Tyler Backus has spent most of his life riding and working with snowmobiles in Sicamous, British Columbia. Starting at the young age of seven, it’s certainly been a rollercoaster of excitement and adventure for this 30-year-old sledder.
Backus currently works as the store manager for Backus Racing, his family’s business and legacy.
“I work with my dad, Everett Backus,” he said. “He’s been running the business for about 25 years.”
Backus Racing is an outdoor recreational product business that specializes in snowmobiles, ATVs, eBikes, boats, trailers and many other products that you might need for your outdoor recreation experience. Their primary brand is Polaris, but they also stock Mercury ATVs and Mission trailers. The store is located just 10 minutes out of Sicamous off Highway 97A.
“It’s kind of our life, running the dealership and everything like that, and racing is in our blood, too,” said Backus. “About 80 per cent of our life is snowmobiling.”
Backcountry cautions
When it comes to sledding, however, it’s not always a fun family experience. Backus shared with us one of his more dangerous and life-threatening experiences out on the mountain.
“I got caught in an avalanche in 2009, two of them actually,” he said. “It was two weekends in a row, right around March and April. What saved me was my Snowpulse Airbag—it kept me on top of the snow until someone could get me out of there.”
Avalanche airbags are highly important to all snowmobilers or backcountry winter enthusiasts because, as Backus proved, an avalanche can strike unexpectedly at any time. Snowpulse Airbags, like the one he used, are one of the most popular and reliable of the different varieties on the market.
New season, new sled
For the 2013/2014 sled season, Backus will be riding a 2014 Polaris Pro RMK, and it is tailored perfectly to fit his needs.
“The one I’m riding is not going to be stock at all, because I’ve got a full custom,” said Backus. “The whole thing is unique—it’s got different running boards, turbo, wraps, suspension, lightweight parts, different decals, the whole thing.”
Backus’s favourite terrain to ride in involves a lot of technical expertise, the kind that takes him through tight trees and deep snow. This winter, he’s looking forward to a bunch of fresh snow near the end of November and start of December.
