Archives: Dedication
By Jonathan Anstey
Let’s face it; we’re all die-hard snowmobile fanatics to a degree. Some, a little more than others, but for the most part, the drive to ride is in us all. We prep our sleds with gas and oil, and look our toys over with a fine-toothed comb. I do not lay blame, we are proud of our rides. In fact, they are a marvel of advanced technology that allows us to glide effortlessly over snow-covered terrain with ease.
The snowmobiles of today come equipped (or ready to be equipped) with a multitude of accessories. These range from racks, bags, and gas caddies, to custom fitted GPS devices. I know that wrenching or garage therapy is not for all, but the more I tinker, the more I want to install the next accessory. It’s starting to become some sort of addiction, and my wife is not going to be happy with my newfound love for wrenching. This year in particular, I find myself wanting to head out in the garage night after night. After a last minute purchase of a Freeride 146” from the guys at Rapid Powersports, I couldn’t wait to get at that thing. Heck, I wanted to take the crate home and build it myself. All I could think about was tearing it down to see what it was all about, and then turning around and building it back up, just for the fun of it!
After all this is finished, comes the fun part, installing accessories. My CFR rack has been with me for the last 10 years, and believe it or not, it’s still holding strong. If you are anything like me, a wrap for your sled is the most exciting addition that can be made to a snowmobile. It can take any sled and change its appearance overnight to suit your own personal style. After hours and hours of searching the web for that perfect design, you eventually have to settle on one. The endless choices do not make this an easy task.
Many sled-heads spend countless hours searching the Internet for tips, tricks, reviews, and pictures of other similar rides, just for the fun of it. This could also be considered “dedication” to some, I should add. The beauty about this is the vast amount of knowledge, and guinea pigs out there that have tried and most likely fixed the same problems you may be experiencing. All of this information is just a few clicks and a video away.
If you are anything like me, you are always trying to improve your riding. Whether it is learning a new maneuver to help you navigate through a tight spot, or how to get that perfect launch off the starting line at the races. This progress takes an extreme amount of dedication, and sometimes, more guts than brains. If you are one who is always trying to up the ante, keep at it and be fully committed. Before you know it, you’ll be mastering what was once only a dream. Often, and especially during the early season, simply getting to a certain location can take a large amount of commitment. Foul weather, deep snow, and broken equipment can easily hinder a day out. Some may call deep snow a hindrance for snowmobiling, but for me, all that digging, hauling, and upside-down sleds in the tuckamore can only mean one thing, a good time!
Many snowmobile fanatics are involved in local clubs, organizations, rides, runs, or events. This can take up countless hours of their time, and without their extreme dedication to the sport, the majority of us wouldn’t have a decent trail to ride on, or any fun events to attend. These people are the backbone to local snowmobiling. The more people that funnel their love for the sport, and use a little of that dedication to help progress the sport in a positive direction, the better and easier it will be for all.
Snowmobiling is a seasonal sport, but for me (and many others) when the season ends, planning and preparation for the next one is soon to follow. All of the above takes a huge amount of dedication, before the first ride even takes place. This dedication draws everyone that much closer to the sport, and will keep the stoke alive, season after season. Keep at it folks, it is greatly appreciated.
Note: This article was originally printed in the March 2014 edition of Sledworthy Magazine.
