The Future of our sport

[wisco-mb]

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." Been going on since the beginning. It'll all be OK.

Ignorance is bliss.
We all see things through our own eyes, but I'm literally telling you our clubs issues and you're telling me it's ok? Quite the take...
You might be ok up North, but we are not down here. And we're not alone.

Indy - We're in different times now. That's what I'm trying to get across.

 

[hermie]

Well a lot of good conversation going on. This is what this site is all about. As far as the SxS thing goes while I like the trail pass idea there are more places then not that all you can do is run roads. That is why I was told they are called routes and not trails. I think it would benefit both sports if the SxS and sled clubs work together. I think in some cases that is what's happening but not all.I have no problem with the price increases as things have gone up substantial amounts. I believe all the other states registration is more. As far as the old guys keeping the clubs going in some areas that may work but it's pretty sad that at 55 I am the young guy out brushing. Sure be nice for some youth to get more involved even if it's just one Saturday a year to help brush or mark trails etc. I also think we need to encourage people to register there sled in Wi if they ride in Wi like they use to. I was always told a good chunk of money to maintain trails comes from the gas tax cut they get. The more sleds registered the more money from gas tax.

 

[ddhanna]

Ignorance is bliss.
We all see things through our own eyes, but I'm literally telling you our clubs issues and you're telling me it's ok? Quite the take...
You might be ok up North, but we are not down here. And we're not alone.

Indy - We're in different times now. That's what I'm trying to get across.

We all have our perspective. I don't go south of Fleet Farm in Antigo.

 

[pclark]

I'm 69 and have heard and seen this for a lot of years. A wise man once told me "Try being part of the solution, not the problem" Take that anyway you want to but I find that saying to be true words of wisdom. The solution is different for everyone, good thing everyone has different skillsets......

 

[SledTL]

I lived in Phelps for 16 years and the biggest knock on that area riding east was little to no amenities from Phelps to Spread Eagle good luck finding a hotel , gas or a place to eat so little to no traffic what part of NE WI are you referencing that has all these bars and traffic I would like to stay away from it??

You know exactly what I am talking about....

 

[indy_500]

You know exactly what I am talking about....

I fully understand you are speaking about Vilas, Oneida, Iron, but you mentioned northeast, and think most Wisconsinites consider those to be North-Central, even if they are shaded towards the east. Myself, when I hear northeast I think of Forest Florence and Marinette.

 

[whitedust]

I fully understand you are speaking about Vilas, Oneida, Iron, but you mentioned northeast, and think most Wisconsinites consider those to be North-Central, even if they are shaded towards the east. Myself, when I hear northeast I think of Forest Florence and Marinette.

Me too

 

[garageguy]

Things were way better in the 90's early 2000's

 

[wiscrev]

Things were way better in the 90's early 2000's

Ain't that the truth!

 

[dfattack]

BUT...i do think the grooming and trail maintenance is better now than it ever has been. Moguls were nuts in the 2000's

 

[wisco-mb]

Some weekend updates from AWSC convention.

The new funding bill died before the floor. We will try again next January. It passed the committees. Assembly pulled it right before the floor. Sam feels like there were key uninformed legislators. If they understand this program is self funded, it probably would have passed. Watch for updates next fall. Majority of legislators are up for reelection, so many new ones will need to be contacted about the bill.
This will be 3rd or 4th straight rec council, where the fund will be $3M short. This is why we need the increase!

See attached for some overall numbers. The AWSC membership has been in a slight decline. I do know trail numbers will be up this year, but the DNR did not have their data submitted in time.

Another note, I ended up with 7 students signing up for safety class in 2 weeks! Majority are association or club's grandkids, but glad I did not have to cancel. Good info from Jake Holsclaw on the number of students that went through the safety program.

 

[renegade]

Some weekend updates from AWSC convention.

The new funding bill died before the floor. We will try again next January. It passed the committees. Assembly pulled it right before the floor. Sam feels like there were key uninformed legislators. If they understand this program is self funded, it probably would have passed. Watch for updates next fall. Majority of legislators are up for reelection, so many new ones will need to be contacted about the bill.
This will be 3rd or 4th straight rec council, where the fund will be $3M short. This is why we need the increase!

See attached for some overall numbers. The AWSC membership has been in a slight decline. I do know trail numbers will be up this year, but the DNR did not have their data submitted in time.

Another note, I ended up with 7 students signing up for safety class in 2 weeks! Majority are association or club's grandkids, but glad I did not have to cancel. Good info from Jake Holsclaw on the number of students that went through the safety program.

I guess I'm more pessimistic than Sam, but I would like to know who the "key" legislators are, and what side of the isle they are on. The best way to kill something is to not fund it, and if the are hard core Dems, they will want snowmobiles done with, so they will not support it. This will take ten years again and when it passes will not be enough anymore. It's absolutely insane that a self funded program has to ask the government to raise the passes. Like someone suggested earlier, automatic increases of $3 every two years should be in the bill so we don't have to crawl back to the government anymore.

 

[wisco-mb]

There was support from both sides. I believe Voss killed it. Not certain if that is legal or able to have an increase every year 2 years. Sorry, not certain. Everyone was confident in next year, but we do need people to call their legislators at that time. And another season where we will be short funding. Crazy how that fund looked just 4 years ago. They had enough money to fund new miles, and bridge rehab.