Last season, I received an offer anybody would have accepted without any hesitation. I was invited to be part of the Motoneiges.ca / SledMagazine.com Team at the Snow Shoot 2015 ! Finally, a few days later, I got the enthusiastic agreement from my teachers and I accepted the offer.
For someone like me, the Snow Shoot does not only mean to try out snowmobiles in western United States, it means a lot more. Only a few of my age can brag that they made this trip. After all, we must say that the Snow Shoot ends up to be a small part of the journey. There are also the flights, delays, hours waiting at the airport and finally the miles covered by car to reach our destination.
So, it all began with a 8 hour road trip to Burlington airport. Just to make it more special, our flight has been delayed by a few hours. We had time to eat pancakes and to sleep on benches. Many hours later, we were in Washington for a stopover; here, it was the first time among so many that I was asked for my identity papers. I am of legal age in Canada, but not in the United States; so I was about to drink 7up all week long. After eating at an american McDonald’s restaurant, we flew to Salt Lake City where we spent the night.
The morning after, we went for groceries and then we headed for West Yellowstone. It is important to note that we were wearing shorts in the morning.
I know I am very lucky that I had the opportunity to see the states of Utah and Idaho during our voyage from Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone, where we would meet the four manufacturers. Unfortunately, there was a snow storm just at the entry of the state. It took only 4 hours to get from summer heat to snow storm. Luckily, we have been able to join a convoy and reach our final destination.
Believe me when I say that I was more than happy to see the sign of the Days Inn West Yellowstone. We were going to sleep there for the week.
Ok ! Enough talking about the travel, now let’s talk about the Snow Shoot. On our first day, we went to the workshops organized by each manufacturer to present their respective 2015 innovations. It was very interesting to join other journalists and to speak with the companies’ managers. The most impressive element at the Snow Shoot is probably to walk through the place and to see dozens of snowmobiles, all lined up in front of each manufacturer’s trailer, all covered. The day after, they would be waiting in line behind the sign :«Motoneiges.ca / SledMagazine.com Web Magazine». On top of it all, Yamaha offered us a Contour camera.
Even if I knew that the Snow Shoot would start in fact only the day after, it took me a kick in the butt from Greg, my roomate for the week, to get up. Thanks Greg ! Once on my feet, after two eggs with bacon and coffee and my CKX gear on, I was more than ready to ride ! 
During the Snow Shoot, Gino and I had a particular mission : register on a pad the notes and comments from our team members about each snowmobile tested. So, it may not look like much, but we worked very hard to offer you our 2015 Buyers Guide. 
On the evening of our first day of tests, we made the most of our time : spa, pool and water slide at the Days Inn West Yellowstone. Obviously, 12 year old kids would have behaved better than we did that evening !
My favorite day was probably when we escaped in the mountains to test the off-trail snowmobiles. My day had begun sadly; I had an awful cold with stuffy nose. Yet, feeling bad was out of the question that day; it was the one day I expected the most. So, after a 45 minute ride on our snowmobile, we finally reached the top of the moutain. Time to have fun and to take lessons in deep snow from Gino and Philippe. The landscape was just breathtaking. The mountain fans would be speechless in front of all the possible places we could ride.
There are no words to express how I felt in the mountains of Montana, on a 2015 Summit, under the sun, in deep snow and with great people. It was just magical. The moment you realize that you are living a special dream, mostly at my young age, you also realize that you must go for it and make the most of each minute of your life. I have only one wish : to earn my plane ticket for another Snow Shoot one day.
Friends… even in Montana
Besides our group of Motoneiges.ca / SledMagazine.com, we had the chance to share moments at and outside the Snow Shoot with friends from Motoneige Québec and with Mr Martin Horik and his production crew from the TV show Martin Horik Octane. In particular, we had a great dinner all Quebecers together and we also escaped to the Yellowstone National Park.
The cherry on top !
The Days Inn West Yellowstone surprised us when they offered to take us on a tour in the National Park to see the bisons and the geysers. We were all transported by a tracked van to the heart of the National Park where the bisons were. It was more than impressive to see so many of them all together. It was probably the best way to end this wonderful trip.
Do you think it's over ?
In addition to the experience of the Snow Shoot, I think I have learned something from each one of my team mates. Gino taught me many off-trail and mountain techniques in order to improve my riding. «Papa 2» Philippe showed me and taught me many things about the Snow Shoot. Most of my memories come from my roomate Greg, since we shared the same room during the week. Thanks to him, I learned to be much more disciplined when snowmobiling as well as when not snowmobiling. He also taught me old tricks that are finally not so old. I hope he enjoyed staying with me and my snoring as much as I appreciated his presence.
You, who know me or follow me since many years now, you know who is my main travel companion : my dad. This trip was not only to work for Motoneiges.ca / SledMagazine.com . It also meant the most wonderful trip I ever lived with my father since I ride a snowmobile. I remember when I was young; my father was leaving during that famous first week of March and I would say to myself that one day, I would like so much to go with him for that famous journey. Well, that day arrived and much sooner than I ever wished.
To conclude this article about my 2015 Snow Shoot experience, I would say that it has been really difficult to put words on this trip. I lived some experiences that I will probably never live again. So many thanks to those who trusted me and let me be part of the 2015 Snow Shoot team of Motoneiges.ca / SledMagazine.com , to the four snowmobile manufacturers for their enormous efforts to present this event, and to Days Inn West Yellowstone where we stayed and who also offered us a memorable tour.
