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This last weekend Team Summit made the trip from the Sierra’s to the Rockies for some real riding. Team Boondockers lead by Dan Gardiner, Phatty and Ryan Nelson showed them why Utah has the greatest snow on earth. I was able to spend one day with the entire group of 15+ riders and get to ride with some friends from Team Summit for the first time.

What a great bunch of guys. Everyone was there for one purpose and that was to see if Oberti could side hill. Actually no it was to just have fun, but we did find out that Oberti can ride, maybe it is his new sled or new sense of desire not to total this one, but he sure turned some heads. Smasher showed us he can side hill with the best of them and hopefully soon Smasher and Gardiner get the opportunity to duel it out. Jesse and Shane laid it all out on the line hitting some sick drops. Billy Goat even showed us how crazy he is as he climbed some sick shoots and showing us all up. Luckily we with the help of King and Gardiner they were all captured on film.

It was a great ride and I hope to be able to ride with them again. Everyone really made it worth it. Thanks to the entire Team Summit Crew for taking the trip out.

Wow, this winter sure has had its ups and downs thats for sure. Snow started a little late, but I was able to get a couple of rides in early. Unfortunately even though the snow was great I had problems of a different kind. Worked for months on both sleds, an 05 900 RMK and an 05 M7. Thought I had all the problems taken care off and even improved each sled slightly. It sure was a kick in the pants when things didn’t turn out like I wanted.

So I’ll let you in on my little winter roller coaster. First off the M7′s first ride was cut short about 2 miles from the truck as exhaust valve solenoid gave out. So while that was in the shop getting fixed I took the 9 out for its maiden voyage this year. That turned out to be worse than the M7′s run. Ended up taking the motor. Now I’m sitting waiting for some additional parts for the M7 to make it the sled I want and waiting for Polaris to stand behind their warranty and cover my sled that went down because of a bolt that was stripped in the crankcase.

Did that stop me from riding. I don’t think so, always have a Plan C if needs be. Luckily I’m able to be able to still be riding an 08 M8 that I have access too. I’ve been able to ride in new areas, with new people and go big. Even found some great gaps and cliffs that will be calling my name once the M7 is up for the challenge.

Its always a fathers dream to have one of his boys follow in his footsteps. I was able to take my boy on his first real ride. Boy did he have some fun. It was of course an easy ride, but one of the more fun rides I’ve been on in a while.

The little guy really held up to all the elements. It was cold and snowing, but that didn’t phase him. He just kept wanting to play in the snow. He really enjoyed getting people unstuck using dad’s shovel. He was able to experience all the joys of sledding on in one ride. It won’t be long before he is pushing his dad to be better.

All true riders have at least felt the urger to get out there and ride there sleds this year. I’ve been having this urger for about three weeks now. There was a huge storm that allowed some individuals just two hours north of me. I just about made the trip at that point, but decided to hold off and wait for another storm. Unfortunately there wasn’t another storm for quite a while and so I never hit the hill.

I just couldn’t stand it anymore I had to get on the snow. I’ve been working on an 05 M7 that I’ll be using for more of a free style sled this year. It needed a lot of work to get back into running condition and I was ready to finally test it out. Saturday I made the trip to Togwotee, WY to feed the need to ride. When we got there the snow was even better than I expected and we were able to play for a good 4+ hours in powder even.

However there was downside to the trip. Even after all the work I’ve put into the M7 it still will not rev over 5600 rpms. After messing with the sled for about an hour on the hill I ended up taking it back to the trailer and doubling up with a buddy. The good thing is I was able to find out the problem before the good snow got here, but it was a pain not being able to ride my own sled saturday.

Last year was a great year for snow, downside is we didn’t pull the camera out enough. Too busy enjoying the snow. I’ve taken what video we did gather and put together. I did this mainly for those of us in the video, but know that others would enjoy. We had some problems with the video camera throughout the year with either the battery dying early or it not recording or if it did record it had a dirty head so the recording was pretty crappy.

[vimeo 2033928 506 316]

I probably spent a total of 40hrs on the video over the course of the past three months. Hope you enjoy.

There are a group of guys out there that aren’t only participating in the sport of Snowmobiling, but helping to revolutionize the industry at the same time. Team Summit and Boondockers teamed up to put on an event that was a HUGE success. Thousands of people headed to Reno to participate in the first ever Reno Snowmobile Film Festival. We even took the 10hr drive over to enjoy the event.

Saturday morning woke up early and started on our trek from Salt Lake City to Reno NV. A good 8hr drive without stopping. The drive started out really good as we headed across the salt flats. The weather was exactly how we would want it for this time of year…..SNOWING!!! That was the best part of the drive. However this did put a damper on things as we hit the pass between Wendover and Wells. Trucks were blocking the highway as they spun out trying to make it up the pass. After a half hour or so of just sitting in the middle of the pass we decided it was time to just make our way through the commotion. So we snaked our way in, around and through the stuck semis leading the way for others.

You can just image the excitement of winter approaching as we headed to watch film from last season. Making the trip even that much better. As we landed in Reno the mountains were dusted with a layer of snow. If that wasn’t enough. Team Summit and Boondockers really put together a show. In my opinion the two best films of the year were showed on the big screen in their entirety. Below the screen Custom Sled after Custom Sled. Even the new Polaris 800 Assault with Boondockers Nos Kit, SlP Pipe and Can and other goodies, Polaris had to bust this sled out of production in time for the show. Culters even provided a custom T8 for the event.

After the show you could meet the riders, get autographs of posters and dvds that were available for purchase at the show. If you were lucky enough you could have even won some great prices. Fox supplied two sets of Fox Float 2 Shocks, Sly Dog had a set of skis, 509 sent some goggles, t-shirts, and dvds, Fly Racing had shirts, hats, belt bucks and other items, as well as many many other companies helping support the cause and making it possible for all proceeds to go to help Blair Morgan and Spinal Research.

If you weren’t able to make the show this year, you missed a great show. However the best part about the show is that it was such a success that next year expect a 2 day event, with Manufacturers attending and who knows maybe even additional films showed durning the event. The Reno Snowmobile Film Festival is finally here and it is going to stay!

Thanks to the Grand Sierra Resort for being an excellent host and providing the theater. The many companies that donated prices for the auction that all proceeds went to the Blair Morgan Spinal Research Fund. As well as the Dealers and Manufacturers that provided the Sleds as eye candy before and after the show.

To view additional photos of the show click here.

Its hard to feed the desire to ride during the summer. You would think it would get easier as fall comes and the shows begin and the races start. It isn’t easier as I try to get tiny morsels of the rush as I attend snowmobile shows and grass drags, if anything it makes it even harder.

This weekend I was able to not only get to go to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes to help feed the monster in me that wants to ride snowmobiles so bad, I was even able to make it down to the Malad Grass Drags. The drags are always a great way to get the fix. The smell of the two stroke engines, the sounds of the mods as the roar down the track, and hanging with the riding buddies make going to the races almost as fun as being on the hill. Almost would be the key word in there. Even though the races give most of the joys of riding it still lacks the one thing that is impossible to get without snow and that is actually riding thru the powder fields or climbing the hills that are unreachable by machine in the summer.

This year the grass drags gave some good excitement. Several races were extremely close and if it were left up to the human eye the win could have gone to the wrong individual several times. While others races weren’t so close, but still exciting as you never know what might happen. We were able to see this first hand as a Turbo Apex stepped up against a mod Powder Special. Needless to say the Powder Special was anything but built for one purpose and that was to demolish anything it stepped up against on the track. Most people put their money on the Turbo Apex based of the knowledge that these sleds are rarely touched on the hill. While others still bet on the sure speed of the two stroke engine. With in the first 100 feet it seemed that the race was already over as the Powder Special had a commanding lead over the Apex and was still gaining ground and picking up speed. Then in an instance the Powder Special veered left and came in contact with a straw bail. This contact ripped the left arms, shock and ski right off the sled. Sending the rider into additional bails as it still ripped down the track. Spectators watched as it looked as the situation turned dangerous.

Luckily the rider was able to slow down enough and veer back into the center of the track, finish the race and still make a good time. Sadly he lost to the Apex, but came out unharmed. I’m sure his self esteem took a little beating, but now he has a point to prove at the next race.

If you have read some of my other work you will se that I’m all about the snowmobile movie industry. I remember back when I was just a kid watching Redneck Fury, Slednecks 1, 2 Stroke Cold Smoke, and others. Recently I’ve give my view on movies such as Elevation 3 and Boondockers Alive. Its now time I give you my thoughts on the new Team Summit Video.

Elevation 3 was one of my most favorite films last year right there with Boondockers 4. I didn’t think they could make it any better. Elevation 3 gave you a good look at each rider and really helped make the video that much better. This years “Shred the Gnar” surprised me as it blew Elevation 3 out of the snow. Better Rider interviews, better footage, and great videography. Team Summit are some of the best riders out there and the video gives you a good look at not only their talent but the types of individuals they really are. This is one movie that needs to be in everyone snowmobile video collection. Check it out at Team Summit.

Too often we take things for granted these days. For instance how many times do you hear someone in California say they have never been through the Red Wood Forests or Yosemite National Park? How many people live in Utah and never been to the Arches, or Grand Canyon. One thing I’ve heard throughout my life is people saying that they have never been through Yellowstone National Park. I’ve heard this out of the mouths of people that have lived in West Yellowstone, MT. Its literally their back yard and they never taken the opportunity to go thru the park. Why is that?

Is it because the appeal of visiting the park isn’t there because it doesn’t take hours, or days to travel to it? Does it seem like an every day aspect of their life that there is no curiosity any more? I’m sure it is different for everyone. I bring this up because I was born an raised near Idaho Falls, ID only 2 hrs from the park. My family has owned a cabin in Island Park, Idaho since I was 5, only 20 mins from the West Entrance. We spent weeks there during the winter and rarely visited the park. I can barely remember the last time I went thru the park with my parents. However, I have very fond memories of the park during the time I worked in the park and in West Yellowstone.

This last Labor Day weekend I decided that since we were at our family’s cabin I would take the opportunity to take my 3 year old thru the park as well as my 1 year old, but he won’t remember much. It was such a great experience that we have decided to try and make it thru the park at least once a year. It is only 2 hrs away so this can be accomplished in just a day if needs be.

I have gone thru the park on several occasions, but in the summer and winter time. It had been a long time since I had gone thru the park for pleasure rather than work, which made it much more enjoyable than I expected. Its always exciting to see some of the large game in their natural habitat. The adrenaline that starts pumping as you snap a picture of a 6 point Bull Elk at 25 yards will always be a great experience no matter how many times I get that opportunity.

The next adventure once the kids get a little old will be give them the experience of visit the park in the Winter. It is an experience that if you have not yet had the opportunity to do so, you better take it at least once. Especially those individuals that are close to the park. I will admit for an extreme backcountry rider that I am, I don’t look forward to the ride, but there are very few places where you can get that close to the animals in the winter. Its worth at least one trip into the park during the winter, and if you have more than one day you can always take the opportunity to ride the thousands miles of trails outside the park or endless backcountry riding of the west.

What a year. The winter was one for the record books. Its been a long time since we have been able to ride in May with powder and then to even have a couple of rides in June. I don’t remember the last time I was able to ride in June. Old Man Winter had the global warming nuts running backwards as they tried to explain why it was such a long winter, as they came up with some excuse that it was an effect of global warming. I figured since the winter lasted so long that it might come late this year. I’m starting to thing the opposite. There has been some series of cold spells already that makes me think that winter is just around the corner.

I bought a dirt bike this year to help feed that craving that I get when I don’t ride for a while. Figured I would be able to ride it well in to November. I had a bike a while ago, sold it to pay for some schooling, wish I never would have done that. Sold the bike, the schooling was worth it, but should have found alternative ways of funding. Finally after some persuasive talks with the wife was able to be another one. In my opinion one of the best bikes built, Honda CR 250 R, mine happens to be a 2004. I’m having a hard time switching up to the 4-stroke yet. My last bike was a 01 CR 250 R. Its been a great summer getting back into riding. The last time I rode a bike, I ended up over shooting a jump and having surgery to fix the problem two years later. I will admit I was a little gun shy at first, but its all coming back to me. As close to snowmobiling as I can get.

However over labor day weekend, I was to see new snow fall as I stayed the weekend in our family’s cabin. I’m ready to put the bike up and bring out the sled. Let it snow, Let it snow!