Call it the unofficial start of the countdown to snowmobiling in Upstate New York and beyond!
The fall snowmobile pre-season kicks off in earnest this weekend with the opening of the 24th annual Big East Powersports Show in Syracuse, New York, September 29-Oct. 1.
The show, produced by Snow Goer magazine, fills the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse with vendors from across the Snowbelt who gather along with nearly 20,000 snowmobilers every year to celebrate the start of a new season.
There are more than 100 companies represented at displays on two floors in the Oncenter, from the big corporate booths from Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yamaha, to smaller 10-foot-wide displays from riding destinations and everything in between. There are huge dealership displays that offer great prices on helmets, jackets, bibs, boots and other riding gear; trailer manufacturers showcasing a variety of hauling options; performance shops offering parts to make sleds go faster or ride better; and traction product makers, offering skis, studs, carbides, tracks and more, to help riders connect between to the trail. Tourism-based booths provide information on new riding areas and destinations, trail maps, lodging options and more, and various aftermarket booths offer various widgets to make snowmobiling easier, better or more comfortable.
There’s an expanded Family Fun Zone for 2017, which offers interesting activities for kids and, new this year, a scavenger hunt with fun prizes. Also, the Snow Goer Clinic educational seminars return with five speakers on Saturday sharing their perspectives on various aspects of snowmobiling – from suspension, clutching tuning and trailering tips to sessions focused on family snowmobiling.
As much as anything, though, shows like the Big East Powersports Show are a place where snowmobilers gather to get geared up and amped up for the coming season while sharing camaraderie with others who similarly love the sport.
The show hours are Friday 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door, but $1 off discount coupons and $8 online admission tickets are available at www.bigeastpowersportsshow.com. Next weekend, the energy and excitement continues half a country away, with the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Expo in Denver, Colorado, Oct. 7-8.