MEET BCS’ RIDERS: CARL KUSTER

From X Games podiums to the powder-filled mountains of British Columbia, Carl Kuster has spent a lifetime pushing snowmobiling forward. These days, he's just as interested in bringing others along.

Somewhere in northern Alberta, a four-year-old kid sat in front of his dad on an old Olympic Ski-Doo, learning to sidehill a ditch. That kid was Carl Kuster, and while the terrain was hardly legendary, the experience stuck. Decades later, he's a four-time X Games medalist, mountain snowmobiling pioneer and one of the most recognizable names in the sport.

FROM THE RACETRACK TO THE MOUNTAINS

"Racing was just one of the chapters," Carl says. "There are more chapters to come. My true love was exploration in the mountains."

After a decade of professional racing, Carl turned his attention to the backcountry, where deep powder, steep sidehills and technical terrain offered an entirely different challenge. More than two decades working alongside Ski-Doo helped turn that experience into innovations that influenced modern mountain snowmobiles.

But after a lifetime spent pushing the limits, Carl's measure of a great day has become considerably less technical. "What it really all boils down to is the feeling or sensation that the moment is bringing to you."

Sometimes that's mastering a difficult manoeuvre. Other times it's the scenery, the silence when the engines shut off or the people sharing the experience.

SHARING THE MOUNTAINS OF SICAMOUS

Between Revelstoke and Sicamous, BC's Monashee Mountains deliver the kind of deep powder, big terrain and alpine adventure that have put this region on the map for mountain snowmobilers. It's here that Carl established Carl Kuster Mountain Park (CKMP), offering guided snowmobile adventures across more than 100,000 acres of mountain terrain, with access to elevations ranging from 1,200 to 10,000 feet.

With certified backcountry guides, a fleet of Ski-Doo snowmobiles and mountain lodges to settle into after a day on the snow, CKMP offers more than a typical guided tour. Whether you're looking to sharpen your technical skills or explore unfamiliar terrain with experienced local guides, the experience is built around discovering what makes mountain snowmobiling in BC so extraordinary.

But for Carl, the real measure of a great day isn't how much terrain you've covered.

"It's a combination of challenge, scenery and friendship. The sooner you can help someone get to the flow state on a snowmobile is exactly the point when it becomes contagious."

He calls it a "Little Johnny" ride, inspired by that first experience with his dad. Bring someone along, share what you love and give them a chance to discover the feeling for themselves.

WHAT WE PASS ON

After decades in the sport, Carl has seen more than machines evolve. Avalanche education, backcountry safety and responsible motorized access have become increasingly important parts of mountain snowmobiling. He's a strong advocate for the clubs and organizations working to protect the places riders explore.

For Carl, passing that knowledge forward is personal. His father introduced him to snowmobiling but didn't get to enjoy the sport for as many years as he might have. Today, Carl's work as a guide and mentor is partly about helping others keep learning, exploring and experiencing the mountains for as long as possible.

The machines have changed. The mountains have gotten bigger. But sometimes, all it takes to create a lifelong snowmobiler is someone willing to bring them along.