The November issue of Snow Goer magazine is out, in which the editors named the 2012 F1100 Turbo Sno Pro the “Snowmobile of the Year.”
Similarly, SledHead 24/7 named the 2012 XF1100 Turbo Sno Pro their “Sled of the Year,” while American Snowmobiler named the same machine “Best Crossover” and tipped the F1100 Turbo Sno Pro the “Editor’s Choice.”
This is definitely cool and well-deserved. Congrats to Arctic Cat.
As a member of the snowmobile press corps since 1948, I’ve seen both sides of the sled award equation. I was one of the Snow Goer editors who helped name the 1991 EXT Special the SOTY (a choice that, in hindsight, seems pretty tenuous).
I’ve seen some goofball SOTY picks over the years, and some spot-on ones.
The problem with such awards is that the media base their decisions on riding prototype machines for a few days in one (high elevation) location in March. These prototypes are seldom “finished” in terms of calibration, and sometimes are so far off as to see significant component changes in production units.
I understand why the media wants to give awards: It’s a back-door way of promoting themselves and getting some extra advertising revenue.
My question for you is: Does an award from the snowmobile media influence you, in any way?
Has it ever influenced a purchase?
Does it act more as a reinforcement of a decision you’ve already made?
Or is it completely irrelevant?
There are no wrong answers here. I’m just curious what impact (if any) such awards have on you?