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Find Your Niche In A Snowmobile Club

Many of the “first generation” of inventors, engineers and designers who created the sport of snowmobiling have been leaving this earth in recent years. It’s not surprising, considering that snowmobiling really took root in the 1960s and ’70s – age eventually catches up to everybody. But it’s heartbreaking, nonetheless.

                Fortunately, the torch has been passed to a new generation of engineers and designers who keep the technology in the machines moving forward.

                The situation is eerily similar on the grassroots side of our beloved sport. Many of the most active, dedicated people in snowmobile clubs and associations have more than their fair share of laps around the sun. In a recent discussion with a club member about a snowmobile bridge re-decking project, we were told the youngest person working on the task was 72 – the youngest person.

                The burning questions are these: Where is the next generation of club members and volunteers? Who will make sure our network of trails and riding areas continues to be managed? Who will handle signage, trail maintenance and grooming efforts? Who will be involved in ensuring funding, engaging landowners or doing community outreach? Who will orchestrate awesome club rides?

                Perhaps it’s time to set down the magazine for a second and take a look in the mirror.

                We know it can sometimes be intimidating to enter a meeting where everyone seemingly knows everybody else, and nobody knows you. But virtually every club is seeking new members of all ages, and even more need active members who can help take the helm of various tasks. Some projects are physical, others are more mental and a few are more social.

                For some of us, the physical work can actually be quite fun. Spending an autumn Saturday as a part of a team that puts in trail signs, cuts away overgrown limbs or otherwise preps the trail surface can be quite rewarding. There’s a certain camaraderie that is formed, and truth in the phrase “Many hands make light work.” Many clubs also need people with mechanical capabilities who can help build a bridge over a creek or maintain grooming equipment.

                Clubs also have administrative tasks that need to be handled. Whether it’s updating the club roster, reaching out to local businesses for support, working with governmental bodies or overseeing grant applications to help fund a new groomer, idle evening hours can be spent contributing to the cause of snowmobiling rather than watching another episode of American Idol or Yellowstone.

                There are also leadership roles within clubs. They need board members and officers – folks who manage the budget, interact with the state association and guide the club’s overall direction. They also need leaders to be a trail boss/trail captain for sections of trail, plan and execute youth safety training classes, establish grooming schedules and handle potential landowner disputes as they occur.

                If you’re more inclined toward social engagement, there are plenty of opportunities for you as well. You could help plan the landowners’ thank you dinner or the club’s appearance in the local town festival’s parade. You could assist in the execution of the trailside hot dog feed, or in organizing the annual club ride. If communications is your specialty, many clubs would greatly appreciate having  someone to manage or contribute to their social media, web site or newsletter.

                It doesn’t matter if you have two hours to share or 20, or if you prefer to lead or follow. There’s a role for you in grassroots snowmobiling.

                The clubs listed on the next two pages are specifically reaching out to you, seeking your membership and support, through advertising support of this program. But if you reside elsewhere in North America, those sponsoring organizations would also be very happy if you joined a club in areas where you ride. Joining is the first important step, but becoming an active member is the ultimate way to support the sport we all love.    

Colorado

S&W Adventure Riders
Golden, CO  
303-324-7185                    
j4442welch@comcast.net
Swadventureriders.org     

Minnesota

Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association 
Brooklyn Park, MN            
763-577-0185                    
office@mnusa.com
mnsnowmobiler.org         

Belle Plaine Borough Riders       
Belle Plaine, MN                
952-875-4320                    
boroughriders@gmail.com                     
Belle Plaine Borough Riders Snowmobile Club on Facebook

Clearwater Trail Blazers                 
Leonard, MN                      
218-368-3115                    
clearwatertrailblazers2023@gmail.com                                                
Clearwater Trail Blazers on Facebook

Crow Wing County Snowmobile Trails Association                
Brainerd, MN                
218-330-7380                    
cwcsta@gmail.com                                  
Crow Wing County Snowmobile Trails Association on Facebook

Faribo Sno-Go Club Inc.  
Faribault, MN                     
507-838-2693
alexlmanz@gmail.com                            
Faribo Sno-Go Club on Facebook

Fertile-Beltrami Sandhill Snowcruisers
Fertile, MN  
218-280-9003
fbsandhillsnowcruisers@gmail.com                           
Sandhill Snowcruisers on Facebook

Foxtailers Snowmobile Club          
St. Michael, MN                 
612-501-5811                                            
foxtailers.com                     

Hamel Sno Runners             
Hamel, MN  
612-516-5014
hamelsnorunners@gmail.com                                        
Hamel Sno-Runners on Facebook

Maple Plain Snomads       
Maple Plain, MN                                       
mapleplainsnomads@gmail.com          
mpsnomads.com               

North Country Snowmobile Club                   
Bemidji, MN
218-755-9391                    
ncsclub@paulbunyan.com                     
ncsclub.org  

North West Trails Association  
Hennepin County, MN     
952-882-6770                    
nwtrails@nwtrails.net      
nwtrails.net 

Prior Lake Snowmobile Association             
Prior Lake, MN                   
612-328-8585                    
priorlakesnow@gmail.com                     
priorlakesnow.com           

Rice Creek Trail Association        
Circle Pines, MN                 
763-786-9672                    
michelle@mainstmarketers.com         
ricecreektrail.com            
Rice Creek Snowmobile Trail Association on Facebook

River Valley Trailblazers Inc.
Shakopee, MN                                           
rivervalleytrailblazers@gmail.com         
RVTB.org       

Rockford Ridge Riders     
Rockford, MN                
612-275-6339 
pmzup@aol.com  
Rockford Ridge Riders on Facebook

Savage Sno-Pacers         
Savage, MN 
612-567-6691                    
snopacers@gmail.com  
snopacers.com                   

Snow Thrashers of Dalton
Dalton, MN 
218-731-8463
Dalton Snow Thrashers on Facebook

South Tonka Sno-Mobilers   
Shorewood, MN                
952-484-1424 
wapeterson1@hotmail.com

United Lakes & Trail Riders Assn (ULTRA)  
Detroit Lakes, MN                                    
ultrasnowmobile@gmail.com               
ultradl.org    

South Dakota

South Dakota Snowmobile Association 
Gary, SD       
605-272-5900                    
sdsa@itctel.com                
snowmobilesd.com          

Aberdeen Driftbusters  
Aberdeen, SD                     
605-228-4143    
aberdeendriftbusters.com

Black Hills Snowmobile Club      
Rapid City, SD 
605-381-6594 
bhsnowmobileclub@hotmail.com    
Black Hills Snowmobile Club on Facebook

Dakota Drifters Snowmobile Club 
Brookings, SD         
www.dakotadrifters.org
Dakota Drifters Snowmobile Club on Facebook

Dakota Trailblazers      
Clear Lake, SD               
Dakota Trail Blazers on Facebook

James Valley Drift Skippers 
Mitchell, SD        
James Valley Drift Skippers Snowmobile Club on Facebook

Poinsett Pounders
Lake Poinsett, SD               
605-956-3004                    
poinsettpounders@gmail.com                                        
Poinsett Pounders Snowmobile Club on Facebook

Siouxland SnoTrackers Snowmobile Club
Sioux Falls, SD                     
605-310-8437                                            
sfsnotrackers.com              

Town & Country Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club             
Willow Lake, SD                                                                                           
Town & Country Snowdrifters on Facebook

Whetstone Valley Snowmobile Association         
Milbank, SD
wvsnowclub@gmail.com                        
wvsnowclub.com              

Wisconsin

AWSC-Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs                 
Statewide, WI                    
608-846-5530                    
awsc@awsc.org                  
awsc.org       

Amery Snowmobile Club
Amery, WI   
715-554-1398                    
josh@baldwinsupply.com                       
amerysnowmobileclub.com                  

Bear Point Sno-Cruisers
Wausaukee, WI                 
920-494-3052 

Berlin River Riders Inc.
Berlin, WI     
920-290-0394                    
berlinriverriders@gmail.com               
Berlin River Riders Snowmobile Club on Facebook

Burnett County Snow Trails Association 
Danbury, WI                 
715-656-3855                    
suesmed@gmail.com                             
Burnett County Snow Trails Association on Facebook

Conover Sno-Buddies    
Conover, WI   
conoversnobuddies@gmail.com          
conoversnobuddies.com 

Cozy Corner Trails, Inc. 
Danbury, WI                       
715-656-3855                    
suesmed@gmail.com    
Cozy Corner Trails Inc. on Facebook

Cross Country Cruisers Inc.         
Arbor Vitae, WI                  
715-614-9003                    
kw5wi79@outlook.com 
crosscountrycruisers.com

Fifield Sno Drovers S.C.  
Fifield, WI    
414-731-3130                    
communications@snodrovers.com     
snodrovers.com                 

Frosty Snowmobile Club Inc       
Land o’ Lakes, WI              
715-617-4708                    
info@frostysnoclub.com  
frostysnoclub.com             

Holyland Snowflyers   
Mt. Calvary, WI                  
920-296-6712                    
membership@holylandsnowflyers.com                     
holylandsnowflyers.com/membership.php                

Hudson Snowtrails Unlimited   
Hudson, WI 
715-760-0115                    
hudsonsnowtrailsunlimited@gmail.com                      
Hudsons Snowtrails Unlimited on Facebook

Knight Owls Snowmobile Club  
Tomahawk, WI                                                                  
knightowlsnowmobileclub.com            

Lily Sno-Birds Snowmobile Club
Lily, WI          
715-484-3342                    
lilysnobirds@gmail.com    
Lily Snobirds on Facebook

NKM Crooked Trails Snowmobile Club Inc.  
Dundee, WI
414-322-8483                    
hinchdundee@gmail.com                      
nkmcrookedtrails.com     

Northwest Relic Riders Vintage Snowmobile Club   
Hayward, WI                  
715-634-8377                    
hinton4ever@hotmail.com                   
relicriders.com                   

Northwoods Riders Snowmobile Club     
Tomahawk, WI                                         
info@northwoodsriders.org                   
northwoodsriders.org       

Prairie Riders Snowmobile Club
Pleasant Prairie, WI          
262-945-2179                    
prairieriderssc@gmail.com
prairieriders.net                 

Prairie View Ryders 
Shullsburg, WI                    
608-482-1281                    
prairieviewryders@gmail.com                                       
Prairie View Ryders on Facebook

Ranger City Riders Snowmobile ATV/UTV Club Inc
Amberg, WI
920-655-9958                    
rangercityriders@gmail.com                  
rangercityriders.com

Red Arrow Snowmobile-ATV Club             
Townsend, WI     
920-540-5909                                            
redarrowtownsend.com 

Rome Sno-Bandits           
Rome, WI    
224-715-2350                    
romesnobandits@gmail.com                 
romesnobandits.com       

Scandinavia Vikings Snowmobile Club 
Scandinavia, WI                 
920-858-8583                    
dwyertf@gmail.com  
Scandinavia Vikings Snowmobile Club on Facebook

SnowRunners LTD Snowmobile Club  
Port Washington, WI       
414-828-5265                    
snowrunners@gmail.com                       
snowrunnersltd.com        

Stateline TrailBlazers   
Juda, WI                               
statelinetrailblazers@gmail.com            
statelinetrailblazers.smartertrails.com                         

Sussex Sled Bugs Snowmobile Club Inc    
Sussex, WI   
262-617-1137                    
sledbugs@hotmail.com   
sussexsledbugs.org             

Vesper Snowdrifters     
Vesper, WI  
715-572-1451                    
vespersnowsecretary@gmail.com        
vespersnowdrifters.com  

West Shore Snow Pistons            
North Fond du Lac, WI    
920-251-3867                    
petetatro494@gmail.com     
West Shore Snow Pistons on Facebook

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