Domino Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Assuming that the decision to have a 2015 Free Weekend will be discussed at this years AGM, lets have a vote to find the opinion of our Members. Please have your vote and feel free to discuss your reasons and/or opinions here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catinental couch Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 "Yes" - but not Family Day Weekend. Clubs are run by volunteers. There's pressure to have 'perfect' trails for the 'free ride' and that falls on the shoulders of volunteers. It's a holiday, for Pete's sake. Spend time with family that weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reved Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Not free any weekend! If they feel we need this to re-attact old sledders offer a reduced special weekend permit. The price needs to generate a profit for the system not drain it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sledjunk Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 We have tried this for two years and I did support the idea. However, I think that the time has come to put it to rest for now. We had a fantastic season, weather wise, and although permit sales were up, and the FFC advocates will take credit for it, I think the biggest reason was the fact the we had snow everywhere. After two years, if the people who dropped out do not see the value in purchasing a permit (of some sort), then we are flogging a dead horse and wasting our money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Yes, but not a long weekend and early in the season to hopefully get those interested to buy this year rather than waiting a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nunz Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 My vote is no.. Season is short enough as it without having a bunch of azzhats running around free all weekend.. If you don't wanna pay then don't play.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Done I think that the time has come to put it to rest for now. After two years, if the people who dropped out do not see the value in purchasing a permit (of some sort), then we are flogging a dead horse and wasting our money. X2 Exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPK Racing Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Here is what I think from my perspective as someone who hosts or helps out with snowmobile events that do not relate to trail riding. 2 years ago, the annual snow drags in Listowel were almost wiped out because of two things, they were held on Family Day weekend but even more so, it was also the free trail pass weekend. We had more sleds turn up to our "limited entry" vintage portion of the show than what there was for the late model drags. It was a thin year for snow as well so everyone scrambled to get riding in whenever they could. This past winter, the drags were the weekend before family day weekend and were better attended. Snowmobiling in general needs many different activities and not all are tied into the OFSC trails but may be impacted either way by them. The drags in Listowel have been happening for years, with few exceptions due to weather, so many have attended over the years both from the trail and not. Snowmobile racing in Ontario is not what it once was and in many cases, falls by the wayside because of participation numbers and the ever increasing cost to put the events on. A free trail riding day is nice but it sends out the wrong message that things are free. They certainly aren't but it seems some have a tough time understanding the world is not going to be handed to them for nothing. On the other hand, a reasonable structure for permits serves both purposes. Gets more active snowmobilers and generates revenue. More snowmobilers on the trails should in theory also provide more volunteers, albeit a non linear relationship. But even if you get 1 in 10 to help, that is a plus. People riding for free for a weekend will likely never become a volunteer. At one time, I used to buy 3 full seasoon permits for my vintage sleds. Since starting our races, I simply do not have the time or the extra money to trail ride. I also have a nearly 11 year old boy that is to big for a skiboose or for riding double. Maybe when he is 12 and can get an operators permit we will get back to trail riding. Just my opinion of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capster59 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Voted. Institute a "Try Sledding" daily pass for a reduced cost. Can buy for any day of the season. If I got the money to rent or own a sled I gotta be able to have the money for some kind of permit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC+YA Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 NO FREE PASSES Bring back the one day permit and you have the solution. That worked for years and enabled me to get newbies to take a weekend trip with me and see enough to entice them to come back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 The 'self-printed" 1 day pass (copyright, oc.com ) would be a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zx7rr Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 My vote is no.. Season is short enough as it without having a bunch of azzhats running around free all weekend.. If you don't wanna pay then don't play.. my thoughts also.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reved Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 my thoughts also.... Welcome to the Forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildman Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I look at where the people list their clubs are that don't want the family day pass, and I understand why. Around here it is different, this past year there where tons of vintage sleds out and even lots of faces that haven't been seen on the trails in years. Both our warming houses where like reunions, lots of fun by all and lots of camaraderie. The club offered free pop and hot dogs as a club appreciation day and it is a great success. Do our trails take a beating, yup, just like every other weekend, do we care? Nope, we groom every night on the weekend anyway. I believe it is probably different for many clubs and perceived in different ways. I guess we will see how the vote goes at AGM, I assume if clubs are unhappy with the family day pass, they have probably discussed it, and will vote accordingly. I have to say I don't have a problem with it, given my location and the positive outlook it gives our club. I believe it was around the 200 mark of free passes that named our club on the form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPK Racing Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 We did a race in Strathroy this past winter, March 1st, too and there were tons of Vintage sleds at the race but only a few from that area. Most were from all over Southern Ontario. There were a few came off the trail to the race as well with newer sleds.. http://www.gpkracing.com/GPK-Strathroy.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panther340 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 You have a hard worked for product that involves countless hours of volunteerism ............you should not give it away for free. Giving it away for free is lowering the value you place on volunteerism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 "Honey, let's buy a snowmobile so we can ride for free on the Free Family Weekend." To legally ride on the trails a sled needs to be insured & registered. To think these sleds are sitting in a shed the rest of the winter in ludicrous. If the OFSC hasn't been able to convince these sledders to buy after 2 free weekends, they never will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeater466 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I think it's more then just the "people who have dropped out". There are thousands of sleds that are no longer permitted. This provides an opportunity to put a permit on an older sled and invite friends and introduce them to the sport. It's a grass roots way to build our numbers. It works, almost everyone of us either grew up into sledding or were introduced by friends and "got hooked". I saw lots of older sleds and large groups of sledders. I think we can do more such as hold events, bbq's etc that weekend. To eliminate the free weekend is very short sighted. If your thoughts are to eliminate the weekend - what are your plans to grow the sport, introduce new people get them involved, even perhaps acquire new volunteers for the clubs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02Sled Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 "Honey, let's buy a snowmobile so we can ride for free on the Free Family Weekend." To legally ride on the trails a sled needs to be insured & registered. To think these sleds are sitting in a shed the rest of the winter in ludicrous. If the OFSC hasn't been able to convince these sledders to buy after 2 free weekends, they never will. X2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sledjunk Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I think it's more then just the "people who have dropped out". There are thousands of sleds that are no longer permitted. This provides an opportunity to put a permit on an older sled and invite friends and introduce them to the sport. It's a grass roots way to build our numbers. It works, almost everyone of us either grew up into sledding or were introduced by friends and "got hooked". I saw lots of older sleds and large groups of sledders. I think we can do more such as hold events, bbq's etc that weekend. To eliminate the free weekend is very short sighted. If your thoughts are to eliminate the weekend - what are your plans to grow the sport, introduce new people get them involved, even perhaps acquire new volunteers for the clubs? Maybe. However those sleds would still, as Revrnd mentions, need to be registered and insured. So there is a preparation to going out on that weekend. I like AC+YA's suggestion of the one day permit so that we get a commitment from the riders. If you give it away, it has no value. You mention that a number of us got introduced by friends. Those sleds must have had permits. Why should it be free now? You are right that the clubs can put on events to attract sledders, however, wouldn't a club get a bigger bang for the buck if they had their own event rather than competing against neighbouring clubs events? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02Sled Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I think it's more then just the "people who have dropped out". There are thousands of sleds that are no longer permitted. This provides an opportunity to put a permit on an older sled and invite friends and introduce them to the sport. It's a grass roots way to build our numbers. It works, almost everyone of us either grew up into sledding or were introduced by friends and "got hooked". I saw lots of older sleds and large groups of sledders. I think we can do more such as hold events, bbq's etc that weekend. To eliminate the free weekend is very short sighted. If your thoughts are to eliminate the weekend - what are your plans to grow the sport, introduce new people get them involved, even perhaps acquire new volunteers for the clubs? Enticing people into the sport is something we need to do however the mix of sleds I saw without permits that weekend didn't include a lot of older sleds. There were a significant number of very new sleds in our area. Perhaps your area was different. I still think they should have some skin in the game and pay a nominal fee to ride that weekend. If they aren't willing to pay for example a discounted amount of $25 for a weekend they will never pay for a full season permit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Techdenis007 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 In our area people buy lots of mountain sleds and run the numerous lakes and rivers, but get no pass for them. Sad, considering they'll do several km's of trail to access the lakes. I wish they'd smarten up. I voted for yes, on another weekend, like a 2 day weekend, not the Family Day weekend. I don't like seeing extra morons wrecking the trails on a weekend we'd purposely go trail riding on, they're bad enough most weekends but ridiculous on events like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledguy74 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I voted YES and for the long weekend again. I enjoy seeing everyone out riding with their families and I think the club volunteers do a great job managing the trails with such high traffic for the weekend. All the northern businesses look forward to the extra volume too. JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extreme600 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I voted YES and for the long weekend again. I enjoy seeing everyone out riding with their families and I think the club volunteers do a great job managing the trails with such high traffic for the weekend. All the northern businesses look forward to the extra volume too. JMO Don't scream but I tend to agree with Sledguy74. I for one have seen newbies and oldies come back into sledding just because of the chance they had to ride on the free weekend. Actually some were family members who quit due to the way our trails were back in the 80's. Now they have purchased trail passes for all of their sleds. They also participate in the club functions and thoroughly enjoy it. The trails we ride on now are so superb and ALL the clubs do such a great job I feel it only helps. But, in saying that I do believe that if certain people are only using it every year for a free ride than DON'T let them purchase a free weekend permit. If that said person rides without a permit, hammer them with a trespassing fine. My opinion out loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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