Polaris Showcases New 2026 Snowmobile Lineup In Wyoming’s Teton Range

Polaris, makers of some of the most popular snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, just released its 2026 snowmobile lineup, offering new accessories, better performance and a high level of customization for buyers to build their perfect sled. 

To showcase the utility of its new lineup, Polaris brought the best Wyoming riders to the most pristine backcountry terrain it could find in the Teton Range.

In January, the Minnesota-based manufacturer held a marketing photo shoot showcasing the 2026 snowmobile lineup. Polaris has been doing shoots in Wyoming for years, but this one was different.

The shoot featured four Wyoming snowmobilers shot by a Wyoming photographer. 

Polaris wanted to show the world how its machines function in some of the best snowmobiling terrain in the nation and found everything and everyone needed in the Cowboy State.

“They chose to use Wyoming athletes and ambassadors with a Wyoming backdrop,” said Polaris spokesperson Mandy Fabel. “They've done shoots here for quite a while, but it’s still cool that this is who they trust to represent their product to the world.”

Shooting Snowmobiles

The January photoshoot features brothers Andy and Cole Thomas from Star Valley, Shelley Balls from Smoot and Fabel herself racing through sparkling powder snow on the latest Polaris snowmobiles. 

Several shots prominently feature the western face of the Teton Range, and the professional Wyoming riders using the machines to their maximum potential.

The photography was done by Todd Williams, a Jackson resident who’s worked with Polaris for nearly 20 years. He moved to Jackson in 2016 specifically so he could do snowmobile photography for the company.

“I grew up using snow sleds in Minnesota,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “I started coming out here to shoot snow 15 years ago and kept coming back for more. Now, we’re riding 65 to 100 days a year and capturing pro riders in these backcountry areas.”

Williams knows how to handle snowmobiles while capturing images of them and their riders. All companies want to make their products look as exciting as possible, so the Teton Range was selected to showcase Polaris’s latest lineup.

“These riders were going up the mountains at crazy speeds, hitting rocks and jumps,” he said. “The terrain and beauty you find in the backcountry in the wintertime is amazing.”

‘Mecca Of Snowmobiling’

Snowmobiles have been popular outdoor recreation vehicles for decades, but the average snowmobiler traverses flat terrain or cultivated trails. For Polaris’s latest shoot, they wanted to promote the best of the best.

“Wyoming is like a Mecca of snowmobiling,” Fabel said. “Many of the world’s best riders are in Wyoming, and Polaris wanted to use Wyoming riders and a Wyoming backdrop to be their ambassadors.”

Backcountry areas are becoming increasingly popular in the snowmobiling community. These areas would be difficult for amateurs to access but offer exciting opportunities for serious snowmobilers looking to experience more of Wyoming’s winter recreation.

The proof is in the population. Not only is backcountry snowmobiling a growing industry in Wyoming, several of the best riders and racers in the world have made their homes here.

“You have some of the top mountain riders in North America living in Jackson, Alpine, and Afton areas,” Williams said. “That’s because the backcountry accessibility in the Jackson-Afton area is some of the best in North America. You start in a parking lot, and within 30 minutes, you’re 15 miles into the backcountry, looking down from the tops of peaks.”

The winter conditions in the mountains of western Wyoming provided the perfect backdrop for the Polaris shoot. Williams worked and had the time of his life with the other Wyoming riders.

“Snowmobiling on a powder morning with two feet of powder is probably one of the most exhilarating things I've ever done in my life,” he said. And he got plenty of shots of others doing just that.

Snowcheck Wyoming

Polaris is offering its once-a-year Snowcheck, a limited period where buyers can access "next-level” customization for their next snowmobile. They can choose exactly what model, engine, colors, options, and technology they want added to their next purchase.

Fabel and Williams have worked with Polaris for several years and have a vested interest in the company. However, they wouldn’t be ambassadors if they didn’t believe in the quality of the product and its effectiveness in Wyoming.

“There's only a couple companies in the world that make mountain sleds, and I think these are the best in the world,” Williams said. “They’re nimble, lightweight, and the power plant is fantastic with the lineup.”

Polaris manufactures its snowmobiles in Minnesota but regularly brings their newest lineup to Wyoming because it’s the best way to showcase their products.

“It’s the premier snowmobile for backcountry riding, and that’s what we have here in Wyoming,” Fabel said. “They do a lot of trail riding in the Midwest, but Wyoming and Polaris are known for their backcountry, mountain, and technical riding. They choose to do their photo shoots here because it features what the mountain sleds are capable of.”

When people see Polaris promotions for the next year, they’ll see Wyoming riders making the most of the machines in the Wyoming backcountry. Fabel believes this will give outdoor recreation enthusiasts a new perspective on what else they can do to enjoy the Cowboy State.

“You can do it all in Wyoming,” she said. “I've climbed the Grand Teton as a rock climber, but looking at it from an adjacent peak on a snowmobile is an element of the Wyoming lifestyle. I think it’s cool that Polaris wanted to use our hometown team, people passionate about riding and racing, to support their brand.”

Meanwhile, Williams is flattered that Polaris is prominently featuring his images as it continues to promote its newest lineup during Snowcheck, which ends on March 28, and in its dealerships and advertising moving forward.

“I'm a pretty modest guy, but when you’re driving down the highway and see your picture on a billboard, or you go into a dealership or pick up a magazine and see your images all over, you gotta giggle a little bit,” he said. “It's a job, but I love this job.”

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.