Snowmobile club trip activities

[hoamskilet]

Our club plans a couple club trips up north every year. Last few years participation has been pretty low. In last month's meeting there was some discussion on coming up with some ideas to help boost participation.

All of you that are in clubs that take trips, are there any specific activities you plan or anything?

 

[POLARISDAN]

Our club plans a couple club trips up north every year. Last few years participation has been pretty low. In last month's meeting there was some discussion on coming up with some ideas to help boost participation.

All of you that are in clubs that take trips, are there any specific activities you plan or anything?

how about invite everybody and dont let the clicks exclude people..i gave UP on my club when guys would do trips u never heard about..similar age etc..and i was the new guy..after i heard about it a few times i said screw it..now i ride with the JD club

 

[hoamskilet]

how about invite everybody and dont let the clicks exclude people..i gave UP on my club when guys would do trips u never heard about..similar age etc..and i was the new guy..after i heard about it a few times i said screw it..now i ride with the JD club

Everybody is invited. It gets brought up in all the meetings before the dates arrive and they're posted on our club Facebook page. Fortunately our club isn't very clicky. We're just kinda trying to figure out at this point why participation has been low lately and what we can do to boost it.

My hunch is it's just kinda hard to get a lot of people to be able to go at the same time with everyone's busy schedules, kids, etc...but it's worth trying some new things if anyone has some good ideas

 

[snowchief]

We our on the last night of our club ride we had 14 people out of 40 come this year due to the cold weather, we try to keep it within a 3 hour drive to get more involved also we do a club pays for pizza one night and play some games,

 

[gary_in_neenah]

If you don't already, you can pay for a meal or part of the hotel stay out of the club funds to increase interest. Our club paid for one hotel night of a two night weekend trip which was a nice perk.

 

[hoamskilet]

Good ideas guys, keep em coming. Thanks

 

[Deleted member 10829]

If you don't already, stress that there will be 2 different groups, 1 for those that like to go a bit faster and another for those that want to take it easy and take in the sites. I think some people get intimidated at the thought of trying to keep up with the group and just stay home.

 

[bearrassler]

Over the years our club has tried many different things. We subsidize the cost, the last few years we charge 40.00 and the club picks up the rest, we have bought breakfast some years, supper other years, ride in different groups, have had a bonfire some years, a Friday night welcome party some years and our numbers are still going down. We have been going once a year for over 40 years to the same resort and everyone says that they have a blast. In the 90's we would have 80 to 90 people, a couple weeks ago we had 17. Hopefully someone will have a great idea to try next year.

 

[whitedust]

If you don't already, stress that there will be 2 different groups, 1 for those that like to go a bit faster and another for those that want to take it easy and take in the sites. I think some people get intimidated at the thought of trying to keep up with the group and just stay home.

This is super important to have 2 or even 3 groups graded by riding abilities. The spirited group wants to rock and roll down the trail and the scenic group wants to putt putt down the trail. Pure agony for riders mismatched to either group.

 

[1fujifilm]

Our club plans a couple club trips up north every year. Last few years participation has been pretty low. In last month's meeting there was some discussion on coming up with some ideas to help boost participation.

All of you that are in clubs that take trips, are there any specific activities you plan or anything?

If you put your hometown in your profile we will know where your club is.

Bear

 

[ddhanna]

how about invite everybody and dont let the clicks exclude people..i gave UP on my club when guys would do trips u never heard about..similar age etc..and i was the new guy..after i heard about it a few times i said screw it..now i ride with the JD club

And, how did it make you feel?

 

[POLARISDAN]

Over the years our club has tried many different things. We subsidize the cost, the last few years we charge 40.00 and the club picks up the rest, we have bought breakfast some years, supper other years, ride in different groups, have had a bonfire some years, a Friday night welcome party some years and our numbers are still going down. We have been going once a year for over 40 years to the same resort and everyone says that they have a blast. In the 90's we would have 80 to 90 people, a couple weeks ago we had 17. Hopefully someone will have a great idea to try next year.

how about snow?

- - - Updated - - -

And, how did it make you feel?

huh?

 

[gary_in_neenah]

In the 90's we would have 80 to 90 people, a couple weeks ago we had 17.

This may be a reflection of snowmobiling as a whole. I've lost count of all the people I used to ride with that no longer own a machine. Work, family, kids, and low snow years have caused many to give it up. Coupled with the prohibitive cost of new sleds, gear, adequate tow vehicles and trailers....there's a lot of factors working against our favorite sport and past time.

 

[xcr440]

Our group schedules 5 trips a year - we are a club of anywhere between 75-100+, with many 'older' members who don't ride so much.

1. If we get 8-10 club members on a trip, we think its been a good turn out.
2. Make sure members know there will be more than one 'group' that goes out riding, with different skill levels. Our last trip we had 3 different groups planning 3 different routes to end up at the same place for lunch, and low and behold it worked out perfectly! Same with the return trip.
3. Be sure to find places to stay where the club as a group can hang out after riding. Then we can all tell our BS stories about the day and have a laugh!
4. We use SignUpGenius to help schedule our trips, that way people can see who has put their name on open slots for the club. We generally call the hotel/resort and work to get a group rate, and have them block off a certain number of rooms for a certain amount of time. A lot of places do this in MN anyway.

 

[ddhanna]

huh?

That was my therapist impression. Sounded like you were having difficulty dealing with people.

 

[snowfish]

Here's how I roll.....

Starting in September
I decide/announce the destination.
I block a tentative number of rooms.
Members confirm, and make their own deposits, on the rooms. Everyone pays their own way.
If some want to caravan, to the destination, that's fine. Otherwise, we meet at the place.

Upon arrival, the afternoon ride is chefs choice. Do what you want.
1st real day, of riding, we leave in mass to a scenic destination maybe 25 miles out.
Then we split into respective riding style groups.

Smell the Roses group
Look at the Roses group
What Roses group

Mass lunch stop is planned, with alternate routes getting there, depending upon riding style.

Days following will be rider group specific. Ride leaders are agreed upon. We may have a common lunch stop. We may not.
Start times are communicated. If you're not ready, when the given group is ready, then you ride with a different group. To a point. Minimal putzing around recommended. Please be ready.

I take great pains in planning proposed routes. Try to identify girl friendly rest stops. But, in the end, it's up to the various team leaders.
Dinner, and smart talk, is around sunset or shortly after. Groups that want to stay out longer let us know ahead of time. There will still be plenty of smart talk, let over, when they return.

Keep it simple, yet flexible. I do not discuss the destination or dates. It's decided, and we go.

Our early club trips had about 10 riders.
Then grew to a little over a dozen.
Last season we had more that 15.
This trip, leaving Thursday, has about 25 +/- riders.

Rules on the trail...
Nobody left behind.
The rider in front is responsible for the rider behind.
A spotter assists at major at road crossings.
If you need to stop, signal and stop. We'll notice you and accommodate.
Middle of the pack does not have to count down signal. Leader already indicated they were there.
Last rider signals the fist. Unless another group is coming. Then, the thumb point.

The simpler the better. Trip coordinator does not have to do all the work. Allow the riders to be accountable, and responsible, for themselves. The trip will evolve into many memories in the making.

 

[hoamskilet]

Great input guys. Thanks

 

[favoritos]

Has anyone made a point of getting together with the local club at the riding destination?
Seems like the local clubs would also enjoy the visit and camaraderie.

 

[Sandylake]

I'm about as much of a introvert as one can be but I have an idea even though I scorn social events.

So back in the 70's when snowmobiling was becoming very popular my parents would go on large group rides, and I mean 50 sleds or more. They would assemble everyone but it all revolved around several people hauling sled towable carts. A destination would be chosen and once there they would have a large bonfire, cookout and make a day out of it.....often long into the night. The pictures of it looked like a righteous good time.

 

[old abe]

I'm about as much of a introvert as one can be but I have an idea even though I scorn social events.

So back in the 70's when snowmobiling was becoming very popular my parents would go on large group rides, and I mean 50 sleds or more. They would assemble everyone but it all revolved around several people hauling sled towable carts. A destination would be chosen and once there they would have a large bonfire, cookout and make a day out of it.....often long into the night. The pictures of it looked like a righteous good time.

Yep, been there, done that! Many, many good times too! Ski Booses, Cat Cutters to haul the gear, and necessities. Dubuque brand whole hot dogs where the very best! Your memory treats you very well it appears. It was a altogether different game back then, as the whole family was involved. Too bad, but times change. It is, what it is, different. Perhaps that's why some say, "Back in the good old days"! I need to add the "homemade bratwurst" too, as many of us were farmers of German descent.