Yamafest Pictures!!!

[Veedy]

You da man, Laird. Heck knows I cant get Render to do it !! he's too busy filming the snow by his feet.
Cpt. Ron... lug missing... hahaha...... Hey laird, that sounds like a burn from the old man... hee hee.

 

[captjacksparrow]

Back in the late 90's I watched Jason Busat climb all 3 of the chutes to right of Turbo, and Tom Collins also climbed the bigger one on the far right back in 97 or 98 as well, I believe. I also watched Jason climb all of the chutes off the second lake at Turtle, (the ones towards Boulder). He also climbed a couple down the notch at the other end of the lake as well. Not many people know this but A few of us were lucky to have been there and seen it a few times. There was very few people that even knew of Turtle back then. You rarely ever saw anyone in there back then. Rob Blair, Darrel, Tom, Rob Chunyk and us were the only out of towners I ever rode with in Turtle back then. I'm pretty sure Veedy and his Dad were there a few times. I think it was Veedy that wasn't too happy about us out of towners finding out about it I watched Jason and Darren Carlson drag race up the bigger chute at Turtle and then do a side by side drop off the cornice, up on the top ledge, in 2001 I think.

 

[Cpt.Ron]

Hi Dan, .....I was just talking to Veedy a few weeks back, about our early trips into Turtle. It was in 1994 that his Dad, "Dusty" took Laird and I, (then, out of towners), into Turtle for the first times, he showed us around on a beautiful sunny, deep snow day in early March, (I have it detailed in one of my sledding diaries), an "epic" day of "old school sledding" Revy style!!!!!!! Sleds weren't what they are now of course, .....sleds and riding styles have changed considerably, ...lots of shovelling to make trails through the tricky stuff, ...but all good times for sure.

A day's ride in Turtle back in the mid nineties was an adventure in itself. He also introduced us to the back areas beyond the Cabin at Keystone in 94. Dusty was definately one of the pioneers of these "then" remote areas, we always enjoyed and looked forward to hooking up with him for rides. He was most gracious to share his back yard with us. I still look forward to riding with him, and now days, it is a pleasure standing at the top of the chutes with him, taking pics and chatting........

CR

 

[captjacksparrow]

Hi Dan, .....I was just talking to Veedy a few weeks back, about our early trips into Turtle. It was in 1994 that his Dad, "Dusty" took Laird and I, (then, out of towners), into Turtle for the first times, he showed us around on a beautiful sunny, deep snow day in early March, (I have it detailed in one of my sledding diaries), an "epic" day of "old school sledding" Revy style!!!!!!! Sleds weren't what they are now of course, .....sleds and riding styles have changed considerably, ...lots of shovelling to make trails through the tricky stuff, ...but all good times for sure.

A day's ride in Turtle back in the mid nineties was an adventure in itself. He also introduced us to the back areas beyond the Cabin at Keystone in 94. Dusty was definately one of the pioneers of these "then" remote areas, we always enjoyed and looked forward to hooking up with him for rides. He was most gracious to share his back yard with us. I still look forward to riding with him, and now days, it is a pleasure standing at the top of the chutes with him, taking pics and chatting........

CR

Is this Ron Mcdougall? Didn't know who Capt Ron was but I was thinking Laird might be your son when I heard his last name, lol. I still have the pic of your hand built 925 sled with the gold pipes, on my wall. It would be interesting to see how it would do in these chutes. Still not alot of sleds out there that would run with it I'm guessing. I should have put your name in that list as well. Still remember the climb you made over the back of the Sugar bowl, lost it half way up in a catwalk and turned it back up and still went over like it was free, in a foot or two of fresh as well. The good old days. I rode an Apex turbo for a couple of years but I think I'm going back to the good old 925 triple sleds, I still love that motor.
I was talking to the guys and I believe it was 96 when we first went in to Turtle and Busat started climbing those chutes. Did anyone climb them before that that you know of? There was only a handfull of sleds that could make those climbs back then, You, Rob, Darrel, Tom, Jason, and a few more. Dan

 

[Veedy]

Ahhhhh .. the memories... somebody needs to make a video about the history of sledding in this area.... HEY WAIT A MINUTE !!!

 

[Cpt.Ron]

Veedy, .....................exactly what you are doing now, ..........very cool for sure, ..yes it would have been great to capture some of the earlier days, but lets face it, technology has made sleds better, but at the same time, what about your filming, and the technology advances there?? Could you imagine packing around all the "old school filming gear".....lol. It would have been a challenge for sure, perhaps managable, but you probably would have required a support crew.

BTW, ...definately looking forward to the BBQ tonight, should be some fun for sure, good friends, BBQ and perhaps some Bud Lights.........
Can't wait...

 

[Cpt.Ron]

Hi Dan, yes it is me here, still hanging around, .."hanging and banging" as the saying goes. Yes the old 925's were pretty cool, I can only just imagine what a 174"x3" track would have done for my old sled....lol. It was a cool sled then, ..but the times were different, lot's of MOD Sleds built by some clever people, the sleds were as unique as the owners. There wasn't any real huge Brand advantage as there is now.

Currently, it seems very obvious to me that the Quickest and Surest way to the Top of a Mountain, is on a Turboed Yamaha. Yes, there are still other options, BUT, it seems like a "fish swimming up stream".... It is the Era of Turboed Four strokes.

Laird just talked me into piloting his "flyer" up a chute there yesterday on Boulder, ...my old 925 was never that fast!!!!!!!!!!!!, his turboed Nytro flat out hauls !!!!!!!!!!, definately a thrill to ride, BUT.. it does un-nerve me some, my hands were a little shaky at the top, and my heart was "pumping"....lol. While Lairds is a great working sled, there are obviously others with more power yet... 200 HP two strokes were fun at the time, but this is in another league, IMO.....

As for times past.., there were definately some great Hot Rodders around, as you mentioned, Rob Blair, Darryl Baker & Tom Collins, were the originals as I recall, from around the Calgary/Revelstoke scene anyway. On the other side of the Rocks, came this Randy Swenson guy, on a Yamaha????....lol, ..he was always around, keeping the pressure on..., usually raising the bar... Within a few years, several others were emerging, each claiming their well earned share of recognition, ...it has been a fun and colourful ride for sure. Jason Busat has been there for sure. As for myself, I have always enjoyed riding, building and tuning a Hot Rod Sled, but I wasn't really one for the crazy chute pulls, ..I have been more of an Explorer, always seeking the deep powder in new areas, pushing the boundaries, and having a machine that will get you there, with some fun climbs and many good friends made along the way.

As for who was first up the chutes in Turtle, I am somewhat uncertain, but if my memory serves me correctly, I'm thinking that it was Randy Swenson....

See you around sometime Dan.

CR

 

[RGM]

Man this pics are making miss the Big Dawg even more.

 

[johnny be bad]

 

[johnny be bad]

then the bad pics of yamafest!

spare motor anyone?????

 

[BigFish BC]

then the bad pics of yamafest!

spare motor anyone?????

is that a doo rod or yammithats never good

 

[Red Dog]

Anyone that Knows Ron is Lucky,he showed my wife and I the Beauty of the Mts in Revy along time ago on a PM sent to him back when Snowest Forum first started,did not know us and was willing to show us his playground, for that we are enternally grateful.Yes and his son Laird did'nt fall far from the tree,both great people to have in our sport Class act, top drawer.Cheers Red Dog and Bad Cheetah.

 

[powderlites]

Bad picture

Well it's a Yamaha rod for sure!
SkiDoo rod is a big monster with cracked rods.
www.powderlites.com

 

[INDEEP]

Hi Dan, yes it is me here, still hanging around, .."hanging and banging" as the saying goes. Yes the old 925's were pretty cool, I can only just imagine what a 174"x3" track would have done for my old sled....lol. It was a cool sled then, ..but the times were different, lot's of MOD Sleds built by some clever people, the sleds were as unique as the owners. There wasn't any real huge Brand advantage as there is now.

Currently, it seems very obvious to me that the Quickest and Surest way to the Top of a Mountain, is on a Turboed Yamaha. Yes, there are still other options, BUT, it seems like a "fish swimming up stream".... It is the Era of Turboed Four strokes.

Laird just talked me into piloting his "flyer" up a chute there yesterday on Boulder, ...my old 925 was never that fast!!!!!!!!!!!!, his turboed Nytro flat out hauls !!!!!!!!!!, definately a thrill to ride, BUT.. it does un-nerve me some, my hands were a little shaky at the top, and my heart was "pumping"....lol. While Lairds is a great working sled, there are obviously others with more power yet... 200 HP two strokes were fun at the time, but this is in another league, IMO.....

As for times past.., there were definately some great Hot Rodders around, as you mentioned, Rob Blair, Darryl Baker & Tom Collins, were the originals as I recall, from around the Calgary/Revelstoke scene anyway. On the other side of the Rocks, came this Randy Swenson guy, on a Yamaha????....lol, ..he was always around, keeping the pressure on..., usually raising the bar... Within a few years, several others were emerging, each claiming their well earned share of recognition, ...it has been a fun and colourful ride for sure. Jason Busat has been there for sure. As for myself, I have always enjoyed riding, building and tuning a Hot Rod Sled, but I wasn't really one for the crazy chute pulls, ..I have been more of an Explorer, always seeking the deep powder in new areas, pushing the boundaries, and having a machine that will get you there, with some fun climbs and many good friends made along the way.

As for who was first up the chutes in Turtle, I am somewhat uncertain, but if my memory serves me correctly, I'm thinking that it was Randy Swenson....

See you around sometime Dan.

CR

It's cool to get some background of the area and it's riders. It's also well written. Thx

 

[johnny be bad]

is that a doo rod or yammithats never good

that be a yamaha vector rod!!!

 

[BigFish BC]

thought thats what it was.bad day

 

[modsledr]

Hey Ron and Veedy...it would be really cool to have an "extra" in the next Boost Vid where you guys sit down and just BS about the history of the area...maybe a couple of interviews with some of the other pioneers.

Like Ron said, the machines these days have gotten so good, we take these areas for granted because they have gotten easier to reach (relatively...compared to the old iron)...it would be cool to give some props to the guys who blazed the trail for us.

Cheers to all who made the effort!!

 

[product tester]

laird and ron thanks for the fix up on the pipe worked great hope to be able to go on one of your rides as it was awsome time spent with ya at the monster and would like to see my riding taken to another level .
Laird and Josh you guys inspire me It would be an honor to be able to go along on an adventure with you guys as I believe you guys are doing stuff on sleds that is unsurpassed by anyone! I cant wait to see footage of your season I hope they can capture half of what really goes on......

 

[Cpt.Ron]

Hi Mike, ..I am blushing here, you are far too kind.

At risk of taking Laird's thread way off topic..........

This reminds me of a time when we were boondocking around the Lakes, (Boulder), mostly our regular group, I don't recall who all was there or even how many on this particular day. At one point in the day, we were sitting around on our sleds, ..eating lunch, ..the powder steaming off the hoods, .....deeep snow, ..sh-t eating grins on all faces......

Between bites of his sandwhich, Darryl Baker asks me a question, "what did I think was the best part of this spectacular day we were enjoying", ...without hesitation, I replied that the snow was great, the blue skies were awesome, and the sleds were all working well, ......he paused for a moment and replied, "yes, those were all good points, ..but it is the people that really made the day", ...."our friends".

I pondered this for a moment and full heartedly agreed, ..to this day I have never forgotten his assement, it could not have been more accurate, ...it is the people, our friends and the friends that we make, ..that truley makes this sport so great.

I consider myself very fortunate to have made so many friends through our common love of sledding.

Back at you Mike, ...You and Lisa are top notch as well!!!!!!!!!!! I am looking forward to next season all ready, ..see you out there.

CR

 

[Cpt.Ron]

Hi Brent, (Modsledr), ...your idea of an "extra" with some narrative commentary could be very cool..... Veedy certainly knows lots of great guys that would make for some very colourful and interesting entertainment.

Cheers as well.

CR