AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Imagine if you will, the benefits of eight counties smack dab in the heartland of American snowmobiling, working together to provide better touring opportunities to America's snowmobilers. Well, imagination became reality in northwestern Wisconsin earlier this year as eight of the best snowmobiling areas in the Badger State united to form one strong and united snowmobile haven.
Jim Toftness, who heads up the Northwestern Wisconsin Snowmobile Association, told us that he and other heads of county-wide snowmobile associations felt that it was time to find a "better way" to spread the word about sledding in their Wisconsin woods and lakelands. Toftness, who has served as the president of the very strong Sawyer County snowmobile group, knew the value of banding together to present common goals. His Sawyer County association united clubs in the country and has been responsible for having one of the best-known and popular trail systems in the area.
"We had our first meeting this past January," said Toftness, a Hayward, Wisconsin, businessman, "and looked to meet common goals."
Those common goals were finding ways to maximize area promotion, which include finding ways to get more bang per buck of advertising. As you'll note in this issue of American Snowmobiler and other winter sports magazines, the coalition of counties has combined its ad dollars and bought full page ads to promote its area. Through their unity, the eight county strong association can boast of 2,700 miles of trails, 550 pit stops, and more than 5,000 hotel/motel rooms available for winter tourism. It's an impressive story.
Equally impressive is the fact that the eight county group has printed a special snowmobile map that shows the key trails deemed most suitable for snowmobile touring.
Toftness readily admits that "...the map doesn't show half of the trails available in the region. Each county will still provide individual county maps."
The Northwestern Snowmobile Association map is designed to focus on the most popular routes, much like the Wisconsin state map focuses on the corridor and major trail system.
Toftness told us that there will be 50,000 such maps available. All you need to do is call one of the eight participating counties.
In just its first season, the new eight county association is a success. Combined monies and unity have given the counties clout. Officials expect that the coalition will be better able to deal with the Wisconsin state government for funding future projects. Jim Toftness expects another two or more counties to join the association by this time next season.
As of right now, this part of Wisconsin has combined to make snowmobiling better for more snowmobilers. Consider that this association includes Superior, Washburn, Ashland, Siren, Spooner, Hayward, Ladysmith and Phillips. That is the makings of a pretty terrific trail association. Individually these eight Wisconsin counties had a lot to offer. United it just gets better for us snowmobilers.