Riding Where the Mountains Meet the Sky

Montana Pro Snowmobiler Keith Curtis

What’s the life trajectory of a Montana kid with a competitive streak who starts snowmobiling at age 4? In the case of Keith Curtis — a born and raised Montanan — it’s an impressive career as a professional snowmobiler.

Keith has ridden for Polaris since 2008, and in competitive hillclimbing, where sledders charge up steep, snow-covered slopes while navigating rocks, trees and gates, he’s won nine King of Kings titles and a slew of World Champion titles. It’s a streak of greatness that has shown him to be one of the most consistent and recognized pro snowmobilers in the world.

Natural talent and dedicated practice time in the seat have led him to success. But not to be overlooked is the fact that living in Montana — he grew up riding in Polaris and now lives in Dillon — means he has access to superior training ground: Some of the world’s best snowmobiling terrain is right in his own backyard.

Case in point: Seeley Lake, Montana. Tucked up in the northeastern corner of Missoula County, Seeley Lake has been a beloved gem of Montanans for generations. Norman Maclean, author of “A River Runs Through It,” had a cabin there. Surrounded by the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Mission and Swan mountains, the small community boasts a spectacular landscape. The drive there alone, down Highway 83 (also known as the Seeley-Swan Scenic Drive), is an unforgettable experience. Seeley Lake’s appeal is obvious in the summer — see: easy access to the namesake 1,025-acre alpine lake — but winter is no less magical, particularly when it comes to snowmobiling.

In addition to the thousands of acres of public land around Seeley Lake, there are also over 400 miles of maintained snowmobile trails. It’s a destination that appeals to anyone with any interest in hopping on a sled, whether they’ve never tried or they’ve been on one most of their lives like Keith. “I've been visiting Seeley Lake since around 2009 with my good buddy Kurt Friede from Kurt's Polaris. He showed me this zone way back in the day,” Keith says. “It was a very special experience for me back then, just because the snow here is a lot different than the snow in the Dillon area and the terrain is a lot different. So when I first started coming here, I was just, like, blown away with the terrain and the shelves and some of the pillows and the unique terrain.”

And the area still draws him today. It’s backcountry riding like that found in Seeley Lake that not only prepares him for the demands of racing, but stokes his spirit as well.

“Backcountry riding really complements my racing gig, and it's cool to ride and train in the backcountry so I can become a better racer,” says Keith. “But riding in the backcountry is such an amazing thing. I mean, the views you get to see and the places you get to go and experience that not many people get to do just gives me so much energy and makes me truly appreciate that we can get out there on the snowmobiles and experience that.

“It's such a wicked fun experience with the crew of riders that I get to ride with. And we all get to ride with each other and feed off each other and push each other,” Keith adds. “We're all out there riding in the backcountry to train so we can do better on the race course. But we are all out having fun and just laughing, giving high fives, giving each other crap and pushing each other to be our very best.”

Not surprisingly, Keith and his fellow racers understand the connection to the sport they love and the importance of public lands. Without public lands, their ability to sled in the backcountry — for training and for fun — simply would not exist.

"Public lands are everything. I mean, it's our freedom. It's why I love Montana so much."

“We have so much public land to go recreate and explore and enjoy. Public lands are critical for us Montana natives and for those people who want to come visit,” Keith says.

As you might imagine, someone like Keith has traveled the world riding snowmobiles.

“I’ve been able to snowmobile from Russia to Canada to a lot of places in the States, and western Montana holds a special piece in my heart for its uniqueness, the terrain, the features, the obstacles and the snow quality as well — I really like it.”

No matter where he goes, Montana and that Montana backcountry keep calling him back. The snow. The mountains. The challenges. And for those who the backcountry calls to as well, Keith has words of wisdom: “Just be ready. Have lots of gas because you're going to go through lots of gas and you'll be having all sorts of fun. As far as safety, I mean, it's always good to check avalanche websites, see what the storms are doing before you come here and make sure you're safe on the snow — have beacons, have the avi bags, have radios, do all the safety checks. And the biggest part is getting out there and having fun — but do it safely.”

Keith is living his own advice and, as he describes it, living his dream one day at a time.

“When the crew and I get out there and go on a ride, we get in a flow state. We are covering so much terrain so quickly. Weaving back and forth through the trees, going up and over ledges, popping off pillows and just navigating terrain. It's like we're a pack of wolves, working our way through the mountains to find the coolest terrain possible.”