Winter has finally fallen here in Utah. It took a few false starts, but the backcountry is alive with the sound of two strokes ripping through fresh powder. Oh yeah, it's snowmobile season once again.
It's a time of year I look forward to, as shredding backcountry snow is among my favorite things to do. Getting stuck, not so much. But when you get into that rhythm, carving fresh powder, slicing through the snow, going back and forth, and ripping sick wheelies, well, that's about the best feeling you can have with your clothes on.
Not everyone, however, has experienced that feeling. And not everyone has had the privilege to play around with the latest and greatest snowmobiles around. Some folks are stuck with their ancient machines or have never pressed their thumbs into the bars in anger. Polaris is attempting to solve that by once again bringing back its fan-favorite free snowmobile test rides, which will be going on throughout the country at a number of Polaris Adventures locations.
"Our goal is to make winter adventure accessible and fun," said Jenny Nack, vice president and general manager, Polaris Snow, adding, "We are proud to bring this program back in 2026 because it’s all about helping people embrace the season, try something new, and create unforgettable memories on Polaris snowmobiles while exploring stunning snow-covered destinations."
The free rides will occur at Polaris' Adventures locations, which are spread out throughout the United States. There are five locations in the West, five in the Central portion of the US, and two on the East Coast. And according to Polaris, the free rides program involves an hour-long trail ride with one of its Adventures outfitters, which provides helmets for those who don't have them.
And again, it's free.
For those interested in the excursions, as well as testing out some of Polaris' new sleds, all you'll need to do is find a participating location through the site here, make a reservation, sign a waiver, and show up to shred the gnar. Sorry, I'll never repeat that sentence again. And, personally, I might do this, as it's been a minute since I've personally tried out a new Polaris snowmobile. Those backcountry Khaos models look like my cup of tea, and their ambassador Chris Burandt seems like my kind of dude.
Maybe I'll see you out there!
