Riding becomes a passion for many
Published 8:58 am Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Whether bolting straight across the ice of Albert Lea Lake or bobbing left and right through the trails of Myre-Big Island State Park, one thing is for sure: Operating a snowmobile is an addictive endeavor.
“That’s it. There you go. That’s why,” said Dirk DeVries, vice president of the Freeborn County Trail Association.
The association maintains 250 miles of groomed trails in Freeborn County. The trails run to almost all of the cities in the county and connect to trails in neighboring counties. A person could ride a snowmobile from Albert Lea to Canada on the state’s trails. In all, there are about 20,400 groomed snowmobile trails in Minnesota.
There is a clear difference between ditch riding and trail riding.
Freeborn County Trail Association President Bill Christianson said riders face obstacles in the ditches — poles, rocks, pipes. Trails usually go through farm fields and are easier and safer for riders.
The sport is clearly popular in Minnesota.
“Snowmobiling and hockey. That’s what I knew growing up,” DeVries said.
The service manager for Royal Sports in Clarks Grove, he grew up in Roseau, home of Polaris Industries. That said, DeVries likes to ride Arctic Cat snowmobiles, which makes its home in Thief River Falls.
The DeVries family — yes, the ones from “Extreme Makeover” — come to the state park to ride.
“It’s slow riding, and it’s safe. The trails are smooth and everything. We love it,” DeVries said.
While skiers might like light, dry power, snowmobilers go for heavier snow, said Matt Maras.
“The warmer, 25- to 30-degree snow, where it is wetter, packs a little better. It’s not so powdery that it blows away,” he said.
The riders said the restaurants in the small towns of Freeborn County — such as George’s of Geneva, Main Street Grill in Alden, Pub 69 in Twin Lakes — are easy to reach on their sleds, so riders like to go there.
“They want you to go there. They cater to you,” DeVries said.
One popular debate between snowmobilers is brand. There are four companies the make snowmobiles: Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yamaha.
“People are generally loyal to the brand they’ve been riding. It’s worse than Ford or Chevy or Dodge,” said Christianson, owner of Royal Sports.
Guenthner was the lone Polaris rider on Thursday, but he firmly defended his favorite manufacturer when the subject of what’s best came up.
Snowmobiling reached its peak in the 1970s. Good snowfall, inexpensive sleds and 130 manufacturers made for a booming sport. Even John Deere made snowmobiles.
Christianson said the price rose as technology advanced in the 1980s and it was a time of less snowfall in the Upper Midwest. Many makes left the snowmobile industry. Things were better for the remaining manufacturers in the 1990s when snow was abundant. Until last year, the past six or seven years were light in the Upper Midwest, hurting snowmobile enthusiasm.
“Hopefully we can hold our own because it is a fun sport,” he said.
This winter is shaping up to be strong, though, with ground snow already at a foot or two.
Most people in Freeborn County who have snowmobiles own them for recreational purposes. In some areas of northern Minnesota people use them practical reasons, such as a power company employee reaching a power line in the deep woods or even going to town to get groceries when traveling by car is difficult. Out West, many riders navigate the vast national forests in the mountain ranges.