Need to give props on the Derby in Eagle River these past two weeks. New owners that are passionate for the sport did an excellent job for only having ownership for 2 months. Big crowds both weeks [haven't seen that many in 6 years]. Hot seats sold out for Friday Night Thunder. Improvements and upgrades now and in the future. Good to see that the Derby is rebounding. 56 years and still going. Rev
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World Championship Derby, Eagle River
- Thread starter wirev
- Start date
I was there for Vintage weekend, not sure I'd call a handful of people standing on the front stretch a big crowd?? Hopefully they had a much better crowd this past weekend. Great turn out of sleds for vintage but no crowd....need to get the ISOC National Snowcross involved somehow with the championship weekend. That would bring the crowd back! I've been going since the late 70's..those were big crowds.
Not so sure attendance for Derby overall was up in Eagle River. Area hotels and restaurants appreciate the derby but feature on local NBC Rhinelander the ER business owners said this business was down during the derby weeks compared to prior years. One market they identified was lacking was snowmobilers. Imo trails were no worse conditions than prior years and may have been better. I’m not sure what is ongoing in the snowmobile market but predictions of a shrinking market due to aging demographics may finally happening?
Not so sure attendance for Derby overall was up in Eagle River. Area hotels and restaurants appreciate the derby but feature on local NBC Rhinelander the ER business owners said this business was down during the derby weeks compared to prior years. One market they identified was lacking was snowmobilers. Imo trails were no worse conditions than prior years and may have been better. I’m not sure what is ongoing in the snowmobile market but predictions of a shrinking market due to aging demographics may finally happening?
This is not good news on attendance, or local business being down. Also, I'm not sure on the finally part whitedust, but it sure seems to be happening. That is also bad news!
I have been hearing the boomers are getting up in age and that snowmobiling is suffering from aging demographics for years now. Up to recently the older guys 55 to 75 just kept on participating in all aspects snowmobiling. This last season 2 Wi Northwoods clubs one on TV called it like it is and said we need help to groom, maintain and generally run clubs. Some of these guys are well into their 80s and are physically limited in what they can do. So the “finally “as in now seeing aging demographics reducing the number of participants in all aspects of snowmobiling. For me formal snowmobile racing never had much interest for me although I did watch a few snow cross races around 2000 then just didn’t care after 2-4 years. As far as ice oval racing zero interest no interest at all. When we ride UP and northern WI I see a lot of blue hair at pit stops and trail breaks makes me feel right at home lol. For snowmobiling to continue as a viable recreation and for formal snowmobile racing to continue the younger generations need to take interest or these activities will slowly diminish and disappear at least certaintly be different than what we have now. Might be reduced to rental parks much like downhill skiing who knows in 20-30 years but food for thought.This is not good news on attendance, or local business being down. Also, I'm not sure on the finally part whitedust, but it sure seems to be happening. That is also bad news!
My uncle, and his friends would travel all the way from upstate N.Y. every year to watch the Eagle River races from the very beginning. Some commitment, eh? Problem is they are all deceased now. Imo, the club issue is maybe the break point of snowmobiling as we know it. Without viable/active clubs, and their activities of promoting the sport, snowmobiling is cooked! State snowmobile associations aren't here either without local clubs to support. Sad, but so it is.
Not so sure attendance for Derby overall was up in Eagle River. Area hotels and restaurants appreciate the derby but feature on local NBC Rhinelander the ER business owners said this business was down during the derby weeks compared to prior years. One market they identified was lacking was snowmobilers. Imo trails were no worse conditions than prior years and may have been better. I’m not sure what is ongoing in the snowmobile market but predictions of a shrinking market due to aging demographics may finally happening?
Pete, low snow has kept many away. You have a lot more there than I have down here [although trails are good]. 765 sleds were registered for Vintage week, not the most but up from last year. Vintage week attendance was very good as the hot seats were best sellers. Sunday's finals were the most I've seen in 6 years, and Pro week had hot seat sellouts both for Friday Night Thunder and Sunday's finals. All in all a great 2 weeks. MKW, give it 2-3 years for ISOC, it is being worked on as well as more Outlaw sleds as well as the "crazy bikes." The TLR circuit closed last year so I wouldn't be surprised that another will take its place. Races back here March 8-9 to close out the year.
Chuck glad to hear Derby managements take is up on the Derby. Take a look at tmj4 website the feature maybe there but they interviewed area hotel and restaurant owners and their take is they didn’t see the business spillover effect that they usually see during the derby weeks. I wanted to take the wife out to dinner Saturday but didn’t because of traditional derby mobs that I didn’t want to deal with. Hotel owner said they had a team staying with them but not the general public. Something is going own as derby week sledders traditionally don’t care about trail conditions more of a rent and roll intellect have fun and done short timers then hit the bar and restaurants, do races then go home. Ma and Pa said they didn’t show up.Pete, low snow has kept many away. You have a lot more there than I have down here [although trails are good]. 765 sleds were registered for Vintage week, not the most but up from last year. Vintage week attendance was very good as the hot seats were best sellers. Sunday's finals were the most I've seen in 6 years, and Pro week had hot seat sellouts both for Friday Night Thunder and Sunday's finals. All in all a great 2 weeks. MKW, give it 2-3 years for ISOC, it is being worked on as well as more Outlaw sleds as well as the "crazy bikes." The TLR circuit closed last year so I wouldn't be surprised that another will take its place. Races back here March 8-9 to close out the year.
C
Cirrus_Driver
Guest
I was up this weekend and rode Fri & Sat. I was surprised how few people there were on the trails, particularly Friday, but even Saturday. Great job of grooming by Eagle River, Conover, St. Germain and Lando. Star Lake and Sayner - the typical reports.
I was surprised at how good the trails were....I think that heavy wet snow they got about 3 weeks ago really did the trick. I don't remember the last time I rode that fast from the UP border (Bents Camp), back to south central Vilas. We were really moving. Late afternoon Friday Bents Camp was relatively dead compared to what I've seen in the past. Surprising.
Even the people coming toward us that were riding fast were all under control and on "their side". Only incident was following a guy and a girl and she decided to slam the brakes and pull over, rather than poke along at 25 MPH in front of me. She slid the sled sideways in the trail, but I was able to avoid because I wasn't following close. Nevertheless - very few people out riding, so I'm not surprised the crowds were down.
As much as I'd like to keep riding, I've actually thought about selling one sled and keeping only one for next year. Wife can do without riding, and I'm not that enthused about it anymore. I may phase out of it over the next few years. Kid will miss it, but he can buy his own if he wants to stay in it.
I was surprised at how good the trails were....I think that heavy wet snow they got about 3 weeks ago really did the trick. I don't remember the last time I rode that fast from the UP border (Bents Camp), back to south central Vilas. We were really moving. Late afternoon Friday Bents Camp was relatively dead compared to what I've seen in the past. Surprising.
Even the people coming toward us that were riding fast were all under control and on "their side". Only incident was following a guy and a girl and she decided to slam the brakes and pull over, rather than poke along at 25 MPH in front of me. She slid the sled sideways in the trail, but I was able to avoid because I wasn't following close. Nevertheless - very few people out riding, so I'm not surprised the crowds were down.
As much as I'd like to keep riding, I've actually thought about selling one sled and keeping only one for next year. Wife can do without riding, and I'm not that enthused about it anymore. I may phase out of it over the next few years. Kid will miss it, but he can buy his own if he wants to stay in it.
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Chuck glad to hear Derby managements take is up on the Derby. Take a look at tmj4 website the feature maybe there but they interviewed area hotel and restaurant owners and their take is they didn’t see the business spillover effect that they usually see during the derby weeks. I wanted to take the wife out to dinner Saturday but didn’t because of traditional derby mobs that I didn’t want to deal with. Hotel owner said they had a team staying with them but not the general public. Something is going own as derby week sledders traditionally don’t care about trail conditions more of a rent and roll intellect have fun and done short timers then hit the bar and restaurants, do races then go home. Ma and Pa said they didn’t show up.
Pete, another reason for low turnout at restaurants is that racing went late both Friday and Saturday. Schd has changed and more racing [sonwcross] on Sat nite. I left about 7 and they still had 4-6 more races to go. Also, they raced the youngen's then as well.
snobuilder
Well-known member
Chuck glad to hear Derby managements take is up on the Derby. Take a look at tmj4 website the feature maybe there but they interviewed area hotel and restaurant owners and their take is they didn’t see the business spillover effect that they usually see during the derby weeks. I wanted to take the wife out to dinner Saturday but didn’t because of traditional derby mobs that I didn’t want to deal with. Hotel owner said they had a team staying with them but not the general public. Something is going own as derby week sledders traditionally don’t care about trail conditions more of a rent and roll intellect have fun and done short timers then hit the bar and restaurants, do races then go home. Ma and Pa said they didn’t show up.
LOL you live in the northwoods and look to milaukee TV tmj 4 for your Derby news?...strangest thing I've heard in a long time.
tmj4 sure is good at promoting the silent sports.
LOL you live in the northwoods and look to milaukee TV tmj 4 for your Derby news?...strangest thing I've heard in a long time.
tmj4 sure is good at promoting the silent sports.
Wjfw 12 NBC Rhinelander....ooops old habits die hard lol
snobuilder
Well-known member
wjfw 12 nbc rhinelander....ooops old habits die hard lol
lol