Why do you ride

[Lowlife82]

Good read. I ride because I'm addicted.

 

[MOMMA]

Always tell people when they ask me "WHY"?, if I have to explain it, you won't understand.

Why wouldn't you ride? That's the real question.

I know eh.. for me it seemed odd that people would question the "why" factor. There will always be family and friends who live in the eternal fear
that winter activities should be limited to the more socially acceptable skiing tobogganing by a warm fire while we roast chestnuts, and skating on a frozen pond. Really doesn't do it for me. To try to explain to some people seems redundant, they start the conversation off not every wanting to get it. They just want me to stop the insanity. lol. I showed my dad some pics and the betties video... he almost had a stroke. Now, you have to understand my dad.. he and I are very much the same type of people, but for the past 10 years he's battled with Post Polio Syndrome, and is in a wheelchair. Part of him is going.. WOO HOOOO that is my strong vibrant daughter!! (he was the one who always took me hunting and fishing) but the other part says to him, but I read in the media that snowmobilers are on a "death wish". the only way to alleviate the worry, is to Keep on Keepin on, and being very vocal about the preparations, training, and responsibility the snowmobiler, Mountain Freerider of today brings to the hill. We ARE making a difference by keepin on. My dad will chill, and my kids, well, they are like me.. but be assured that they will NOT take safety for granted while living under my roof.

Because with hookers and blow, there was always money left over. With sledding I never have that issue...

I laughed so hard I cried!! baa ha haaa.. We could turn riding into a new Dr. Phil intervention program.

Good read. I ride because I'm addicted.

My Oldest Daughter Brook described this feeling so well. I had her out on Chuck Norris, when we got home she barely slept that night. For the next few days, she told me it was like a feeling of excitement and shakiness flowing through her.. all she wanted to do was go ride again... and so it begins.. lol.



We ride, because we are meant to.. plain and simple.

 

[struglin]

great article sums up sleding nicely

 

[Mare]

"We ride, because we are meant to.. plain and simple"

I couldn't have said it better myself !!! I ride because it relieves my stress and I feel FREE out there. I can't wipe the smile off my face when I get on my sled. I often come back from a ride and my teeth hurt from the cold, because I'm grinnin' ear to ear the whole time. My Sister doesn't understand the "WHY" either, but she knows I'm super ADDICTED to sledding. My Hubby & Kids ride, but they don't think and crave sledding like I do. I honestly think I have ice running through my veins, cause it's all I think about. And for those of you, that are on my facebook, you all know of my addiction, as I post it frequently... I NEED SNOW !!! SUMMER SUCKS !!!

 

[Longhairfreak]

Because with hookers and blow, there was always money left over. With sledding I never have that issue...

If you had money left over you werent doing it right.

 

[MOMMA]

If you had money left over you werent doing it right.

Maybe you just have to pay them more??? just sayin........











Baa ha haaa.. that was a good zinger eh...

 

[MOMMA]

"We ride, because we are meant to.. plain and simple"

I couldn't have said it better myself !!! I ride because it relieves my stress and I feel FREE out there. I can't wipe the smile off my face when I get on my sled. I often come back from a ride and my teeth hurt from the cold, because I'm grinnin' ear to ear the whole time. My Sister doesn't understand the "WHY" either, but she knows I'm super ADDICTED to sledding. My Hubby & Kids ride, but they don't think and crave sledding like I do. I honestly think I have ice running through my veins, cause it's all I think about. And for those of you, that are on my facebook, you all know of my addiction, as I post it frequently... I NEED SNOW !!! SUMMER SUCKS !!!

Mare, you are such an awesome person. I'm thankful to be getting to know you!! Sled on Sista!

 

[Dazzler]

It looks like the majority of us have the same reason!! It is the only sport or activity that I do that can put my work, the stress, and @#&% cell phone on the back burner! My wife thinks I'm nutz and she hates snow/winter but after about 25 years of marriage (been married for 33 now) she finally excepted or at least puts up with my mountain sledding addiction! It works like this... I plan a trip to Revy, she plans a trip to Mexico... I plan a trip to Golden, she plans a trip to Palm Springs... Seems fair to me! lol Oh and it has also cost me numerous pairs of shoes!! I rode my first sled in 1970, and I still grin from ear to ear each and every time I get on a sled and head down the trial....... and there are no words to describe the feeling you get when you pull your sled out into a blanket of fresh pow..... now if it would just snow....

 

[polarisdragon800]

This is the photo for the lock screen on my IPhone. I thought it was a perfect picture for the lock screen. Sledding Is Everywhere, my phone, my room, my mind lol . Oh ya and all the recent videos that I've watch on YouTube (history) are of sledding ..

 

[imdoo'n]

To me riding in fresh pow is like being on a pillow. U can't do nothing wrong and or wreck anything if it rolls a bunch.

sent from my htc

we'll have to ask jackie about that tex

 

[imdoo'n]

the reason i ride a sled or quad is for the camaraderie of good friends, the adventure, and excitement. otherwise i would stay home.

and i have met alot of good people on this site, and enjoy the shenanigans.

 

[jpgmtech]

Great article!

One sledder I rode with last year said simply: "This is God's country." Whether you are religious or not, there is a profound sense of awe from being in the mountains that few people will ever fully appreciate. Add to this the fun factor of playing in the endless snow of a such a beautiful and massive undulating playground! I call it "therapy" - and so do most of the guys I ride with.

Imagine where we would be without the legacy of J. Armand that gave us the toys to play in "God's country!"

 

[MOMMA]

Winter sucks without a sled.. IMO.. I was on a super tight budget for a whole bunch of years, and didn't have the luxury of a sled. I tried things.. I ski-jored .. (tied my wolf/malamute to me then x country skied) That was cool unless a deer or a pesky varmant crossed our path. Ice fishing... but really nothing that gave WOO HOOO Factor.. I'm not much of a boarder or down hill skier. The kids tried many times to get me going on a snow board... my wicked array of cartwheels and crashes made them give up.
I'd watch all the sledders pulling into town, then leaving.. I just really longed for it. It's in me I figure.

 

[Mare]

Mare, you are such an awesome person. I'm thankful to be getting to know you!! Sled on Sista!

Thanks MOMMA... I sure hope you are coming to the Edmonton sled show this Oct. I saw you there last year, and was to shy.. This year I will ask for you, so we can meet face to face.

 

[MOMMA]

Thanks MOMMA... I sure hope you are coming to the Edmonton sled show this Oct. I saw you there last year, and was to shy.. This year I will ask for you, so we can meet face to face.

Awwww Buddy!!! Don't ever be shy because of me!! I'm the worlds biggest dork! lol.. I'm going to look for you and give you a great big hug! lol

 

[moyiesledhead]

Ice fishing... but really nothing that gave WOO HOOO Factor...

Ughhhh.....I can't drink enough to make ice fishing fun!

 

[MOMMA]

Ughhhh.....I can't drink enough to make ice fishing fun!

Haa ha haa! I usually end up with really cold fingers and swearing a lot.. but then there is fireball.....whoop whoop...!

 

[Barry Barton]

I know eh.. for me it seemed odd that people would question the "why" factor. There will always be family and friends who live in the eternal fear
that winter activities should be limited to the more socially acceptable skiing tobogganing by a warm fire while we roast chestnuts, and skating on a frozen pond. Really doesn't do it for me. To try to explain to some people seems redundant, they start the conversation off not every wanting to get it. They just want me to stop the insanity. lol. I showed my dad some pics and the betties video... he almost had a stroke. Now, you have to understand my dad.. he and I are very much the same type of people, but for the past 10 years he's battled with Post Polio Syndrome, and is in a wheelchair. Part of him is going.. WOO HOOOO that is my strong vibrant daughter!! (he was the one who always took me hunting and fishing) but the other part says to him, but I read in the media that snowmobilers are on a "death wish". the only way to alleviate the worry, is to Keep on Keepin on, and being very vocal about the preparations, training, and responsibility the snowmobiler, Mountain Freerider of today brings to the hill. We ARE making a difference by keepin on. My dad will chill, and my kids, well, they are like me.. but be assured that they will NOT take safety for granted while living under my roof.


I laughed so hard I cried!! baa ha haaa.. We could turn riding into a new Dr. Phil intervention program.



My Oldest Daughter Brook described this feeling so well. I had her out on Chuck Norris, when we got home she barely slept that night. For the next few days, she told me it was like a feeling of excitement and shakiness flowing through her.. all she wanted to do was go ride again... and so it begins.. lol.



We ride, because we are meant to.. plain and simple.

I started my kids real youg my daughter at 7 and my son at 5. Now my kids are 17 and 19 they have been in the mountains for 8 years now and all my son and I talk about all summer is whats going to happen the upcoming winter. My daughter still rides but not as much as my son and me, my wife calls it survival mode. I think years ago when I talked about drugs to my kids and I told them if they want a rush come with me and this started the ball rolling. Since we started 8 yrs ago with a 500 and a 700mm now we ride two m8 and a s/c apex and we are starting to ride a little farther and a little deeper. I have always been a little more cautions with the kids but I taught them that it takes talent to ride a sled and a monkey can hit a throttle. The best thing u can do is ride smart and u will always ride another day, because their are to many idiots out their. Most peaple I talk to also say its so dangerous and why do u do it and all I do is show them the pictures of me and my kids having a weaner roast on the top of a mountain and all they can do is say wow. I can also say have u ever done this with your kids and they seem to shut up. Also most peaple listen to the media like what they say is the absolute truth and that all we do is look for avalanches. Yes I have heard of some guys looking for avlanches to ride down but these guys I believe have a death wish but the magority avoud them and just ride for the shear love of the sport.

 

[0neoldfart]

"The mountains are dangerous", and "why" are the most common things I hear when I tell people I enjoy mountain snowmobiling. - these are generally people who read every bit of negative press our sport gets, and their idea of adventure is a round of golf, or taking thier RV to a crowded campground (equipped with general store and cable TV) for a weekend. For me, sledding is a way to see parts of the country that few others will ever experience, a chance to unwind, to challange myself. The views and scenery are breathtaking (as is shovelling out a stuck sled), the adrenaline rush is indescribable. I had my kids riding from a very tender age, and I tend to think they are less reliant on the computer, ipods, etc because of it. In the backcountry, you have to be self reliant, resourceful and smart - there is no "google" on the mountain. Perhaps society wants to "feel" safe, and sledders are the "misfits", the folks who are constantly pushing the envelope, improving thier skills...

 

[MOMMA]

"The mountains are dangerous", and "why" are the most common things I hear when I tell people I enjoy mountain snowmobiling. - these are generally people who read every bit of negative press our sport gets, and their idea of adventure is a round of golf, or taking thier RV to a crowded campground (equipped with general store and cable TV) for a weekend. For me, sledding is a way to see parts of the country that few others will ever experience, a chance to unwind, to challange myself. The views and scenery are breathtaking (as is shovelling out a stuck sled), the adrenaline rush is indescribable. I had my kids riding from a very tender age, and I tend to think they are less reliant on the computer, ipods, etc because of it. In the backcountry, you have to be self reliant, resourceful and smart - there is no "google" on the mountain. Perhaps society wants to "feel" safe, and sledders are the "misfits", the folks who are constantly pushing the envelope, improving thier skills...

I love your first sentence.. that will be the topic for my next article. We were all discussing "the media" a while back and a lightbulb went on.. I joke that I am only a pretend writer, but now I'm writing for 3 or 4 different publications. I figured the only way to get favourable media perspective, is from Becoming the Media... it kind of snowballed from there! lol. Mountains..Peaceful Paradise or Deathtrap... We choose...