Why Snowmobiling Will End
- Thread starter sweeperguy
- Start date
scoot
Member
And I'm not 65 yet, not even close. For some, its about riding for today. For me its always been about preserving the sport. And having my grandkids be able to experience something they cant experience on their video phones.
Just think how nice it would be to not listen to the constant complaining about how unsafe, rude, and entitled all other snowmobilers are.
Relax...it's a joke aimed at the ...."call me when the trails are safe enough for my grandchildren to ride without fearing for their lives" comment. Which, I hope, was also a joke.
POLARISDAN
New member
u guys crack me UP
well I coul;dn'
t start a club any sooner than the one started I was a just a young kid, and didn't even know what a snowmobile club was
BUT from the day I joined I DID volenteer to do work and what ever I could
yet they NEVER took me up on my offer, or any of my friends offers to help
we TRIED for yrs and yrs to help
and after being shot down , we just went out on our own and trimmed tree's and moved rocks and kept trails omen in the off season, as come snow season the BIG dogs would complain about us cutting and trimming without THEM
I'm NOT bashing clubs and THANK GOD for those that do all they do in them
I am just TRYING to point out that many times, there are issue's that JUST volunteering cannot solve, as many members in MANY clubs I DO belong to all complain about folks in the clubs demanding to do IT there way or NO way, or just NOT letting anyone do what THEY do, as if they have a chip on there shoulder, due to they have done it SO long that NO ONE ELSE can DO IT like they do, so they don't want anyone else to even try!
that';s is my point, again NOT bashing clubs, we need them
IN my area a NON snow belt area there is only 1 CLUB with trails , they are 100% private trails too, have to pay to ride them
and trust me when I say ALL the folks I worked with this yr, and last, and so on, ALL complained about how they are NOT allowed to help MORE, due to the main guys refusing to let others do things THEY DO
they feel I GUESS that if others do THERE JOB< they won't have the POWER they do now
its politic's within the club at the top level that are causing less help to happen
SO< don't take this as a bash against clubs
just some times I wish some of the guys on top would see things thru different eye's, and try maybe different ways to get more help and ALLOW more help to happen
or other wise things will fall apart and we will loose trails.
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considering how much time I have given them, offer to run equipment and even let them use mine
not sure what ranting your stating
I ranted here on a post about WHY snowmobiling will fail and gave an example of why there are many reasons, its NOT just lack of help some times, its politics's in clubs too!
ddhanna
Active member
Somehow I don't think politics in clubs will in any way factor into the end of snowmobiling. I think there will always be personality conflicts in clubs that get misinterpreted as politics. Why would a club try to intentionally keep someone from helping out? Makes no sense. Based on your many years of rejection, perhaps you should be looking in your mirror rather than your crystal ball.
well considering I said it was me and several others that were NOT allowed to help more
I don't think its just me
they seem happy with me, all the members that run many sections of the club, been thanked many times for what I have been doing to date
call it what you want, personality conflicts or politic's
if there causing help to NOT show up, or getting things done
its a problem, and one that could be fixed, if opinions and chips on shoulder's were not as common place in many clubs
as again, I am a member of many clubs NOT just one near me!
scoot
Member
mrbb
People are people. Some click, some dont. Some people get misread. I've been told I'm a grumpy SOB. I'll own that.
It took me a season of accepting jobs that no one else signed up for. Like driving up state for meetings and taking notes, manning the club booth at the county fair, selling raffle tickets at a dealer's open house or stopping at the barn when I saw the lights on and offering my help before I was accepted into "the clic."
As a seasoned club veteran, the faces I saw at every meeting and club function were the ones I knew I could count on to show up, no excuses, if I needed help any time, day or night. Don't be so hard on the old guards, they're trying to run a snowmobile club the best they know how, not a club med.
People are people. Some click, some dont. Some people get misread. I've been told I'm a grumpy SOB. I'll own that.
It took me a season of accepting jobs that no one else signed up for. Like driving up state for meetings and taking notes, manning the club booth at the county fair, selling raffle tickets at a dealer's open house or stopping at the barn when I saw the lights on and offering my help before I was accepted into "the clic."
As a seasoned club veteran, the faces I saw at every meeting and club function were the ones I knew I could count on to show up, no excuses, if I needed help any time, day or night. Don't be so hard on the old guards, they're trying to run a snowmobile club the best they know how, not a club med.
snobuilder
Well-known member
I'd read more but got to get a report ready for the March Meeting....carry on snowmobilers!
maybe I'm being taken the wrong way heremrbb
People are people. Some click, some dont. Some people get misread. I've been told I'm a grumpy SOB. I'll own that.
It took me a season of accepting jobs that no one else signed up for. Like driving up state for meetings and taking notes, manning the club booth at the county fair, selling raffle tickets at a dealer's open house or stopping at the barn when I saw the lights on and offering my help before I was accepted into "the clic."
As a seasoned club veteran, the faces I saw at every meeting and club function were the ones I knew I could count on to show up, no excuses, if I needed help any time, day or night. Don't be so hard on the old guards, they're trying to run a snowmobile club the best they know how, not a club med.
I am NOT trying to come down on the older guys that do so much work
what I am trying to say is, just this
the FACTS are many clubs have main members that DON"T want others doing what they do, they maybe feel like there being replaced, or what ever
its NOT just a ton of guys NOT willing to help, SOME times its inner workings with main members that prevents others from joining in to get more help
we cannot have a blind eye here and just says its NO ONE IS taking up in the work, some times there are reasons why beside some lazy sledders NOT helping!
we all don't have to get along or like each other, the main goal is keeping the trails alive and going strong and SOME TIMES< that also means pride has to make way for newer generations or different views from members
and again its NOT all clubs that have as many issue's within things, its one thing I learned being a member of several clubs
ddhanna
Active member
If you as a newcomer are expecting to take a job that is already being done by someone else, I could see the point of friction. Most often these "main members" are pretty good at what they do, comfortable with their level of volunteer commitment, and would like to keep that job. You gotta find a way to fit in. It's always been that way.
snobuilder
Well-known member
You gotta just keep coming around until the established guys start remembering your face.....buying a round of $.75 tappers helps too.
tealracing16
Member
What about the cost of this sport? 15k for a sled now? Come on, if people didn't want to jump houses and have $1,000 gauges instead of using there phone for GPS the manufacturer's could charge a whole let less but everyone wants too look cool. I liked the two people in Phelps riding Summit's, great trail sleds. But they did have matching hi-vis clothing so that's cool I guess. I have three daughters and there is no possible way I can afford 5 sleds with all the maintenance and upkeep on them and then a trailer to haul and a truck to tow.
My rant is that it's just to damn expensive and the the ones that can afford it are the ones who show up with there brand new rigs expecting everything done for them. It's like that in there normal lives too, if it's an inconvenience they just pay someone else to do it.
My rant is that it's just to damn expensive and the the ones that can afford it are the ones who show up with there brand new rigs expecting everything done for them. It's like that in there normal lives too, if it's an inconvenience they just pay someone else to do it.
snobuilder
Well-known member
The coolest thing I saw on the trail this year was this past weekend and also 2 weeks ago.....with the warmer temps I saw LOTS of families on sleds....many of them with older sleds with a parent and 1 and sometimes 2 kids on board! On Sunday a family of 4 with 2 teenagers came into the bar for food and soda.....on the way out I saw their sleds ...4 older rev fanners....you don't HAVE to be on a $15k sled to have fun, I guess.
tealracing16
Member
Yep true. My only trip up North I stayed at the in-laws in Eagle River, WI. I saw a ton of brand new iron, then 15+ year old sleds. I even saw a guy on a Pro-R with one kid in back and one in the front!
My point is if this sport is to survive the costs have to come down. How much is it for a family to go up North because we didn't get the snow like we used to get? It's getting harder to find decent used sleds. I can find any 800 Polaris a couple years old right now, any model. I wouldn't touch an 800 from them with my worst enemies money. I was looking at early 1990's 340s and people wanted a grand! crazy.
My point is if this sport is to survive the costs have to come down. How much is it for a family to go up North because we didn't get the snow like we used to get? It's getting harder to find decent used sleds. I can find any 800 Polaris a couple years old right now, any model. I wouldn't touch an 800 from them with my worst enemies money. I was looking at early 1990's 340s and people wanted a grand! crazy.
I fully agree costs are a big part of what will stop a lot of folks from staying and or getting into the sport at all
but EVERYTHING these days IMO is way over priced
its a honest shame IMO what basic things costs that many many yrs back didn't
I get the inflation and all deal
but when I was a kid, many basic things everyone could par take in, didn;t costs so much, and the pressure today on kids to FIT in and have what everyone else has, is crazy
and it will never change, NO one making.selling anything will lower there prices if they see SOME folks willing to PAY crazy amount for things
I said it before
one of the BIG problems IMO< with people today is lack of patience , they all need everything NOW
no one wants to SAVE up and BUY things out right, were living in a society that everyone doesn't seem to think twice about financing away there lives to have some material object NOW
and MOST things they finance they end up loosing money on buy continuing to upgrade before one thing is even paid for
I'm old I guess, I buy things cash still, or do without and save up till I have the cash to do so on toys and the likes
more than enough things in life HAPPEN that we have NO control over that we end up paying for.
and its all this willingness to finance everything, that is also driving prices up, as folks look at things I guess on Monthly costs and NOT total costs when buying
as long as they can swing payment they could what appears care less what things totally costs
I do NOT see a change, only things costing more and more
the wealthy and the poor getting farther and farther apart
but EVERYTHING these days IMO is way over priced
its a honest shame IMO what basic things costs that many many yrs back didn't
I get the inflation and all deal
but when I was a kid, many basic things everyone could par take in, didn;t costs so much, and the pressure today on kids to FIT in and have what everyone else has, is crazy
and it will never change, NO one making.selling anything will lower there prices if they see SOME folks willing to PAY crazy amount for things
I said it before
one of the BIG problems IMO< with people today is lack of patience , they all need everything NOW
no one wants to SAVE up and BUY things out right, were living in a society that everyone doesn't seem to think twice about financing away there lives to have some material object NOW
and MOST things they finance they end up loosing money on buy continuing to upgrade before one thing is even paid for
I'm old I guess, I buy things cash still, or do without and save up till I have the cash to do so on toys and the likes
more than enough things in life HAPPEN that we have NO control over that we end up paying for.
and its all this willingness to finance everything, that is also driving prices up, as folks look at things I guess on Monthly costs and NOT total costs when buying
as long as they can swing payment they could what appears care less what things totally costs
I do NOT see a change, only things costing more and more
the wealthy and the poor getting farther and farther apart
A grand is kinda the junk line for a 1998-2004 used sled; if it over a grand you may get a decent sled to ride a few miles a year, if it is under a grand it is likely junk.
And by all means necessary, stay away from triple cylinders of this vintage unless you want crank issues.
Bear
I think the smaller sleds always command a little more money. There's usually not many of them for sale, usually low mileage/not beat to death, and lots of dads/grandpas looking to snatch those up.
You can pay $1,000 for one, have your kids/grandkids ride it for a few years, and sell it for $1,000.
tealracing16
Member
I agree so much with this post. We were those people and in two months will have everything paid (except the house). 60k in a little over 2 years paid off!
It also depends on what you want to do. Can't boat, cabin, snowmobile, atv, ski, etc there's not enough time (or money in my case).
T
Tracker
Guest
an old guy once told me....you can sleep when your 70....and when you get old you have lots of money, but cannot use it for the things you thought you were gonna do....so DO IT NOW....he was referring to being able to steer a sled....go 100mph...drive a jetski on ocean.....he listed all kinds of stuff....I immediately started changing my outlook....FYI