WWA and REI

[deepdiver]

I am sure that most are aware of WWA and their partners in crime that want to shut our sport down. In the January issue of Snowest on pg8 there is an article about it with the details.

Long story short REI and Cliff bars are two of the biggest supporters of WWA. I would guess that these companies might not even know what the specifics are of WWA's crooked attacks are. Keen, Patagonia, Black Diamond, Outdoor Research,Atlas etc...frick I own something from every one of them..agghhhhh!

If any of you are REI members(I am) let them know how dissatisfied you are. Looks like Cliff bars are not going in my sled or my Elk hunting pack any more. Hellll they are not that good anyway.

 

[sunbather1969]

10-4 agree

I am sure that most are aware of WWA and their partners in crime that want to shut our sport down. In the January issue of Snowest on pg8 there is an article about it with the details.

Long story short REI and Cliff bars are two of the biggest supporters of WWA. I would guess that these companies might not even know what the specifics are of WWA's crooked attacks are. Keen, Patagonia, Black Diamond, Outdoor Research,Atlas etc...frick I own something from every one of them..agghhhhh!

If any of you are REI members(I am) let them know how dissatisfied you are. Looks like Cliff bars are not going in my sled or my Elk hunting pack any more. Hellll they are not that good anyway.

****in tree huggers

 

[Van Epps]

KLIM and Cabelas and you're good. All other quality winter gear seems to be for twig and berry munchers... and support land grabs.

Motofist is a likely one to use as well.

 

[xrated]

KLIM and Cabelas and you're good. All other quality winter gear seems to be for twig and berry munchers... and support land grabs.

Motofist is a likely one to use as well.

Are you saying Klim and Cabelas are good brands to support?

Not saying they aren't but anyone who uses Gore is sending money to the greenies, Gore is a big donator.

 

[xpspenziv]

whos grandma sews?well keep her bizzy...

 

[hughesfoundation]

This is nothing new! REI has been on that side of the fence for a long time. We need to keep this going and put our money in the right place. I'm not sure of the solution with gore.

 

[deepdiver]

I ponied up and went with MotoFist this year for jacket and pants...I like the Event fabric better than gore..it breaths better. The MF brand jacket has some subtle embroidery on the back that says "Snowmobiling is Not a Crime".

It seems that the war on tree huggers is on. They are doing real well uniting forces for their cause.

WWA and WMC and the rest can eat my tree bark!

 

[beans]

Please explain what the WWA and WMC is.

 

[no_uh]

Well, the good news is that none of these companies are actually contributing that much money and probably doing it primarily for the pub.
http://www.winterwildlands.org/about/corporate.php
The bad news, is that they are still supporting a group that would like to see snowmobiles removed from the face of the earth. It's too bad, I was really loving my Black Diamond bag, and will never look at it the same again.

Not sure what we can really do other than contact the individual companies and voice displeasure. The funny thing is, if you are a member at REI (Which I am), you are actually an owner of that company, and in a weird infinitely small way contributed to WWL. However, considering that REI donates millions every year, at least these guys are at the bottom of the totem pole.

REI's Mission Statement is to "inspire, educate, and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship." I think you could probably make the case that REI is making an exception to their mission, because if WWL has their way, REI should not be extending its mission to snowmobilers.

 

[no_uh]

Are you saying Klim and Cabelas are good brands to support?

Not saying they aren't but anyone who uses Gore is sending money to the greenies, Gore is a big donator.

I think you are confused between Gore, Al, and Gore-Tex. They aren't related.

Here's a list of what Gore-Tex supports:
http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Sate...S/fabrics_cont_land_c/CommunityTeamLandingSEO

 

[KMMAC]

OUCH!!!! No more gore-tex for me!!!!!

 

[no_uh]

OUCH!!!! No more gore-tex for me!!!!!

Am I missing something? I didn't recognize any of the groups that Gore donates to as anti-snowmachine. Please educate me if I'm wrong.

 

[M8GURL]

Motorfist Gear!!!! It has kept me dryer then Klim

 

[xrated]

Am I missing something? I didn't recognize any of the groups that Gore donates to as anti-snowmachine. Please educate me if I'm wrong.

At first glance, there are words here that sound anti sled access

ne hundred percent of its member companies' dues go directly to diverse, local community groups across the nation - groups like Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, the South Yuba River Citizens' League, RESTORE: The North Woods and the Sinkyone Wilderness Council (a Native American-owned/operated wilderness park). For these groups, who seek to protect the last great wild lands and waterways from resource extraction and commercial development, the Alliance's grants are substantial in size and have often made the difference between success and defeat.

Since its inception in 1989, The Conservation Alliance has contributed more than $5 million to grassroots environmental groups across the nation that have funded or saved over 34 million acres of wild lands and prevented or removed 14 dams.

Ultimately, the Alliance believes that more than any other group, the outdoor industry should be giving back to the landscapes its customers enjoy.

We are proud to support the Conservation Alliance and its efforts.

 

[no_uh]

At first glance, there are words here that sound anti sled access

ne hundred percent of its member companies' dues go directly to diverse, local community groups across the nation - groups like Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, the South Yuba River Citizens' League, RESTORE: The North Woods and the Sinkyone Wilderness Council (a Native American-owned/operated wilderness park). For these groups, who seek to protect the last great wild lands and waterways from resource extraction and commercial development, the Alliance's grants are substantial in size and have often made the difference between success and defeat.

Since its inception in 1989, The Conservation Alliance has contributed more than $5 million to grassroots environmental groups across the nation that have funded or saved over 34 million acres of wild lands and prevented or removed 14 dams.

Ultimately, the Alliance believes that more than any other group, the outdoor industry should be giving back to the landscapes its customers enjoy.

We are proud to support the Conservation Alliance and its efforts.

Yea, there's a likelihood that some of those groups are anti-snowmachine, but I guess we don't really know until someone decides to research them all. I am probably in the minority, but I don't really consider wilderness groups anti-sno-go unless they are actively fighting to increase wilderness/anti ORV designated areas. Otherwise, I am perfectly content as long as we get ours and they get theirs.

 

[deepdiver]

Yea, there's a likelihood that some of those groups are anti-snowmachine, but I guess we don't really know until someone decides to research them all. I am probably in the minority, but I don't really consider wilderness groups anti-sno-go unless they are actively fighting to increase wilderness/anti ORV designated areas. Otherwise, I am perfectly content as long as we get ours and they get theirs.

WWA is against snowmobiles...period! Now They have signed on about 90 different groups of their friends in support of trying to get Snowmobiling as you know it shut off! Greater Yellowstone Coalition is in with them.

Dont be so content...the research has already been done for you. SAWS has been in many legal battles to protect your rights or permissions(better word) to ride in areas that these many so called wilderness coalitions want to cherish all for their greedy little selves. Get educated in the Land use area and you will find out how serious this can be. WWA is attempting to get snowmobiles reclassified as an ORV..if that happens enjoy your trail ride on ORV acess trails only..no more riding thru fresh snow in a meadow leaning into a powder turn until your head drags in the snow..or having a lunch in the sun on top of your favority view point...that will all be a thing of the past and our expensive snowmachines wll be worthless.

There are others that have signed on to this WWA petition that may surprise you...like the International Mountain biking assoc. The American Canoe Assoc. The American Whitewater, Continental divide trail alliance and the outdoor alliance...then along with these national groups ther are about another 50 regional groups that have all signed on to this petition.

Many of the so called Wilderness groups have signed on with WWA ( more than 90 groups)in thier petitions to stop snowmobiling. Some dont come right out an denounce sledding as criminal behaviour but if they sign on with those that do such as WWA then they are one of the same IMHO.

For more information Please look at the Land Use areas where there are more specifics. I posted this here because of the Washington companies that are also supporting WWA wether they know what they are about or not remains to be seen.

All snowmobilers need to get involved or at a minimum send a donation to SAWS or WASSA or Blue Ribbon Coalition. If we all just sit back and think that this wont affect us we are very wrong. Sort of like stickking your head in the sand so to speak. Read the Land use area on Snowest Forum..many dont.

 

[BigRed118]

I think you are confused between Gore, Al, and Gore-Tex. They aren't related.

Here's a list of what Gore-Tex supports:
http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Sate...S/fabrics_cont_land_c/CommunityTeamLandingSEO

just because they dont list them, doesnt mean they dont support them. a pecentage of all sales goes to the sierra club.....

 

[JOHNNYLINGO]

just because they dont list them, doesnt mean they dont support them. a pecentage of all sales goes to the sierra club.....

This is John from Klim. I just wanted to throw a couple of things out there.

First, Gore does not contribute to the Sierra Club. On a personal level the guys at Gore are outdoor enthusiast just like us. I’ve ridden both snowmobiles and motorcycles with them. Our account rep that lives in Seattle is a Land Cruiser junky. He’s built a Land Cruiser from the ground up and likes to take it out and go 4x4.

On a business level Gore would never alienate their own customers. Yes, there are people that ski that use Gore-Tex, but that does not mean Gore is for shutting access. Instead of promoting the closure of public land to motorized access, Gore has helped out in the snowmobile market more than all of the other fabric companies combined.

Here is an example. This year, Gore-Tex and Klim teamed up to offer five $1000 grants to five different snowmobile clubs across the US this winter. Any club was eligible that was a member of a State Snowmobile Association. Clubs had to attend a snow show in their area and present a simple plan at the Klim booth outlining what good they would do with the grant. The winners were chosen based on the validity and effectiveness of the plans submitted and the grant was given out on the spot (at the show).

The purpose of the Grant was to:


#1: drive traffic to the shows, this helped the entire industry.
#2: The grant was only given to clubs that were members of a state snowmobile association in an effort to help the state associations and ACSA maintain a population of active clubs—the people making the difference.
#3: To benefit clubs and their programs directly, which Klim and Gore feels is the backbone of the industry.

One grant was given away in Washington State to the State’s first snowmobile club; The Yakima Ski Benders. The money went to help subsidized lost DNR funds to keep parking areas plowed and trails groomed from “Wenachee to our own Ahtanum State Forest.”

Another club in Utah; the Skyline Snow Riders, was able to get the State of Utah to match the Gore-Tex grant so they walked away with $2000 to directly benefit the future of their riding areas. Here are some news stories:

http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/64628057.html

http://www.klimusa.com/Custom/News.aspx?NewsID=288

As a business in the snowmobile market we are trying to do all we can to help fight the ridiculous land grab. Klim partners with pro-access groups (such as The Blue Ribbon Coalition) and works hard for year-round access to our public lands. We would not purposely work with someone that would take us backwards. Gore has been a great partner over the years and we feel they are in a pivotal position to help us communicate with their other customers in the non-motorized world. Through this communication, we can all get to the table and discuss why nobody can be the selfish child in the sandbox—we all have the right to play.