Sledding with your family

[Billy Boy]

this is what Saskatchewan does. Portion of the registration for plates goes to the snowmobile clubs divided up based on km of trails. They have to groom and sign and it is inspected by sask snow representatives. For family riding it’s hard to beat the infrastructure unless you head out to Ontario or Quebec. I believe Idaho also has something similar...great infrastructure either way. When riding with family we go east not west.

I wish the Alberta Government would get on the ball and follow Saskatchewan's lead. Every now & then we here rumblings about the Alb Govt doing something similar but it just fades away.

 

[gforce_15]

I've been fortunate enough that both of my daughters started on 120's before they were 3. Now they are 4 and 7, and absolutely love riding their snowmobiles. They are more anxious than I am for enough snow this fall to start riding! I have 3 nieces and 1 nephew between 4 and 8 and they all love it. Getting the family into it has been amazing. My parents are both 60 now and I have ridden 500+ miles every year with them for the past 7 years in a row now. I just picked up a ZR200 this fall for my 7 year old and my 4 year old will ride the 120 for another year or two.

The big group picture was from last Christmas where the majority of the family did a little ride to a local shack for a wiener roast lunch. fun to get out on the older iron too!

 

[tmo1620]

I wish the Alberta Government would get on the ball and follow Saskatchewan's lead. Every now & then we here rumblings about the Alb Govt doing something similar but it just fades away.

Would be nice but will never happen, Alberta is the land of the cash grab and with our federal govt putting our economy in the $hitter, the cash grab will only get worse.

 

[Bnorth]

Would be nice but will never happen, Alberta is the land of the cash grab and with our federal govt putting our economy in the $hitter, the cash grab will only get worse.

*laughs in BC*

 

[JungleJim]

Great to hear of so many others wanting to get their families involved! My two best riding buddies are my two sons who are now in their early twenties and accomplished riders. They started out around 7 and 9 years old riding their own full size sleds in the mountains and quickly got better year after year. I think its best to think of sledding similar to hockey... start out having fun, work your way up to a nice all ages shinny game, and then for those who want to take it up a competitive level go for it! My two boys have completely different personalities and it shows in their approach to sledding 1) Heck ya! Watch this.. and the other 2) Ok, exactly how do I do this step by step. It is important to create the "pull" not the "push" so they want to come with you. Having great sledding buddies who are patient and willing to help out to keep it safe was perfect for us. My wife made it very clear that the best benefit for her was having a quiet weekend to herself when I took the boys to the mountains. I tried bringing her along a couple of times and it ended with "Get me off this F-ing mountain now!", just not her thing but she's supportive of the boys and I. I can't imagine not sledding with my boys as we've had the best times and developed a true friendship in the process.

 

[Turblue]

Great to hear of so many others wanting to get their families involved! My two best riding buddies are my two sons who are now in their early twenties and accomplished riders. They started out around 7 and 9 years old riding their own full size sleds in the mountains and quickly got better year after year. I think its best to think of sledding similar to hockey... start out having fun, work your way up to a nice all ages shinny game, and then for those who want to take it up a competitive level go for it! My two boys have completely different personalities and it shows in their approach to sledding 1) Heck ya! Watch this.. and the other 2) Ok, exactly how do I do this step by step. It is important to create the "pull" not the "push" so they want to come with you. Having great sledding buddies who are patient and willing to help out to keep it safe was perfect for us. My wife made it very clear that the best benefit for her was having a quiet weekend to herself when I took the boys to the mountains. I tried bringing her along a couple of times and it ended with "Get me off this F-ing mountain now!", just not her thing but she's supportive of the boys and I. I can't imagine not sledding with my boys as we've had the best times and developed a true friendship in the process.
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That’s awesome....yeah the wife did say that it can be your thing with the kids. Which for the most part it is..think she’s been with maybe 3 trips.

 

[JungleJim]

That’s awesome....yeah the wife did say that it can be your thing with the kids. Which for the most part it is..think she’s been with maybe 3 trips.

Well it saves you having to buy an extra sled! Now that we have a place out in BC my wife comes along on about a 1/3 of the trips but stays at the house and enjoys a baileys with hot chocolate by the fire. She comes out riding about 2 or 3 times but for a half day max with lots of time in the warm up cabin. No complaints from the boys and I as she's great with supporting the sled budget. I always say I'd rather spend money on sledding with my boys than on lawyers and re-hab for them if they got into bigger trouble!

 

[Heimie]

What a fantastic thread! I have been getting my family involved for a 6 years now. Started with my son and daughter both on a 120. Now I have my Pro Assault 800, my wife rides my old Vmax 700, my son is on an Excel 3 340, and daughter is on an Enticer 250. Right now we ride around the acreage and some farmers fields as a family. We pack hot chocolate and snacks, and everyone has a great time. We load up and head to the in-laws farm for a change of scenery. I can't wait for the kids to get a little older and bigger and more confident to bring them to the mountains. Not sure the wife will like it.

She and the kids don't mind, actually encourage, me to head to the mountains. I don't go every weekend. I'd be lucky to get out once per month or more. They know that I am very passionate about this sport and how much I love it. I do a lot for all of us, so heading out once a month for 4-6 trips a year, they push me to go. They know their turn is coming. Trail rides and bombing through fields sure is a lot of fun with all of us for now!

As for the cost, I don't know what manufacturers are thinking. I think the Venom or Blast would be freakin' awesome for my kids, but at over $10k a pop?!? I wish that part was more affordable, but until then I will be looking for deals on sleds that will fit them and upgrade as they grow and develop their skills.

 

[brad6]

My 2 kids-boy 12 and daughter 10 both started on kitty cats and 120's. Mostly all our riding is North east sask riding at the cabin. I have found It can be as expensive as you want it to be. All of my kids sleds have been fixer uppers, bought kitty cats dirt cheap, fixed up, sold to purchase next sled. Repeated a with few sleds to get this winters rides. I enjoyed the process and you get to learn as you go. My boy will go all day, every day if you let him. Even got to go with Dad and my work buddies last year for a day ride on the one Sun day. He was pretty pumped when one of the guys suggested that he come along. I found with my daughter to stick to what they comfortable with terrain wise and speed wise, and if her thumb or arms get tired we take a break or call it a day. Best part, she says she loves "sled smell" , and my wife says we all stink when we get back to the cabin. Lol and she says she enjoys her quiet day at home at cabin with her book, whiskey and a nice warm fire. Usually something delicious in the insta pot too when we get back, so Win/Win for everyone I guess lol. Can't wait for the snow to fly!!

 

[Lammy]

Elk Ridge Lodge was just purchased again a couple of weeks ago by a group of 8 Saskatchewan investors. One lives here in Lloyd, as he is a friend of my son.

 

[NoBrakes!]

Great thread guys. I've gone great lengths to try and get my wife and son outfitted and into the sport. If it means trail rides or even acreage field rips for the first few years, I'M IN! Building a heated trailer for a warm up shack ta boot. Boys on a 120, started last season at 2.5 Slowly, he's pumped for this season already. The wife seems to like the trail style sit down sleds like she grew up on so the Phazer 500 will do for now, but I did drag her to Martins the other day and she loved the red backcountry XRS..... big things to come, slowly.

Teach good habits... not "do as I say, not as I do"....

hope to see you on the pow!

 

[NoBrakes!]

^^^^ I know I know.... I can't believe I started him on a ditch pickle...

 

[snopro]

Buddy of mine summed it up perfectly. When his father in law asked why he spent so much money on sleds, side by sides and a nice ski boat he said,,,,,"When I'm pulling my kids down the lake behind the boat I don't have to worry about them doing a drug deal at the 7-11". Like Jim said, a way better investment than lawyers and counselling.

 

[ferniesnow]

It has been quite a story starting with the kids delivering papers on a single banger Elan in the NWT. Every year for to many to count, we would explore and ride. Came to the mountains in 2000 and it was quite a learning curve. We survived and had a lot of fun. In the picture, there are 3 of 4 sons and one grandson. Live has thrown some curve balls for the kids and they have found out how expensive sledding actually is. Still have a couple of them involved in the sport but in this late stage of life it is mostly my wife and I still racking up the miles. Lots of wieners on the hill and in the later years, cookers full of garlic shrimp, scallops, or great left overs. We have lots of memories and lots of stories about the places we rode.

 

[Barry Barton]

I started my kids really young at 5 and 7 at the cabin. My daughter has a office job now so she doesn't get out anymore, but i'm still riding with my son and he's 26 now and it's the best of time's. I have also spent a lot of money but know price can compare with the memory we have from all the years of riding.

 

[TDR]

Great thread guys. I have been very fortunate to sled with my family. We started out with one sled that I doubled the kids on in the yard. Then my oldest was about 9 and getting too big to double. Expanded the fleet to a Indy Lite that was long tracked and another sled for my wife. As the kids grew my daughter got into it and more sleds came. I hunted around for deals on older ones and even bought some in the US when the dollar was good. We rode many miles on the trails at Whitecourt. Lots of good memories. As the oldest grew that yearning for the mountains grew. We were fortunate to have great friends willing to show us the ropes the right way. Proper gear, avy course, etc and off we went. It was on those adventures we met other like minded friends like JungleJim and his sons. Again learned many things and made life long friends. Youngest boy wanted to come to the mountains so more gear and training. Then they all wanted to come to the mountains. Took the girls to easy to ride places. They enjoyed a day of riding and a day wandering around town. Worked out well. Last few years just the boys. This year my wife is interested about the trails again. Will take a few trips and have some fun between boys mountain trips. Manufacturers need to come up with family friendly equipment to keep the cost down. If they don’t there won’t be an industry one day and that would be a shame.

 

[Rotax_Kid]

I've been really lucky to be able to live rural where I can let the terrorists run nearly free without much issue.

Both of my guys started around the age of 3 on 120's. Oldest is 8 and is on a ZR200, his brother is 6 and is on a sped up 120. Last year the 200 went through 30+ tanks of gas while the 120 was around 40+. They started with putting around the yard. From there, they decided to start making jumps and tabletops pulling every skiff of snow they could possibly find into the middle of the yard. Sometimes they have success, sometimes the sled went left and they went right, but no one has gotten hurt...yet. I have 2 dents in the tin in my shops from Arctic Cat bumpers that I could pull out, but every time I walk by them and look at them I laugh. I still get a kick out of them believing 200 and 120 is how much horsepower their machines actually have. Because of this, they were in awe of my 1200....

I ended up buying a 300 Freestyle a few years ago to putt around with. Put a hitch on a groomed them trails with a light 5' drag. I now use that machine to guide these two when we go out on longer rides. None of the 3 have speedo's, but I'm guessing we've done a few 15 mile days, which is alot considering one of them is on a 120!! They are good riders and generally don't get too many stupid ideas, but they are always smiling under their helmets!

Last year I took them on their first "big" trip. We loaded the 120/200/300 on the sled deck and dropped off in the middle of rural Sask, 5 miles away from a Shelter where we had a weiner roast and they got to feel like the "real snowmobiliers."

It's getting harder and harder each year to keep going as they are into hockey and the older one is in a competitive Tier in Novice. I used to think me going away to somewhere I've never been was the best ride of the year. We've been alot of places, I've ridden almost every Northern US state and have only not ridden in PEI, NS and Nunavut in Canada. Over the last few years, my best rides have seemed to happen within 5 miles of home. Over the last few years I've enjoyed riding with my little buddies more and more every year.

 

[papajake]

love the pic with the dog on the sled we had a cocker spaniel that loved to sled he would even lean into the curves went on a 50 mile poker rally and he fell asleep had to hold him he was so tired

 

[snopro]

I've been really lucky to be able to live rural where I can let the terrorists run nearly free without much issue.

Both of my guys started around the age of 3 on 120's. Oldest is 8 and is on a ZR200, his brother is 6 and is on a sped up 120. Last year the 200 went through 30+ tanks of gas while the 120 was around 40+. They started with putting around the yard. From there, they decided to start making jumps and tabletops pulling every skiff of snow they could possibly find into the middle of the yard. Sometimes they have success, sometimes the sled went left and they went right, but no one has gotten hurt...yet. I have 2 dents in the tin in my shops from Arctic Cat bumpers that I could pull out, but every time I walk by them and look at them I laugh. I still get a kick out of them believing 200 and 120 is how much horsepower their machines actually have. Because of this, they were in awe of my 1200....

I ended up buying a 300 Freestyle a few years ago to putt around with. Put a hitch on a groomed them trails with a light 5' drag. I now use that machine to guide these two when we go out on longer rides. None of the 3 have speedo's, but I'm guessing we've done a few 15 mile days, which is alot considering one of them is on a 120!! They are good riders and generally don't get too many stupid ideas, but they are always smiling under their helmets!

Last year I took them on their first "big" trip. We loaded the 120/200/300 on the sled deck and dropped off in the middle of rural Sask, 5 miles away from a Shelter where we had a weiner roast and they got to feel like the "real snowmobiliers."

It's getting harder and harder each year to keep going as they are into hockey and the older one is in a competitive Tier in Novice. I used to think me going away to somewhere I've never been was the best ride of the year. We've been alot of places, I've ridden almost every Northern US state and have only not ridden in PEI, NS and Nunavut in Canada. Over the last few years, my best rides have seemed to happen within 5 miles of home. Over the last few years I've enjoyed riding with my little buddies more and more every year.

Young aspiring Tucker Hibbert coming up!

 

[Tchetek]

Get out there!