Just a couple of notes and peaves.
While riding this weekend I took my 13yr old with me. Hes a fairly advanced rider for his age. This was his first snowmobiling trip. We were at a location that had several pit stops etc.
Now I know not everyone is in this category but! I couldn't believe all the riders that were with young ones also, but while at the stops were consuming beer. Some even standing besides their sleds drinking.
OUR sport is getting hammered about deaths in the media rather frequently.
Drinking in a good percentage of the fatalities is a factor.
I am trying to get my young guy to be responsible and respect the power
of the sled he is riding. NOT A VERY GOOD thing for him to see all the riding drinkers.
NEXT--- The A....holes who think the trail system is a speedway and need to
take every corner as if its their last. Unfortunately, it may be someones elses last also.
I really do wish to be positive but just needed to say something.
Thanks

I totally agree with you about everything you have written .These last few years are makin us look stupid. It is not every body just a hand full and that is what hits the news .I dont drink and drive period .I ride hard when i,m up to it but never over my abilty .And always stay to the right . I see so many riders these days taken up the whole corner thats b.s especially if you can,t see the other side or whats comming .Your right stay right be a leader.

Junior, where do you ride?
Let me know because if its anywhere near me I would like to see these guys and kick thier a$$ !!

Hey BarrieMachZ- you can't do that, because if you ask these morons what the hell they're doing, you get the same answer "I'm having a beer or two with my lunch" and/or "a beer or two doesn't affect me the same way it does everyone else"
And junior, you need to post this area's location.

i understand your concerns and agree that we should set an example but the midpoint beer after 80 miles of riding has been a ritual among my riding group since i was of age. if 9 guys are riding there are 9 beers in the cooler and after 4 hours of riding we'll stop for a cold one, a cigerette and a chance to BS about the miles we just road.... I dont think one beer makes me any less alert and at the same time I would never urge underage riders to even think about it for a second... i do not drink at lunch... water is important cause i always break a sweat..lol anyways save the real drinking when you get home and ride safe

Hey junior, it all starts at home......your his best example. My Dad spent alot of time with me and I am a better person because of it.
Todd

I agree with junior.. Drinking and riding is unacceptable. One beer won't hurt much I guess, but it's all about knowing your limits and some people just don't seem to know theirs.

Oh God! Is this ever getting old.

Imagine, standing beside your sled and having a beer!! Oh my God, it's the end of the world!

Do you realize what you're asking? You want everyone out there ski-dooing to change their behaviour because you think it will help you raise your child the way you want. Not going to happen.

I wish more of those people would come on the forum, cause I'm getting sick of the whole "Zero Tolerance" thing.

Yep, it is getting old...........but the zero tolerance message is a good one.

Newf.... standing beside your sled having a beer is about as acceptable as standing beside your car having a beer.

Save it for the end of the day.

'nuff said.

Newfie, it's not about me, or my son/daughter if I were to have one. It's all about perception of ALL of us by everybody else OUTSIDE of our hobby due to the actions of a few. Snowmobiles are more dangerous to ride than a car. You wouldn't want somebody to be drinking and getting into a car right? I fail to see the difference. You're not just banging around on your own land. You are in traffic with other fellow sledders. There are no seatbelts, crumple zones, or any other crash protection beyond a good helmet and the riders responsibilitys on that sled.

There are times when I can plow through an entire sixpack and not feel a thing. There are also times when one beer messes with me for some reason. What I consume while on the trail is one thing that I can make a deliberate choice on. My desire to return home with a story of the amount of fun I had that day is much more important to me than that bottle of brew.

IMHO

In out culture, alcohol consumption is a part of lesiure activities, and to most this is an acceptable practice, unfortunately snowmobiling is a leisure activity.

I think we would have to address the way alcohol consumption is an accepted way of life during leisure activities, until that changes, there will allways be alcohol assoicated with snowmobiling.

What about the boys who go up to camp and have a few too many then go to sleep? The next day when they ride home they are stopped on trail at a spot check. They may not have had anything to drink in the last 12 hours but if they are asked to blow in a breathalizer will definitely blow SOMETHING. How does zero tolerance affect those people? In Ontario does zero tolerance mean no drinking and riding or does it mean you must have a blood alcohol level of zero? Big difference if you consider the example above.

Just yesterday, while sitting in the "pits" of our local ice racing venue i saw a ####### driving his sled with small child(guess age 3-4) with a beer in one hand. He was going slow and both had helmets but the site was f---ing ridiculous. God help that kid because the jerk driving doesnt have a clue. :angry:

WAAAAAAAA, WAAAAAAA, WAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

If all you cry babies think there is too much drinking and the trails are deadly dangerous then FIND ANOTHER SPORT!

If snowmobiling is soooooo dangerous then why would you take a 13 year old out in such an enviroment?
What the h e l l is a 13 year old doing on the trail system in the first place? Would you want a 13 year old meeting you inches away at even 30 mph? That's still an 60 mph crash!
I will admit that some 13 year olds have more experience than the brand new Blair Morgans on their 800 sleds doing Mach 10 but we got to draw the line somewhere.

P.S. While riding this weekend it was about a 60/40 in favor of the stupid "I got blaa blaa blaa many people in my little group" and once again, every one handed moron had to slightly swerve my way then crank the bars back throwing chunks of snow in my face causing an even more dangerous situation!!!!

Ahhhhh there, I feel better now...........

I too would like to come upon a group of sledders setting on the side of the trail dropping some cold one's. I'm sure my state trooper riding buddy wouldn't, he's there to ride not bust people.

One way to help curb DWI is to have more inforcement. I ride in the Old Forge, Tug Hill areas and so far have logged over 1500 miles this season and have not seen even one check point. So wheres a cop when you need one?

As much as I tried to steer clear of this post..............I can't. Its just too important.
To the few (I hope its the few) we need to keep on saying it over and over and over and over again cause so far its not sinking in.
"Wake up folks", sledding and boozing, yes even in moderation, is killing sledders each and every weekend. Is there no one important enough in your life not to save the drinking till after the ride? If the high you get from sledding isn't enough, maybe just maybe, its not the sledding your really enjoy, its the booze.
The ones that down play drinking and sledding, you may feel tough or you might feel cool but in reality your just plain making the wrong decision..................period. None of your macho double talk can hide the fact your a hazzard to both yourself and all the rest of us on the trails.
The fact your reading this post is testiment to the fact you still have time to change your ways cause your not dead/injured...............yet!!!!!

Rick.

Originally posted by Mikadoo@Feb 3 2003, 05:55 PM
WAAAAAAAA, WAAAAAAA, WAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

If all you cry babies think there is too much drinking and the trails are deadly dangerous then FIND ANOTHER SPORT!

If snowmobiling is soooooo dangerous then why would you take a 13 year old out in such an enviroment?
What the h e l l is a 13 year old doing on the trail system in the first place? Would you want a 13 year old meeting you inches away at even 30 mph? That's still an 60 mph crash!
I will admit that some 13 year olds have more experience than the brand new Blair Morgans on their 800 sleds doing Mach 10 but we got to draw the line somewhere.

P.S. While riding this weekend it was about a 60/40 in favor of the stupid "I got blaa blaa blaa many people in my little group" and once again, every one handed moron had to slightly swerve my way then crank the bars back throwing chunks of snow in my face causing an even more dangerous situation!!!!

Ahhhhh there, I feel better now...........
I have two suggestions.....the first one .... nope, won't stoop.

The second is; Print out your response to this post and keep it in a safe place. Read it to yourself sometime in the future when you have matured, and inform us of your level of embarrassment when you digest this irresponsible comment.

In the meantime, try not to take anybody with you......

Cry babies.... I don't think so. Responsible sledders who care for the future of the sport .... a much more accurate description.

You listen to me its not all the good influence for my son its also the life of someone you start drinking and riding you will be sorry you will be either dead or in prison for life when you kill that person just having a good fun ride. all you who want to drink and ride. stay off the trail..

You guys that think it's cool to have a beer, I hope you don't sled in my area I've seen what happens and it's not pretty. Its not cool period!!

This topic just ticks me off. How many times do we have to have this go around with the same crap. I'm a drunk and I can do what ever I want at any cost to others blah blah, get real? Look at your self in the mirror and ask if you can live with the death of another person on your hands, if you answer yes get help. Otherwise change.

Just goes to figure the same people over and over again can't see the fault with drinking and riding.

Can I walk around your kids shooting off a high powered rifle at toys and objects in your yard? Sounds like some one could get killed. How about doing donuts in the parking lot at school during dismissal? Insane, stupid - absolutely.

What is wrong with some of you? Drinking and driving kills - period. Want to risk someones lives, risk your own at home.

This is a family sport, legal licensed13 year old drivers are welcome, so are kids in cabooses, wives, fathers, grandfatthers, grandmothers, sisters and brothers, just no drunks.

Know the difference, a beer versus a drunk. Yes I drink, like a fish at times, well quite often but always responsibly. Is it too much to ask too keep the heavy drinking until after the sleds are parked?

If you really think being a drunk driver makes you cool, think twice, your just fooling yourself.

Courage comes from within, not in a can or bottle!

Good Reply Scott.........

This topic is now closed.