In a recent survey, 89 percent of snowmobilers said that this winter they plan to ride at least as much as they normally do, with 44 percent saying they expect to exceed their average amount of riding this season.
Yowza, we’re an optimistic group! In this stressful era, maybe that’s understandable – we all want something to look forward to, and snowmobilers know there’s hardly any better way to clear the mind while social distancing in style than riding through endless miles of wondrous winter scenery while seated behind a handlebar.
Aside from that glorious thing called snow, the most vital requirement needed for riders to be able to attain these lofty goals are trails and other available land on which to ride.
For those, we need snowmobile clubs, and this year as much if not more so than ever, the snowmobile clubs need you right back – and by “you” we’re not just talking about folks who have never belonged to a club but also people who were previously dues-paying members that may have let their membership lapse.
Challenging Times
Obviously 2020 has been a challenging year for everybody with the COVID-19 situation and its resulting restrictions on public gatherings and crowd sizes, among other things. It has affected virtually everything in society – including snowmobile clubs.
Frankly put, the incredible success that has allowed snowmobile clubs to build and maintain trail networks has largely been driven by interpersonal relationships – among the club members themselves but also between club members and private land owners, land managers, local business owners, political and administrative leaders, law enforcement agencies, charities and so many others. Most snowmobile clubs may technically be in the trail building and maintenance business, so to speak, but ultimately they are in the people business.
However, this year most of those interactions have been tested to say the least – from the cancellation of annual International Snowmobile Congress to state- or province-wide workshops and annual meetings, monthly local club meetings to landowner appreciation dinners, summer appearances at local town festivals to club fundraisers, the means through which club members interact with other snowmobilers and with their communities has been altered. Zoom-style video calls have filled part of the void, but only to a point.
Judging from the aforementioned survey results, the pandemic hasn’t dampened the desire of snowmobilers to go riding – don’t let it dampen your enthusiasm to support and potentially participate in snowmobiling’s vital grass roots network: the clubs. They are still responsible for the trails in most areas, still offer a circle of friends with whom you can go riding, and still protect and promote your favorite sport in so many ways.
Challenges Ahead
Another reason why snowmobile club membership is so vitally important right now is that, when it comes to getting consistent funding and support from governmental bodies for our trails, membership numbers equal power, and power equals money.
That’s always been the case, but there’s a bit of reckoning on the horizon when it comes to budgets because (1) federal spending to prop up the economy has blown up the federal budget deficit; and (2) tax receipts are down due to the downturn in the economy. That’s going to create problems, particularly for state and regional governments that are forced to balance their budgets. Bottom line: Politicians are going to be looking for places to cut!
In many states and provinces, there are funding mechanisms in place to help snowmobiling – money collected from sled registrations and/or trail permit stickers may be dedicated to supporting the trails, or a small percentage of the gas tax collected may be rebated back to clubs and associations based on an estimate of how much gas is used by off-road vehicles like snowmobiles.
The future of our sport’s infrastructure depends on protecting those sources – and when your state or provincial snowmobile associations make their appeal to do just that, they can make their case much more forcefully if they can claim more members. It really is important.
Do The Right Thing
For those wanting to ride a lot this winter, a club also provides more riding opportunities with like-minded people, an ability to have input on the trails and a chance to help out fellow snowmobilers, and your community. It also gives you a chance to do the right thing!
Below, you will find a list of snowmobile clubs that are very specifically reaching out to you, seeking your support and membership. They sponsored this article. Hopefully you’ll find one near you or in a riding area you frequent so that you can join up. If not, please go to the snowmobile club directory on SnowGoer.com and find a club in the appropriate area.
We all have a lot to protect in this great sport of snowmobiling – and a lot to lose if it goes away. So, act today.
MINNESOTA
Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association
Brooklyn Park
866/214 -7669
mnusaoffice@popp.net
mnsnowmobiler.org
Snowbirds of Amboy
Amboy
507/317-9696
SnowbirdsofAmboy@gmail.com
Snowbirds of Amboy Inc. on Facebook
North Country Snowmobile Club
Bemidji
218/755-9391
ncsclub@paulbunyan.net
ncsclub.clubhosting.org
Big Lake Sno-Cruisers
Big Lake
320/292-5926
biglakesnocruisers@gmail.com
snocruisers.org
Sno Barons Snowmobile Club
Blaine
haydays.com
Crow Wing County Snowmobile Trails Association
Brainerd
218/330-7380
cwsta@gmail.com
brainerdlakesareasnowmobiletrails.com
Caledonia Sno-Gophers
Caledonia
507/725-7669
calsnow@acegroup.cc
Caledonia Sno-Gophers Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Carver County Snowrunners
Carver County
612/483-5638
oliver1650@icloud.com
ccsnowrunners.com
Clearwater Trail Blazers
Bagley/Leonard
218/694-2150
skd@gvtel.com
Snow Thrashers of Dalton
Dalton
218/458-2265
dakarepm@runestone.net
Dalton Snow Thrashers on Facebook
Bay Lake Sno-Packers
Deerwood
218/678-2051
baylake.snopackers@gmail.com
brainerdlakesareasnowmobiletrails.com/clubs/
United Lakes & Trail Riders Assn (ULTRA)
Detroit Lakes
218/850-1333
ultrasnowmobile@gmail.com
Ultra Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club
Ely
218/235-1609
Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Blizzard Snowmobile Club
Fairmont/Martin County
507/238-2190
blizzardsnowmobileclub@yahoo.com
myblizzardclub.com
Faribo Sno-Go Club Inc.
Faribault
507/330-5542
spdegrood@gmail.com
sno-go.org
Hamel Sno Runners
Hamel
612/516-5014
hamelsnorunners@gmail.com
Hamel Sno-Runners on Facebook
North West Trails Association
Hennepin County
952/882-6770
nwtrails@nwtrails.net
nwtrails.net
International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club Inc.
International Falls
218/240-1230
jemmbigler@gmail.com
ridetheborders.com
Maple Plain Snomads
Maple Plain
snow@mpsnomads.com
mpsnomads.com
Monticello Trailblazers Snowmobile Club
Monticello
763/325-3023
montisnow.com
River Valley Trail Blazers
Shakopee/Jordan
612/709-1502
rivervalleytrailblazers@gmail.com
rvtb.org
South Tonka Sno-Mobilers
Shorewood
952/484-1424
wapeterson1@hotmail.com
sites.google.com/site/southtonkasnowmobileclub/
Stillwater Snowlords
Stillwater
651/283-5883
braggronald@gmail.com
mnsnowlords.com
Moonshiners Snowmobile Club
Twin Valley
218/280-2798
mikecenex@yahoo.com
Moonshiners Snowmobile Club on Facebook
ILLINOIS
IL Association of Snowmobile Clubs, Inc.
Marseilles
815/792-2021
iasc@mtco.com
ilsnowmobile.com
Cedarville Snow Travelers
Cedarville
815/238-7826
gjherman60@comcast.net
Cedarville Snowtravelers on Facebook
Prairie Drifters Snowmobile Club
Galesburg
309/299-4347
Prairie Drifters Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Tri-County Snowmobile Alliance
North Central Illinois
tcsnowmobile@gmail.com
Tri-County Snowmobile Alliance on Facebook
Whiteside County Snowbirds
Tampico
815/499-3720
fibs96@gmail.com
Whiteside County Snowbirds on Facebook
Woodstock Snowmobile Club
Woodstock
info@woodstocksnowmobile.com
woodstocksnowmobile.com
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Snowmobile Association
Gary
605/272-5900
sdsa@itctel.com
snowmobilesd.com
Aberdeen Driftbusters
Aberdeen
605/228-4143
aberdeendriftbusters.com
Dakota Trailblazers
Clear Lake
Dakota Trail Blazers on Facebook
Town & Country Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club
DeSmet
605/651-3461
terickson1213@gmail.com
Town & Country Snowdrifters on Facebook
Poinsett Pounders
Lake Poinsett
605/520-8018
poinsettpounders@gmail.com
poinsettpounders.com
Whetstone Valley Snowmobile Assn.
Milbank
wvsnowclub@gmail.com
Whetsone Valley Snowmobile Association on Facebook
Black Hills Snowmobile Club
Rapid City
605/445-2593
bhsnowmobileclub@hotmail.com
Black Hills Snowmobile Club on Facebook
SnoTrackers Snowmobile Club
Sioux Falls
605/310-8437
sfsnotrackers.com
South Dakota YETIS (Youth Empowerment Through Involvement in Snowmobiling)
Statewide
South Dakota YETIS on Facebook
WISCONSIN
AWSC-Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs
Statewide
608/846-5530
awsc@awsc.org
awsc.org
Burnett County Snow Trails Association
Danbury
715/656-3855
suesmed@gmail.com
Burnett County Snow Trails Association on Facebook
Cozy Corner Trails, Inc.
Danbury
715/656-3855
suesmed@gmail.com
Cozy Corner Trails Inc on Facebook
Midnight Riders, Inc.
Dorchester
715/206-0011
davidbedroske@yahoo.com
Midnight Riders Snowmobile Club/Dorchester Wisconsin on Facebook
Sno-Eagles, Inc.
Eagle River
262/442-4876
info@snoeagles.org
snoeagles.org
Hudson Snowtrails Unlimited
Hudson
715/760-0115
hudsonsnowtrailsunlimited@gmail.com
Hudson Snowtrails Unlimited on Facebook
Lakeshore Snowmobile Club
Manitowoc
920/323-6964
lakeshoresnomo@gmail.com
lakeshoresc.org
Markesan Sno-Drifters
Markesan
920/229-2385
Markesan Sno-Drifters Snowmobile Club on Facebook
West Shore Snow Pistons
N. Fond du Lac
920/539-6501
sjjackowski@att.net
West Shore Snow Pistons on Facebook
Navarino Knight Riders
Navarino
920/840-1028
kevin.vosters@yahoo.com
North Lake Nomads
North Lake
northlakenomads.com
Oconomowoc Throttle Jockeys
Oconomowoc
262/370-1683
throttlejockeyssnowmobileclub.com
Phelps Snowmobile Club
Phelps
715/617-4792
phelpssnomoclub@gmail.com
phelpssnowmobileclub.com
Plymouth Snow Rangers
Plymouth
920/892-0735
plymouthsnowrangernews@gmail.com
plymouthsnowrangers.com
Rudolph River Rovers
Rudolph
715/697-1502
vanastenm@my.uwstout.edu
Rudolph River Rovers on Facebook
Sussex Sled Bugs Snowmobile Club
Sussex
262/246-8104
sledbugs@hotmail.com
sussexsledbugs.org
Bear Point Sno-Cruisers
Wausaukee
920/494-3052
afmelm@sbcglobal.net
bearpointsno-cruisers.northerndestinationswebhosting.com
Wonderland Sno Trails
Danbury
612/240-8596
wonderlandsmc@gmail.com
wonderlandsno.webs.com
