Spiderman

The logging on 84 and D really makes things look different eh.

My son is on his own for his next dirt bike or sled upgrade. We have set him up with his base - but moving forward he's on for the upgraded units. We'll help where we can, but he understands how lucky he is to have what he has now

900 ace would be a tank for kids to throw around. get a light 2 stroke and teach them how to manage their speeds.

1. I hope you're right - but not sold they won't just do what they want until told otherwise - it's their MO 2. Agreed, in theory it should, but we've seen over the years how fickle our membership can be and how bent out of shape they get over these nominal financial things 3. 100% agree - anything less is hurting more than helping 4. Agree again - this should be common sense - but we know that lacks in all parts of society. It, in my view also hurts more than it helps and is a very very short sighted plan - that will explode in someones face, and not likely the person that made the decision, because they'll be gone!

Selling sleds doesn’t mean new riders though, at best just means you probably haven’t lost any, and we know the system can’t operate as it is with current rider numbers, permit pricing, and fixed expenses

On the first bold: Same spot, I haven't seen or heard of any "plan" on how we keep moving forward. If the $5,000,000.00 grant is what saved this season - what are we doing looking ahead? What is the plan to not be losing trails next season? On the second bold: I would say a bit of a late start - but things got together fast, have stayed consistently great and the clubs, enough can't be said of what they've done, and continue to do. Last weekend was probably the best weekend - Saturday/Sunday riding I have ever had in Muskoka - back to back - for conditions. I actually can't believe how spoiled my son and I were to be riding the quality of trails we did - on back to back weekend days in Muskoka. It was that good. Last weekend was worth more than our permit dollars - I will say that. If I never rode ever again, I would be done on a great note.

It's not what they're asking - it's do people have it anymore because of all of the other costs of living that have spiraled - leaving us with less disposable discretionary income. I am prepared to say it's more of a lack of discretionary disposable income due to everything else in life increasing so much vs sledding has gotten too expensive theory.

100% Bang on!

Again, this perspective is awesome - and helps to make my point. $190.00 per person - accommodations and food ( great deal - way cheaper than most ) $150.00 for sled fuel $50 for vehicle fuel ( split up - 2 ways ) That is still almost a $500.00 weekend - on the VERY conservative side of things. So......, how many $500.00 weekends does a young person have in their budget after taking into consideration the normal COST OF LIVING; I would say on average - the average person ( sledders here - not CEO's - they are out there -but not the norm ) - how many $500.00 weekends to people have in them to keep themselves riding? Looking at my own scenario - it was almost $500.00 this weekend -with free fuel to Huntsville and back, free accommodations and all but 2 meals provided by someone else.

Yup, and that leads to my point. I am lucky to have that Many are not - so when you add up the costs of accommodations - to make my point

yes, just pointing out the cost to eat out when away riding vs. eating at home, x 3 meals a day x 2 days is a lot more - and adds to the expense

After a really great weekend of riding, I gave a little thought to snowmobiling and it's sustainability. The #1 driver seems to be keeping existing riders in it, and somehow trying to get new riders into it. When I look around the forums etc. seems "cost" is the #1 detractor - maybe it's inconsistent weather, but I would say the 2 go hand in hand. After some reflection on my own "costs" this weekend - I have come to the conclusion that "cost" is not the issue. COST OF LIVING AND DISCRETIONARY INCOME is what is truly behind the "cost" factor. Let's face it, if we have the money, we'll spend it on things we like to enjoy, but when you don't have the money - well you're friged. Let me explain a little: I just looked at my weekend. Total cash out of pocket costs to go riding this weekend - now it's me and my son, but I paid for both of us totaled $379.30 That is broken down as follows: Food: Friday - $23.70 - Dinner on way to the cottage Saturday: - $76.28 - lunch at Boiler Room Sunday: $13.05 - snack at Sprucedale Total: $113.03 Luckily for us, Saturday and Sunday breakfast and dinner was at the cottage courtesy of Grandma!, so no cost, but add those extra meals into the equation... yikes: Fuel: Friday going up to the cottage: $0.00 - ( company card ) Saturday/Sunday sleds: $39.17, $67.39, $34.63, $57.08 = $198.27 Sunday going home: $0.00 ( company card ) Now, if I had to add fuel to/from the cottage to this - call it another $200.00.... OIl: 4 litres - 2 each @ $17.00 per - $68.00 We are lucky enough to have a free place to stay - so cost was $0.00 Add in 2 nights hotel.................:( Bottom line, I spent $379.30 of cash this weekend - with a free place to stay, free fuel to/from our riding area, and food eaten at home and provided by others for the most part. This weekend could have easily been $1,000.00 To me, the issue is LIFE affordability - moreso than sledding affordability. How many people out there are going to spend/drop close $1,000.00 a weekend to go riding? And if they are, how many of those weekends are they going to have in their budget with the cost of living today at what it is. Put yourself in young peoples shoes these days with the cost of housing, insurance, vehicles, fuel, insurance, food, utilities, kids, etc. There is more than likely nothing left to have any fun - so sledding isn't the issue - life is the issue and sledding is what suffers from it. Cost of living is out of control more than the cost of sledding is. My 2 cents anyway

Just shy of 350 miles for the weekend. Probably best conditions I can recall. All but about 15 miles were table top, those 15 or so that weren’t were fine, just a little traffic chatter. Unbelievable job by all the clubs, and we touched quite a few of em. Weekends like this are a reminder of why I love riding, and how lucky I am to have had parents that loved it and brought it into our lives..

Negative, but we rode across Mary Lake at around 4:30 on our way back. Only ones around

We had 2 400’s. 72 &74 Call me crazy, but I like my current sled a lot more and can’t say I miss the old ones.