Canada / French
Canada / French
25 OCT. 2023
Kyle Huestis builds sleds and rides in Seeley Lake, Montana
Kyle Huestis rides 70-90 days each winter in the mountains around Seeley Lake, Montana. He rides professionally for Arctic Cat, runs Freshies Built, and spends most of his season building sleds, guiding riders, and putting equipment through real conditions that do not allow for shortcuts.
Snowmobiling is long term in Kyle’s eyes. A great season is one where goals were reached, new terrain was ridden, and no injuries occurred.
“Sledding has taught me perseverance and patience.”
Based in Seeley Lake, Montana, Kyle owns and operates Freshies Built alongside his professional riding career with Arctic Cat. His days are split between building sleds, guiding riders, and spending long stretches deep in terrain that most people never get access to once winter sets in.
That access is what pulled him into the sport in the first place. “Snowmobiling gives you the opportunity to see parts of the world that most never experience in winter, and over time that opportunity turns into responsibility. You are not just riding snow. You are moving through a place that demands respect.” says Kyle.
For Kyle, a great season is measured quietly. Goals reached. New terrain ridden. No injuries. It is not about one standout line or a single photo. It is about stacking days that allow you to come back year after year and still want more. Snowmobiling is long term in his eyes. You preserve yourself. You preserve the machine. You preserve the sport.
A home terrain that shapes the rider
Kyle’s home terrain around Seeley Lake shapes how he rides and how he thinks. The area delivers unreal snow conditions, but it is the variety that keeps riders honest. Unlimited terrain features. Constantly changing light. Terrain that lets you play one day and demands precision the next.
His riding style is big mountain freeriding, and he likes it most when there is some fluff on top of a deep base. That combination allows him to move freely, carve clean lines, and carry momentum without forcing the mountain to give something it is not offering.
When gear has to hold up all season
Riding seventy to ninety days a season changes how you think about gear. Function stops being a preference and becomes a requirement.
“What I look for in gear is function. I spend typically 70 to 90 days on the snow each year, so I need dry, durable gear that lasts. That’s why TOBE has been my gear of choice for the previous ten years.”
Kyle does not chase trends or novelty. He looks for equipment that keeps him dry, holds up to abuse, and performs the same way late in the season as it did on the first day.
His go to setup starts with the Novo or Vivid monosuit. Staying dry is non negotiable, and the one piece system keeps heat in unless he chooses to open his vents. No snow working its way in where it should not. On his feet, he runs Nimbus boots for the support and protection they provide for his feet and ankles during long, technical days.
For head protection, he chooses the T9 helmet paired with T9 Ballistic goggles. The lightweight helmet helps reduce neck and shoulder fatigue over full seasons, while the goggles offer a wide field of view with strong peripheral vision. When terrain tightens and speed changes quickly, vision matters.
More than anything, his gear has one job. Keep him dry. Everything else builds from that.
Kyle on the most underrated rider skill
Snowmobiling has shaped Kyle’s mindset as much as his riding style. The mountains taught him perseverance and patience, and neither lesson came quickly. Perseverance means continuing to try until something works. Patience means understanding that today may not be the right day to hit a feature. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe the next day, when conditions line up.
One of the most underrated skills Kyle sees riders overlook is edge control.
Holding an edge allows a rider to carve, change direction quickly, and traverse uneven terrain with confidence. Combined with hopovers and clean reentries, it gives riders the ability to maintain momentum where others stall out. Small skills, practiced deliberately, are often what unlock bigger terrain.
Preparation, recovery, and the tools that save days
Preparation does not start with snowfall. Kyle puts in off-season work with cardio and strength training, and keeps himself sharp by riding dirt bikes and pedal bikes when the snow is gone. Staying sharp between the ears matters just as much as physical strength.
Recovery is treated with the same seriousness. Eating enough nourishing food after riding, prioritizing protein, using creatine supplementation, and tools like cold plunges and sauna all help him recover faster so he can ride again the next day.
On the machine side, Kyle prefers a 146 Arctic Cat. The shorter track combined with higher track speed creates a setup that stays fun and responsive across a wide range of conditions. Simple tools matter too. Paracord is always close. It secures broken A arms, spindles, and steering components, can tow a sled out, and in a worst case scenario can even be used as a tourniquet. Lightweight. Reliable. No excuses.
Built to keep riding
Kyle Huestis does not ride for chaos or spectacle. He rides for longevity, progression, and access. He builds his seasons the same way he builds machines and skills. With patience, intention, and systems that hold up when conditions stop being ideal.
That mindset is what keeps him riding year after year in real terrain, doing exactly what snowmobiling allows when it is treated with respect.
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