4. Hug A Skier
If you think skiers are the enemy, you’re missing the boat. It’s not the non-motorized users who drive their car to go backcountry skiing who will shut down snowmobile access. In fact, most of them own mountain bikes and want access to the very same spots in the summer. It’s the causes and initiatives far more aggressive (and well-funded) that will do it. So introduce yourself to skiers or snowshoe folks in the parking lot and start imagining you’re on the same team … you might just need to be.
5. SnowCheck A Sled From A Dealer
Did you know snowmobile sales are nearly half of what they were 20 years ago? The technology is better than it has ever been, and yet sales remain static at best. If you are going to buy a new sled, getting a snowcheck from your dealer is the greatest impact you can have for the local business and the industry. If you are a business owner of any size, the case for production and inventory management should make a lot of sense to you.
6. Stop “Burning Off The Youth”
This is a phrase that means putting people in their place or taking advantage of their inexperience. If you take out someone new and punish them with grueling terrain or make them dig out for four hours by themselves, they are probably not coming back. And they certainly aren’t spending $15,000 to get into the sport. If we want riding to continue and sleds to keep improving, we need people to buy into the sport. So at least be nice to them until they buy a sled and trailer. Then you can burn them off.
7. High-Five A Flatlander
We often roll our eyes when we see license plates from out of state, especially in mountain riding areas. But consider the fact that the people in that truck were willing to spend the exact same amount of money you did (or more) AND drive 18 hours to enjoy it twice each year. You should be congratulating them for their passion and commitment to keeping the sport alive so you can enjoy it a few minutes or hours from your house.
If any of these made you cringe, I encourage you to challenge yourself and start with that exact item. You may have to spend a few extra dollars, swallow a little pride or give in to “the man.”
But it will be worth it when your grandchildren are ripping on their Polaris 2900 quadruple turbo sled.
Trust me.