SNOWMOBILE BLOG

White Outs … (Staff Blogs)

Let’s see, it goes “30 days past September; April, June and November …” By my math, that means October is the only long month left we have to wade through before we see the snow fly. And that month is loaded with snowmobile shows across the country.

So now that we’re into September (which only has 30 days … including Haydays), I’d say the season is officially upon us. It’s time to start placing those orders for snowmobile accessories that will make this winter the best ever.

Okay, so some of you may not like the way I do my math. The temperatures have been in the 90s. Most of us are either in the harvest, getting (our kids) back in school, and stock-piling an ample supply of beverage for the upcoming football season.

But don’t look now, the winter is coming full bore (take a look at some of the winter forecast links below) and it’s time to get the sled ready for riding.

And look at the bright side. By the time you get through this newsletter, the season will be that much closer.


SnoWest Newsletter 08/31/11

There’s something about the last week of August. Everything shifts from all the summer stuff back to winter planning. Any earlier and I’d still rather be outside getting dirt in my shoes and a sunburn on the back of my neck.

But when September is knocking on the door, you can almost hear the snow crunching beneath your boots in a snow-covered parking lot.

Even though we’ve already put a couple issues of the mag together by now, what really gets the winter bug spreading around here is mapping out the new project sled.

Last season, we built one of the hottest Polaris Pro RMKs on the snow. This year, we’re putting together a sweet 2012 Ski-Doo Summit 800 E-Tec.

It started with plans for the engine. Summer seemed only half over, but already you’re beginning to anticipate that first October ride. Then we started on the wrap design, controls, suspension... it snowballs from there.

All of a sudden, it’s 85-degrees F outside and we’re sitting at the computer drooling over skidframes, piggyback shocks, seats and skis. Snow on August 31st would have been welcome... in the mountains, anyway.

Like I said, any earlier and I’d rather be out picking rocks out of my elbows from dumping a bike in a nice, loamy berm with the sun beating down and dust floating in the breeze.

But it’s September. The bug is here. Let’s get on with winter.

This past week I was up in Island Park at an ATV/UTV rally and had a chance to hit some of the trails I normally enjoy during winter … but this time san snow.

            For many, riding ATVs or side-by-sides in the mountains is a wonderful experience. And it is. But it just isn’t like riding snowmobiles.

            Obviously the scenery offers significant changes—from a monopoly of green to a monopoly of white across the landscape. As we rode back near Red Rock Pass, we could look into the bowls on the north side of Jefferson, now mostly grey with rock although there still remains small patches of white reminding us of last years great snow.

            As we cruised down the trails through trees and into open meadows covered in wild flowers, I felt somewhat confined on my four-wheeler. I had fond memories of just months before cresting out of the trees and carving through the meadows, totally unrestricted by parallel tire paths across the terrain.

            Riding on wheels is just different than riding on skis. And for some, the warm weather in much preferred to the snow. And that’s great. It’s nice to see people out enjoying the mountains and God’s country despite the time of season and mode of transportation.

            But my first love has always been winter and snowmobiles. So even when I’m out on a wheeled vehicle, I’m only scouting the terrain for a future snowmobile ride.

            Regardless, last week’s ride was still a great diversion from a long hot summer. And for a few moments as I breathed in the clean mountain air I though that maybe I could get use to this kind of riding. And then the slight mountain breeze shifted and the dust began to settle all around me.

            I think I’ll keep the snow dust and let someone else enjoy the dirt.

I’m looking forward to next week’s 50^th Anniversary of Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls. I was there for the 25^th Anniversary … and I hope to be around for the 75^th. It’s a great milestone for Cat, which has facilitated years of enjoyment for me via their product.

            Also, I’m looking forward to the drive to Thief. I don’t fly for various reasons. You can call it my own personal “no fly” list. I like driving. I like seeing the land as it lays out … the geography of things. And I like being behind the wheel, not wedged between two fat guys and behind a screaming 3-year-old who don’t understand that his ears will eventually pop.

            While driving, I like the opportunity to study the mountain ranges along the way. Through Montana alone are the Gravelly Range, Madison Range, Bridger Range, Beartooth Range and the Crazy Mountains. In North Dakota I have the … uh, well, there’s that big buffalo on a mound of dirt.

            The 50^th Anniversary also provides the opportunity to meet and mingle with other snowmobilers killing time during the summer. And Cat has planned two days of non-stop activities like factory tours, demo rides, displays, music, etc. Of course, this leads to hours of standing in line in 90-plus F temperatures … just to get to the porta-potty.

            This is an event where friends from the north (Roseau) put differences aside and drive down to enjoy the festivities (primarily sitting at the beer garden until they pass out from either heat stroke or alcohol abuse). There will be more green there than at a Saint Patty’s Day Parade.

            So if you get a chance, slip on over to Thief and say hi. I’ll be the short fat guy with white legs wearing green shorts. That sounds like finding a needle in a hay stack.

For the last two years, a group of pro racers, pro backcountry riders, some industry faces and a redneck from the shadows of the Grand Teton have gotten together for a summer sendoff ride in the mountains east of Afton, Wyoming.

Because of the competitive nature of most of the guys on this ride, the action gets almost as intense as the trash talk. I go along to take pictures, but really all I'm interested in is getting guys like RMSHA pro racer Rob Kincaid riled up about something and listening to the string of one-liners that ensues.

This year's ride took place over June 30 and July 1. The snow was fairly rotten and littered with dirt, water blowouts and trenches, but it was still deep. Maybe 5 to 6 feet in some areas. Aside from a few dry spots just after where we left the herd of pickups, we never ran into dirt on the mountain.

But that doesn't mean we didn't run out of entertainment. Tony Jenkins snapped a steering post on his M8, which nearly sent the sled tumbling off the mountain side. He and Kincaid rode two-up for a while after, which set the table for Kincaid's "Sit down and shut up" theme for the rest of the day.

David McClure bent the rails on a sled from jumping it. He kindly came down and parked next to Kincaid, got off and said to Kincaid "Here, you can ride it for a while now," as he walked to Kincaid's sled and took off again.

Bret Rasmussen dropped into a very tight, steep drainage and did a dead-on impression of a Jamaican bobsled run gone wrong.

Geoff "Phatty"Dyer jumped uphill over an exposed cliff band, giving his sled's rear suspension a chance to blow all its shock seals.

I even had a mishap of my own, coming over a ridge that ended in dirt and trees. The sled tossed me over the hood like a monkey throwing poop and then endoed, tapping me on the helmet with the same tenderness as a sledgehammer hitting a fence post.

Anyway, we made it out alive, though in three separate groups and partially after sunset. You can check out photos and comments from the ride on the SnoWest forums
(follow this link: http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=271455).

JUNE 16—Remember that old movie where the boy stashed a snowball in the family freezer during the winter with a diabolical plan to pull it out at smack his longtime antagonist in the head during the summer when least expected. Well, that’s what a mid-June snowmobile news letter represents—that frozen snowball for summer. (Actually, if you remember the movie, when that perfect day comes to retrieve the snowball and smack the arch rival in the head, the boy realizes that his mother had cleaned the freezer months ago and thrown out the snowball. So the boy went out and spit on the guy.)

So it’s June. Most sleds have been long ago tucked into storage (although we have kept a couple out for some extreme late season rides). And here we are talking snowmobiles. Perhaps you may want to take a moment to stuff your head in a freezer to get your brain at a winter functioning temperature.

Around the office, things are pretty much in summer mode. Lane is finally unpacking his suitcase from a long season of travel (some of his socks have taken on their own personalities—he doesn’t know whether to try and wash them or just let them run wild). Ryan shows up on payday and whenever Robin brings donuts. He claims he’s been working from home … but that’s hard to believe since he never does work when he’s been in the office. Our two graphic artists have spent a great deal of time working on their latest designs for a tattoo they plan to get for a body part they don’t plan to show. As for sales, well, we’re not quite sure what they have been doing … but we are noticing a lot of stuff disappearing around the office and showing up on Craig’s List.

So what’s happening in the snowmobile industry? The atmosphere out there is that this has been a great snow season and there’s a lot of optimism going into next fall. With that said, in the back of everyone’s mind is SnObamanomics (what role will politics and the economy play as we enter next season). Time will only tell.

Some of the quick links we’re offering provide easy access to news—such as a look at an Avalanche Survey designed to help the industry understand more about the dangers of winter. Next month we’re looking for a sun screen survey to challenge the dangers of summer.

Also in the news is the welcomed story of snowmobile sales actually increasing this past winter. Sometimes we feel like a yo-yo around here. But it’s always nice to be on the upside of the yo. As for an update that has generated a lot of interest during the spring, everyone’s keeping an eye on Arctic Cat’s new line—particularly the ProClimb 800. Again, we’ll keep you updated.

Finally, here’s what’s going on in the Forums.

There’s an interesting thread entitled “If we rode snowmobiles on the internet.” It’s always fun to see some of the sarcasm that floats around online. Although an open forum deals with real people who may not have a lot of talent to express themselves with words, there’s a lot of subtleties in just a few words.

Another thread “Lack of morals” sort of gives you a take on what people are thinking about what’s going on in this country. Some choice words of wisdom here.

Also, there’s a great 4-minute video of Jay Mentaberry carving through some awesome powder … just what we need to get through summer. I just want to know who pushed him off the cliff—awesome jumps.

SJ