SNOWMOBILE BLOG

           The first thing I tried to do when I pick up a new snowmobile is to fill it full of fuel, oil and a spare belt (ready to ride), and put the sled up on my scales to see the actual weight. After all, I want to know just exactly what I’m getting into once I bury it in bottomless powder.

            Weight is important to me. If one snowmobile is considerably heavier than another, it dictates how big of a riding group I need to have—the heavier the sled, the more friends I need around me.

            Of the five sleds I’ve had a chance to put on the scales, two sled weights were of particular interest to me. First, the Polaris ProRMK 600 tipped in at 505 pounds (I think that was seven pounds lighter than the 800). Second, the Ski-Doo Summit 163 came in at 578 … but that did include the electric start, but still a little heavier than I would have liked.

            Now, if we can just get some snow so I can “go stuck myself.”

SJ

           Let’s be perfectly clear … sometimes people can be just shameless when it comes to promoting their product.

            For example, when I write a blog, I do it out of love for the sport. However, if I were to do it for, let’s say, trying to increase web traffic, I would use certain words that would generate more interest on search engines. WARNING: Material of sexual nature.

            Instead of writing about stock sleds and mountain riding, I would use code words. For example, a stock sled could be referred as a NUDE or even NAKED “love machine” which would capture a lot of search hits. Instead of project sleds, we say XXX “no one under 18 years of age allowed” stuff. “We’d call stuff SLEAZY and refer to ASIAN or HOT CANADIAN WOMEN when talking about our snowmobiles. Touring sleds could be described in French terms and cylinders could be called BIG JUGS. And I won’t even go where two strokes and big bores could take us.

            But all of this would naturally cast a bigger net in attracting people to this blog.

So all you sexy singe snowmobilers who are lonely and want some company for some steamy action … aren’t you glad I don’t stoop that low?

SJ

            The other day I noticed a very pretty sled sitting in my neighbor’s driveway. It looked pearl white and as shiny as they come.

            Knowing my neighbor, who is also my riding buddy, I didn’t think he would pick out something so clean and pure that would restrict his riding in the trees. So I asked him the story about why the sled was in his driveway.

            “It’s not mine,” he explained. “It belongs to a friend who ordered the special edition package.”

            So I asked why he had it in his driveway.

            “My friend asked to keep it at my place. He thinks if it’s here, we will take him riding with us.”

            The thoughts just exploded in my mind. A pretty white sled in perfect condition; a wannabe snowmobiler who has likely never left a groomed trail; and an early season ride into bottomless slow down steep rugged terrain inhabited by trees. This sounds like a recipe for disaster.

            So I asked: “Does he know the most people who have ridden with us don’t like to ride with us?”

            “Oh, he thinks it would be fun to try it once.” And that’s usually all it takes.

            I do sort of feel bad for the guy. A pretty white sled in perfect condition just naturally has a built-in tree magnet. I’ll be sure to bring a camera.

SJ

I’ll be the first to admit it’s been a tough four years. Although I always try to maintain a positive attitude about business, frankly I’ve never had as bad of beating (financially in our business) in my 30 years at SnoWest as I have received during the past four years—with each of the four worse than the previous.

            Don’t even talk to me about hope and change.

            And the prospects for the next four years don’t look any better.

            Sadly, it seems that no matter what we do in the “fly-over” portion of this country, we always tend to be that area where the sewage from those jets flying over gets dropped. That’s not going to change.

            It would be nice if the snowmobile population had a little better say about the direction this country is headed in. I did a quick look to see how key areas voted. What I found is interesting.

            In Minnesota, a state you would think snowmobilers would have significant influence, President Obama won with 53 percent of the vote. Yet in the area where Arctic Cat reigns (Thief River Falls), Mitt Romney received 51 percent of the vote. Good job Cat. Up the road in Roseau, Romney received 62 percent of the vote. Great job Polaris

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            Wisconsin also has a solid snowmobile presence with Ski-Doo having offices in Sturtevant and Yamaha having its R&D facility in Pleasant Prairie. Obama won Wisconsin with 53 percent of the vote. In Pleasant Prairie Obama took 56 percent of the vote while in Sturtevant he only received 51 percent of the vote. Apparently snowmobilers don’t have much influence in Wisconsin.

            Yamaha is also headquartered in Cypress, CA. Obviously, California went Obama with 53 percent of its vote. But in Orange County, where Cypress is located, Romney took 54 percent of the vote. Valiant effort Yamaha.

            If you’re curious how SnoWest handles the election, in Idaho Romney won with 65 percent of the vote. In Idaho Falls, that margin was 75 percent. Obviously, the snowmobile influence is pretty strong in our neck of the woods.

            Now for all you snowmobilers who may be celebrating an Obama victory … well, I hope your business is doing a lot better than mine. And if your business makes its money from the government … I hope China continues to finance your efforts.

SJ

Although the devastation from Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast has headlined the news over the past several days, and this is not an attempt to minimize the overall destruction and loss of human life, I have to admit there are some side effects that have really caught my attention.

            Snow. And lots of snow.

            So much snow that even a ski resort in West Virginia is complaining about getting “too much snow.” I didn’t know there was such a thing as too much snow. The resort was buried by 35 inches of dry fluffy powder … but apparently Nordic skiers feel that’s just too much to deal with.

            But then, the Sugar Mountain ski resort in North Carolina didn’t have a problem with all the snow it got. It just fired up the lifts and opened its doors to business while the state proceeded to declare “state of emergency” for the state’s 24 mountain counties. (Maybe the state doesn’t have any mountain sleds in its motor vehicle fleet … which could be reason enough to panic when snow starts to stack.)

            Other reports include 26 inches in Redhouse, MD, 24 inches in Bowden WV, 24 inches in Wise, VA, 20 inches in Mt. Leconte, TN and 14 inches in Payne Gap, KY. We know the folks in upstate Pennsylvania and New York knew what to do with the snow they got.

            Although the tragedy occurring on the East Coast is heartbreaking, a less serious tragedy is the fact that most of this snow is going to melt without a single snowmobile track marking it up.

            This leaves many in the West wondering, with sleds loaded on trailers and ready to go, “Does Sandy have any sisters?”

SJ

 Winter Enthusiasm

This past weekend the crew at SnoWest Magazine was busy running around at the Intermountain Snowmobile Show in South Jordan, UT, (the south side of Salt Lake City) where several thousand snowmobile enthusiasts had an opportunity to mingle with industry experts.

This two-day event allowed us to get a taste of winter. Venders offered great deals on snowmobile-related product and all the snowmobile manufacturers were there with their 2013 models so snowmobilers could shop and compare.

It was two great days. Old friends gathered, stories were exchanged and plans for this upcoming winter were made. A dusting of snow in the area the night prior to the show helped set the tone.

This looks to be a great winter.

View the Complete SnoWest Newsletter – November 1^st  2012

          Sometimes trips can just be too long. You know, those quick 10-hour drives to an out-of-the-way snowmobile destination that ends up taking 15 hours because of weather, road construction or breakdowns

             Or how about family vacations where the children’s patience ends before your home is out of your rear view mirror.

            But the trip I’m talking about now is the one associated with this year’s presidential election—complete with polls, opinion pieces, solicitations and non-stop advertising. (And I don’t even live in a “swing” state.)

            This year’s trip to the November elections has been the longest I can ever remember. It seemed to begin about the time the last presidential election ended, even during his acceptance speech it appeared President Obama was making a stump speech for his re-election and it’s been all downhill since.

            It doesn’t matter whether you lean red or blue, anybody with any sanity is at the brink of losing it due to all of the insanity. But try to hold on. We’re only two weeks out from at least half the country being able to breathe a sigh of relief … and the other half either contemplating a move to Canada (not a bad option if you’re looking at snowmobile opportunities around Revelstoke), cutting their wrists (such a messy way to go), or spending the next four years in a drunken stupor (which incidentally seems to be how our politicians act after being elected).

            Actually, this trip tends to make one long for those quick 15-hour drives to an out-of-the-way snowmobile destination.

SJ

           Talk about acid reflex … the other day I had my local fuel distributor deliver gas to my home and the invoice left me with major heartburn. We’re paying more than $4 for a gallon for premium (non-ethanol) gas this fall and when you fill a large tank, you practically need to take out a second mortgage on your home to cover the bill.

            The interesting thing about fuel prices is that it seems to peak every four years … right near election time. And we’re about as close to election time as it gets.

            For diehard snowmobiles, whether we pay $2 or $4 for a gallon of fuel doesn’t stop us from snowmobiling. But it does tend to limit our traveling range to find the best snow. We’re more apt to stay reasonably close to home rather than drive to some of those great “out of the way” locations to ride. In other words, we’d rather put the gas in our sleds than in our trucks.

            We are hoping that by the time the winter gets in full swing, this election cycle will be over and we will have chosen politicians who will not only talk the talk but walk the walk when it comes to a comprehensive energy program that will expend North America’s role in becoming energy efficient.

            Until then, I’ll just sublet my basement out so I can afford to put premium fuel in my vehicles.

SJ

Utah Snowmobile Show

Next weekend will be the Intermountain Snowmobile Show that is held in the Salt Lake County Events Center in South Jordan, UT … and for those trying to figure out where that is, just take I-15 South to Salt Lake, take the 11400 South exit, head west and ask someone where the horse barn is (Equestrian Center).

             Actually, the “Salt Lake County Events Center,” which is actually the Equestrian Center, makes for a good location for a snowmobile show. Think about it: What better place to display horsepower than at a horse barn?

            The folks at the Event Center go out of their way to make snowmobilers feel welcome. The Intermountain Snowmobile Show has been held at this facility for several years now and attendees are finally getting good at driving straight to it, although it seems like every year there’s a new section of construction going on.

So Oct. 26-26 would be a good time to plan a road trip to Salt Lake to take in the Intermountain Snowmobile Show. And it would be a good time to consider some good old fashion “horse trading” as you look at all the new products available for snowmobiles.

View the Complete SnoWest Newsletter – October 18^th 2012