-Just like you-


I am not a writer. In fact, this is the first time I've written anything since college. I am, however, a snowmobiler.

My friends and I are probably just like you. We are all in our late twenties to early thirties, and single white males. We have pretty good jobs; some own their house, others rent. We hunt and fish, watch football and NASCAR, go to bars and church festivals. We have problems with women, like fast cars and Schwartzeneggar movies. We think we can dance, but look like Frankenstein having a seizure when a girl drags us onto the floor. We could probably switch places with any of you and fit right into your group.

We have owned sleds from all manufacturers over the years. Our first sleds were junkpiles and we still make fun of them. We work on our own sleds and help each other with theirs. We watch the weather forecasts waiting for snow and read all the snowmobiling magazines drooling over the new sleds. We put 600 miles on the truck to put 200 on the sled. We have all entered corners too fast, and all missed turns at night at one time or another. We laughed at slow riders that putted along at 15 mph. We rode with the feeling of invincibility that only youth can bring.

Our youth ended February 14, 2003.

In a small town about 10 miles South of Crandon, at 11:00 PM my friend Jim Smolen lost his life. He was only 28. He died within a half mile of the cabin, within half an hour of unloading the sleds off of the trailer. The reconstruction showed that he hit a stump under the snow, was thrown off, and hit a tree. At least he didn't suffer. Excessive speed was believed to have been involved, even though the sled wasn't wrecked. It looked like he just stepped off of it. He did have ONE or TWO beers, but I must say that I have seen people drink much more - I'm not condoning it, but I know you have too. Jim was riding as long as I can remember, 5+ years at least, riding the same sled he had for three years. We have all seen the articles in the papers that give little detail; letting us assume it was an inexperienced rider, totally drunk, on a brand new, huge displacement sled.

What the newspaper articles do not show is how it affects everyone else. They don't show the undescribable horror of seeing a close friend lying in the snow bleeding from the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. They don't show the blank stare in his unblinking eyes as you try to remember the CPR you learned in high school. They don't show the panic felt during the longest half mile you will ever ride back to the cabin to call 911. They don't show the feeling of helplessness as you spend the longest HALF HOUR of your life waiting for an ambulance. They don't tell about men who haven't prayed in years dropping to their knees and saying a prayer. They don't show the feeling of uneasiness as you drive HIS truck to the hospital. They don't show the cold you feel as you wait until 4:30AM when the doctors give you the news you already knew but still can't bring yourself to hear. They don't tell the flood of emotions you feel as you have to call your friend's parents in the middle of the night to tell them that their son has died. They don't mention that none of his friends will get any sleep for days. They don't mention the nightmares when they do. They don't tell about the DNR showing up at 8:00AM the next day to fill out paperwork and make them relive it all again. They don't tell about grown men breaking down and crying. They don't tell about the longest, quietest drive home ever.

His roommate is the one who found him, called his parents, and drove his truck home. He has closed the kitchen window blinds so he doesn't have to see his truck. He had to close the kitchen cabinet to keep from seeing his box of corn flakes. He is now afraid of the dark. Our season is over.

The human body is so frail, so easily damaged. If you have an accident in a big city, help is only about five minutes away. If you have an accident in the north woods help could be forty miles away or more. Think about it: that's like having an accident in Milwaukee and having to wait for an ambulance from Illinois. And then having to go to a hospital back in Illinois.

I am not asking for speed limits, or other restrictions. Just please, PLEASE be careful. Slow down just a little. Skip that beer and have a soda instead. Ask yourself if it is worth the consequences to go flying through the woods. Your friends WILL wait for you. Death is forever. Think of all the good times you would miss. Take a little time and look at the beauty of nature. There are those that no longer can.

We laid Jim to rest today. If only one person is affected by this pointless loss, and a single life is saved, Jim's death would have meaning and all of us could have some closure.

I know you think that this only happens to "the other guy". So did we. Just like you.



Justin, Dan, Joe, Jim G., Randy, and Craig

Wow i'm speachless, that was amazeingly written i'm, choked up. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend....i don't know what to say...i'm sorry for your loss and i pray that the Lord comforts you all in your time of grieveing, God bless you all.

Very well written. I cannot even put into words what I'm feeling right now :( It just really hits hard because your first two paragraphs describe me and my friends PERFECT, I hope that our story will not continue past that and we will not have the pain and loss that you have had. I'm sorry

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

My condolences on your loss.

The effect of having someone die in your hands is something that will NEVER leave you. The thoughts of hopelessness, denial, anger, fear will always be there. The thought that these guys were 40 miles from help makes it even worse.

Do not let your friends go through this!

I do not drink and sled and make it clear that I do not want to ride with anyone who does.

To anyone on this board who thinks that it is OK to have a couple, print off this post and re-read it before you tip one back.
.

Your words sound just like everbody i know. "Can't happen to us, only things you hear about." I am only 22 years old, and know all too well that feeling of invincibility. But your tragic story had me speechless. Your friend's death was not meaningless, because you have made this young rider face the fact that I am NOT invincible and it could happen to me. Thank you for sharing your tragic loss with us, and i hope that it helps some to know that have a new outlook


zr5 kid

That was deep...I hope God can comfort you in your time of need......we all feel for you

WOW

:(

i don't want to ever read that again or anything like it.

carry on guys the unfortunate thing is life goes on and we all scratch our heads why it happened.

"but they that wait upon the lord will renew their strength"

I dont pray, but my thoughts go out to you and his friends/relatives.

Iäm sorry to hear about your loss of a very good friend. :( How you worded this was very moving to me. Hope this will slow some down and have some respectfor their sled and fellow sledders.

I honestly don't know where to start. Really well written...moved me very much. VERY sorry to hear about this horrific experience! I'm praying for you guys to find closure on your good friends unfortunate fatality. I'm also praying that this will get TO and THROUGH everyone on this site and will change opinions on taking responsibility for ones own actions. DON'T DRINK WHILE RIDING! What's so hard about waiting until after the ride?? ??? I can guarrantee you all that it'd be a lot better to celebrate a great ride, without a fatality, with that 24 pack, than it is to be staring at all those empty beer cans thinking, "this could have been avoided!" Why not avoid it from the start? Sorry,guys, if I seem to be rambling on about this, but what is so hard about saying no until the riding is over with??

Once again, I am very sorry to hear about this. I offer my condolences to all the friends and family of this unfortunate young man. :(

i am verry sorry for your loss.
makes me re-think my trip to munising next week :(

All I can say is WOW!!!! Reading that has me completely speechless. I am forwarding it to all of my riding buddies and I am sure that they will have the same reaction. So sorry for your loss, my family is praying for you.

I read this over an hour ago and I still have an empty feeling that I can't get rid of.

I keep reading that over and over and think about how many times i or one of my friends could have had that happen to us. This is realy hitting home for me. I've got an empty feeling that hasn't left since i read that.

Yes I did hear about the accident over that way. Very sorry for the loss of your friend.

man, it really makes you think twice thankyou for reminding all of us snowmobiliers to settle down thankyou

I am very sorry for your loss, i just don't know what to say to make it better :-/

I do wish to add something here for you guys to read. I am not trying to offend anyone here, but I think many of you that have posted about drinking and ridding have missed the point that he is trying to make. The feeling of invincibility is what is dangerous. It is very hard to realize you need to slow down, for me it took running into a tree, and than coming here and reading about how people had been hurt/killed on their snowmobiles to slow me down. I saw my friend’s dad almost die in an accident, and it did not get the point across to me. So I say to everyone, don’t make others mistakes. Take 15 minuets, or a half hour, or however long you need, and sit down to think about what you do on the trails. Think about the close calls you have had, and how they could have easily landed you in the hospital. Think about what would happen if you were hurt, or even worse killed. Than next time you go riding, remember what you thought about and ride accordingly. You will feel better for it, I guarantee.

Your friend’s death has not been in vain.

Very sorry to hear about it! It makes you think, that's good.

Night riding is so dangerous compared to day riding, take your time! It very well would have been avoided in daylight. Take it easy at night.

I can look back and now say that I was reckless and laughed at what guys in our group have done in the past. But after we loss one of our guys on Houghton Lake at tip up town 2 years ago, it has been much easier to order soda with lunch and dinner, keep the speed down in the corners and blind spots, and reduce speed greatly at night to a enjoyable cruising speed with plenty of space in between riders in the group. Our friend died by drowing, I wasnt there that weekend, had to work, but for my friends it was the longest 20 minutes of their lives seeing Rons sled sink and his body floating face down 60' in front of them when he knocked himslef unconcious. There was no way to help him, and when the hovercraft arrived ti was much to late. For my friends to see his body being hoisted from the deep cold waters was a memory that still haunts them today, and they made a pack to NEVER go out on Houghton lake again. yes he had a few beers, yes he was racing, and no he didnt see the 1/4 of ice that covered the cold lifeless water that would take his life. Ronny did win the race, but look at what cost.

I my thoghts go out to your loss and for all please dont drink and ride.

Too choked up for words, my best to those left behind.

Rick.

I'm very sorry for your loss.
Thanks for sharing with us.

FishHog

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I am 29 years old and ride with a group of guys who are exactly like your friends... It is a very sobering story and should be shared with anyone who rides to remind them to slow down and use common sense when riding!

:( I know I will slow down now. :(I sent this post to all my rideing friends.

I ...just..... :( We all where one time or in other just like you said and sometimes when with friends the competion between us just makes us forgot some simple rules...but those are so essential that they sometimes cost life...like I like to tell , there's a time for everything...the day you can apply it you will be a better rider.
Is it safe to go 100mph? Yes but at the good place and at a right time. When you know when to do someting at the right place at the right time, maybe that the time you will apply this rule it will save you. :(

Very moving and very well written. I'm truely sorry for your loss and the pain the rest of you have to live with. After reading this and thinking of tall the stupid things I've done myself is very sobering. Definately makes one think twice.

I'm so sorry that OUR lesson cost YOU and your friends so much...

Also very sorry for your loss.

I think we all learned a little somthing. You did your friend justice with that post. Ive been here for over a year and that was the best written post ive ever read. I think it will slow us all down and possibly save a life.

Common sence people, This is how you survive in the trails. If your ever driving and you get that feeling, your going a little fast, just slow down. These are the feeling that save your life.

-----

thetruth4130
Night riding is so dangerous compared to day riding, take your time! It very well would have been avoided in daylight. Take it easy at night.

Thats false information if i ever read it. Night riding is just as dangerous as riding in the day time. You might need to adjust the way you drive at night time since you dont have the feild of view you have in the day, But its much much much easier to see other sleds at night. JMO.

wow, i'm completely speachless. I'm going to print this out and put it on the board beside my counter at work (snowmobile, dirtbike atv dealer) under the sign DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE, If you have any objections to that, please let me know. Youre story defenitly made me realise that we are not invinsible, and I hope all the people that will read youre very touching and moving story will think twice before dooing anything to put themselfs or other people in danger :(

Damn, sorry to hear about your buddy. :( And i thought it was bad listening to my buddy SCREAMING while EMT's tried to set his broken femur. I seriously can't imagine having to make the phone call to his family. What a gut check that is, nobody should have to go thru that situation

I'll tell ya though, it only takes a couple close calls and that feeling of invulnerablity fades away, luckily. It's almost worse to not have a close call here and there. It's that spot of fear that keeps us alive, without it, it's just a matter of time before something bad happens. eric

I'm speechless and cant imagine how you feel. I am very sorry for your loss.

As was previously mentioned, very well worded post jdk2r600 (especially in your time of grieving).
My thoughts and prayers go out to our fallen sledding comrade, his family and your riding group!

Thank you for taking the time to give us all a wake up call, I'm 58 and ride with a lot of young men that still think they are invincable. I keep telling them to be careful and slow down. Thanks again and we will be praying for all affected by this tragic loss. I will pass this letter along. Joe Clinton Rockford, Illinois

Wow!
I ride with several guys who all share a beleif and faith in God.

Before we ride , we pray for safety on the trail, fun and safety for our families back home...then we jump on our sleds and ride like speed demons with a feeling of confidence and invincibility.

Next ride...we will pray for wisdom.

My prayers are with you and the family of your fallen buddy. I can not comprehend losing my snowmobile buddies. They are my closest friends.

After reading this post I have sent it on to my friends that I ride with. One of my friends lost his brother this winter because of drinking and speed. It sent a wake-up call to our group and I that life is just too short for this to happen. In our group I did ride in the lead because of me wearing contact lens and I don't like the oil in my eyes. As you can understand, every weekend I have close calls because of the speed the other guy is traveling and typicaly they are on my side of the trail. The group that I ride with have one rule when it comes to drinking, we do it only when the sled is parked for the night, period. I also now wear a Tec-Vest to give me the advantage if god forbid something should happen.
I am sorry for your loss and I hope it touches others the way it did me.

That is one of the saddest things I've ever read :(
My prayers to your buddies family and friends.
I cannot believe going through something like that,
you have my deepest sympathy ???
Walter

I too feel deeply for your loss, that is one of the saddest things I have ever read. Having said that, I don't think you realize the world of good you have done by sharing it with us. I hope you and your buds can all heal from your grief. Austin

Okay, I have stopped crying enough to type. Wow, you have made more people stop and think about their riding habits than any commercial or newspaper article. You have done your friend a kind justice by posting this horrific tragedy with such honest emotion. Our thoughts are with you and your friends recovering from this.
Tempest & Sawman

wow, that has wrentched at my gut, I can't find the words that say how shockingly sobering that is.
Our condolences.
McCracken and Wife

:( my sympathy to all ,very well written, will make a lot of people think, I understand what you are feeling; 3 years ago this week I lost a friend in a sled accident as well.
Once again my condolences, Rodney .

I'm very sorry for your loss. All affected by this will be in my thoughts & prayers.
Believe me, you have made a difference with this post.

I am truly sorry for the loss of your friend. :( :( Your story has touched my heart deeply. I thank you for sharing your story with us in your time of grief. I hope this story can make someone think and save a life. You have our heartfelt sympathies.

Kim & Jeff

also very shocked and sad........... :( see this on tv all the time but it dosen't make me feel quite as bad as i do right now........... :(

my stomach is in a knot.......I am so sorry for you, your friends and his family. :(

Wow i'm speachless, that was amazeingly written i'm, choked up. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend....i don't know what to say...i'm sorry for your loss and i pray that the Lord comforts you all in your time of grieveing, God bless you all.

Same from me. Im really sorry.

Sorry to hear about the loss of life and friend. There's no doubt about it, it COULD always be you. I'm sorry that you had to experience this...watching a close friend or family member lose a life is the worst experience we can face.

After witnessing two sled accidents in the last two seasons, I've definately adjusted my riding behavior. I remember holding one of the victims in my lap and hoping that he would come to....for those 10 or 15 minutes 'til help arrived, I was all he had for a chance of surviving, plus God's will.

Please pass our condolences to your friend's family so they know that he did not die in vain. In fact, it probably would bring some comfort to them if you printed these pages and shared them with the family, when the time is appropriate.

Jim

That was truely very touching, and I know how you feel. I've never lost a friend snowmobiling, but I have been to the hospital on a number of occasions after close calls, and I understand the terror and the panic that goes through your mind on the way there.

I'm alittle dissappointed that some people would use this oppertunity to start preaching about "don't drink and drive". Didn't you read his post? The beer did not kill this man, bad luck, or possibly high speed did. Why not say that we should all slow down.

I guess it helps some to have a scapegoat. If you can blame it on the evil beer it will make you feel safer as you're going too fast across that open field, or entering into that corner with just a bit too much speed.

I hope I never have to go through a loss like you described, and if I do, I hope people won't belittle it by preaching about drinking and driving.

:( :( :( :( :( :(

Wow! What a heart wrenching story, I almost passed the thread up thinking it was another whining story about drinking.
This has truely moved me to tears and has made me think seriously about drinking even though it cannot be blamed entirely on booze.
I feel very sad for you and your friends and family. No one should have to go thru that. I see myself as the invincable one in this picture and will think twice about blasting across unknown territory.
I know your story has made a difference and possibaly save many lives. I will E-mail this article to all my friends in hopes it will be a wake up call as it has for me. God bless.....

Thanks to everyone for the kind words - they REALLY help. I had no idea of the impact this would have: and from what I've seen, this tragedy appears to have slowed down and helped to reconsider the drinking habits of many others. Those changes may have saved many lives and for that we are all grateful. I'm sure that your friends and family will be grateful for the tragedy that NEVER happens.

Many good points are being made - especially the ones NOT immediately blaming only alcohol. Speed and night were, no ARE, equally dangerous. We all do things on a sled that we would NEVER do in a car. Maybe its time we changed that.

Keep reading this and replying to it, e-mail it to your buddies, post it at work, give it to the dealer where you bought your sled, nail it to the door of every restaurant and bar, or print it out and carry a copy with you to share with the guys bragging about how fast they got to wherever you have stopped. I should repost this at the beginning of the season every year.

The main thing that I am trying to say is that it doesn't matter when you arrive, just that you do. When you ride it is the journey, not the destination that matters. Personally, I can stay home and drink: I don't have to drive 300 miles just to sit in a bar all day.

THANK YOU for helping me grieve, I feel better but still have that hollow feeling. I probably always will.

Nobody remembered that Febraury 15 was Randy's birthday.



Justin D. Kowalski & friends

Man... the first time I read this I was too choked up to reply here it is a day later and feel that there is still no words... I have had to see loved ones die slowly from cancer, and had them die with no warning and it still haunts me today because I felt hopeless, enough about me, Justin I hope you feel a little better knowing that the "family" here at SW grieves with you as we all feel your pain. It does get better to bear with time but it's a slow process, and friends help. God bless you man, in your time of need

I trully am sorry for your loss,and Jims family.I feel like we have all lost a friend.Dane

Alot of deaths this winter, be safe guys.

We are very sorry for your loss. We will say a prayer for your friend and we have to trust in God to insure he is well looked after.

The message you have delivered to our snowmobiling community is both heartfelt and awakening. I thank you for mustering the courage at this time to share his story with us.

I have read all the replies to your story and I do believe that it has already made a difference.

Invisibility protects us from the evils of the world when we are young, it is a coping mechanism to keep our youth focused on being kids, unfortunately as we get older the realization hits that we are all equal and bad things can and do happen to all of us. It is learned as a lesson and I think for many of us here, the lesson was learned today.

A close call here, a missed stop, a right when you thought it was a left all add up to tell us slow down, be carefull and ride with respect. Wisdom is when you learn to truly listen.

Today we are all deeply saddend, but through your friend wiser and more appreciative of the gifts we have been given.

God Bless, and remember your friend, his legacy lives on in his friends and familys thoughts.

The Sutherland Family,

Justin,

My heartfelt condolonces to you and your friends. As asked I have sent the link too not only my snowmobiling friends, but to all who might take chances in life. May god be with you.

Bryan

Because of you your friend did not die in vain.......God bless you...

Sorry for your loss. :(

Nothing for me to say you have said it all .

D. Dennis.

Very sorry for your loss again...may god be with you in your time of need......THis post should be sent to every newstation every newspaper and anyone who publizes sled accidents...They should have to read this over and over again before they are allowed to go public with the news of a sledding fatality then maybe they would think twice about puttin that crap on tv.....it really steams me how they make everything out to be big sleds drunk/no expierence rider causing accidents it can happen to anyone and i would not want it on tv for me to have to look at and see if i was a family member or friend...we must keep this post alive :(

Dear Justin,

First let me add to the list of condolences. I am so sorry for your loss. Know matter how beatifully written, I know it can't come close to describing the pain and loss I know you feel. I hope you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

During the season of '97, we lost two very special people in our lives. One was a wonderful man, my husband's uncle, who became like a father to him when his own dad passed away when my husband was 13 years old. They are a very close family and his cousins have been more like brothers to him then anyone. The other man was one of my husbands best friends whom he grew up with. As you described, your relationship with your friends fits ours to a T. In fact, we were headed up to the lake in the morning to hook up with our friend, then find his uncle and cousins to ride with. That plan never happened. One 4am phone call changes everything. In one horrible, freak accident, both were gone. I won't include the details of the accident or the circumstances involved, just know that poor judgement was the biggest factor.

Reading your post brings all of the memories and pain back. Even after all this time. I've been where you are and know that time will heal your heart. Rely on your memories. Remember that saying he always used, or when he shot the big buck or caught 'the big one' (or maybe fell out the the boat). Who his favorite NASCAR driver was (and the conflicts you both had if your driver was different). Also, remember all the great times you had riding. Those are the times to treasure. He died doing something he loved.

You are truely a great friend and I'm sure Jim is smiling down with pride.

God bless you, your friends and Jim's family.

Kristin
Firecat Girl

First. Sorry to hear about your loss.

The second is I think if anything what Snowmobiling realy means to me, and every one else here.. To often it seems every one is caught up in the who is faster, who makes a better sled, and what not. But reading every ones replies, Makes me realise how un-importnat all that stuff is. That the actual fun you enjoy from snowmobiling is the Time you spend with your friends and family. Stop to think about it next time you look at your sled and you grin ear to ear. Is it because you Love the Power in front of you, or because it recalls so many of those great times you have had with your friends and family. I use to think it was about that power.. But only this year before the seasson when i was thinking about selling it, when I rembered why i truely love this sport. It's those Long weekends and un-forgetable memorizes that you have created. The nights after riding you spend talking, laughing, and sharing jokes and stories. Those are what Makes Snowmobiling what it is. Not the actual machine. Your friend should be so lucky to have had good friends like you guys. May God be with you in your time of need. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Matthew Kalmabach

I'm really sorry considring my youth we punded really hard one day w/ a friend i said that night 2 my dad lets b careful like htis one day were gonna miss a turn a friend of ours just lost his brother from excessive speed... again im really sorry.

Originally posted by jdkzr600@Feb 20 2003, 09:05 PM
If you have an accident in a big city, help is only about five minutes away. If you have an accident in the north woods help could be forty miles away or more.
Sorry to hear about your loss. My mother was really upset when she phoned to say a family friend passed away while riding this winter.

A lot of these wannabes have to realize that help isn't around the corner. For those of you that have ridden in northern Ontario, imagine if you had a severe injury north of D'ville. It's 94 miles between there & Hornepayne & no cellular service. How long would it take to get medical help? How do you get an ambulance close?

Earlier this winter I heard about a fatality near Kapuskasing where a sledder blew a road crossing & hit a logging truck.

Last week on our Northern Blastoff trip, we passed a little cross w/ flowers stuck in the snow beside the trail. I guess that's where it happened. I didn't mention it till the next day & the other guys in the group didn't really notice it.

It's been said before, but I'll say it again, slow down & arrive alive.

Kris

I've taken two days to reflect upon the kind and well writen words you've posted. Your post is a fine tribute to your friend, and I'm sure he is thankful, and offering his comfort to you now.

You have experienced one of life's most horrible moments of all. Above all, don't blame yourself. It was a freak accident,, a result of your friend doing what he enjoyed most.

One sentence troubled me,,, because I KNOW how you felt at the moment... "trying to remember your CPR training from High School" Please be easy on yourself son,,, I've been forced to perform CPR TWICE,, on people I knew for years,,,, it didn't work,,,,,, they died. CPR is a great thing to know,, my employer has us retrained for it annually. But realistically,,, when it's really neccessary to sustain life, it's probably too late. :( You all did what you could for him at that time. No-one is to blame.

Your post here has been read by many of people that love the sport as much as your friend did,, and your contribution WILL make a difference.

Thank you for your post,, and my prayers are with you, and your friends,, and the family of your fallen comraide.

God Bless You.

Sorry to hear about this. It must be so hard on you, your friends, and your families.

I just came in from a derby yesterday and read this. It reminded me of how many times I could have been severely hurt yesterday. I could/should have been hurt at least 2 times yesterday, and this just reminds me of what COULD have happened. My friend was there too, but we were in the middle of no where on a -30 celcius day, if one of us would have got hurt, we probably would have frozen before help arrived.

Thank you for posting this, it will be foreworded.

Matthew Bauer

First off...sorry for your loss... we all hate to hear of these things happening and my thoughts are with you. I know i have had a few close calls that could have resulted in injury or maybe worse, but there is one incident that sticks out in my mind that i cannot shake and pretty much stays with me in the back of my mind everytime i ride now! I was out riding last year on my new Cat. It was a perfect day for riding, -10 c, no wind, and sunny. Just a day we all treasure. Anyways, we had left the city and rode 35 miles out to our clubhouse and spent the day out there riding and haveing some hotdogs and hot chocolate! Later in the afternoon we headed over to our warm up shelter for another hot chocolate! We stayed for maybe half an hour then proceeded back to the trucks. About 5 miles from the truck things went a little sour! I hit a clump of dirt in the middle of the ditch at about 25-30 mph which rolled the sled and me into the farmers barbed wire fence! All i remember is pulling barb wire off my neck and back so i could get up and warn the guys behind me. After stopping them i then turned to look at my brand new machine laying against a fence post with another post laying beside it and a mess of windsheils peices all over the place. At that moment my concern was over my sled and never really thought to check myself out! Thank heavens only some minor scratches on my side and neck, but a jacket ripped all the way across the back and pants ripped all the way down to the ankle!At the moment my only concern was to get the machine back to the truck and get home before i froze my tush off ( yes, i said tush, lol). Nothing dawned on me till i got home and told the wife what had happened and she got a little upset(cry baby...lol). Things could have been alot worse!!

A guy hates to think about what could have happened but when you have a family at home and people who love you, that race with your buddies doesn't seem that much important anymore....sure..if you know the terrain and figure you can handle it give er beans!....I rode that section of Ditch 5 other times before that crash...there was no lump of dirt there!! Anyways....stuff happens instantly and a guy can sit back and think now...man, if i only did this or that things would have turned out different and i wouldn't have had $3700 damage to my machine and a brand new suit shredded but it don't work that way! All i know is that when i am riding now and i am coming over that hill in the stubble feild or thinking about trying to air my fat butt off that approach, my thumb backs off the throttle until i know what is on the other side. Running ditches has become a slower more cautious ride and playin in the pow just hasn't been the same!!

I wasn't hurt other than pride and machine but it happened and could have been worse.....but it sticks with me when i ride and now i am always on the lookout for that danger spot and the throttle doesn't hit the bar as many times as it did before that day!! I ain't savin the world by ridin like a maniac! I just want to make it home! I love the sport but am alot more conscience of consequences than i used to be....guess sometimes i am thinking of the consequences to much! Well....thanks for letting me babble!

THANKS TO ALL FOR READING THIS. Special thanks to all the Canadians - you stand by our side just like your country stands with ours: we couldn't ask for a more loyal friend. I can only hope that our message got through to those who need it most: those who are as we were.

Jim, I hope you know how many lives you have affected.


Justin
Dan
Joe
Jim W.
Craig
Randy

:( That really hit home. We never think it could be one of us until it is too late. Sorry for your loss. :(

A tragic story and a soboring read. I am sad for Jim and his friends that had to deal with the aftermath. I cannot imaging the pain and heart ache.

It is nice to see the SW community rally together and give their support. It makes me realize we are not just a bunch of poster, but an extended family of sorts.

Sigh :(

My sincere condolences to his friends and family.

I am greatful that you wrote this letter and I hope everyone who reads this is touched by this and learns something from this. Jim was my brother and a good friend to all that knew him!!
We all will miss him dearly!

Cheri-

I'm glad you got to see this, maybe it will help you a little, knowing that Jim's untimely death may have saved a life or two. I was going to give this to your family after time had dulled the pain, but thankfully Dan saved me from that.

I don't have to tell you how we feel; you already know.

Justin

Reading your post the way you wrote it put me right within your group. I saw the horror, I felt the gut-wrenching pain, my stomach is still a mess. I visioned everything as you spoke...you walked us through a horrific tradgedy that everyone fears most...death. I don't believe drinking contributed to this accident, I beleive it was a matter of getting caught up in the moment...a moment where excitement and speed caused a lack of judgment.
I/we can't say we're sorry enough...but we all are. The loss of this person was a tradgedy, an uncalled for accident! If you believe in God, as I do, I believe he was needed right away, as someones Guardian Angel, to protect and save many others that may have met their end....if not for Jim.

As I promised last year I'm bring it back-
I've read about several fatalities and injuries so far this year and it just sickens me to know someone had to go through what I did.

Thanks to LadyK in the other post- your words reminded me to repost this.

FWIW Its been published in the Illinois snowmobiler, Wisconsin snomobiler, and will be soon published in Artic Cat's Pride magazine.

Have fun out there everyone but remember

RIDE SAFE

-JDK

Justin-I hope time has helped heal the loss you and your friends family felt last year,It's good to see that you are still invloved with snowmobiling and trying to prevent more injuries and deaths.
I hope you can still enjoy the fun of sledding though I'm sure your loss still weighs heavy on your heart.

I just read this story for the first time and as so many before me have said, I am speechless.

I just came in from loading the sleds so we can get an early jump on the first ride of the year tomorrow but after reading that it really is going to make me thing twice.

Three years ago, I was riding last machine with a bunch of my friends and I caught a ski and ran off the trail. I was flung from the machine and landed on a stump. I did not know it at the time but I had two broken ribs and one fractured one. They were lower ribs and there was no internal damage. I had the wind knocked out of me but I was confused as to what happened that you really do not know what is wrong. I remember getting up, staging back to the trail and trying to get my helmet off. The only though that is running through my mined was if I was going to die on the side of the tail alone. Eventually my riding friends came back to see what had happened to me. Once everything had calmed down and it was assed that I was ok, I rode 50 km home, which was extremely painful. I am ok now they only thing I have to show for it is a ripped shirt (did not rip my jacket some how) and a small mark on my side.

After reading that it really scares me that my life could have been over at 16.

I have a zero tolerance for alcohol on sleds and being a minor at the time, I was not drinking at all.

Ride safe this year everyone.

Justin,

I remember reading your original post back in February of last year. As I was not an SW member at the time, I did not respond. But let me tell you, it changed the way I think about riding.

After re-reading your post, and all of the thoughtful replies thereafter, I think it really puts things in perspective. Jim had a really good friend in you, and you have a lot of good friends here at SW. It is amazing how a group of people you have never met will open up completely in any attempt possible to help you through this tragic event. There are certainly a lot of genuinely good people in here, and I personally am glad to have the privilege of getting to know each and every one of them.

This event, and all too many similar to it, really helps to put our favorite pastime into perspective. We all have the same goal. To enjoy a good day of riding with people we enjoy spending time with. To get out and enjoy nature and forget about the problems of our everyday lives. May none of us ever have to go through an experience even remotely similar to the one described in your original post.

I'm not going to preach about drinking and riding, or riding too fast, or just carelessness in general, I think we are all old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. I would just plead of everyone out there reading this today to print out Justin's original post, and keep it somewhere that you'll be reminded of his kind words before every ride. We can't bring his friend Jim back, but we can ensure that in the future it isn't going to be one of us posting our own heart-wrenching story about one of our own fallen comrades.

Ride Safe - Ride Sober.

Chris

VERY WELL WRITTEN, I am very sorry for the loss of your friend and wish you the best. I also want to thank you for taking the time to write this thread, I am positive it will have an effect on everyone who reads it. Keep riding, I am sure that is what he wants to see looking down on you from the heavens.

Holy %#!^ was my initial impression. To think that this story could humble me......I can't even put into words the feelings I get from these words....

Take care of yourselves now, not for yourself, but for the people that love you.

Very well written and though provoking piece. I can't tell you how sorry I am for the loss of your friend.