The Colorado Snowmobile Association won the 2013 Take A Friend Snowmobiling Contest sponsored by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association.

ISMA's members are Arctic Cat, BRP, Polaris, and Yamaha.  

The members of the CSA and their clubs took 486 individuals snowmobiling in Colorado this past winter of 2012-2013.  The CSA used their web site, the CSA Facebook Page, the monthly newspaper, as well as an annual direct mail letter to their members and follow-up e-mail to get the word out and obtain support and enthusiasm from the snowmobile clubs throughout the state of Colorado.

In addition to their efforts in using their established media to communicate with their clubs and members, they also partnered with the State Park representatives and US Forest Service representatives located in Colorado.

In addition to putting out the word and inviting non-snowmobilers to Go Snowmobiling, the CSA spent time and effort ensuring that safety guidelines for all of the rides were used and they recognized the 7 clubs that participated in the rides.  The rides began in January 2013 and culminated at the end of March 2013.

Many Colorado residents were introduced to snowmobiling and to the Colorado Snowmobile Association.  The outings introduced potential new snowmobilers to the clubs and the state Association thus strengthening the club network and highlighting all of the hard work of the Association.

Stories on snowmobiling ran throughout the state and new friendships were made with various Visitor and Convention Bureaus, Chambers of Commerce, other Tourism related individuals, and state Government representatives.

Photos of the events highlighted the excitement and joy radiating on the faces of all who participated in the rides.  

The manufacturers presented the Colorado Snowmobile Association with a check for $5,000.00 during the International Snowmobile Congress held in Green Bay, WI.  

The 2014 Take a Friend Snowmobiling Contest Winners will be recognized at the 2014 International Snowmobile Congress which will be held in Keystone, Colorado – June 11-14, 2014.   A campaign action manual and contest form, highlighting the guidelines to apply for the Contest is located on both of the manufacturer web sites: www.snowmobile.org and www.gosnowmobiling.org .

There are only 4 Days Left To Comment on the Yellowstone Proposed Rule for Winter Use, according to the Blue Ribbon Coalition.

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. 1-800-BlueRib - www.sharetrails.org

Below is a statement from BRC.

Dear Subscribers:
Just a quick reminder, there are only four days left to comment on the Proposed Rule for Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone National Park. (See previous alert below.) If you haven't already sent in comments, please take just a minute and do it now. The public comment period for the Proposed Rule for Winter Use ends Monday, June 17, 2013. The National Park Service needs to hear from you.

Thanks in advance for your support,
Jack Welch
Special Project Consultant
BlueRibbon Coalition
 


Comments Needed on Yellowstone Proposed Rule for Winter Use
Dear Action Alert Subscribers,
SITUATION
The National Park Service (NPS) has announced the release of a Proposed Rule concerning winter use in Yellowstone National Park for public review and comment. This rulemaking process is in addition to the Final Winter Use Plan/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) which was released on February 22, 2013.
The Proposed Rule, published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2013, has a 60-day public comment period ending on June 17, 2013.
The proposed rule will more effectively manage access for snowmobiles and snowcoaches in Yellowstone National Park, while minimizing impacts on visitors, air and sound quality, as well as wildlife. The proposed rule will guide management of winter use in the park and will implement the preferred alternative in the Final SEIS.
Under that preferred alternative, the park would permit up to 110 "transportation events" daily. Transportation events are initially defined as one snowcoach or a group of up to 10 snowmobiles.  Up to 50 transportation events may be groups of snowmobiles. Management by transportation events is an impact-centric approach designed to minimize the impact of Oversnow Vehicles (OSVs) on air quality, soundscapes and wildlife rather than focusing solely on the number vehicles allowed in the park. Note: By the 2017-2018 season all snowmobiles entering the Park would be required to meet New Best Available Technology (BAT) standards for snowmobiles.
This new, practical, approach to OSV management also provides greater flexibility for OSV commercial tour operators, rewards future OSV technological innovations, and reduces OSV-caused environmental impacts--all while making the park cleaner and quieter than previously authorized and allowing for increases in visitation. Four transportation events per day (one per gate) would be reserved for non-commercially guided BAT snowmobile access, and Sylvan Pass would continue to be operated in accordance with the Sylvan Pass Working Group Agreement.
The winter of 2013/2014 will be a transition year, during which the park will allow motorized over-snow travel under the same conditions in place for the past four winters: up to 318 commercially guided BAT snowmobiles and up to 78 commercially guided snowcoaches daily.
The Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park will use the analysis and recommendations contained in the Final SEIS, and comments on the proposed rule, to make a final recommendation to the NPS Intermountain Regional Director regarding the direction of winter use. The Regional Director is expected to issue the Record of Decision (ROD) sometime this summer, after which a final rule to implement the decision will be published in the Federal Register in order to allow the park to open for the 2013/2014 winter season.
Park News Releases LINK   
Federal Register - Proposed Rule LINK
Proposed Rule Frequently Asked Questions LINK
Additional information on Yellowstone's winter use planning process, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, can be found online at http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/currentmgmt.htm
SNOWMOBILERS, YOU NEED TO COMMENT BY June 17, 2013
NOTE: Comments may be submitted through the NPS website, by mail or hand delivered to park headquarters in Mammoth Hot Springs, WY. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic), submitted on behalf of others, will not be accepted.
For up-to-date information on the Yellowstone Winter Use Issue, go to our website www.saveyellowstonepark.com.
For questions and other information, contact Al Nash or Dan Hottle at (307) 344-2015. More info is also available on the web at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/YELL
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
BlueRibbon has formed the Yellowstone Task Force, which is made up of state and national snowmobile leaders, the snowmobile industry, commercial tour operators, and representatives from the affected gateway communities, as well as, elected officials at the county, state and national level. These groups have reviewed the Proposed Rule and have suggested comments.  Snowmobile enthusiast NEED to comment on the Proposed Rule. If you have ever been to Yellowstone, we need you to comment regarding your experience.
BRC'S THREE-STEP ACTION ITEM
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SEND YOUR COMMENTS:
NOTE: Please be polite and, if possible, make your comment letter as personal as you can.
STEP 1: Click Here. This link will take you to the Government Regulations comment webpage. 
               Read and follow the instructions for completing the Comment Form.
STEP 2: Use the comments suggestions below as a guideline for your comments. Cut and paste
               is okay, but try to make your comment letter as personal as possible.
STEP 3: Take just a minute to add a bit about where you live, any winter visits you have made to
               Yellowstone, how often you go, how long you have been riding in the area and/or how
               important the area is to you.
Once you have completed your comments, click the "Submit" button.
Optional:
You may also comment by mail to: Yellowstone National Park, Winter Use Plan - Proposed Rule - (RIN 1024-AE15), P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone NP, WY 82190.
NOTE: Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic), submitted on behalf of others, will not be accepted.
 
COMMENT SUGGESTIONS:
I support the "Proposed Rule" and continued winter access to Yellowstone National Park by snowmobiles.
·    Snowmobiles have been used to access Yellowstone National Park for over 50 years and should continue to provide a special form of winter transportation.
 
·    I support the concept of "Transportation Events" as a method of allocating access to Yellowstone Park in winter.
 
·    I support the current dates for the winter season of 2017-2018 for the New BAT to be required for both snowmobiles and snowcoaches.
 
·    I support the 3 Phases of transition from the current Winter Use Plan to the New Winter Use Plan as outlined in the "Proposed Rule".
 
·    I support the concept of Non-Commercially Guided access to Yellowstone on BAT snowmobiles in the winter.
 
·    I support continued, winter access for both snowmobiles and snowcoaches to the Park should be continued over Sylvan Pass from the East Gate.
 
·    I support the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) in providing input in the development the Yellowstone Snowmobile Education Certificate Program for Non-Commercially Guided groups.
Please add my name to the Yellowstone Winter Use mailing list and keep me informed as the process moves forward.
Sincerely,
Signature ___________________________________________
(Please Print) Name______________________________________________
Address________________________________________________________
City__________, State or Province ______ Zip or Postal Code __________

Click here to print out the above comments as mailable form letter.
Reminder the COMMENT PERIOD ON PROPOSED RULE ENDS ON June 17, 2013
 
 

_______________________________________________________

For the first time in snowmobile sales history, Russia has reportedly outsold the U.S. in snowmobile sales, mainly due to three years of good snow seasons in Russia and a building economy.

This “cold war” news comes from ISMA, the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association. Ed Klim, its president, announced these results at the International Snowmobile Congress in June in Green Bay, Wis. in front of delegations from the United States, Russia and Canada.

Russian and Europe sled sales were up 23% from 40,223 a year ago to 52,000 units in model-year 2013. Klim attributed the growth in unit sales to the Russian economy growing at a fast rate.

However, more snow this season in the U.S. and Canada did help keep snowmobile sales relatively flat in the U.S. instead of declining as it did in 2012. Klim said U.S. sales were 48,536 compared to 48,689 the previous year. Klim noted that March sales were not included so he predicted a bit of a bump up after those numbers are added.

Snowmobilers in the U.S. who were in the market for new sleds were looking mostly for machines with the most responsive handling and quickest acceleration, according to a study released by University of Wisconsin students at the Congress.

Snowmobilers in Canada were in a stronger buying mood though, with sales up 10% to 44,022 from 40,165 the previous year. In 2012 Canadian sled sales had dipped 1.8% compared to 2011.

Worldwide sled sales increased 11% from 129,087 to 144,601 in 2013. This is the third straight year of higher sales worldwide. Sales in 2010 season were 111,492 worldwide.

Snowmobile registrations also grew slightly to 1,392,043 compared to 1,366,630 in 2012. ISMA reports that Minnesota registrations were not in prior to the Snowmobile Congress, so the numbers may fluctuate. Last year’s registrations originally were reported at 1,401,376 but were later changed. 

Canadian sled registrations dipped a bit to 590,676 from 603,800. This was a concern discussed in the Northeast Chapters meeting at the Congress. Canadian province delegates stated high permit prices and lack of government support in some provinces helped stir the decline. 

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs representative said changes in snowmobiling to more casual sledding has pushed them to look differently at ways to get registrations. One new effort last year was a Family Day Long Weekend where trail permits were free for a weekend in February.

By Christie Green, American Snowmobiler

[caption image="http://cs.amsnow.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-38-michcanska/5582.P1010029.gif" position="right" targeturl="http://cs.amsnow.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-38-michcanska/3566.1024.jpg"]Russian snowmobile delegation (front) with MichCanSka organization (back) at the International Snowmobile Congress.[/caption]Bill Bradfield, President of MichCanSka, announced a world snowmobiling tour to Moscow, Russia from Sault Ste. Marie at the International Snowmobile Congress in Green Bay, Wis.

The tour is currently scheduled for February-March 2015.  It is estimated to be a 26 day trek from Sault Ste. Marie and include stops in Ontario, Stockholm, Sweden, Paris, London, Helsinki, Finland and Moscow.

The trip will be a fundraiser for diabetes research in the U.S. and Canada and to raise funds for families in Russia who have diabetes.

Bradfield met with Margarita Saudal, the head of the Russian snowmobile delegation, at Congress to discuss opportunities to ride in Russia.

The trip currently has six Swedish riders, eight Americans, six Canadians and six to ten Russians planning on attending.

A current estimated cost for the entire trip is $8,001. Bradfield said snowmobilers could choose to do just a portion of the tour.

A contest will take place to see which individual and which country raises the most in donations. Bronze, silver and gold awards will be given to the winners in Moscow.

For more information visit www.michcanska.com.

By Christie Green, American Snowmobiler

Taking a snowmobile to the extremes means a lot of different things to different people. For one snowmobiler that means jumping off a cliff.

B.A.S.E. (Buildings, Antennas, Spans and Earth) jumper Erik Roner jumped off a cliff with his three GoPro cameras in honor of his late friend, according to Mashable.com.

Roner's friend, Shane McConkey suffered a fatal accident while ski-B.A.S.E. jumping in 2009.

Roner gave McConkey's snowmobile a grand with a GoPro camera mounted on board that survives the plunge.

After jumping off the cliff, Roner turns to a parachute for a safe landing in terra firma.

Watch the video here.

BRP will have a booth at the Formula One Grand Prix du Canada on June 7-8-9, 2013 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montréal, Québec.

While BRP has, for the third straight year, designed and produced the winning
trophies, it will welcome the public at its booth near the Pont du Cosmos.

BRP has also loaned 40 Can-Am vehicles to be used by F1 teams and race administration.

BRP will provide an opportunity for fans have their photograph taken with the 2013 F1 Grand Prix du Canada 1st place trophy. A display of many of its products will be presented to the general public, and they will have the chance to participate in a contest. BRP will also have a special karting display, including a kart simulator, to highlight
the 30th anniversary of Rotax kart engines.

Car racing and BRP are closely linked. BRP organizes the annual Rotax MAX Challenge racing series that culminates with the Grand Finals, playing host last year in Portugal to over 275 racers from among 60 countries. The winner of these Grand Finals over the past two years were racing for Canada – Ben Cooper (2012) and Pier-Luc Ouellette (2011) – and they will both be on site during a special karting event on Friday. This year's Rotax MAX Grand Finals will be in held in New Orleans, Louisiana – the first time in North America.

Forty BRP vehicles will be circulating at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during race weekend.

X Games Aspen in Colorado is to be featured in the fourth episode of ‘Mountain Movers,’ National Geographic Channel’s new series.

This episode features the entire Snow Park Technologies crew working around the clock, despite single digit temperatures and other challenges to complete the 567-foot halfpipe, snowboard street course featuring the biggest wallride the team has ever fabricated, and snowmobile course venues that have to be transformed overnight, on time.This event brings together athletes and spectators from all over the world, and is broadcast live to 300 million viewers around the globe.
 
“When you have a project as big in scope and magnitude as the X Games, each person has their own area of responsibility,” said Chris “Gunny” Gunnarson, owner of SPT. “These guys have a very, very big job ahead of them and they have a small amount of time to do it - they’ve got no window for error.”
 
 “All Hands on Deck”
Thursday, May 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
The X Games is equivalent to the Super Bowl for Gunny and the SPT crew. One hundred and fifty of the world’s best snow sports athletes compete in the event, which is broadcast live around the world. This year, Tyrone was in charge of building one of the biggest features that SPT has ever been tasked with creating: the Snowboard Street wallride. Chris leads the entire SPT crew in Aspen and assigns Kurt Eppler to take on the snowmobile course, which requires building two courses within the same location. Frank is in his element working on the pipe, and Aaron starts construction of Snowboard Street with Tyrone. But, Corley has been relegated to helping out everyone when needed. The challenges ensue, including bad weather and equipment breakdown, as well as a ticking clock from the moment they begin fabrication until the last athlete crosses the finish line.
 
Mountain Movers is produced by Good Clean Fun for the National Geographic Channel. For Good Clean Fun, Jason Carbone and Sarah Kane are executive producers. For National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Michael Mavretic, senior vice president of programming and development is Kevin Mohs, executive vice president of programming is Michael Cascio and president is Howard T. Owens. General Motors is a co-producing partner and Chevrolet is the lead media partner of Mountain Movers.
 
For more information about Mountain Movers, visit www.snowparktech.com or National Geographic Channel

The Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs will host the International Snowmobile Congress in Green Bay, Wis. from June 5-8.

Snowmobilers from the US, Canada, Sweden and Russia will be in attendance.

The ISC will be held at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Green Bay, Wis.

The rate for the hotel rooms is $80 per night plus tax.

Full Congress Registration includes: Welcome Social; Breakfast on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; Coffee Breaks; Thursday Off-Site; Friday Groomer Reception Dinner and Saturday Awards Banquet (Dinner).

Cost for Youth (Ages 13-21) is $205  for regular registration through June 8. Late Full Congress Registration, April 2, 2013 through June 8, 2013, is $250.  Full Child Congress Registration (12 and under) costs $110.  One Day Registration (Circle Day –June 6, 7, 8) costs $160.

Extra Banquet or Off-Site Tickets (Circle One)are  non-refundable and cost $60.

Register here.