A second-generation snowmobiling insider from Montana, an association leader from Michigan, a well-known syndicated snowmobile journalist from Ontario plus a grassroots leader and high-mile explorer from Michigan make up the 2022 class of inductees into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame (ISHOF).
The class was announced in person at the recent International Snowmobile Congress in Iowa, and the press release (below) was distributed on June 15 by ISHOF. That actual induction ceremony will be held in Eagle River, Wisconsin, in September, when members of this historic class will be honored and have their pictures hanged on the walls of the World Snowmobile Headquarters.
There were also specialty awards winners announced, include an Edgar Hetteen Memorial Award of Merit, International Groomer of the Year, International Snowmobile Club of the Year and International Dealer of the Year. We’ll post that part of the story shortly.
For now, let’s let the Hall of Fame tell you why and how Jason Howell, Ed Klim, Don Low and Craig Nicholson earned their spot in this prestigious club. Press release below:
Let’s Meet the ISHOF Class of 2022 Inductees
We are honored to officially announce the inductees to the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022. For 33 years, this prestigious Hall of Fame honor is bestowed upon the incoming class of recipients in recognition of their achievements in the sport of snowmobiling; as awarded each year from select categories that include:
- Inventors, Designers & Manufacturers
- Explorers & Adventurers
- Trail & Program Developers
- Volunteers & Club Organizers
- Publishers & Journalists
Jason Howell of West Yellowstone, Montana
Inventor, Designer & Manufacturer
Jason started riding snowmobiles at a young age. His parents bought a Kitty Cat for he and his brother and they would ride for hours every night after school. This would mark the beginning of his passion for snowmobiling. The Howell Family started an Arctic Cat/Yamaha dealership and the first snowmobile rental facility in the 1970s in West Yellowstone.
He attended college at Montana Tech in Butte, Montana, where he graduated with an engineering degree. Upon graduation he started working for the State of Montana Department of Administration as a Supervising Engineer.
Eventually his passion for snowmobiling called him back to West Yellowstone to manage the Yellowstone Park sled rentals and the family’s dealership. Jason’s involvement with Arctic Cat grew well beyond the dealership. With his input, Arctic Cat soon realized they were headed down the wrong path with their mountain sled development. In 1997 Jason was hired by Arctic Cat as their engineering team manager to head up the new mountain sled division. He convinced Arctic Cat to build a research and testing facility near the West Yellowstone area and Jason began recruiting his team of engineers. The result of those efforts became the M series (mountain) division.
In 2008, Jason left Arctic Cat to come back to West Yellowstone to assist in the daily operation of the family snowmobile business. His mechanics and guiding certifications proved to be a good fit for the dealership and rental business. Jason became involved in other aspects of the snowmobile industry. In 2012, he began his service as the Vice President of the Montana Snowmobile Association (MSA) which continued for four years. He then served as President of MSA from 2016 to 2021. The Howell Family played an instrumental role in keeping Yellowstone Park open to snowmobiling.
Jason learned from the best. His father, Bill Howell, was also inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 1991. Jason is involved in many other snowmobile related organizations. He is active in the Montana Trails Coalition, serves on the advisory committee for the State of Montana’s Snowmobile Program, is a member of the Gallatin County Search and Rescue as well as serving on the West Yellowstone Grooming Association. He attends the International Snowmobile Congress each year and is active in the American Council of Snowmobile Associations. Jason is very deserving of induction into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2022.
Ed Klim of Haslett, Michigan
Inventor, Designer & Manufacturer
With his strong background in economics and communications, Ed Klim honed his skills by being involved with a Chamber of Commerce, working in the RV Industry and serving in the US Army. He then took on a whole new challenge in 1995 when he became President of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA).
A role like this was unprecedented. For the first time, all four snowmobile manufacturers worked together as a united group (ISMA) to develop programs keying on snowmobile safety and promoting the snowmobile industry worldwide. Ed was the catalyst the snowmobile manufacturers relied on to set the programs in motion to shed a more positive light on the sport of snowmobiling and to improve its image.
Ed soon realized that snowmobiling was a huge economic generator for many rural areas throughout the Snowbelt. However, there were many negative myths about snowmobiling that needed to be dispelled regarding snowmobile safety, noise and emissions. Ed addressed these head-on by developing a Snowmobiling Fact Book. The fact book is updated annually with a circulation of over a half a million in printed and digital copy.
This was just the beginning of programs promoting the snowmobile industry in a more positive manner. Programs also include Safe Riders, Emissions and Sound Standards, Clean Snowmobile Challenge, ISMA Land Access Grants, Family Friendly ISMA Photo Shoots, Take a Friend Snowmobiling and most recently Take the Pledge. These programs became well known and accepted by a wide audience from manufacturers, dealers and snowmobile riders to perhaps most importantly, the media.
ISMA developed these programs under the watchful guidance and promotion done by Ed Klim and several sub-committees directing the Public Relations and Public Affairs programs. He took the lead with Yellowstone National Park to make sure the Park was kept open to snowmobiles. This was a major undertaking working with all manufacturers, lobbyists, media, user groups and local leaders to provide legal assistance and letter writing campaigns for many years to find a solution to keep snowmobiling active in Yellowstone. He visited legislators regularly in Washington D.C. armed with Snowmobiling Fact Books to “tell the truth about snowmobiling” on behalf of manufacturers and snowmobilers throughout the entire U.S.
All of this plus his tireless dedication and enthusiastic communication skills make Ed Klim a most deserving candidate for induction into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2022.
David Low of Wayland, Michigan
Volunteer and Club Organizer, Explorer and Adventurer
While running his Citizen Band (CB) Radio sales and service business in the 1970s, a customer suggested a barter of a new CB radio for his Scorpion snowmobile. David knew nothing about snowmobiles at the time but after a single ride that all changed. He was hooked and his passion for all things snowmobile related began. Soon David became a shining example of what a volunteer and club organizerwas all about. David became involved in his local snowmobile club, served on several committees and was elected to positions on local and state levels. Before long, David distinguished himself as one of the most dedicated snowmobilers the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) has ever known.
He served as president of MSA and worked to increase the participation of the Grant Sponsors Program by coordinating groomer workshops to provide training and education in all aspects of the program. David can be counted on as the first guy to put his hand up when there is a call for help. He never says no.
David loves snowmobiling and all his efforts were soon recognized with a multitude of accolades and awards. David was presented with the MSA President’s Award in 2008 and 2015. He was MSA’s Snowmobiler of the Year in 2009. In 2019, David received the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) Snowmobiler of the Year Award. David Low can, without question, be considered an explorer and adventurer. As an example of David’s snowmobile travels, he has participated in every MSA Ride-In since he became a member.
David is also a longtime and active member of the MichCanSka International Snowmobile Club. In 2010, David (along with 11 other members) set out and completed a 4,000-mile (about 6437 kilometer) snowmobile adventure encompassing five states and five Canadian provinces and the Yukon Territory. In 2015, (again with the MichCanSka Club) he completed the World Tour Ride of more than 4,400 air-miles and another 4,080 miles (about 6566 km) on snowmobiles through 12 time zones, which included Michigan, Ontario, Norway, Finland and Russia. In 2019 he participated in MichCanSka’s Western Ride through Yellowstone, Idaho and Montana.
All these adventures were done as fundraising events for Juvenile Diabetes Research helping to raise more than $160,000 for that foundation. David Low can easily be considered a true ambassador to all snowmobilers literally around the world. For that, David is most deserving of his induction into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2022.
Craig Nicholson of Toronto, Ontario
Publisher and Journalist
Popularly known as “The Intrepid Snowmobiler,” Craig Nicholson is a print, radio and TV journalist, social media influencer and communications consultant specializing in motorized recreational activities, especially snowmobiling. Craig has been a high-mileage touring snowmobiler for many years, logging tens of thousands of kilometers on the snow across Canada and the U.S. His one-of-a-kind book, “Canada’s Best Snowmobiling – The Ultimate Ride Guide,” chronicles many of his adventures.
During his distinguished career, Craig’s been touring editor for Supertrax International, North America’s largest circulation snowmobile magazine, and prior to that for Snow Goer Canada magazine. He has also served as editor for the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club’s Go Snowmobiling Ontario Magazine. Craig’s touring and tips articles also appeared in a variety of other snowmobiling publications such as SnowTech, Michigan Snowmobiler, Motoneige Quebec, as well as many mainstream newspapers and magazines. His syndicated Intrepid Snowmobiler on Radio feature aired on many stations in Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan, while Craig also had a regular presence on Snowmobiler Television for many years.
Craig is well known both within and outside of the snowmobile community through this substantial media exposure, including his strong social media presence. Craig is a consummate professional journalist whose exciting, intriguing snowmobile travel features and stories promoted snowmobile tourism far and wide. His ability to tell readers what it’s like to ride in literally hundreds of different destinations is second to none.
In various volunteer roles, Craig furthered responsible use, developing and participating in many snowmobile safety and environment initiatives through the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations, where he also volunteered as Communications Chair. Since the 1980s, Craig has been an influential and passionate advocate for, and defender of, both organized snowmobiling and the snowmobile industry, while also reaching out to promote snowmobiling to the general public.
His support and contributions, both as a journalist and a volunteer, have made the snowmobile community stronger and healthier. It is this service and commitment to snowmobiling that lands Craig Nicholson squarely among the inductees in the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2022.
Join us for ISHOF Induction Weekend in Eagle River, Wisconsin on Sept. 16-17
We invite you to honor the Class of 2022 and special award recipients with a Banquet and Induction Ceremony in their honor. The International Snowmobile Hall of Fame (ISHOF) Induction Ceremony Weekend celebrates and honors those involved in the sport of Snowmobiling; recognizing a new class being inducted into the Hall.
Join the celebration: We invite all industry representatives, dealership personnel, club members, motorsports enthusiasts, friends, fans and supporters alike to attend the ISHOF annual special event weekend. You can join this year’s ISHOF Induction Weekend with fun activities in Eagle River, Wisconsin.
The festivities begin on Friday September 16, 2022 with a Fish and Chicken Buffet and special award presentations for Groomer, Club and Dealer awards. Saturday there will be a formal NY Strip or Chicken Dinner to officially honor the Class of 2022 as they’re inducted into the Hall on September 17, 2022. Both the Friday and Saturday meals will be at Eagle Waters Resort, 3958 Eagle Waters Road, Eagle River, Wisconsin. Saturday event is a semi-formal affair so please dress accordingly for the event.
Show your support for the newly inducted Hall of Fame Class of 2022 and all special award recipients by registering online www.ishof.com to attend. All major credit cards are accepted for secure online payment with immediate receipt and event information provided to you via e-mail with your paid registration. NOTE: Registration is required for all guests and supporters to attend. Registrations closes on September 6, 2022. Thank you for your support. See you in September!
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