Is our sport dying? Why we need PR and why we need it now!

[Klingon Warrior]

This is all really great stuff, suggestions, ideas etc, kinda brings a tear to my eye,{not sarcasm}, these are all things we have been trying to accomplish for years. As far as stats are concerned, there is heaps of this information available through the ASA and other associations, CCSO {Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations} headed up by a great guy, Dennis Burns, who represents all of Canada, coast to coast, they have some great PR people and the funds to possibly assist,, we locally have the Alberta Snowmobile Association. Key is to get all sledders to buy into supporting the association by buying a membership to the club in their local area, how do we get all to do that? Heading up the ASA is Chris Brooks, ex politician and willing to be our media person, we need to rally support for him and the ASA. In discussions I've been involved in, Mountain sleds make up less than 5% of the sales of the Big 4, yet the media focus on mountain accidents only? I have taken a Global reporter for a days ride in the Blairmore, when she arrived she was all about digging for dirt, but at the end of the day, all she could say was that we showed her that sledders could go into the back country and play safe and have a great time. {she was so exhausted she couldn't raise her camera to her shoulder when we got back to the trucks}
I'd love to take one out everytime I go to show them how much fun it is,, but for the most part, being safe and having fun doesn't sell news,, how do we change that?
I would be involved and assist in any way I can, proud advocate of the sport, and for one, can't afford to buy a big enough piece of land to ride on if they close all of our riding areas !!!

 

[RXN]

A long distance fund raiser along a major highway say like Edmonton to Calgary, do it for something like kids with cancer, that should strike good with the media and hopefully others. if we used trails no body would see. but a mass organized group riding in vision of everyone shows we are not all drunken idiots.

 

[powderpilot]

Great post!! I would love to hop on board to join the cause!!!

Some things that are working for our neighbours to the South could help us up here in Canada. They are losing riding areas like crazy and the support from all land users is helping to keep their areas open.

Snowmobiling may be on the decline, but Adventure Tourism, and Backcountry use is among BC's fastest growing components in the Tourism sector. Snowmobilers can work together to create a balance in their land use agreements that respect the need to provide quality recreational experiences to all backcountry users.

I agree that we do need to set a positive example as sledders as well. I pulled this from the Snowmobiler's Guide to Environmental Stewardship in BC... It's a start:

Canadian Snowmobiler Code of Ethics
I understand and accept the risks associated with snowmobiling and I will take
responsibility for my own actions.

As a responsible snowmobiler

I will ride in a manner that is a credit to our recreation.
I will influence other snowmobilers to adhere to this Code of Ethics.
I will respect the rights of others, including property owners and other outdoor
enthusiasts.
I will protect and preserve our natural environment.
I will ride in a responsible manner and use only trails, areas, or roads open to
snowmobiles.
I will not harass or harm wildlife or the natural surroundings.
I will minimize my impact on the environment.
I will ride smart, be prepared, and stay in control.
I will check ice and weather conditions before riding.
I will help those in distress.
I will obey all laws and rules governing our recreation.
I will promote proper snowmobile education and training.
I will practice Zero Tolerance with respect to impaired riding.

Here is the link to the guide:

http://www.snowmobile.gov.bc.ca/files/A Snowmobilers Guide to Environmental Stewardship in BC.pdf

 

[moyiesledhead]

The pesimist in me says that things will just keep backsliding due to the "Jerks" in any motorized sport. Do 10 good things and it goes unnoticed but let one "idiot" screw up and its national news. It'll keep deteriorating cause we love to keep shooting ourselves in the foot.

Sad but true.....and the very reason I quite this season after 20 years of land use negotiations for our club. Add to that the 2 provincial organizations that can't seem to get along and I have a lot of trouble having any optimism any more.

 

[toddsphotos]

My Question,

Why do folks on here feel the sport is "dying" is it:

1) due to bad press
2) due to rising fuel costs, lower incomes, less jobs; the economy in general.

I feel it is the latter.. i.m.h.o

 

[drew562]

Donate $$$$ to the clubs. Revi snowmobile club got $250 from each me and my brother. And we r doing it every year. We aren't all rich but it if we all do it imagine the difference it could make

Andrew

 

[kenvb]

in 1979 I made $25.00 a hr in my own shop as a mechanic, and a my new 1980 Blizzard 5500 MX was $2200 .00
today I still make $25.00 a hr wrenching for someone else,and my sons new Polaris Assault was $12,000 I could only afford a 2003 for $4000.00
things are too high compared to our wage today.
I paid the $70.00 trail pass to use our groomed trails and have used em twice.maybe never again this yr.but the trails are best I have ever been on.usually only ride cutlines and bush trails..

well done Whitecourt,for a great ,but COLD poker ralley,

 

[007sevens]

ya know what really irks me is the over looking of the media to talk about what is really happening in the world in regards to enviromentalism and where the most fatal deaths come from.

Every year more and more of the world has more roads paved, more parking lots made, and lets not forget that all of a sudden most retail stores are 80000 sq ft buildings. I can't find facts to back me up but I believe I heard that there is enough pavement to circle the globe a few times over.

Not more than a few years ago going to the big city from the rural areas was a privilege and didn't happen very often. Now we will go a moments notice to watch a hockey game that is televised at home. (I'm not innocent to this) but makes you think. That being said with the increased amount of vehicles on the road the accident fatalitys go up. Heres a link to some stats that confirm this.Car Accident Statistics, Stats, Auto, Fatal, Drunk Driving

The media has seem to have accepted the fact that people die every few minutes from automobiles as part of everyday life, but in turn is unavoidable for most everybody alive today. We all walk in front of or drive a vehicle down a road everyday. The media doesn't care about this because nobody cares to hear about it, but when we endulge ourselves in the back country or in our backyards with snowmobiling everybody wants to hear.

When we as riders leave home to go on a trip it is an understanding with our family that if we don't come back that we did so with the permission of the people that love us and they accept that. I have never heard of anyone getting an intervention for their addition to motor sports. In most cases we don't endanger anyone but ourselves, and as far as us ruining the enviroment with our stinking loud machines. GIVE IT A REST AND LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME.

Is the sport dying, no I don't belive that for moment. The availablity to sleds the one can afford aren't the problem. You don't have to have the $14000 sled to go but you do need a JOB, or a daddy that loves you and knows why somebody would let their children risk life and limb to see one of Gods greatest creations when its just right there out your back door.

There I feel better, rant over.

 

[Modman]

It sounds like there is really some good enthusiasm for our sport, I'm glad to see such great comments on this thread.

Just some points I wanted to make - I don't think that this is going to be a fast process. It has taken years of self-destruction on our part - I don't think we are going to fix it overnight - but we need to start working on it.

I also think (as Klingon Warrior said) that a lot of the work has already been done for us. There are already stats and figures, etc. If people think this is going to take a monumental effort from a few people to change the perception, I don't think so. There needs to be a small change from everyone, rather than a big change from a few.

There are charity rides and all that kind of thing already, we also need to keep doing those things so, we are farther along than we think, but there has been no mainstream media release of this information. I guess part of my vision for this is that when something bad happens, there is a face on the news or in the paper, who is effectively our spokesperson. And instead of being trapped into leading questions by reporters, they have the training and knowledge to realize that, and instead put a positive spin on things, no matter what the question is. Charity rides, mountain mania, etc are all part of our culture that can be shared. We are not just a buch of drunken fools on sleds highmarking all day.

I know that some people think this won't work. Unfortunately, we have to make it work. IMO half the battle of the local clubs fighting for riding areas is because they are caught chasing their own tail. They spend their days fighting for riding areas, then someone does something stupid, regulators close an area, then the club has to work on that issue, round and round. By the end of the day they are so tired of fighting, they have nothing left in the tank when it really hits the fan. Something happens and the media slaps us with a bad rep, everyone else is so busy fighting these other fires that no one has time for a rebuttal. Politicians see this as weak and close another area and the local club is fighting another battle and back to chasing its tail. Without a formal stance and rebuttal, things just slide further. That further slide is going to kill our sport unless we stop it. I think a lot of people fully realize this, but it takes much more than just funding to support our clubs.

Contribution can come from just pointing out to someone they are riding out of bounds, if they flip you off and keep going, then you mention it on the forum. This kind of information released to the public, demonstrating that we are really trying to self-police, etc is heard much louder than just reactionary measures when its too little too late. While this is just an example of things (and we have seen these threads in the past), my point is that there are so many ways we can generate the PR needed, with minimal effort. We just need someone to release it.

Supporting your local club is awesome, but it does not present a unified voice that our sport needs IMO. Local clubs can only do so much with limited manpower, and a restricted audience, and are usually limited geographically. Asking them to stand up on a provincial level is simply too much IMO. A response to bad press or a good PR story needs to happen on the CTV/Global news and interprovincially. A 20 line local newspaper article is great but it just doesn't reach the greater audience.

It sounds like the ASA might have a potential spokesperson, and the facts are somewhat in place (thanks Joel). I love the idea of doing a promo vid for us, sounds like Rowdy has a contact. I think we have a starting point at least, please keep the good ideas coming.

 

[foxrider]

I sent global 16 x 9 this email.

Dear 16x9

I am an avid snowmobiler and I feel that due to certain events such as avalanches and under age riders being showcased on the news, our sport has received very bad publicity, and has resulted in a very bad image being displayed to the public. The media has made snowmobiling out to be a harmful and dangerous sport and some people are calling for the ban of mountain riding. That is a bad thing, and not how snowmobilers feel our sport should be viewed as by the general public. Snowmobiling is a family activity as well as an extreme sport, and those that own snowmobiles have paid thousands of their hard earned dollars to buy these machines. In B.C, snowmobiling has pumped on average, seven million dollars a year into the economy through tourism. Aside from avalanches, Snowmobiling is one of the least harmful power-sports on the environment, we travel over the snow pack, and do not leave ruts or damage ecosystems. The packed snow ruts that snowmobiles leave do not disturb the soil, they act as easier walking paths for wild life such as deer and moose, and the snow ruts allow more snow to settle in areas providing more moisture to the soil in spring. l The snowmobiling community and I would appreciate if you guys could make a 16x9 episode showcasing that snowmobiling is not a bad, destructive, or harmful sport. But rather a fun recreational activity. Every sport has its flaws with it that tarnishes it image, but sadly in the news snowmobiling has only been shown for its bad things. Hockey has the fights, baseball and football have steroids, and snowmobiling has avalanches; but that should not be the end all be all that defines it.
I hope you will take this proposal into consideration, Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Kyle Smilar

 

[RXN]

I agree, this should be a 16:9 topic. time to set things straight, remove the lies and rumours and myths about our sport

 

[2 RIDGEBACKS]

As has been said countless times we need all riders to join their local club or at the very least to join their provincial snowmobile organization. Also it would be nice to get the idea out to the media somehow that this started as a family sport back in the 60's and it still is one today. I don't know how we can get the media to show footage from a poker rally or jamboree etc. that shows we are just normal people who like the outdoors but choose to ride sleds. It is not just about mountain riding and avalanches.

This is all well and good but im sick and tired of using our trail system and seeing club members and others at warm up shacks drinking beer and rum etc,there is absolutely no alchohol needed in any form
of motorsports.I dont care if they injure or kill themselves but do care when they cause accidents for others,until things like this and knobheads causing avalanches stop...... sledders will always have a bad name

 

[Longhorn]

Funny...I know a ton of guys my age that ride, that I feel really represent the sport in a fantastic and positive manner...Then we see a bunch of younger guys, and they often seem to be the losers that are breaking all the rules. I KNOW this isnt the case all the time, but wow, were we ALL like this when we were younger? I dont believe I was, and I know a lot of others werent...

Makes you go hmmm....

I will say this, regardless of age though, there are still tons of riders out there every trip that make the rest of us look like losers...

 

[NIDAHOBOONDOCKER]

Here is my take on your idea, by the way great thread! A lot of your ideas fall right in line with our magazine, "support the sport". Read our mission statement on the inside cover of each magazine. I also remember what it "was" long ago and it has gone way too far to the left (pun).

First: The mfg have to start building normal sleds again that are affordable.

Second: The mfg/dealers should present criteria to each buyer ie: training classes, local access areas,maps and clubs involved in the sport. This alone would direct the buyer "to" these groups vs "us" searching them out.

Third: It cannot just be snowmobiling. Here is why... How many on here and other forums ride bikes/quads/street that fall into the same category? When you are talking about fund raising, this idea alone creates summer/winter fundraisers and creates HUGE awareness. Tie them together.

Fourth: This obviously takes money. I see people buy $20K in powersport equipment but won't pass 100.00 into the bucket, this is where I like your idea, one place, one person, one voice. Not to say those organizations aren't out there, they just need to grow and have stalled in this economy imo. Be proactive!

I would be more than willing to entertain a column in YOUR magazine (whiteout) to write whatever you want about the powersports industry. That is what we WANT, for your voice to be heard, not some polished up version that are full of half truths. Seriously, it has to get back to grass roots and build from there.


PM/call me anytime.

 

[OOC ZigZag]

i say create a single snowmobile aliance with certain reccomendations...code of ethics type deal that everyone pays into.canada and US. wouldnt be a large amount but enough to say we follow these rules as best we can and to pay the PR person and maybe setup a website.

the problem is avalanches and other media grabbers will still happen within an aliance and how the PR deals with it will need to be discussed.

We have huge strength if we use our numbers but as long as we have a bunch of individual assosiations we are limited. BCSF.ABC,ASA,. What we really need is NRA National Riders Assosiation. I kinda like NRA and if anyone gets confused they should vote in our favor cause they think we have guns.:d

 

[NIDAHOBOONDOCKER]

We have huge strength if we use our numbers but as long as we have a bunch of individual assosiations we are limited. BCSF.ABC,ASA,. What we really need is NRA National Riders Assosiation. I kinda like NRA and if anyone gets confused they should vote in our favor cause they think we have guns.:d

ISMA (International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association)-Information for snowmobilers: snowmobiling trails and safety; facts and trends

 

[OOC ZigZag]

ISMA (International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association)-Information for snowmobilers: snowmobiling trails and safety; facts and trends

Need 1 assosiation for riders not manufacturers.:d

 

[Modman]

I'm not sure we need any more associations. To me it just means more politics. Not sure why another jurisdiction would help, it would only further drive in the wedges that already split the current groups. We don't need another "blanket" organization that is going to divide our numbers up further, taking resources away from the existing ones, we need the current organizations to find common ground in positively promoting our sport.

Everytime you add a layer of administration, you add complexity and cost, and we would still need a PR firm to release information because that is what these people are trained to do, sledders or administrators of an organization are NOT media relations people, so we shouldn't be doing their job.

A media relations firm could contact each of the current organizations individually and get it's input, then compile that and present it. That's all we need. Someone to gather the facts and then stand in front of the camera.

 

[glacier mt lodge]

Great post Mod Man
My 2 cents

I agree we need one provincial organization, only members can affect change everyone belonging to one of the clubs should be aware of and involved in their respective club. Bring these concerns to the associations attend AGMs and lobby for change. Choose the organization that best represents your wants and eventually there will only be one. a few more comments.

I run hotel and have been involved with sledding politically and professionally for almost 20 years. My observations

1 Young or old their are aholes in any group or walk of life. 99.9% of sledders are class acts.
2. Sledding tourism is huge to communities like mine and contribute tons of cash to the BC economy.
3 the government is finally starting to see a respect sledders thanks to the years and dedication of many people involved in lobbying and working to keep sleds in the back country
4 99.9% of riders are respecting boundaries and regulations, government has noticed this Good work!!!
5 e ABCS clubs implemented the " Buck A Head Program" $1.00 from each trail pass is donated to CAC GOOD PR

 

[OOC ZigZag]

I'm not sure we need any more associations. To me it just means more politics. Not sure why another jurisdiction would help, it would only further drive in the wedges that already split the current groups. We don't need another "blanket" organization that is going to divide our numbers up further, taking resources away from the existing ones, we need the current organizations to find common ground in positively promoting our sport.

Everytime you add a layer of administration, you add complexity and cost, and we would still need a PR firm to release information because that is what these people are trained to do, sledders or administrators of an organization are NOT media relations people, so we shouldn't be doing their job.

A media relations firm could contact each of the current organizations individually and get it's input, then compile that and present it. That's all we need. Someone to gather the facts and then stand in front of the camera.

I didn't say we needed any more I said we need 1 to represent the entire sledding community of North America. Seriously I wasn't joking when I made the comparision to the NRA a national assosiation with a spokes person professional representation the combined power to lobby to open and make accessable more areas it would only benefit I'm not saying get rid of the other assosiations just create one every sledder in north america can contribute to that will go towards keeping areas open and opening areas on both sides of the border that should never been closed to our sport that after all is said leaves no trace we were ever there if we all practice what you pack in you pack out.:d