Boy can I tell you a story about an encounter that I had with a X-country skier on the Luce Line trail west of Lake Mtka.
This is about 10 years ago. My wife and I are riding down the trail at blazing speed of 10-15mph due to the fact there others using the trail. This is a multi use trail that during the winter time is maintained by the local sled club that I happed to be a member of. This trail is an old railroad bed that is pretty wide in most places and in others is just wide enough to fit two sleds side by side. Hey this in MN guys we ride what we can.
My wife is in the lead position and I am behind her just putting along. This section of the trail is one of the wider sections room enough for 4 sleds side by side. We are pulled all the way over to the right being cautious to the two x country skiers coming at us. Just to point out they are in the middle of the trail and did not move over to add to the buffer we offered by riding on the far right side of the trail. My wife slowed down to a speed some where under 5mph as we were passing this couple. Just as my wife is about to pass the A** clown threw one of his poles at my wife. It was deliberate, as he arched his arm like he was spearing a whale. the pole pierced the belly pan just in front of the primary clutch. At which time snapped off the pole tip and rattled around inside the clutches enough for my wife to here it and stop. At this point off my sled and in the guys face. We exchanged some words that were not very nice.
At first he denied he threw the pole, but soon fessed up once I removed his other pole and tossed it in the woods. That and his wife was crying and apologizing profusely. I pulled out my cell and called the local police, and while I was making the call he tried to make a run for it. Really, did he think he was going to get that far on the skis... So being the calm person that I am I stomped on the back of this ski and nudged him a bit. funny how he happened to fall on the ground. All the while I have the 911 operator on the line and i am explaining the play by play.
So anyway this dude for lack of a better term is flailing around on the ground trying to get up but just cant because I am standing on his ski keeping him pinned down. All the while his wife is screaming and crying thinking that I am going to kill this guy. The thought had crossed my mind.
Local Law enforcement showed up within about 15min of me placing the call on a sled by the way... The L.E. guy happens to be Robert a fellow member of the sled club that helps maintains this trail. At first the guy said my wife ran this guy down with the sled, but the evidence was not there considering the tracks in the snow showed us all the way over to the right. Then dudes wife tossed him under the buss because I said I wanted to press charges. Turns out he has a warrant out for an assault he did not appear in court for. So into the cuffs he went.
About 6 months later I appear in court for the final time and am awarded a nice judgment for close to $900.00 for repairs to the sled that were needed. Funny how I have not received payment to this day...
I don't like this stuff anymore than you guys but sending him e-mails that are threatening, calling names, etc. doesn't do any good. Instead I asked him a bunch of questions about why he thinks the way he does and told him he has alot of stereotypes about snowmobilers that aren't true. He never anwered any of my questions. That was pretty much the point of my e-mail.
