UPDATED: The Pro Armor brand on July launched Pro Armor Snow – a new accessory line with some familiar-looking mountain-focused products, many named after some familiar backcountry athletes. Specifically, Pro Armor Snow will include lines of products tied to Chris Burandt, Dan Adams, Bret Rasmussen and Matt Entz.
Those same four athletes had branded product lines through Skinz – an innovative aftermarket company that was originally founded by Jeff and Tammy Hawksworth in Minnesota in the early 2000s before it moved to Arizona in 2017 and then shut down most of its operations earlier this year.
The “Snow” page on the Pro Armor website includes a collection of bumpers, luggage, snow flaps and console knees pads, with some links on the page still waiting to be filled out.
On a side note, we at Snow Goer worked with Pro Armor on some project quads and other things back in the 2000-2010 era when we had sister publications in the ATV/UTV market. We came away impressed with their products, and their ability to manufacture and deliver. That, of course, was before the pandemic and its supply chain challenges, but we hold Pro Armor in high regard based on our previous workings with them. The company is now a subsidiary of Polaris after being purchased late in 2014. Its UTV line is definitely dominated by products for Polaris RZRs, but it does make select products for other brand side-by-sides as well. Pro Armor is also now led by a former Polaris snowmobile marketing manager, Andy Kroll. Other aftermarket brands acquired by Polaris in that same era include Klim, 509, Kolpin, Timbersled and Cycle Country.
Below you’ll find the official announcement from Pro Armor, followed by individual press releases about each athlete:
Pro Armor Snow Press Release
“Every ride has a story.” Pro Armor’s brand promise does not, and should not, limit the brand to any one rider community. Pro Armor is well positioned to enhance riders’ adventures – in any climate, any terrain, and any vehicle – with custom, purpose-built style and performance accessories to help make every ride truly one-of-a-kind.
Pro Armor is excited to announce its expansion into the snow accessory market, beginning in the 2022-23 season. The product portfolio will initially be geared towards the mountain rider segment of the market. Passionate mountain riders exude confidence without hesitation, a function of rider ability combined with sled performance; this is the same rider mindset as the Side by Side rider that Pro Armor has successfully supported for decades. This launch will be coupled with partnerships with top snowmobile athletes in the sport – including Chris Burandt, Dan Adams, Bret Rasmussen, and Matt Entz – that will help drive intuitive product design, the highest levels of testing and validation, and ultimately, better accessories to help riders go farther, higher, and deeper than they ever thought possible.
“Our goal is to expand the Pro Armor footprint into the snow market while staying true to the brand’s DNA by launching accessories for the high performance, backcountry sled rider, ” said Andy Kroll, President of Pro Armor and former Brand Manager for Polaris snowmobiles. “Pro Armor has been delivering accessory solutions to riders for over 20 years, first to quad riders, more recently to Side by Side riders, and now to back country snow riders as well. Helping riders elevate their style and performance is in our DNA, and we’re excited to bring this passion to the snow community as well.”
The capabilities at Pro Armor extend from design all the way through manufacturing and distribution, to allow riders to fully customize their ride from top to bottom. Pro Armor’s goal is to help make riders’ vehicles an extension of who they are and help them write the next story in their epic adventures.
Check out www.proarmor.com/en-us/snow/ to learn more about this new and exciting venture from the leaders in premium and customized powersport aftermarket accessories.
Chris Burandt Announcement
Pro Armor is excited to announce its newest partnership with Chris Burandt. From growing up on snowmobiles to pushing boundaries in the backcountry, Chris has truly seen and exceled at everything that can be done on a sled. By means of his extensive career and on-snow experience, Chris lends his immense product knowledge and innovative ideas to the new Pro Armor portfolio of snow accessories.
“Aligning with Chris as we launch Pro Armor Snow allows us to tap into one of the premier riders in the sport. We know Chris would never put anything on his sled that was not of the utmost premium quality, and that is exactly what we strive to deliver,” said Andy Kroll, President of Pro Armor.
The partnership with Chris will integrate product development and design with the highest levels of testing and validation. Expect a premium line of co-branded accessories featuring Chris’s personal brand tied in with Pro Armor Snow in the future.
The wheels are already turning in Chris’s head regarding new product, stating that “This opportunity to partner with Pro Armor will allow me to continue bringing innovative products to the industry. As it has been from the beginning, my main agenda of reducing weight and increasing sled performance will be at the forefront all while adding signature styles and custom looks. Lots of fun things up ahead…stay tuned!”
Matt Entz Announcement
Pro Armor is pleased to announce its newest partnership with Matt Entz. Matt has a lifelong passion for snowmobiling and has successfully translated that into a professional career as a rider and instructor. Enjoying mountain riding from a young age, Matt has the experience to lend product knowledge and innovative ideas for development to the new Pro Armor portfolio of snow accessories.
“Our partnership with Matt has been a valuable resource with regards to incorporating his on-snow experience with various products and utilizing this to further improve on product design, development and testing, which ultimately leads to better solutions for our customers.” said Andy Kroll, President of Pro Armor.
The partnership with Matt will integrate product development and design with the highest levels of testing and validation.
Matt is eager to be working with the team at Pro Armor and continuing the partnership for seasons to come, stating that “it’s awesome to see Pro Armor entering the snowmobile world and I’m excited to partner with them! We have used their products for years on RZRs for our summer business. I have always appreciated the quality of their parts and love the aggressive styling. Really looking forward to their new line of snowmobile products and what’s to come in the future. I love being involved in all phases from sharing ideas for development, testing, and putting the final product to use.”
Dan Adams Announcement
Pro Armor is eager to announce its newest partnership with Dan Adams, his NXT LVL Riding Clinics and NXT LVL Brand. Dan has been a professional snowmobile rider since his late teens and through his NXT LVL Riding Clinics, he teaches snowmobilers from all over the world the fundamentals of off trail mountain riding. As one of the top athletes in the world of mountain and backcountry snowmobiling, Dan has a wealth of experience, product knowledge and innovative ideas to bring to the new Pro Armor portfolio of snow accessories.
“Bringing Dan on board is a huge win for Pro Armor and gives us an expert in the community to help guide better product design and testing, ultimately leading to better solutions for backcountry riders,” said Andy Kroll, President of Pro Armor.
The partnership with Dan will integrate product development and design with the highest levels of testing and validation. Expect a premium line of co-branded accessories featuring Dan’s NXT LVL brand tied in with Pro Armor Snow.
Dan is looking forward to getting things started in a fast-paced environment, stating that “partnering with the team at Pro Armor allows me to support what I see as a premium aftermarket brand breaking into the snow industry at full throttle. I am excited to lend my experience in helping build the highest quality of snow accessories through product design and development.”
Bret Rasmussen Announcement
Pro Armor is thrilled to announce its newest partnership with Bret Rasmussen. As one of the true pioneers of snowmobiling, Bret is one of the most recognizable names in the industry and brings a lifetime of experience, product knowledge and innovative ideas to lend to the new Pro Armor portfolio of snow accessories.
“We at Pro Armor could not be more excited to be partnering with Bret, as he brings such an extensive legacy, wealth of knowledge and the utmost respect within the snow community to us as we expand into the snow market this upcoming season,” said Andy Kroll, President of Pro Armor.
The partnership with Bret will integrate product development and design with the highest levels of testing and validation. Bret is already diving right in, stating that “I am eager to begin working with the team at Pro Armor, taking advantage of their resources and practical experience in off road vehicle accessories. Together we will continue the highest in quality and functionality in snowmobile performance parts, providing riders the opportunity to personalize and improve their ride, enhancing their own ride style.”
Editor’s Note: Every Snow Goer issue includes in-depth sled reports and comparisons, aftermarket gear and accessories reviews, riding destination articles, do-it-yourself repair information, snowmobile technology and more. Subscribe to Snow Goer now to receive print and/or digital issues.
