though. Cool looking plastics and screens . Sorry I don’t really know what I was looking at but it was better for me to ride than mine and I had been riding a 23 skidoo a lot today too and it was just super smooth and precise. I think your all going to like it! I think it’ll be enough sled for a lot of guys and could be a fun play sled for guys too. My sled struggled a bit in the sugar today so nothing is perfect it I really think it’s going to be good. They did say they had meet their production auto allready. So yeah iam a cool kid now (iam 55) cause iam a test pilot for artic cat lol! Highlight of my year lol!!!
