TRAIL TALES – TAKE A FRIEND
Snowmobiling Campaign
Continues to be a Big Success
Feb. 9-18 marks the date for Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week, which promises to
highlight how to get started in this great activity
A decade ago, the International Snowmobile Manufacturers
Association (ISMA) recognized a need
to get more people involved in the sport of snowmobiling.
The start-up costs for the hobby can be
quite a large investment, deterring many. The solution? Plan
a ride that takes those who may have never experienced
snowmobiling before and show them how to safely and
properly do it.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the annual Take a
Friend Snowmobiling campaign has spread across North
America and is a great opportunity for clubs to not only introduce
non-snowmobilers, but also secure government funding
for trail grooming/equipment and increase goodwill for
the industry.
“The Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week takes places February
9-18,” said Ed Klim, president of International Snowmobile
Manufacturers Association, which is headquartered
on Haslett, Mich.
“You can put special emphasis on your planned rides during
this special week, which will be supported by special media
contracts from ISMA and its partners.”
Klim adds that research shows people want to go snowmobiling,
but just don’t know how to get started.
“By planning a ride, we take the guesswork out of it for
those that might not try it any other way. Buying a snowmobile
is a great investment so if we can show people how to
get started properly, they might be more inclined to join us in
our clubs, associations and on trails or in the mountains and
open riding area.”
Campaign benefits
ISMA represents the four snowmobile manufacturers –
Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, Polaris and Yamaha – and coordinates
committees within the industry to handle concerns such
as snowmobile safety, the promotion of the lifestyle activity
of snowmobiling, keeping accurate statistics, reporting the
By Lisa Kopochinski
snowopsmag.com | SnowOps 29
/snowopsmag.com
