Local clubs

[PJ-Hunter]

Thinking about getting a local club where I reside. I know there is a club in Steamboat, but it is my understanding that they spend most of their time way up North, by Farwell and SLO. There is the Eagle County club (I am a member) but I never ride those areas, just joined to add support.

There is not a club in Grand County that I know of. So I thought it would be a good idea to get one started. I was hoping that this proposed club could cover Spring Creek, RE/Buff, Buff Park, The Gore (for the family riders). How does one get started on something like this?

PLEASE chime in. I KNOW that there are quite a few folks that live in the West Grand area that are Forum members that read this section. It doesn't have to be just for sleds. We all have dirtbikes and ATVs, and we ride them. I have a feeling that if there had been a club, maybe the BLM would not have closed almost every decent trail north of town to bikes and quads. But since no one was around to oppose or negotiate, the closures went silently ahead. The BLM just snuck in and did it. They say they closed only the new trails that had been cut, but anybody who has lived in the area knows that isn't true. The trails on the "Cliffs" are closed and they have been there since I was a kid. Most certainly not "new" trails.

Pretty serious about this so say something.

 

[tudizzle]

Last time we were at MC there was a club passing out flyers.

 

[03RMK800]

Brought back a memory. I was VP of the Kremmling Drifters in the early seventies. . Left for school in 1974. When I came back seven years later, a bunch of us ended up riding a lot with Summit County people. Ended up in their club. Don't know who's in it or how active it is now.
Eric and a number of people around his age group were pushing ATV and off road issues a few years ago. May be there is some structure and/or interest to help there.

 

[bushy]

Always have the "Snow Snakes" in your favorite town up the road.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Always have the "Snow Snakes" in your favorite town up the road.

I'm trying to get something of a local flavor. There are a ton of riders here and I'm assuming that if a club were started, it would also attract members from out of the area also, as they prefer to ride here.

As for the Snow Snakes, I have NOTHING against them, just too far away to be of use for the issues we have locally.

 

[tudizzle]

How about the...

Kremtucky Karvin Klub



If only there was a way to shorten the name...you know for hats....and......hoodys.

 

[Tec]

Grand lake has a club, I'm a member but don't ever ride or participate with any of there events, Just adding support as well. They do groom around Vaga Bond Ranch tho, which is nice if you make your way out there next season.

 

[RDrangstveit]

Great idea!!! Were always looking for more people to ride with in the area. Dirtbikes or sleds. My wife has a some experience with this and would be willing to help. Let us know.

 

[AndrettiDog]

PJ,

You could contact CSA to get more details on how to do this. I will tell you that there is a lot involved in organizing and running a club. The other officers in our club are a great deal of help. But it can be a thankless job at times. I spend a lot of time working with the forest service on permits for grooming, club kick off parties, end of season rides, individual rides, toys for tots, snow drags, battling Hidden Gems and so many other things.

The tough thing that all the clubs are facing is getting people to join the club. We want as many people as possible. It cost $40 to join the club ($18 goes to the club and $22 goes to CSA). It's not the money as much as it is the numbers that help with things like the Hidden Gems campaign. This great sport of ours has really changed in the last 10 years or so. It's no longer a family group club like it was years ago. My grandparents were club members and it was all about getting a group to go ride. Now days people ride in smaller groups because this sport has evolved where people don't want to be in the club. People constantly ask me what they get out of becoming a club member. I try to explain that they are helping preserve this sport. They are contributing as a number. Joining a club also provides liability coverage on club rides, lobbying power for snowmobiling, etc.

It can be tough work. I'm sure you would probably start off w/o a groomer. Eventually you could get some grant money from CSA and Colorado State Parks to purchase a groomer.

If you start a club I will join. You can join multiple clubs and don't have to pay the CSA dues for each club. So if someone was already part of another club, it would only cost them $18 to join the Holy Cross Powder Hounds.

 

[AndrettiDog]

How about the...

Kremtucky Karvin Klub



If only there was a way to shorten the name...you know for hats....and......hoodys.

KKK that is funny.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

KKK that is funny.

Kinda, But that implies that Kremmling is full of racists. It's not. We have some, just like every community.

 

[idareyou]

RE and Buff are groomed by the Routt Powder Riders club out of Steamboat. There is a different club up at Steamboat Lake that grooms the trails up there.


There are some changes by the forest service that will effect the trails and riding up north by Steamboat Lake. They want to move a parking lot, move a trail, and add some voluntary non motorized area.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

RE and Buff are groomed by the Routt Powder Riders club out of Steamboat. There is a different club up at Steamboat Lake that grooms the trails up there.


There are some changes by the forest service that will effect the trails and riding up north by Steamboat Lake. They want to move a parking lot, move a trail, and add some voluntary non motorized area.

Maybe forces could be joined and the trails could groomed more often. It was an absolute nightmare last weekend coming back to the lot.

 

[bushy]

How about the...

Kremtucky Karvin Klub



If only there was a way to shorten the name...you know for hats....and......hoodys.

Make my hoody white and with a pointy top

 

[Farmer]

PJ,

You could contact CSA to get more details on how to do this. I will tell you that there is a lot involved in organizing and running a club. The other officers in our club are a great deal of help. But it can be a thankless job at times. I spend a lot of time working with the forest service on permits for grooming, club kick off parties, end of season rides, individual rides, toys for tots, snow drags, battling Hidden Gems and so many other things.

The tough thing that all the clubs are facing is getting people to join the club. We want as many people as possible. It cost $40 to join the club ($18 goes to the club and $22 goes to CSA). It's not the money as much as it is the numbers that help with things like the Hidden Gems campaign. This great sport of ours has really changed in the last 10 years or so. It's no longer a family group club like it was years ago. My grandparents were club members and it was all about getting a group to go ride. Now days people ride in smaller groups because this sport has evolved where people don't want to be in the club. People constantly ask me what they get out of becoming a club member. I try to explain that they are helping preserve this sport. They are contributing as a number. Joining a club also provides liability coverage on club rides, lobbying power for snowmobiling, etc.

It can be tough work. I'm sure you would probably start off w/o a groomer. Eventually you could get some grant money from CSA and Colorado State Parks to purchase a groomer.

If you start a club I will join. You can join multiple clubs and don't have to pay the CSA dues for each club. So if someone was already part of another club, it would only cost them $18 to join the Holy Cross Powder Hounds.

X2, Lance hit right on the head.

 

[milehighassassin]

Ralph,
Who does the grooming at Rabbit Ears?

As others said, it is a lot of work. Good luck to you. I would contact CSA for sure.

I am a bit shocked that Kremmling/Rabbit ears doesn't have a club.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

It seems that Routt Powder Riders does. But I think they could use help, trails aren't groomed very much.

 

[idareyou]

The grooming on Rabbit Ears Pass and Buff Pass is done by the Routt Powder Riders out of Steamboat.

http://routtpowderriders.com/

This time of year they are out or just about out of money to pay for the grooming. They are paid so many hours of grooming time by the state and often kick in some club money to keep grooming longer in the spring. I am not sure how the system works for what clubs get what money for grooming, but I would say Rabbit Ears should get more with all the people that ride up there.

 

[AndrettiDog]

The grooming on Rabbit Ears Pass and Buff Pass is done by the Routt Powder Riders out of Steamboat.

http://routtpowderriders.com/

This time of year they are out or just about out of money to pay for the grooming. They are paid so many hours of grooming time by the state and often kick in some club money to keep grooming longer in the spring. I am not sure how the system works for what clubs get what money for grooming, but I would say Rabbit Ears should get more with all the people that ride up there.

That's a growing issue to look at PJ. Grooming funds have been slashed for the last three years. It's getting worse too. Funds come from a joint effort between CSA and Colorado State Parks. The CSP funds come from registration of snowmobiles (so it really is key that people register their sleds!). Registration of sleds are dropping. Likely because sleds have gotten so expensive so more people only have one sled. Also, the upcoming sled groups don't feel that they should pay for registration (I've heard this numerous times). Also, the CSP funds have been "attacked" (this was in another thread) and non-motorized groups have tried to distribute those funds more evenly. That is total BS because they are not paying into the funds, the motorized groups are. Our club had funds cut and we are out of grooming money this year. We are paying for all grooming out of our bank account right now (think fuel, cat parts/repair, oil/coolant, etc). Adding another club would cause some mumbling in the CSA/club ranks because that is more money that has to be re-distributed (which means clubs like the one I'm in will get even less funds).

That's a whole other ballgame. Dealing with your members grooming expectations. We have members that think we can't groom or don't do an adequate job. Well, we only have so much money. The Forest Service only allows us to go out on two nights a week after 5pm (per our permit). If the cat goes down (which it did this year) then we have to get someone up to repair it. Not an easy task. We have to pay someone mileage plus labor plus parts. If it snows a lot, there is a lot of grooming to do. If there is a lot of sled pressure (busy weekend) there is a lot of grooming to do. If it doesn't snow for a while, there is a lot of grooming to do.

Still want the gig?

 

[tudizzle]

Why not just join the existing club instead of trying to start from scratch?

Maybe the forum ride, since it seems to take place at the Ears, could be turned into an annual fundraiser for grooming funds?