Is Sledding as a family sport dead?

[retiredpop]

I was thinking of this because of all the avy deaths this last year. Everyone seems to want to ride extreme backcountry terrain these days and that is no place to take the kids. On top of that it seems that more and more people look down on trail riding as a viable option. Is the family oriented sledding era over? Are there any families that go sledding as a family anymore? I'm talking about mom and dad taking the kids out for a day of sledding. The manufacturers don't offer any low priced low powered light weight sleds that will take a young person of 10 to 16 years of age out on the trails or out in deeper snow. Unless a child can handle a 450 lb sled there is nothing there for them. (I don't consider a 120 sled to be much of an option because it is only basically good for parking lot duty for very young children or very short rides on packed trails.) Is this our fault as consumers because we don't demand true entry level sleds? The last sled I remember that was supposed to sort of fill this void was the Freestyle by Skidoo but it didn't sell so was dropped. I am thinking about the sleds that so many people started out with such as Elans, Bravos, Tundras, etc. (250 and 340 sleds that all the manufacturers used to build). Maybe people just can't afford to get the whole family involved anymore even if there were sleds for young kids. I've got 3 grandchildren who love to go sledding with us but I think we are in the minority. Let's hear from some of the families who play together.

 

[Jeff C]

You got a point POP.

I had to go on Craigslist and find my son a 25 year old Yamaha Bravo 250, as you are correct in saying that a 8 year old is too big for a 120.

Ok, so the Bravo will handle him for up till 11 or so, but then what?

 

[xrated]

you guys figure out how to get the kids going. I have a 4 year old, 1 year old and one due this fall and I want to be able to take them sledding.

 

[snowmobiler]

its going downhill imo.i see the 340 sport is gone.but poo has a fan trail for 6000.
guess you need to buy used to get a mid sized sled.

 

[snengineer]

Can you say Phazer, Not the new crap I'm talking 1985-1993 era, BSEBIMO. I hardly go without family, I've got a lot to look forward too in the future, Snowmobiling is awesome and snowmobiling with the family is that much more fun.

 

[MNSLEDNECK56308]

I can't speak for the mountain family, but here in Cental MN family sledding is alive and well.....when we have snow. That is about the only thing that has hurt the sport around here. Lack of snow the last 4 years hurt but this winter was pretty good. Its not uncommon to see family of 3 or 4 on various types of sleds. I picked up my eight year old a 82 yammi 440 SS, he loves it. Not quite old enough for the trails, he can handle it just fine. When we go as a family I take the 8 year on back with me and my wife has the 4 year in front of her. Great family bonding, don't get me wrong its the most exciting, highflying action but when i'm with them its not about that! I'm 100% sure my boys and my family will continue riding together once they are old enough. The sled doesn't matter to them when they are young, its the smile on there face that is makes it worth it! Just my .02 cents!

 

[team2]

Has anyone checked out Premier Recreational Products? (www.premierrpc.com) They are fairly new manufacturing sleds that are designed for kids that are right "in between" as far as sled options go. These are not designed to compete with the big four but more to fill a niche that they feel is a good opportunity and for good reason. These sleds are not simply a sized down engine in a "full size tunnel" if you will. A large tunnel is still a large tunnel for a small rider who has a hard time due to the size of the tunnel and being able to transfer there weight. This was a similar flaw with the freestyle. The Premier sleds address that by putting in a smaller engine as well as toning down the actual size of the sled to more appropriately fit a smaller riders frame. These sleds top out in the low 40's, and will go through fresh powder easily.

This may be an option for us to get kids more involved and riding a machine they can handle safely?

 

[UintaVentureBoys]

Snowmobiling as a family sport seems to be a joke around our neck of the woods to those who haul around 5 and 6 800 cc sleds all year, but we actually built a family based business built on family riding. weve been taking people out on trips with their kids and wives and what not for the past 5 years, we just recently decided to make a business out of it. I love the family involvement in snowmobiling. my kids love itting little 3 foot drifts and getting maybe 2 or 3 feet of air. we just happe to have 2 excel 340'2 laying around that we keep tuned for the kids. we also have a phaser from 85 that runs good that my oldest loves. my youngest runs a 50cc sno-scoot that yamaha produced back in the 80's. we used to own a yamaha dealership and thats where we got ahold of all these old, light weight, low cc sleds that are great for kids. I agree with the fact that one of the manufacturers needs to get away from the 400lb 2-up sleds being considered the family toy cause their not, unless your kids are bam-bam from the flintstones, there's no way they will get that heap unstuck. Sure the reverse and electric start is nice, but its dead weight. I'll just stick to my 80's 340 collection til my kids can handle a nice 600. But as far as family riding! HELL YEAH!!! its the only way to go

 

[snowmobiler]

good find team2.those are cool

 

[snopropanther]

seen a ton of families riding this year. Lots of kids on new sleds and lots of indy 440's around. Its not mountain riding but its good to see families getting into the trail riding aspect.

 

[live2ride]

We take my son riding as much as we possilby can, he rides most places we do. Mind you we don't hit big chutes, but he does hang nicely. He loves it and is doing well on the 600 2002 summit, this year we had a few oop'sies, but made out unhurt. He started out on a lil' polaris indy lite, then moved up to a 550 polaris trail, and the last 2 years on this sled. He has been riding most of his life, even when I was a single mother I took him with. He is 13 and 85 lbs when these photos were taken this year.

 

[POLZIN]

Since I got rid of the wife me and the kids go sledding way more often ! Our Family will be sledding into the forseeable future. Trails for now but in a few years the kids will be old enough to tackle the backcountry and I will have saved enough $$ to buy all the gear they need to keep it safe for them !

 

[LPIdaho]

I pretty much just ride with my dad and brother and it always been that way.
I started on a Kitty Kat, then a Polars Colt 240, then a Polaris 340, next was a Polaris 500 XCSP rode that for a few years then extended it to a 136 plus some more mods and rode it for another year, then rode a Gen 2 800 RMK for a few months. and

Now I have 2006 RMK 700 and if I didn't ride that 500 for such a long time I don't think I'd have as good of sled handling skills as I do now.

 

[Viper5]

It is getting hard to afford it with the price of gas and everything else. I do agree with the old phazers for the kids cheap to buy and seem to run for ever, I have 2 of them a 90 and 91.

 

[Caveman]

My girls[1 wife 2 daughters]have been riding with me for years.We still spend as much time riding out West as a family as we can.All 3 started with small Yamahas and have moved up to M7s now.My advice for fun is give them the best stuff,sleds ,clothes,ect that they can handle and you can afford.If they are warm and having fun then so are you!
Cave

 

[moyiesledhead]

Both my son and daughter were riding with the wife and I at about 6 months old. Son was on his own sled by the time he was 5, and the daughter a little later cuz she was smaller. 300's and 340's still existed in those days so sleds weren't really a problem. I can see a real problem finding kids something to ride these days, and I don't see as many families out as I once did. My kids are grown now so the only family riding we get is when we go to visit my son, and I can't keep up to his turbo sled anyway! It definately seems to be a problem these days though. I suspect cost is a big part of it. It was tough for me to keep 4 going when sleds, fuel etc were cheaper...not sure I could do it at todays prices.

 

[TGitt]

I think that it's important to find the right sled for someone to start out on. I started on an 86 Polaris 400 when I was about 10. Then Two years later we got a 2003 Polaris Trail RMK. I think that is one of the best learning sleds out there. Its got enough power to get into some fun areas, but not too much that you can get into trouble, and it's light and handles pretty well. Then I went to a 99 700 RMK and now im on a 900 RMK. I still may be young, but I've had a lot of fun riding with my family. My dad, sister and I go every weekend.

 

[Ex-Member]

Funny, i had the opposite problem. Bought the sled, parents didn't really like that choice of hobby. My mom's sort of a granola-type, not vehemently against motorsports, but generally stayed away from them. That's part of the reason I didn't get into it till recently :\

Finally convinced them to rent some machines and I played tour guide in march. Both my parents had a blast, my mom got to the point she was tryin all kinds of stuff I never thought she would till she rolled the sled D), that kinda knocked her agressiveness down a few notches. On the ride home they were talking about doing it again next year

Wouldn't say its dead, but there's more than just big sleds and backcountry terrain to play in.

 

[harf69]

i started my son out at age 9 on a enticer 340 250.00
next year yamaha srv 200.00
93 yamaha phazer mountain lite rode 2 years 1000.00
06 m6 141 trade bb for been riding 1 year
lowerend older sleds are cheap and last forever but if you go down a single track trail with a 162 the poor kid behind you doesent have enough travel to not get stuck found that one out the hard way you can pick up cheap older sleds at the snowshow for next to nothing seeing the look on my wife and kids face priceless

 

[Environmentalist]

We still ride as a family! I take the family on Saturday for a day on the trails and rated "G" riding. Then on Sunday I ride with the fellas.

Here is what we ride:

10 year old girl: Just starting to ride on her own. When she isn't riding she rides with my wife on a 2000 Venture 2-up eek:I said 2-up on snowest!) We picked up the Venture this year and was worth every penny! Much better than riding double on a mountain sled.

12 year old girl: Just finished her 3rd season on a 340 Poo. She LOVES to ride and is usually pissed when we head back to the trailer. When the 10 years is full time, the oldest will start riding my wife's...second sled....a '08 Phazer MTX.

Absolute MUSTS: Dress them in the BEST gear. (Nothing worst than a cold kid) Those hand and boot warmers that you open and throw in. And of course...the hot dogger, nothing better than warm food.