signfan
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Posts posted by signfan
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Yeah that ideas been tossed around before. It has some merit. I think the issue is how do you police it. I believe New Brunswick does that, but they are selling their permits through a government portal where the household address is tracked and can be enforced.
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Retired from the OFSC until the kids get older. Spent too much time at it in my 20's. I'm sure I'll get back involved down the road once the kids are old enough to participate. Hopefully someone will take some of my ideas forward for further review.
Interesting to see that the idea of regional permits has been flushed through. Still question the thought of keeping the prices where they are which has been the case for some time now. Something has to give eventually. It shouldn't be trail quality I'm my opinion.
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26 minutes ago, Yukon said:
Regional permits would never work in my opinion. Just look at the top 3 districts who sell the most permits for the year. This would have a negative effect on the Provincial trail system.
Some good ideas here, and thats how change can happen..
Which districts are they? Do we think those riders only ride in those southern districts and don't travel? I live in district 3 and almost never ride here. Sledding involves a truck and trailer 95% of the time. I'd buy the provincial permit still like many on here would. This is part of the argument keeping permit prices low though I believe. The need to cater to the folks that get a short season. But seems the entire system is short changing itself over a few southern areas. Would be interesting to see the information OFSC has on this. Am I missing part of the equation?
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Day permits were a disaster which is why they were cancelled. The whole permit discussion does come back to enforcement. Until they solve that day permits don't work. Would you have the same issue with a southern permit? Maybe. Provide an upgrade option mid season to encourage those venturing north to do the right thing. At least with a southern permit, you've collected the first $210 from the guy that chooses to break the rules vs $40 or $50 for a day pass when they ride all season with it. I think the biggest mistake OFSC could make is holding seasonal permit prices as is or only moving forward with a $5 or $10 increase. Can't underfund things year after year and not expect a decrease in quality over time.
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1 hour ago, Spiderman said:
I think it's important to not forget how good we've had it and for how long - and that is 100% only because of the volunteers.
In my opinion, the only thing that matters is the one we can't control - and that is the weather.
When winters are winters - and there is an abundance of cold and snow - life is good.
When they suck - we all sit and stare at the costs and armchair quarterback how it could be "better".
If most or all clubs operate with efforts similar to those of our skeleton crew local club - then I don't know what else anyone could do and/or expect.
No easy answer to any of it.
Well put. I believe the OFSC has been a leader in the past few years in managing resources to drive efficiencies. The funding model is leveling the playing field across all areas. Where it's arguably falling behind is keeping up with inflation. IMO a big opportunity for permit increases was lost over the last couple years. We have baby boomers retiring driving growth for the sport. That combined with covid was the perfect opportunity to raise more funds. Quebec did it. I know it can be argued they offer more value (longer more reliable season), but an opportunity was there still. OFSC did a lot of homework on this issue in the past and found there was a price point where ridership / permit sales and overall revenue dropped off if prices were too high. Why is that though? Has everything to do with value. If you never leave district 5 then I can see the value argument holding weight. In a very good year they get 8 weeks. Most years it's more like 4. Head to cottage country and north and it's a different story much similar to Quebec where 6 plus weeks is the norm (many areas get much longer seasons than this). For the cottages and folks trailering north the permit price is not a big factor in their overall budget. This is my thought on the southern permit. Offer the guy that never leaves the south a permit that reflects the value he gets (not in trail quality, but in season length) so you dont loose that revenue. Make everyone else pay what it's worth.
With the funding model and things being leveled grooming costs and equipment procurement are being covered. Albeit these costs have / are rising which dictates the need for an increase. What also occurred though is reductions in club budgets for trail work. Some districts run full volunteer grooming crews which allows them to build trail work budgets (they get the same $ per hour groomed, but don't pay out the labour costs). Those that pay their groomer operators have very limited trail budgets other than attaining grants. This is an area that could definitely use more funding from a permit price increase. The additional money would result in better trails. I also think we're seeing a few cracks in the system this winter. A club near french river that can't get a working groomer, issues in Hornepayne, etc. I'm sure there's a story behind every issue, but some additional funding couldn't hurt. Have the fleet numbers been cut a little too thin in some areas?
On the grooming front the idea of the different rates is really to drive best practices. We see the groomers do a fantastic job at our cottages area Monday to Friday. If I go sledding on Thursdays trails are mint. The units shut down and don't run all weekend though. We get hit with traffic on Saturdays and no effort goes into fixing it until Monday. Is that serving the customer that only rides on weekends as well as it could? There are pockets of this sort of thing occurring all over the province. Coming through North Bay on the A trail a few weeks ago and caught a groomer at 1 pm on the A trail on a Friday on the pipeline. The operator was arguably in his 70's. Two thoughts came to mind. A thank you for being out getting things groomed. B what a waste of resources. That trail would be rough 4 hours later. Traffic was busy. If the funding model changes it will drive management changes without micromanaging the club and districts management. In an area that runs volunteer operators maybe a 20% premium convinces them to hire weekend staff with the additional funds to relieve some pressure on the volunteer grooming teams. If the trail gets groomed Saturday night, it's much easier to maintain when Monday rolls around. The volunteer base is aging. Changes in management are going to be needed to keep what we have / hopefully improve it. The goal should be to support the clubs and provide incentives for using resources to the best extent possible.
Just my opinion.
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A little harsh, but agree permit prices aren't where they should be.
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NB308 is plowed as well. It's the same road as MA170. Its a major log road. Probably 30' - 50' wide. But there was no trail built along the edges of it. Both lookouts are decent. You'll have to see how the plowed roads are holding up to make a call. You should be able to get to the Mattawa lookout without plowed roads. If you try to go into town you hit plowed road again for the last few miles into Mattawa. Have a great ride.
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It was plowed 3 weeks ago. Probably one to avoid. Is a super highway when not being used for logging.
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70 mph isn't right. That's only 112 km/h. Top speed I've seen on my 2014 900 ace (90 hp version) is 140 km/h. Slightly less in worse conditions. They're equivalent to a 500 cc 2 stroke all day long. Maybe a touch better.
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That sucks. Does it just effect those heading to white river? Or also effect those running north and south out of town?
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5 hours ago, wrightonalan said:
if i replace my 1200 ,which i love ,i would probably look at 900 turbo 130 hp .i like the 900 na but dont think 90 hp woulg be enough ,
Go ride a demo. New ones are 95 hp. You might be surprised. NA and the 130 hp turbo are both good options.
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1 hour ago, tricky said:
X2. I have been riding 900 ACE sleds for 7 seasons, now on my second one. I have been passed by less than 20 sleds in that time, and passed hundreds. You can't suck and blow at the same time, so I don't have much sympathy those complaining about ridiculously high prices as they seek out the latest, trickest 850 or turbo 4s. If you are riding deep snow, or lake racing, I get it, but for the bulk of Ontario trail riders 125-130 HP is more than what's required. Sledders, as a lot, have shown the manufacturers how to pick our pockets, and they have gotten good it. Can't complain.
Well put. 100% agree on the 900 ace.
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I want all the info I can get. I do agree with big Pete a trail with no traffic groomed a week ago is often as good or better than a fresh groom from the day before. I still want all the info I can get my hands on. Let the rider decide from there where they want to go.
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Yeah needs some good minds to look at it. Snow from snow making holds up better than natural snow. Mainly because it's denser. We have the ability to drop the freezing point of water by adding salt or calcium. What would do the opposite. Make snow melt at plus 5?
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4 hours ago, Gadgetman said:
Some interesting "out of the box" ideas for sure. I agree that the sport needs new ideas to continue to be viable.
My thoughts are simplistic in comparison, I would like to see some functionality on the OFSC Trail map:
1. FCMQ has has a layer which shows when last groomed, why can't the OFSC map do the same; (Heck, New Brunswick shows the groomer in real time.)
2. I would like a third color (purple?) which identifies road running, and or bridges when the trail is open but be advised lack of snow. I see some clubs flip to Yellow for lack of snow, but no snow for a few KM's is a whole other matter for sleds. Example, the section in red is a long bridge, which is a road way, I expect that the club has identified that there is no snow on the bridge, not that the province told the OFSC that snowmobiles can't use the bridge. Flip that section to Purple - no snow road way.
As we all know, no snow on roadways or shoulders is very different than in the dead of winter when the ground is at least frozen. Also, I'm not talking about simple road crossing, I'm flagging when we have to drive along a road for hundreds of meters, and it is dirt, or rocks, or bare pavement.
My 2 cents.
I think everyone would want this. Unfortunately seems the lawyers think otherwise.
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Just some ideas for anyone on here to consider taking forward to next year's agm. I won't be there, but like to put some ideas out there for the volunteers to consider. Anyone else have any other ideas?
1st idea
Hourly grooming dollar amount paid to the districts be adjusted to promote best grooming practices based on the following.
Grooming hours that take place between 10 am and 3 pm to be paid out at 80% of the prescribed hourly grooming rate. An exception of 10% of the grooming units total season hours to still be paid at 100% of the prescribed hourly grooming rate to accomodate for trail opening and emergency situations where daytime grooming is necessary.
Grooming hours that occur on Friday and Saturday nights / Saturday and Sunday mornings between 4pm and 7 am to be paid out at 120% of the prescribed hourly grooming rate.
Ofsc bog to set / adjust the prescribed hourly grooming rate as needed to ensure overall budget compliance.
2nd idea
Ofsc annual trail permit early bird price to be increased to $250 with the other seasonal permit prices being adjusted accordingly. Ofsc bog to investigate and if deemed feasible implement a southern trail permit to be created that is only valid in the geographical areas of ofsc districts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9. Price of the southern trail permit to match the annual trail permit price from the 2022/2023 season. Funds from permit revenue to continue to be distributed in a similar manner to how they currently are with the southern permit existence not effecting the permit funding distribution model.
3rd idea
Ofsc bog to investigate providing research funding to a Canadian university with the goal of developing one of the two below technologies. Value of funds being dedicated to this to be set by the bog.
1. Develop cost effective environmentally friendly technology to improve snows resistance (ability to not melt) to warm weather events
2. Develop technology to drastically reduce costs and make portable current or new snow making techniques that can be operated in an environmentally friendly manner.
The end goal of this research funding is to increase the duration of the riding season available to ofsc permit holders each winter.
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Got out for another ride. Left from Birds creek. Real mixed bag. Roads suck now. If it was plowed and is in the sun you're running in the gravel. E trail across the bottom of Algonquin park from E109 to 601 was awesome. 10 out of 10. Hats off to the Paudash groomers looking after the north end of their system. As I came across it I was thinking I was in for a great day. Boy did that change when I hit the haliburton boundary. Not sure if they've had major breakdowns or if they just gave up. But mogul city all the way through to Haliburton lake. Keep saying to myself just one section. No big deal, north of the lake will be better. Got off the north end of Haliburton lake. No sign of any grooming and some ugly bare south facing hills. At this point I'm committed. So ran all the way to Whitney fighting 24" deep moguls and mud where roads are plowed. All it would take is a groom and they'd easily get another week, but didn't happen today. I'd say it's been a week since it's seen a groomer or more. B trail east of Whitney was good. It'd been groomed in the last day or two. Always loved the scenery along the river. Very pleased to see the turtle conservation area opened back up for winter use. South from Madawaska was a touch rough, but bearable. Groomer was out fixing things up. Then ran the railed back to birds creek. It was decent. A few spots where in the sun it's getting skinny. Was going to run down to the maze, but decided against it. By 5 pm we were into mashed potato snow. So packed up and headed home. With the forecast I'd say clubs will get another week if they keep things groomed up grooming at night. That said road crossings are now a big problem. Time to load up and head north or into Quebec to finish the season out.
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57 minutes ago, Re:Leaf said:
Ontario F7 and I launched from Birds Creek today, just north of Bancroft.
Rode up trail 175 to Madawaska and stopped for fuel, and we ran into SKSMAN from the forum.
Rode across the freshly groomed B trail into Barry’s Bay and had lunch at Balmoral Hotel.
After lunch we rode down trail 157 to the lookout point.
Rode over to Whitney for more gas and then back down towards Bancroft.
Finished the day off with some fun on Baptiste Lake before heading back to the parking lot. It was a beautiful day for my first time riding in 2 years. Thank you OF7 for letting me ride your spare sled. 👍
Any issues with the roads? Or things still covered up pretty good?
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Yep hydraulics are pretty common. Fix it up and get it grooming. Congrats on the new rig. Will make great trails.
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Turbo would have been nice on the S4. That said I think it's a wise move for them to simplify and focus on delivering on time. There is a lot of customers that have been let down the last couple seasons. Hopefully they work to add to their accessory lineup as well. When you compare that's one of the big differentiators between Polaris and Ski doo now. They're still playing catch up in this area.
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On 2/26/2023 at 2:58 PM, Strong Farmer said:
You think a rap tourer is going to be possible on March break?
Road running will be the killer in the southern half of it. If you can avoid plowed roads it will be doable and decent.
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That sucks. I've got a 1.25" ice ripper with 22,000 km on it. Still in pretty decent condition. Not perfect but pretty good. It's in an xs chassis. I also have a 1.5" ice ripper on our other xs chassis sled. It's still fairly new. Just installed it last year. I'll have to watch the ice build up. We have definitely experienced ice build up in the tunnel on our saddlebag trips. Am considering carrying a rubber mallet to break it loose every morning. Especially if guys are saying it causes track lugs to tear.
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Does Notawissi have hot tubs?
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And what is the dealers response?
2024 polaris
in Main Clubhouse
Posted
It's the same sled Yamaha has had for the last 5 plus years with gold paint. I must be missing something here??