ISHOF Inductees - 2024

Ross Antworth - Trail & Program Developer
Lower Kingsclear, New Brunswick

Ross Antworth

Snowmobiling since 1972, Ross began his dedication to the sport as a volunteer. He assisted his local snowmobile club, the Keswick River Trailblazers as their vice president and president. His involvement quickly gained momentum, going from local to the provincial level. In October of 1996 he was elected to the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (NBFSC) Board of Directors as the Zone 4 Director. In 1997, Ross was appointed by the NBFSC as their General Manager and held this position until retiring in 2021. One year prior to becoming GM for the Federation, their fiscal year revenues were less than $350,000.00. Twenty four years later and one year prior to his retirement. Ross presented the board of directors with a year-end audited financial statement of $4.95 million in revenue. The growth was credited to the numerous relationships formed, successful legislative measures and consistent lobbying done provincially and on a federal level over the span of more than two decades, of which Ross played a huge role. In 1997, mandatory personal liability insurance was enacted. In 2000, mandatory trail permits were in place. By 2007, a dedicated government trail enforcement unit for snowmobiles was created and in 2010, liability indemnification was granted to landowners, volunteers, clubs and the NBFSC. In 2013, Ross was approached by the President of the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO) to lead the CCSO Board of Directors toward a national strategy for the future. By June of 2014, with Ross at the helm, the Federal Government launched a $10 million National Recreational Trails Program. He was then elected as the Chair of the International Association of Snowmobile Administrators (IASA). He was the first Canadian to hold that office and did so from 2003-2007. Overall he represented New Brunswick at the IASA for 23 years. Ross has received numerous local, national and international awards for his work promoting organized snowmobiling over the course of 24 years. Some of his most notable recognitions include IASA Award of Professional Excellence in 2008, the New Brunswick Tourism Industry Association’s Minister’s Award for Tourism Excellence in 2009, and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal of Honor which was awarded by Canada’s Federal Minister for Employment and Social Development in 2012. Ross was also inducted into the Iron Dog Brigade in 2013 and in 2017 was awarded the Brigade’s Distinguished Service Award. His keen insights and hands on approach have led to the development of major enhancements to the New Brunswick trail system and trail systems internationally. His remarkable achievements and profound impact on the snowmobile community make Ross Antworth an obvious choice for induction into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2024.       

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Mike Hetteen - Volunteer & Club Organizer & Industry
Roseau, Minnesota

Mike Hetteen

Snowmobiling has been a part of Mike’s life since he was born. Growing up in the “Polaris family” created the opportunity for him to learn and experience the sport from its early beginnings into what it is today. His childhood memories of Polaris go back as far as 1967. It was this very early era of snowmobiling when his father, Allan Hetteen would bring him along to all the major snowmobile shows, give a very young boy the task on checking out the booths of other sled manufacturers and report his findings to his father. By the early to mid-seventies, Mike worked many hours after school at his father’s Polaris Distributorship preparing parts to ship to dealers. As an adult, Mike worked for Polaris thirty six years in all, for the first four years as a District Sales Manager for NW Minnesota and the Dakotas. These were challenging times for a young DSM and his dealers due to low snow years and an energy crisis resulting in many dealers and sled manufacturers going out of business. Fortunately, Polaris persevered. The next thirty two years Mike worked in Purchasing holding various positions with focus on supplier management, product development and procuring chassis and powertrain components in North America, Europe and Japan. Mike retired from Polaris in 2016.  Although Mike’s occupation was based on the snowmobile industry, when not at work he dedicated much of his personal time building relationships with like-minded folks who formed the Roseau County Trailblazers. Mike was the driving force behind the development of this organization with its origins dating back to 1987. They believed in the need to have active snowmobile clubs to keep the sport alive and growing. That same mind set was adopted years earlier by his father Allan and uncles Edgar Hetteen and David Johnson. As a volunteer club organizer and trail developer, he spearheaded the CAN-AM International Snowmobile Trail in 1990, working with government officials from both Minnesota and Manitoba and Sno-Man, the Manitoba Snowmobile Association. This trail goes from Roseau, MN to Falcon Lake, Manitoba, approximately 100 miles, setting the stage for the first snowmobile trail crossing the US/Canadian border. It is still in place today. Mike has always felt the continuing need to be involved in snowmobile organizations on a local, state, national and international level. His lifelong commitment to the snowmobile industry places him squarely in the 2024 Class of the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame.    

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Mark & Kent Lester - Publishers & Journalists
Minden, Ontario

Mark & Kent Lester

Mark & Kent Lester are avid snowmobilers who discovered their favorite winter passion in the late 1970’s, riding the trails thousands of miles across North America in pursuit of that next remarkable story or iconic photograph. It is this unbridled dedication to the sport of snowmobiling and their talent for writing that lays claim to the success of Supertrax Media. In 1988, Mark and Kent Lester took advantage of an opportunity to combine their passion for snowmobiling with their skills as journalists, becoming co-founders of Supertrax Magazine. First published in late 1989 and only in Canada, they quickly evolved to a national publication known as Supertrax International Magazine by 1991. This rapid expansion was due mainly to the Lester brother’s partnership with renowned writer, photographer and publisher, the late CJ Ramstad. Mark worked alongside CJ shooting virtually all the photos for the magazine. This partnership launched Supertrax as the first true international snowmobile publication. Soon, other publishing opportunities were added to the bother’s portfolio as they expanded into the television market by launching “Snow Trax TV”. As the business continued to grow, by 2010, Trax Media Inc. was formed combining their publishing, television and digital entities under one umbrella.  It is a family business that includes the next generation of Lesters, both Mark’s and Kent’s sons and their team of professional writers, photographers and videographers. Mark and Kent have built their “Supertrax” brand into an international multi-media enterprise, successfully able to navigate through the many challenges that have altered the face of mainstream media in recent years. The Lester’s multi-media accomplishments have given them a premier platform for snowmobile related businesses to connect effectively with their target snowmobile market, including manufacturers and aftermarket businesses. It also helped to promote and improve organized snowmobiling in both Canada and the U.S. as well as extend their reach to include that hard to get demographic of younger snowmobilers. For more than four decades, Mark & Kent Lester have been North American media leaders, making an iconic contribution to the snowmobile industry, to winter tourism, to snowmobilers and to organized snowmobiling. They built the Supertrax brand into a household name via broadcasting, shows, print and online marketing. These outstanding achievements place Mark & Kent Lester in the Publishers & Journalists category for 2024 induction into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame.   

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Dave Newman - Volunteer & Club Organizer
Unity, Wisconsin

Dave Newman

Dave has been involved in snowmobiling since he was 16 years old. Starting out on the family farm riding his 1972 John Deere, he joined his local snowmobile club. Little did he know just how much his involvement would turn out to be not only on a hometown level but also county, state, national and even internationally. Still very young, he was club president for many years, then moving on to the county level he became the Clark County Director for the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC). He was elected Executive Director which eventually took him to AWSC Vice President. Four years after that Dave became President of the AWSC, a position he held for nine consecutive terms, 2014 to 2023. He was the longest running president in AWSC history. He spent endless hours at the state capitol testifying on legislation for funding increases, trail rule changes, GPS trackers in groomers and worked with the DNR on snowmobile safety training. Dave, working with AWSC lobbyists, also testified on issues to protect snowmobilers’ interests in the state budget every year. Perhaps Dave’s most significant legacy as Vice President and President was his tireless pursuit in getting Wisconsin’s Snowmobile Trail Pass legislation passed and implemented. This took many years but resulted in significant increases in club membership as well as more funding for existing trail infrastructure and new miles of trail funding. Dave served two terms on the Governor’s Snowmobile Recreation Council where he was chairperson of the finance committee. He has been in Washington DC numerous times talking with Senators and Representatives on issues that involve snowmobiling on a national level. More of Dave’s attributes are his participation in implementing AWSC VIP Rides, Military Rides, Snowmobile Friendly Community Awards, Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Badger State Torch Ride always promoting safe and responsible snowmobiling. Many years Dave has gone to the International Snowmobile Congress (ISC) to represent AWSC. He was chairperson of the ISC in Green Bay, WI in 2013 and he is a committee member for the ISC in Green Bay in 2024. In 2023, Dave was elected Vice President of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA). His commitment to snowmobiling just doesn’t stop. He still manages to ride 2,500 to 3,000 miles a year. It is this brand of daily dedication to snowmobiling that deservingly places Dave Newman in the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2024.

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Brenda Welsh - Volunteer & Club Organizer
Huntsville, Ontario

Brenda Welsh

Brenda Welsh was the quintessential snowmobiling volunteer at the local, regional, provincial and national levels. She was truly a representative of the many whose past and present volunteer contributions keep organized snowmobiling alive and well in Canada. As a 34-year snowmobiling volunteer from Huntsville, Ontario, Brenda made history in 2010 when she took office as the first female president of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC). In 2012, Brenda was honored by the Government of Canada as a recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for two decades of volunteering for organized snowmobiling in Canada. Brenda also served many years with the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO) where she volunteered as vice president and secretary-treasurer. She also served as vice president then president of the National Trails Coalition. Starting out as a club volunteer in 1987, Brenda worked her way up through the presidency of both the Huntsville based Du-Ya-Wanna Snowmobile Club and the Muskoka Snowmobile Region before moving on to the OFSC, the CCSO and the National Trails Coalition. Brenda brought her love for snowmobiling to every position as well as a wealth of knowledge and leadership skills. She earned a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Guelph, a Masters of Business Administration from York University and a Certified General Accountant designation. Brenda and her husband Tom owned and operated a highly successful family business, Huntsville Marine. As busy as she was with family and work, Brenda always had time for being a snowmobiling volunteer, mentor and leader. She always set a positive, creative example by thinking “outside of the box” rather than the typical status-quo. Brenda showed that there was a sense of community and belonging to be found within a snowmobile club. Her passion for volunteering paved the way for many others to follow in her footsteps. The entire Canadian snowmobile community lost a major visionary and devoted friend on August 22, 2021, with the untimely passing of Brenda Welsh, “Canada’s First Lady of Snowmobiling”. Her unconditional dedication to the sport of snowmobiling is what made Brenda Welsh an obvious choice for posthumous induction in the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2024.

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ISHOF Snowmobile Club of the Year 2024 - Sponsored by Woody's, 
the American Council of Snowmobile Associations,
the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations &
the International Snowmobile Council

Chute Pond Snowmobile Club
Mountain,  Wisconsin

The Chute Pond  Snowmobile Club is based out of the small town of Mountain in Oconto County. They maintain 120 miles of snowmobile trails on public and private land. This is done by a team of 12 groomer operators utilizing four grooming rigs all backed by a 235 member roster, many of whom collectivity contribute hundreds of hours working on their trails. This club is always visible promoting themselves and more importantly promoting the sport. This is done year-round, encouraging new members to “Join a Club” by participating in several parades during the summer months, Halloween events in Fall, helping children wrap gifts as part of Santa’s workshop and working concessions stands at school sporting events. Their primary club fundraising event is their annual “Blast from the Past” which consists of a vintage ride and show, complemented by a vintage sled raffle. Club members represent the club and help out with fundraisers that benefit other organizations as well, like the MS/ALS golf outing and the veteran’s flag memorial site in the nearby town of Suring. This club has also held cancer benefits to help various members of the community for those with unexpected hospital costs. Snowmobiling safety is always a high priority for the Chute Pond Club. WI DNR sanctioned safety courses are held every April and October. They use local TV news broadcasts regularly to warn folks of how the weather can impact snow conditions favorably and negatively. The club works hard to help provide a great riding experience for snowmobile enthusiasts. They strive to help maintain tourism by impacting local businesses in a healthy local economy and maintaining the best snowmobile trails weather conditions will allow. This is just a brief summary of why The Chute Pond Snowmobile Club is an excellent choice for the 2024 International Snowmobile Club of the Year. 

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ISHOF Snowmobile Club of the Year 2024 - Sponsored by Woody's, 
the American Council of Snowmobile Associations.
the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations &
the International Snowmobile Council
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Western Sno-Riders Snowmobile Club
Corner Brook, Newfoundland

The Western Sno-Riders play a vital role in maintaining and promoting safe snowmobiling. The club and their dedicated volunteers have been successful in growing the sport of snowmobiling in their area, while contributing to the local economy. Members of the club take great pride in their trails and warm up shelters. The club maintains 407 kilometers (253 miles) of trail network. They have upgraded a number of their trails making them multi-use. The club has spent over $100,000 on trail improvements including culvert replacements, brush cutting, grading and warm up shelter renovations. Several sub-committees have also grown within the club from the 22 communities that their trails serve. Many of them have started fundraising committees to gain the means to conduct trail repairs near their towns, making them more accessible to gas stations, restaurants and accommodations. Western Sno-Riders are dedicated to promoting snowmobile safety and trail responsibility through social media, safety seminars and educational workshops. Their trails are well-developed and well marked, providing riders with confidence and reassurance. The club does an excellent job of monitoring any safety hazards on the trails and notifying the public through their large following on social media. Western Sno-Riders frequently remind the public of being environmentally conscious to ensure that the sport is enjoyed without causing harm to the environment. They have been successful in raising awareness of the value of being a volunteer by making sure they know their time and the work they do is respected and appreciated. Their Board includes Jr. Directors who are mentored and trained. It is this commitment to excellence that makes the Western Sno-Riders so deserving of the International Snowmobile Club of the Year Award for 2024.   

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ISHOF Dealer of the Year 2024 - sponsored by Snow Goer, 
the American Council of Snowmobile Associations​. 
the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations &
The International Snowmobile Council

Rocky Mountain Powersports
Rock Springs, Wyoming

The owner of Rocky Mountain Powersports, Pete Leibee has been instrumental in supporting the sport of snowmobiling in conjunction with local clubs and clubs across the state for over 20 years. His dealership has been known to donate raffle items that span from hats to snowmobiles and side-by-sides. Rocky Mountain Powersports has been credited with achieving fundraising goals in and outside the snowmobile industry such as hospitals, animal shelters and scholarships. Pete was a visionary with trail side safety shelters. His participation was essential when it came to the construction and maintenance of two of the most widely used permanent shelters in the state’s trail system for a variety of users all year long. Rocky Mountain Powersports continually hires, trains and mentors youth from within the community involving them in the sport of snowmobiling. This dealership was instrumental in installing some of the first avalanche beacon check points in Wyoming and also played a role in expanding larger parking areas for trucks and trailers. Rocky Mountain Powersports advocates for responsible use and are good stewards of the land. Pete has attended numerous meetings with the U.S. Forest Service to maintain and keep our rights for public access to public lands. He encourages healthy partnerships and stresses the importance of these relationships for the future of snowmobiling. Rocky Mountain Powersports exemplifies innovative practices and a commitment to excellence which makes this community leader a worthy choice for the 2024 International Snowmobile Dealer of the Year.