Is riding really that important to you..?

[Wyoming T/A]

riding is very important to me--we ride sleds from late september to april-may or june---we camp and ride horses may thru sept--atvs from may thru sept--but i live to snowmobile--been riding 40 years and it gets more fun each year---got injured and missed the last 5 weekends but riding tomorrow--when i cant ride anymore i'll move on to something else to consume my time ---hope thats about 20 years or more away--still ride about 2000 miles a year--would ride more if not for work---

 

[HANDSOME]

Many users of this forum consider riding to be a life essential, almost rivaling food and water. Many shutter at the idea of losing riding areas or just giving up riding for whatever reason. The thought of life without snow is almost unbearable; or is it??

Is riding REALLY that important to you, or is it simply a paradox fueled by convenience due to your living close to the steep and deep? It's easy to become wrapped up in the sport when it's easy. But, what if it wasn't so easy? If you HAD to move, for job or whatever reason, you had to move, to say... Louisiana or Tennessee, where average winter temps seldom fall below the 40s and 50s and your neighbors (mistakenly thinking your sleds represent the latest in personal watercraft technology) ask you "What kind of jet ski is that??", would riding still be important enough to you that you would own sleds and travel the hundreds of miles to ride? Or would you be surprised by your own resilience at how quickly you realized sledding REALLY WAS something you could live without?

If my area shut down I would have to move. I have drove $400 trucks so I could ride new sleds and put in a lot of overtime to buy the sleds.

 

[BigMan]

If my area shut down I would have to move. I have drove $400 trucks so I could ride new sleds and put in a lot of overtime to buy the sleds.

You dang rednecks... you're about as bad as my uncle from Arkansas who pulls a brand new Ranger behind a truck that most salvage yards would turn away!!















JUST KIDDING!!

 

[gatewest]

Is riding important to ME!!! Let me count the ways!!!

I'm 56, from MN, get to the mountains 2 to 3 times a year since late 1990's. Got back into sleding about 1994 with a 1992 500 polaris EFI. Stop playing hockey (after 40 years worth), new hip, fixed shoulder, 3 knee operations. What can I say! What game other than hockey is fun to practice. Skate around, shot slap shoots, hit someone even if you like him!!! Never looked back sense. Been Elk hunting in the Dubios area since early eighty's. Got married in Jackson Hole in 1982. The mountains are in my blood. I love mountain riding and the new sleds (Polaris then Skidoo) are unbelieveable. Once you ride the the mountains (if it's for you), it really becomes a addiction!!!!! Not a religious man, but when you sit on Austin Peak and look around you realize this is GOD'S house. And I'm lucky to be here. Saddle up boys let's ride!!! I only wish I was younger. In the mornings some parts wake up faster then others!!!! Thank GOD for ADVIL! LIVE TO RIDE, RIDE TO LIVE. Friend are the ones who can keep up. At my age I really don't have the time to wait! PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE MOUNTAINS, MAY I RIDE FOR MANY MORE YEARS, PASS ME A COLD ONE!!!!
ROCK ON!!!!

 

[sledcaddie]

lifestyle of sledding

No. Life does not depend on snowmobiling. But everyone needs a passion in life. My screen name implies I enjoy snowmobiling and golf, but sledding is my passion! Life without passion would be very boring. I like to ask people what their passion is. I'm surprised at how many don't know. Somebody once said that you should always compete, you should always be striving for something. I compete against the mountain, mother nature, and my friends, but mostly I compete against myself. I strive to get better, learn more about the sport and the machine. When I improve in any facet of this sport, I get great self-gratification. I have to drive 8-9 hours each way to ride. It's like 8-9 hours of foreplay. Some people call it an addiction, but that word is usually used for negative things (gambing, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, etc.) I believe that snowmobiling has a positive effect on my life. The places I've seen and the people I've met. It's all positive. I've met a lot of great people on these websites too. Hopefully I'll meet them in person at the avalanche class in Omaha the 15th.
But in the ying and yang of life's balance, there is a negative side to this. It sure costs alot and it sure does seem like it takes forever for the snow to come around again! But I can't imagine not having sledding as a part of my life.

 

[capen4]

I grew up in WNY riding a little. moved to Texas 15 years ago moved here to colorado 1.5 years ago bought my first sled in less then a year and just bought the other the end of summer. I could live with out it but wouldn't be happy until I found some thing else to get crazy on. Yes it is a pashion for my family and friends I ride with. One of my riding buds have a poster of someone all suited up making grass angles in the middle of summer(arctic cat poster)thats all of us.

 

[Pastor]

I was riding several hours ago in Providence Canyon out of Logan Utah. I could not help but stop and thank God for the wonderful piviledge of living so close to some of HIS GRANDEST CREATION. What a great day; beautiful weather, new snow, we were the first in there this morning, great friends, it was awesome.

If I lived in Florida I would not own a snowmobile but I would really miss it. I would scuba dive more and golf more and really miss snowmobiling.

 

[flying pig]

Riding is a huge priority to me. The closest alpine riding is 4.5hrs away and I'll gladly drive it. I find I leave behind all the riff raff of life when I go riding. No work, no cell phone. Just me and a few friends enjoying the snow and theres a few frosty beers with my name on them when I'm done for the day. Rock on.

nailed it....

 

[bigcat_ak]

No, not at all my intentions. Just curious as to everyone's resolve.

If you have to even ask this question then you are on the wrong forum orrrr have not been paying attention oooorrrrrr your stupid oooorrrrrrrr your a GREENIE MORON? Which is it????

 

[Nikolai]

Got my first sled mag in '93 when I was 8 yrs. old and have been hooked since. I work and live for sledding, it's my life and nothing makes me happier. When I die, I want to be buried with my sled and wearing my riding gear.

 

[deepnsteep]

Maybe the question is what you would and wouldn't give up to sled???

I wouldn't lose my family or go bankrupt over sledding....

 

[DenverR1]

Grew up in Iowa on sleds. If we had a 1/2 inch of snow I was on it. I literally would wake up before school, hook up three extension chords from the house to use a blow dryer on my frozen shock because I had no money to fix it. Then I'd ride until the bus came and do it all over again after school.

Now I live in Colorado and had my first year in the mtns last year. It is a passion of mine, a stress reliever from a stressful job. And I've had a very tough year. The problem is I'm getting work done on my sled that was supposed to be 3 weeks and now going on 2 1/2 months. I think the shop does an excellent job and I'm not dropping a name, it just really sucks because I havn't ridden yet this year. I have some things I want to do to it and I can't because it's not in my garage. I hope it gets done soon because I can see the end of my rope.

 

[BigMan]

Maybe the question is what you would and wouldn't give up to sled???

I wouldn't lose my family or go bankrupt over sledding....

Are you saying you would give up riding before moving away from home?

After we couldn't get anyone to go out west with us, we said screw it and the wife and I packed up and moved out west. We like it here, but I really miss the hunting I left behind. Hunting or snow?? Hunting or snow?? Hunting or snow??

The wife's okay with either.

Decisions.. Decisions..

 

[rockdog2112]

Yes it is. I am absolutely addicted. The only things I think about more are family, friends, and my pets. Okay, that's not always true. I think about sledding a lot. It is that "special place" where you can forget all about the riggors of life for just a little while. It saved me. Besides, we live 85 miles from the Wyoming Snowys and can go most every week end. Right now, we just need more snow but it wasn't too bad yesterday. The meadows can be alot of fun.

 

[BigPoo]

sledding is my life and most people agree with me.... if i didnt grow up with a snowmobile I would probably be working at mc donalds right now to buy new video games... its funny how your dad buys you a sled and it keeps you away from everything that will screw you up(except girls). i couldnt picture my life away from snowmobiles... so yeah it is that important to me...

 

[DooMoore]

It is the best feeling in the world when you have everything just right but the older i get the more picky of snow conditions and weather condition kinda like waterskiing after skiing on glass after a while you won't even get your ski out unless it is glass just try to be a little more picky when i go so that i can enjoy every minute of it I do absolutely love it when snow is deeeeep and sun is out with all of my buddies Didn't think i would ever say this but i enjoy it alot more that i have been riding sober for 8 years it surpasses alchohol hands down!! Thanks!

 

[weighttrain_2000]

I would like to say yes but my wife won't let me Bones99, sorry about your loss.

 

[kheehn42]

That's a yes for me, I have been on a sled since I was a baby and I have been riding every year of my life. I have never gotten into anything like I have with snowmobiling. I really don't know what else I would do in the winter if i couldn't ride.

 

[suitcase]

Sickness yes, but for me its a drain tummor. I work in a industry that lets me have my winters off, so I can sled with my friends and family. The only thing that i'm thinking of on the last ride of the year is the first ride of next year. I NEED HELP, THE DOCTOR SUBSCRIBES SNOWWWW AND LOTS OF IT.

 

[2XM3]

In the words of the great Steve McQueen:

"Sleddin is life, the rest is just waiting"

well he said racin actually

yes I love the sport and will always sled. If they shut my areas I will cammo my sled out,make it super quiet and ride anyway..and yeah is gettin to that point real quick.

Steep and deep about 9 miles from my house...nice !!!