The first time I heard about this event in the snowmobile magazines we received by mail, it was the only source of information available before the era of Internet. When the ShowShoot magazines were finally published, I just devoured them to be aware of the latest innovations and technologies unveiled by the manufacturers and this, at the end of our snowmobiling seasons.
When I became a collaborator with SledMagazine.com, I remember my long evenings, even during summer, talking with Denis, President of SledMagazine.com, about all the experience lived by those who had the chance to attend the event. The idea was planted and Denis began the process to participate and after an enormous amount of efforts, he announced to me one day that at last, he had been invited! I was proud to have encouraged him in this process!
In the following years, SledMagazine.com invited me to attend the SnowShoot, but I had to let other collaborators participate in my place year after year. For the 2015 edition, after too many refusals, then it was my turn.
Think about it. The four manufacturers at the same time, their technicians, their engineers and their new machines, there, on the site, all together at the same time, and here I am seated on one of their sleds and talking with them. I am still pinching myself!!
Firstly, the SnowShoot is held in another region than ours. And what a difference! My first observations : the mountain range, lots of snow, groomed trails to try out the machines that are similar to Québec trails.
And what about off-trail riding, wow!!! The American West made me discover another aspect of the off-trail snowmobiling. Their playground is very different from ours : the most important difference is for sure the very low density and very large area of forest, which lets us explore it more easily. With significant differences in level, the absence of obstacles that are covered by incredible amounts of snow and peeks that require to have guts to reach them, we get the perfect recipe. It is important to note that high altitude does not only reduce the performance of the engines, but also ours. We must control the lack of oxygen that, with the least excessive effort, makes us realize that we must take longer and more frequent pauses. It was my case!
West Yellowstone is a very special town for tourism. Snowmobilers can ride here like nowhere else. Snow is not removed from the city streets for car traffic. The snowmobile reigns supreme! We see it everywhere : at the shop, at the convenience store, at traffic lights. The city streets are invaded by snowmobiles.
This experience would not have been possible without the invitation of SledMagazine.com, the hospitality of Quality Inn West Yellowstone and the four snowmobile manufacturers.
