thePULSESnowmobiling Isn’t A Bad Guy After All
By Kimberly Dunbar
For those who enjoy snowy sports, this month is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Imagine zipping through the woods on a snowmobile trail alongside Mother Nature, enjoying her sights, the fresh air, and the thrill of cruising atop freshly fallen snow. According to Justin Gabriel, the owner of Gabriel Racing, there’s nothing like it.
“My favorite part is going out on the trails for a long ride,” Gabriel said. “There is so much to see.”
Snowmobiling isn’t a recent phenomenon. The sport has been embraced since the early 1900s (1916 to be exact), when the United States issued a patent for the first snow vehicle. Snow lovers soon began modifying Ford Model Ts for recreation, and the snowmobile has been evolving ever since. But snowmobile growth and popularity have not come without controversy. There are concerns that the sport is harmful to the environment because of the use of gas and the threat of damage to the land.
“There is no reason for anyone to complain about snowmobiling,” said Gabriel, who has been four-wheeling and snowmobiling since he was young. “It is a big misconception about snowmobiling and people just don’t understand it.” He added that snowmobilers will not take their vehicle out on a trail or an area where there is not enough snow to ride on because it would cause great damage to the vehicle. “We are not wrecking anything in regards to the land because the vehicle never touches the ground,” Gabriel added.
Gabriel said that there are other misconceptions about the sport, too. He said that because the age of snowmobilers ranges from 20- 40 years old, some people consider the sport as just some “punk kids going around wrecking stuff.” Gabriel also said that many people think that snowmobiling is a hard sport to pick up on. “Snowmobiling is a lot different from four-wheeling and dirt biking because there is no gear shifting, just the gas and the brake,” he said, reassuring that snowmobiling isn’t as hard as some think it looks. Last year, Gabriel took his grandparents snowmobiling and they were able to ride on their own. “It’s an activity the whole family can do, no matter what age,” Gabriel said.
The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts (SAM) also aims to ease bad feelings about the sport. SAM is an organization whose goal is to join together mature and responsible snowmobile enthusiasts in an interconnected system. The 9,000 members from the 36 clubs travel from Worcester County to the Berkshires to experience the joy of snowmobiling in a safe manner. According to the organization’s website www.sledmass.com/default.asp, a 2003 study conducted by the University of Massachusetts showed that snowmobiling poured in about $54.7 million into the Massachusetts economy per year, refuting the idea that it the sport is an economic liability.
Snowmobiling also has the reputation of being dangerous, but according to Gabriel, his business and other specialty stores take the right precautions to ensure the riders’ safety. Gabriel said that if someone buys the right gear and proper equipment to set up the vehicle, it can keep him or her from getting hurt. “We do whatever we need to do to get the set up right and ready to go,” he said.
SAM is also dedicated to enhancing safe snowmobiling in MA and goes as far as offering safety courses for snowmobilers. While there are no requirements in MA, in order to ride in NH and VT you have to take a rider safety course and pass a test first, before hitting the powder. SAM offers several different courses covering snowmobiling safety, including one sponsored by the Spencer Snowbirds club on January 12th in Leicester. For more information, contact David Lacroix at 508-885-2806.
Gabriel said there are many customers who visit his store ~ which held a grand opening of its new location on Summer Street in Worcester on November 24th ~ who are interested in snowmobiling. As a result, Gabriel Racing has been getting heavy into the snowmobiling supplies it carries. In addition, the SAM website can also satiate any snowmobile aficionado’s every desire. The latest information regarding on expos, events, rules and snowmobile-related news can be found with a simple click of the mouse. If you are interested in snowmobiling of the past, check out the coverage of vintage snowmobiles, including links to vintage expos and photos.
While Gabriel said the best trails are up North due to a few consecutive mild MAwinters, there are a few local clubs that offer snowmobilers a chance to enjoy their hobby:
Coldbrook Snowmobile Club
28 Laurelwood Rd
Rutland, MA 01543
This club meets on the first Monday of every month at the Brickyard Billiards on Maple Street in Baldwinville, MA. For more information call Dean Zuppio at 508-886-6752 or visit www.coldbrooksnowmobilers.com .
Easy Riders Snowmobile Club
P.O. Box 271
Marlboro, MA 01752
This club meets on the third Tuesday of each month October-March at the Marlboro Fish and Game Club. For more information call Herb Hilton at 508-877-4133 or visit www.ersc.net.
Snowbirds Snowmobile Club
P.O. Box 28
Spencer, MA 01562
This club meets on the last Thursday of every month September- March at the Rod & Gun Club in Leicester, MA. For more information, contact Jan Gordon at 508-885-5407 or visit www.spencersnowbirds.com/phpweb.
Snowmobilers United
6 Hazel Ave.
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
This club meets in the second Wednesday of every month at the American Legion in West Boylston, MA. For more information, contact Ralph Corcoran at 508-845-6821.
