The news just keeps coming out on these “3/4″ snowmobiles from Premier.  Recently American Snowmobiler’s Mark Boncher test rode the sleds and talked with developer Chris Bell.  He had great things to report on the AmSnow blog…

Initial Impressions Of Premier 200 and 300 cc Snowmobiles

Here’s a taste of what Mark had to say, or you can read the full text of the Premier Snowbile Review initial report here.

Initial impressions:

• …”sleds are extremely stable…”
• “…responsive steering on the trails…”
• “…suspensions are extremely capable…” (even with 175 pound adult rider)
• “…all the bells and whistles…current full-sized sleds come with…”
• “The fun factor is high on these sleds!”

Not bad, not bad at all.  That’s just a taste of what was said, and just a list of initial impressions.  I’d expect we’ll be hearing more in the weeks and months to come.

Don’t forget, I’ll be interviewing Chris Bell (President of Premier) myself via email, and there’s still some time to get your questions in.  Comment below or contact me via the SledChix Contact Page, and I’ll be sure to add yours to the list!

I introduced Premier Recreational Products Corporation the other day, in this quick blog post about Premier RCP. I have to say, I’m pretty excited by this company and their concept. The sleds caught my eye first, as the goal is to serve the underserved niche-markets that are not well represented in today’s snowmobile marketplace. In the future, according to Premier’s website, that could mean just about anything sledders want to see, and they’re open to suggestions. For the time being, they’re off to a great start with the introduction of their 2010 line aimed at serving that in-between set of riders of roughly (speculating a bit here) ten to fourteen-ish?

A Company With Family-Vision

This is what I really love about what I’m reading about Premier–this is a company with a vision that is building its foundations on the enjoyment and family-friendliness of the sport. It’s not a company trying to produce the next biggest, loudest, fastest, it’s a company trying to preserve the true integrity of snowmobiling by making sure there are good, safe, ride-worthy options for riders of all ages and levels. Here’s a snippet from their “About” page:

“Premier began with a vision: A remembrance of the snowmobile marketplace of old, a different view of what the marketplace of today should be. As the parent of three riders that were quickly outgrowing their 120 cc snowmobliles, this became a personal quest to reintroduce updated models to fill these current family segment market holes.

So, almost three years ago the idea to form a new snowmobile company began. We would be determined to build great products and to concentrate our efforts to build products to fill in the market gaps. We would re-introduce some highly successful, but long forgotten model segments. We would also introduce some new model segments along the way. What we would not do is follow in anyone else’s footsteps or build more of the product classes already well represented.”

An Important Snowmobile Market To Serve

In my own humble opinion (and you know I’m right ), this matters a lot. I think that introducing kids to the sport of snowmobiling gives them a healthy and positive outlet, and giving them the right machines that they can handle is essential. Kids seem to be naturally great riders, and with the right skills, attention, guidance, and equipment, they can all grow up to be the next generation of conscientious riders, out there enjoying the sport for all that it’s worth and probably all the better than us for having it!

What Would You Ask Chris Bell, President Of Premier RCP?

I’m excited about what Chris Bell and the crew are doing at RCP, and can’t wait to hear more about it. As luck would have it, Chris saw my post the other day and has been in contact with me, and agreed to do an interview with me via email. I’ve got a growing list of questions, but let’s make the most of this opportunity!

Comment below or Contact me and tell me…

What Do You Want To Know from Chris Bell and Premier Recreational Products?

OK, I’m off now to put the finishing touches on our “Enforcer Fund” can.  Donations gladly accepted…you can contact me for that too ;).

I’ve just come across this company, a U.S. start-up, in the recent American Snowmobiler newsletter.  Apparently AmSnow’s been talking about them, but I must be miserably behind on my reading.

Premier Recreational Products Corp Introduces 2010 Sleds For The ‘Tween Crowd

Premier Recreational Products Corp is a family-based Michigan business grown out of one family’s snowmobiling enthusiasm, and apparent real skill at building custom snowmobiles.  Premier set out to stake out their own niche in the snowmobile marketplace by serving a very underserved crowd–the ‘tween set of riders too big for the 120’s and yet too small for the next larger options.  I am learning all too quickly how soon this becomes a problem, as our almost 10 year old is already eating knees, and won’t make another year on the 120.  So this is very cool stuff for me, indeed!

Premier’s line-up is starting out with a 200 and 300 Enforcer, that you can see here.  I’ll do a little more digging on the company while you all watch this YouTube video of the Premier 2010 sleds.

Don’t miss out on more news on Premier RCP–SUBSCRIBE to the SledChix snowmobile blog now! It’s easy and ensures you never miss a post!

These are fun, and simple (although they probably will not be all about snowmobiling, but likely from sled season, as that’s the only time I seem to have a camera out!).

It’s easy to play, here’s how it goes:

1. I post a picture, and kick it off with a caption, unless I decide to let you guys take the lead.

2. You comment below, coming up with your own unique caption for the photo.

That’s it. But what would make this even more fun would be if you guys all sent me some pics to play along with, too (sledderchick@gmail.com)! Let’s give it a shot!

Caption This Snowmobile Picture

My Caption: Ride like a Man Your Mother!!

What’s yours?

This might possibly be what my kids were doing whilst I was away riding–found these in with the downloaded snowmobile pictures!! (Click on any picture to see it larger).

And The Crowd Goes Wild

Don’t forget to download your 2009 snowmobile pictures and send them along, too!  Contact me through the SeldChix blog Contact Page.

And in case you missed it, here’s a link to the the 2009 Snowmobile Season Photo Album Part I

Just a quick update to let you all know that even if you can’t make Kristy Martin’s March 7 Carve for the Curves Ride, you can still donate and support the event and breast cancer research.  Kristy does have a PayPal address for donations.  You can contact her for more details at

kristy(at)kristy-martin.com

Or, just go to her website and contact her via the contact page.

And just to tease you a little more, for those of you one fence, here are some of the great door prizes you can win for attending!

Door Prize Donations

(Kristy says she’s still working on these–these are just the tip!)

Klim-Pullover
Scott USA-Hats, MX Back Packs, Coozies, Water Bottles
HMK-Hats, stickers
ShadowShot-Gift Certificate
Molly Mogavero (massage)-Gift Certificate
Kaci DiMarco-$25.00 towards any hair service
Rifle Preformance(Ski-doo)-$50.00 Gift Certificate
Hi Point Motorsports(Yamaha-honda)-$100.00 Gift Certificate
Mountan Powersports(Polaris)-$50.00 Gift Certificate
MG Sports(AC)-Very nice pair of sunglasses
Colorado Sled Style-Hoodies/Hats/Stickers

..Now say that 5 times fast.  Or not…

Do wish I could make this one.  Not sure how I’d fly my sled out, though.  But for those of you nearby, there is still time if you act fast!

First Annual Carve for the Curves, Susan G Komen, Aspen

The first annual benefit, Carve for the Curves is brought to you by Kristy Martin. The benefit will support the Aspen Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® of breast cancer. The fundraiser will take place at Electric Mountain Lodge on March 7, 2009 with the minimum donation of $25.00, you will receive lunch and be entered into the door prize drawing (must be present to win). Lunch will be buffet style (including coffee or iced tea), and will be served once we arrive at the lodge which should be around noon. It is not necessary to attend to donate, please contact me at the following:

Please RSVP by March 1, 2009
kristy@kristy-martin.com
970-379-7519
www.kristy-martin.com

I’m sure it will be an awesome time for all of those who attend!  Do stop back in and dish the goods ith us if you do!

Kristy Martin was kind enough to send us an update from Colorado–with some VERY cool pics!  Frankly, I’m jealous.  I’ve ridden some beautiful places, but nothing to compare to this!

Colorado Sled Report, Courtesy Kristy-Martin.com

Kristy’s sled report:

The snow started a bit late this year compared to last year, but we are in full swing now.  We went to the pre X-games show at a local lodge here, then we hit the X-games for a great night to watch Tucker win the Sno-x.  Riding has been good, yesterday was the best day so far this year.  We got a call at 6:45am Tuesday morning to go help search for the 3 missing guys from Sunday night.  We got our day planned out, picked up two other riders and then got word that they had found the guys walking and they were alright!!  THANK THE LORD!!!  So we are packed up ready to ride, what should we do now??  You guessed it, we went out and rode.  It had been raining and snowing in the lower areas of 6,000-8,000 feet most of the weekend.  So we get to the trail head, it is cloudy, cold and windy.  We get going and about noon the clouds open up.  All I can say is WOW, the day was now almost perfect.  So we were so thankful for the day to be out playing in the snow, we forgot to take any action shots of us riding, but got some great scenery shots.  It is snowing again today, so maybe our tracks will be covered up for the weekend of more DEEP snow riding!!

Thanks for the update, Kristy!  Feel free to drop in any time!

Speaking of dropping in, anyone else who’d like to share, do feel free (see the contact page for details), and don’t forget to drop in on Kristy at her backcountry riding website!

Kristy’s Colorado SledPix Gallery

Bet you wish you had views like this right now!  I’m thinking Bill is going to have to finally take me closer to Katahdin this year.  I feel inspired.

I just found a very cool tool through the Massachusetts SAM website (Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts).  It is a satellite map produced by the US Air Force that gives snow depth totals for the US and Canada.  Very cool.  I’m not sure how often it updates, but the current map is dated for yesterday, January 25.  Maybe this is old news to some of you, but it’s all new to me, and sure to become a page I bookmark!

Snow Depth Maps For US, Canada, & Northeast US & New England

To find the map, go here:

USAF Snow Depth Map

You can also access the link on this page of the SAM website:

Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts Links Page

(look under Conditions/Weather)

There is also a link to the NOAA Snow Depth map for the Northeast (courtesy of the Northeast River Forecast Center in Taunton, MA) which covers all of New England and New York and a bit into Canada.

Both maps can be zoomed for a more accurate total of your target sledding area.

Man Is My Backside Sore!

As for us, we had a weekend packed with riding–finally!  On Saturday we rode the trails of mainly the Coldbrook Snowmobile Club (in Central Massachusetts) and North into Templeton, Winchendon, and Royalston to Birch Hill Dam–which happens to be my hometown.  We rode within about 10 minutes of my parent’s house.  In need of maps to see how we can get any closer–anyone who has one please contact me via the conatct page!

On Sunday we rode the brandy new trails of the Ware River Snowmobile Club–a club formed just over the past couple of years.  I’ve got some great pics of their fresh and very nicely cared for trails, which I hope to get up over the next couple of days.

For Massachusetts, which does not get the snowfall of Maine or have the widespread sport support that Maine enjoys, the riding was quite good.  Predictably, the trails were busy and ridden hard over the weekend, so the going in spots was bumpy and rough, but it was a great weekend and no complaints!  The clubs are doing a good job keeping up for the most part.  Rumors are that Coldbrook is having some trouble with their groomers, doing what they can, but Ware River is faithfully maintaining their new system and doing a great job of it!  I have to say (and I shouldn’t because I’d rather be selfish and keep the traffic off our trails ) that Ware River is comparatively untouched and a very nice ride, so if you haven’t checked out this newest SAM addition, now’s the time.

We’ve got a sizable snow predicted for Wednesday all day (as if we needed another snow day–but I’ll take the snow!) so by this weekend if the temperatures hold (which so far it apears they will) the riding should be stellar!

Here’s to the snow and great riding!

How was your ride?  Your trails?  Share below or email me (see contact page) and let everyone know!

It seems I’ve been entirely uninspired these last several months.  In part that was due to my extreme busy-ness with my day job as a freelance writer–not a bad thing at all, but sometimes makes for a dull sledchick.  Of course, in part that was due to our warm weather months; always a depressing time of year–when the sled payments don’t stop but the fun does!  December was pretty much of a wash after being a full week with absolutely no power and services due to the big New England ice storm.  It was a step back in time that brought normal life to a halt, but it sure was beautiful…

Beautiful destruction

This last one is the view I was treated to when returning home to my dark house one night.  Kind of made it a little worth it….

January wasn’t much better, since we then had snow but my sled was 6 hours away in Maine!  I TOLD Bill we should bring them back when we were up there for Thanksgiving!

My spirits lifted last week with the promise of a long weekend of sledding.  Unfortunately, when we arrived we found out that our keys had been–shall we be polite and say “misplaced” (and not by us)–I guess we’ll leave it at that.  “Miscommunication” (polite, again, not my usual style but it keeps the peace) led me to believe that persons knew generally where the keys were.  Unfortunately I found out too late (as in, after all the dealers were closed for the weekend) that no, in fact, they had not been located.  Long, frustrating, angering story short, the whole weekend of riding was lost until Monday morning when the local dealer opened up again and we could get keys.  That left us with no one around to watch the kids, and so we only managed a 2 hour ride Monday night before having to return early, early Tuesday morning.

The moral of the story is:

1. Don’t leave your keys with anyone but yourself.  (I’m fashioning mine into a necklace.  Bill’s afraid I just might do it!)
2. If there is any question, get new keys as soon as possible.  As it turns out, they’re only about $8 each, so definitely worth the investment.  Much better than spending $200 on registrations and at least that much traveling only to not be able to ride when you get there!
3. Bring your sleds home like your wife said and you don’t have to worry about it!!!!!!!!

We did get to do a little banging around and the kids got to ride (after the temps warmed up from -40!).

Can I come in?

And when we did get out, even though it was only a couple of hours, the riding was incredible!  We’d had 10 fresh inches of snow and none of the groomers had made it out yet–nor any other sledders!  We were riding on a solid base topped with nearly a foot of fresh, virgin snow.  It doesn’t get any better than that!  Apparently, someone somewhere figured we deserved to be thrown a bit of a bone.

Now, we’re all back home, with keys, with sleds, with snow, and my Massachusetts snomobile registrations and SAM stickers just arrived.  We’ve got weekend plans with my best girl to ride, so life is good again.  Hopefully my mood will improve and that snowy muse will continue to inpsire.  Until then, it’s off to the trails!

Still love Maine, but she's back where she belongs now....