What's a sledder's expectation of a groomed trail when you pay

keyboardjockey · Feb 5, 2018

I'm trying to ride more so I can have real life experiences. But the few times out riding the groomed trails I've rode varied a lot from smooth to being so rough that my leaf spring bump rubbers bottomed out lots. Plus my bum hurts too!!! So should the trails be groomed smooth or is bumpy trails part of the trail fee?

gunner3006 · Feb 5, 2018

So many factors to take into consideration. Is it cold out, is the groomer operator paid or volunteer. When your you ride right till dark then come down you have to expect all the cabin junkies are ahead of you so your probably not getting the trail at it’s best. $20 honestly is pretty cheap. Most sledders are on units that are in the high teens for dollar range.

Jsymes · Feb 5, 2018

The trail fees aren't just for the grooming. They help pay the groomer wage and fuel but it also helps with cabin management and area management. Somebody has to fight to keep the area from government take over. Sometimes trails suck sometimes there good. Honestly it's 20-25 bucks seems minimal to me. And it's always better than a none groomed trail.

I'd pay 25 bucks to have them not groom. If Rougher trails keep riders out then there's more snow for me.

longtrack 156 · Feb 5, 2018

I have been to Castlegar's sledding area, I like to go during the week, I think they only run their groomer for the weekend, very rough. I respect that, still some don't pay I don't respect that.

Bnorth · Feb 5, 2018

Sometimes you get a good trail, sometimes you don't. Just pay and hope for the best.

SLEDBUNNYRACING · Feb 5, 2018

Like was said, temp, groomer, traffic all play a part.
For me poor grooming better than not groomed (did that a lot 20 years ago) and worth the $20-$25.

skegpro · Feb 5, 2018

Slightly better than not groomed.

When your rolling in on 3ft Moguls I would pay $20 to remove each one if I could.

If your main focus is premium groomers maybe try Manitoba, Quebec and Onterio.

I am just thrilled these clubs keep the riding areas open, the grooming is a bonus.

Ballzdeep · Feb 6, 2018

I am just thrilled these clubs keep the riding areas open, the grooming is a bonus.[/QUOTE]

nuff said right there

vodoo103 · Feb 6, 2018

Jsymes said:
The trail fees aren't just for the grooming. They help pay the groomer wage and fuel but it also helps with cabin management and area management. Somebody has to fight to keep the area from government take over. Sometimes trails suck sometimes there good. Honestly it's 20-25 bucks seems minimal to me. And it's always better than a none groomed trail.

I'd pay 25 bucks to have them not groom. If Rougher trails keep riders out then there's more snow for me.

So many ignore the fact that fees from trail passes are used for more than grooming the trail.
$15,000+ sleds, $10,000.00+ trailers, $50,000+ trucks, thousands at hotels, restaurants and the bars and still bitch about $25.

Ballzdeep · Feb 6, 2018

vodoo103 said:
So many ignore the fact that fees from trail passes are used for more than grooming the trail.
$15,000+ sleds, $10,000.00+ trailers, $50,000+ trucks, thousands at hotels, restaurants and the bars and still bitch about $25.

not to stray from the thread but ^^^that reminds me of a guy i was riding with. He said " them Superclamps are way to expensive, i'd never buy one" I said dude your bitching about a $200 product and your ratchet strapping a $18,000 sled on your deck haha. Not the right sport to be pincher! to each their own i guess.

skegpro · Feb 6, 2018

vodoo103 said:
So many ignore the fact that fees from trail passes are used for more than grooming the trail.
$15,000+ sleds, $10,000.00+ trailers, $50,000+ trucks, thousands at hotels, restaurants and the bars and still bitch about $25.

Exactly, get rid of the trail pass and charge $1500 for a membership.

Have way more money and less traffic.

bobsledder · Feb 6, 2018

Was just in West Yellowstone 500 miles of groomed trails, never found a rough trail. I paid 102 bucks for a Montana and Idaho non resident season trail pass for two sleds. A resident pays 18 bucks for three seasons! We pay 200 for a season here and club has about 100km of trail to groom.

Bnorth · Feb 6, 2018

bobsledder said:
Was just in West Yellowstone 500 miles of groomed trails, never found a rough trail. I paid 102 bucks for a Montana and Idaho non resident season trail pass for two sleds. A resident pays 18 bucks for three seasons! We pay 200 for a season here and club has about 100km of trail to groom.

So you're advocating for gov't funding then like they receive from the USFS?

acesup800 · Feb 6, 2018

vodoo103 said:
So many ignore the fact that fees from trail passes are used for more than grooming the trail.
$15,000+ sleds, $10,000.00+ trailers, $50,000+ trucks, thousands at hotels, restaurants and the bars and still bitch about $25.

That argument gets old.

How about no season passes and every user pays $25 to use it for the day? The season passes that ride 40 times a year are paying peanuts per ride vs the actual costs of maintaining the grooming. As you said, $15,000+ sleds etc. then why bitch about $25.

FernieHawk · Feb 6, 2018

dgiles said:
That argument gets old.

How about no season passes and every user pays $25 to use it for the day? The season passes that ride 40 times a year are paying peanuts per ride vs the actual costs of maintaining the grooming. As you said, $15,000+ sleds etc. then why bitch about $25.

By that logic you could also say...No day passes, only season passes...no season pass then you don’t ride. It’s only $200.

skegpro · Feb 6, 2018

FernieHawk said:
By that logic you could also say...No day passes, only season passes...no season pass then you don’t ride. It’s only $200.

Thats what I was getting at.
No day pass, $1500 for a membership.

thegeneral · Feb 6, 2018

There's a reasonable expectation that the fee paid for the TRAIL PASS is going to get you a ride at least in one direction on a groomed trail.(unless you hit the hill at 11:00) It's not reasonable to expect that a club will groom a trail every day of the week. If you choose to ride mid week when rider numbers are known to be low, and have the hills to yourself, you have to expect to ride rougher trail.

Ronaha · Feb 6, 2018

It's fun to burp your throttle, but you are causing a mess of the trail....that should be posted for the 2+2 ers

moyiesledhead · Feb 6, 2018

vodoo103 said:
So many ignore the fact that fees from trail passes are used for more than grooming the trail.

It's actually illegal for any club with a management agreement with BC Rec Sites & Trails to use the money from trail passes for anything but grooming expenses. Clubs that are building cabins etc. with that money are going to find themselves in hot water with the BC government one of these days. Clubs on private land such as Fernie probably don't fall under these rules, but most clubs do.

dabensmiller · Feb 6, 2018

If this isn't a first world problem, i don't know what is...

What's a sledder's expectation of a groomed trail when you pay

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