Five-time snocross champion Elias Ishoel is retiring from snowmobile racing after a short but incredibly fruitful career. He announced the shocking news at a Ski-Doo racing press conference at the Hay Days Grass Drags on September 6.

     The Norway native earned five consecutive Pro championships on the ISOC Amsoil Championship Series from the 2018-19 season through the 2022-23 season. In doing so in such dominant fashion, Ishoel, 27, evoked discussions of where he ranked among the best-ever in snocross.

     Ishoel was leading the points race again on January 28, 2024, when he was the victim of a violent and life-threatening crash in Deadwood, South Dakota. He suffered more than 15 broken bones – including a femur – as well as a collapsed lung and other major injuries.

     After a very long recovery, Ishoel miraculously won his first race back on the circuit in Ironwood, Michigan, 10 months later. Still, the long-term effects of the injuries remained. And now they have caused his retirement.  

     “I raced for 15 years, and I am more nervous right now than I’ve ever been on a starting line ever,” Ishoel said with a shaky voice before a large crowd at Hay Days. “I’m going to hang up my helmet and retire from racing. It has been a really hard choice to make.”

     After speaking of his victorious comeback last December at Ironwood, Ishoel said, “I never got back to where I wanted to be. I can’t count on one hand how many good days I had on my sled last year. I did pretty good, but I wasn’t happy with where I was and I was struggling more with my body than it may have looked. I kind of thought over the summer that it was going to be better, but it feels like I am stuck with where I’d been the whole winter.”

And, being a five-time former champion, Ishoel said if he can’t compete 100 percent for victories, he doesn’t want to be on the track.

      In a sidebar conversation later, Ishoel told us he had nerve damage in one forearm that affected his wrist and hand, and nerve damage in his lower back that affected his legs.

      The news came as a shock to the snowmobile racing community. Many expected Ishoel to return this year and challenge two-time defending champion Emil Harr to get his title back.

Ishoel also stunned the sport when he first showed up as a young and fearless force from Norway back in 2015. He seemed to have a hyper aggressive, win-or-crash mentality at first. But as he matured, so did his riding style, and he became a true champion and ambassador of the sport.

     Below is the full press release from Ski-Doo on the Ishoel retirement.

SKI-DOO RACER ELIAS ISHOEL TO RETIRE  

5-Time ISOC Pro Champion
Current FIM Snocross World Champion
15 Pro-Lite wins
47 Pro wins

Valcourt, Quebec, September 6, 2025 — Ski-Doo snocross racer Elias Ishoel has announced that he will retire from racing effective immediately. As one of the most successful racers ever, Ishoel captured five consecutive ISOC Pro class championships in North America and last season took the FIM Snocross World Championship title in Europe. But what he’ll likely be most remembered for was his electrifying style of racing.

When Elias was on track, fans didn’t want to take their eyes off him as he made daring maneuvers in the corners, over the jumps or through the bumps – you didn’t know what to expect, or where – you just knew it was coming and it was usually BIG. His sled control was a work of art – precision at high speed in ever changing track conditions – and often on the ragged edge or so it seemed for most, except him.

Ishoel has sustained two consecutive years of injuries that have contributed to his announcement – the most serious one happening in 2023-24 season at the Deadwood, South Dakota race where a sled landed on him causing over 15 bone fractures, a collapsed lung and major contusions. But he bounced back with determination and grit to win the season opener in the 2024-25 season at Ironwood Michigan and was leading the points race before suffering a couple practice injuries that dragged on and affected his performance. In explaining his reasons for retiring he pointed to physical demands of the sport. Ishoel said that his body wasn’t recovering as fast and reacting the same, which limits his on-track performance – something he doesn’t want to compromise.

A message from Elias:

“Walking away from racing is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. Over the summer I pushed myself in training, but I haven’t been able to find the progress or the good feeling I need to compete the way I expect of myself. Coming back last year and leading after the injury was wild, but my body doesn’t feel the same, and I don’t think it ever will. For me, Snocross has always been about having fun and winning championships—and if I’m not able to chase that with a good feeling, it’s time to step back.

After the injuries I suffered in Deadwood, I thought about stepping away last year, but my love for the Skogquist Race Team brought me back. This team, this sport, and this community mean everything to me, and that’s what makes this decision so tough. Without the strong connection between my mind and body, though, I know it’s time.

My heart will always belong to Snocross. I want to find a way to stay connected to the sport and to the people who have supported me through every high and low. For now, I just want to say thank you—to my team, my family, my fans, and everyone in the Snocross community. Time will tell what comes next, but I know this isn’t goodbye.” – Elias Ishoel

Ishoel will stay involved in racing as he coaches and helps racers learn from his experiences.

A brief history of Elias Ishoel’s BRP/Ski-Doo racing career is below:

Europe:

2014: Won the Swedish championship
2014: Won the Norwegian championship

USA:

• 2014/2015: Warnert Racing, Invited by BRP to race in the US for the first 2 rounds – he did so well he was signed to Warnert Racing for the remainder of the season in the Pro-Lite class. Finished 2nd in Championship 
• 2015/16: Warnert Racing, Pro-Lite. 3rd in Championship
• 2016/17: Warnert Racing, Pro (Rookie, Finished 10th)
• 2017/18: Boss Racing (Injured)
• 2018/19: Boss Racing, Pro Champion
• 2019/20: Boss Racing, Pro Champion
• 2020/21: Boss Racing, Pro Champion
• 2021/22: Thene Motorsports, Pro Champion
• 2022/23: Thene Motorsports, Pro Champion
• 2023/24: Skogquist Race Team, Injured at Deadwood while leading points.
• 2024/25: Skogquist Race Team, Won first race back after Deadwood injury, Was leading points until a practice injury.

From everyone at Ski-Doo we thank Elias for making history with us.

Fans can follow Elias and Ski-Doo on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about his plans, Ski-Doo Racing, Ski-Doo snowmobiles and the technologies available in snowmobiles for everyone to enjoy the sport!

About BRP

BRP Inc. is a global leader in the world of powersports products, propulsion systems and boats built on over 80 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. Through its portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive brands featuring Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and pontoons, Can-Am on and off-road vehicles, Quintrex boats, Manitou pontoons and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts and recreational aircraft, BRP unlocks exhilarating adventures and provides access to experiences across different playgrounds. The Company completes its lines of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and apparel portfolio to fully optimize the riding experience. Committed to growing responsibly, BRP is developing electric models for its existing product lines. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, BRP had annual sales of CA$7.8 billion from over 130 countries and employed approximately 16,500 driven, resourceful people as of January 31, 2025.