Attending the 2016 Snow Shoot event in West Yellowstone, Montana, on March 2-8, 2015, was a major step in my columnist career. From the lone wolf I had always been during the last decades, I became a member of the SledMagazine.com pack.
Right from the start, I knew things would be totally different. From now on, I could rely on a team who had only one goal in mind : to provide proper information to snowmobile fans about the 2016 new models offered by each one of the manufacturers. I was then part of a happy bunch, deeply aware of the chance we had to be in West Yellowstone to discover these new models and that meant a very special adventure to me.
I must say that to have the chance to get in the american Rockies, in a fantastic scenery, riding snowmobile models that nobody had the chance to pilot before, it is truly exhilarating. As one of the team members said, it is like being part of the Stanley Cup Series.
Major logistics
To make the most out of our stay, the captain Denis Lavoie had perfectly prepared everything. Even before leaving the Province of Québec, each one of us knew exactly what would be his responsibility during the Snow Shoot adventure.
During all our five days here, every detail had to be planned because thousands of informations are given by each manufacturer. In one day, we must gather the technical data presented by one manufacturer after the other. There is no long pause between presentations made from each manufacturer site. In just a few hours, we are submerged with technical data realized during weeks and months of labour by engineers.
So, you must not be distracted. You have got one and lonely chance. Of course, you can ask questions during the following days, but as these ones are filled with trials on trail and off trail, time is limited. This is when adequate logistics become so important.
Trials on terrain
Once the technical day is over, after a good night sleep, it is time to begin the long parade of trials that start in a very precise order. It has been settled by SledMagazine.com who had sent a list of the models to be tested, by day. We pilot one after the other, trail models, off-trail models and hybrid models, all what can be produced and offered for 2016.
Days are long. Sometimes, we get tired but as we are in a paradise and as we have the chance to pilot these jewels, it is worth it.
One thing though is quite surprising to me for the 2016 event : the obvious lack of snow that requires more safety during our rides. Each manufacturer’s representatives place great emphasis on this point, mostly when we exit the site. We must wait to be in mountain to find good conditions, but it is far from the great conditions we had during the previous years. Effectively, even in Montana, winters can be milder. At one particular moment, we felt like it was late spring rather than winter. And yet, on our arrival in West Yellowstone, a strong blizzard of snow was blowing and made road conditions very difficult.
Honestly, when we were piloting mountain snowmobiles, it was sad not to find the vast areas of powder snow where, usually, we could get as wild as we wished. We had to discover it.
2017 Rendez-vous
Today, I only wish for one thing : to return for the 2017 lineup presentations next March, in this sweet paradise that is always hard to leave.
Despite the long hours, even very long hours as once the rides are over, we must stay in our room and select photos, make videos and write presentation articles for you, snowmobilers who like to know what will be offered the next season.
As years go by, I never lost my passion for these snow machines that give us incredible feelings and satisfaction when we ride in winter on places where only snowmobiles can take us. I still feel like I am 15, when I was a novice on this great machine. Nothing will ever replace a snowmobile to have fun and to experience wonderful Québec winters. Special thanks to SledMagazine.com team members, Denis Lavoie, Marc Thibeault, Greg Gilbert, Steve Gaudreau and Yves Therrien who let me share another unforgettable snowmobile adventure in the Cowboys Country.
