AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Backup neededThe Mille Lacs club is lucky, Les says, it has two groomers, a '99 VMC in addition to its 3-year-old Tucker. Many clubs have only one, or none.
It's good to have a backup as it's inevitable that a groomer will have some down time, and accidents do happen.
"The worst is to sink a machine," Les says, a sharp note of disgust in his voice. It has happened to this club. There is swamp land in the area and creeks sometimes aren't as solid as they look. Experience keeps most groomers out of trouble, but in this case it took $35,000 to fix the soggy groomer.
"That's devastating to a club," says Les, who also is AmSnow's senior test rider and vintage snowmobile expert.
Clubs use raffles and other fund-raisers (pull-tab games are hugely popular in Minnesota) to raise money for their grooming efforts each year. Some also get state grants and still others in some states have their machines provided by the state.
The machinery, not surprisingly, doesn't come cheap. A groomer can run $175,000 and a fold-up drag up to $20,000 while a flat unit may cost $10,000. That's a lot of pull tabs!
Some states fund gas and maintenance of grooming equipment with a portion of the sales tax on gasoline (quit moaning when you fill up!) and also from trail permits and other licenses each year. So, riders pay both directly and indirectly for the pleasure of smooth trails.
Clubs like this one use their funds for maintenance, certainly, but often they do more than that. The Drift Skippers give a portion of their charitable gambling revenue that's raised each year right back to the community. In this case, it goes to Little League, soccer teams, a skating rink and a Hooked on Fishing program for local kids.
"In that way it all comes back around to you in a better community for your kids and grandkids," Les says.
And for groomer operators there's a satisfaction in helping others and in creating better trails. They enjoy the camaraderie of the club and other snowmobilers too and some simply enjoy keeping busy.
"I like to be productive and go out and groom between Point A and Point B. I can't just sit around," Les says, and he is not alone.
Editor's note: Join a club this winter, be sure and pay your dues, and if you have the time, become a groomer. The trails are calling!