Something refreshing I've picked up on....

[Yourworstnightmare]

The snowmobiling community is a lot more "close knit" and mature than other sports I've been involved in.

Seems like the average person who sleds is a little bit older, and not so into the "bling" factor of say, the Motocross industry.

Everyone seems a lot more willing to lend a hand, and work together for a common goal... whether it be keeping land open, or even pulling a stuck sled owned by someone you dont know outta the ditch for them.

It's just refreshing meeting up with everyone at the parking lot, unloading, and not having a bunch of little "kids" trying to impress everyone. Just goin out, and riding, and having a damn good time.


Just an observation I've made.

 

[cat rider]

The snowmobiling community is a lot more "close knit" and mature than other sports I've been involved in.

Seems like the average person who sleds is a little bit older, and not so into the "bling" factor of say, the Motocross industry.

Everyone seems a lot more willing to lend a hand, and work together for a common goal... whether it be keeping land open, or even pulling a stuck sled owned by someone you dont know outta the ditch for them.

It's just refreshing meeting up with everyone at the parking lot, unloading, and not having a bunch of little "kids" trying to impress everyone. Just goin out, and riding, and having a damn good time.


Just an observation I've made.

I wish more people saw it that way

 

[RMKcowboy]

I don't know about motocross, but I've found through 20 some odd years of riding dirt bikes in the woods that most guys you run across are real nice guys and will help out if needed (of course there are always exceptions...) I've had real similar experiences sledding... some guys are really cool, and some have that "holier than thou" attitude that makes you want to lay them out.

 

[Himark]

I completely agree. We are not without some bad apples but for the most part people in this sport are great people! at least all the two ski'ers

 

[boondocking fool]

most sledders are good people , I try to help all , most of us leave tools , gear , oil , fuel , beer in the backs of our trucks , and when we return its always there , so yea its a tight knit group of peeps that respect other peoples stuff and lend a helping hand when needed

 

[KFD070]

"Outdoorsy" people in general seem to be this way. Quadding, fishing, dirt biking, sledding pretty much all seem to attract...... for the most part, good people. Appears to be a mutual respect for one another. Met, helped and been helped by some awesome folks over the years. Now snowboarding at the ski hill..... not so much!

 

[94fordguy]

I am happy to say I ave also noticed this general 'nice' attitude while out sledding. I'm kinda wondering if among other things already mentioned, it may also have something to do with the fact that this sport can be just plain spendy... We all invest thousands of dollars into our equipment and run them for a comparatively short amount of time so we all try and help each other out as best we can. Whatever the true reason may be, it is nice to be in the 'club' haha

 

[cobbycat]

this will be my 9th season in the "club" of sledders and it has been a pleasure on the mountains. I've literally met hundreds of sledders and 99.9% have been outstanding people. the thing that gets me is; there is so much competition between us all, buddy to buddy, cat to doo to yammy to poo, turbo to big bore, who can build the best fire, or who can pee the farthest off that huge dropoff. but when the poop hits the fan, everyone of them around is there to help regardless of who is in trouble, be it a stuck sled, breakdowns, avalanche, out of gas or even an empty stomach. I've been sitting on the edge of the trail a few times in my 9 years, and never had anyone ride by without seeing if I was ok. cheers to the "club"

 

[m_beeson]

The reality of snowmobiling is that things could potentially turn to life and death very quickly. I think most of us realize how important it is to help each other out; so that doesn't happen.

And due to the environment of the sport, we have had to rely on a "quid pro quo" mentality. It's just inherent to the sport.

 

[89sandman]

costs too much for young peeps. used to think quads were expensive... although have met some well to do sledders that can walk on water. must suck to be out rode by a working man

 

[PowderCrew]

Ive pulled up to the "rally point" out by myself (no-one to ride with that day)... and asked a group of total strangers if I could join their group to ride. Done it many times. Once they even had to help get me out when the sled broke... and it was a NASTY drag! But each time has been awesome and have met great new friends that I would continue to ride with. Dont think i've ever had that experience at the dunes on quads or on the trails with the 4x4. Those folks seem to want to keep to their own group and friends it seems...sledders feel like a second family, no matter what state!

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I have had the chance to know and ride with both. Some awesome, some bad.

 

[sleddin pete]

Most people I've rode with are good people.
Made some good riding friends in the lot who I have now rode with for years.
Always try to help out others,You never know when you're going to be the one on the end of the rope or help out with broken sled/bones.(been there).
Pete

 

[Environmentalist]

Sledders are a great bunch. You don't even have to be on the mountain. Once you find out a person is a sledder, you can instantly start up a conversation. I've rode with people that I met at the store! I always make sure to stop and help people, because I know I will be the next person needing help!

I don't see the same thing with boaters....now there is some real jerks in that crowd. Endless stories of people being rude idiots on the water.

 

[polaris dude]

i've almost always found that most snowmobilers are good people, sometimes though you will run across the idiot/drunk that is a complete a$$, or you will always find that group of 10+sitting right smack dab on the trails, and has 4-5others criss-crossing the trail whereever going up the mountains on the sides of the trails. I can't tell you the number of times i've almost been t-boned or almost hit sledders sitting on the trail when im trail riding to my "spots". Does this annoy others too? especially when they could move their lazy arses 50feet so their not smothering the trail?

 

[Yourworstnightmare]

Yeah, it's just been something I noticed..... even from my short time I got to ride last season. I'm gettin ready to rip this year.... I'm hoping it'll be the same.



I'll be up around the Featherville area mostly, maybe a few times to McCall this year. Just depends on how much Diesel I wanna burn.

I hope to meet some new faces this year, and maybe make a few riding buddies. I always enjoy riding in a group

Now, LET IT SNOOWWWW!!!!!!!

 

[kane13]

Its called Respect!!! some have it some don't.

 

[Ollie]

Due in large part to the cost of the sport riders tend to be older and the younger riders were all brought into the sport by older people so you don't really find the clicks like you do with other sports.

The riders tend to be more respectful and willing to help out.
I have run across some real douches but they were mostly flatlanders out here for a vacation are pretty much clueless.

 

[diggerdown]

Due in large part to the cost of the sport riders tend to be older and the younger riders were all brought into the sport by older people so you don't really find the clicks like you do with other sports.

The riders tend to be more respectful and willing to help out.
I have run across some real douches but they were mostly flatlanders out here for a vacation are pretty much clueless.

Ollie, don't go there! I'm a flatlander and I've pulled out and worked on more sleds than most. I can't go by and not help. My experience has been the opposite, with the western riders taking care of themselves first. Either way, there are good and bad everywhere, in general snowmobilers are like people at a camp ground, open your hood and there are three guys running to get their tool boxes!

 

[Bullheadmoto]

This is a great thread, and I agree; I fell in love with the sport when I was five.

What I have noticed, snowmobilers are bound together by many common ties...

snowmobiling is a way bigger time and financial commitment than most motorsports.

sleds (regardless of the brand) take a pile of work to maintain, repair, haul, store...heck, its a pile of work just to get ready to go riding.

Most (of course not all) are joined politically, are hard workers no matter what the profession, proud of and involved with their kids, are extremely patriotic, and view fellow riders as comrads and are almost always willing and ready to lend a hand.

As a group, we are the eternal optimists: "this year is going to be awesome; it's going to snow a ton- I can feel it!"

And after all the time, money, work, driving, cancelled trips, crappy snow or no snow, broken down sleds 17 miles from nowhere, and everything else, we get one of those trips when the planets align, and the snow is perfect, the weather is perfect, and there wasn't a single problem with the truck, trailer or sleds. We grin ear-to -ear with memories that will last a lifetime, and as we're loading our sled to go home, we look down at the machine and we say to oursleves with a huge smile, "That was awesome...I love snowmobiling!".

Yep, snowmobilers rule.

BHM