By Craig Nicholson
(©2009 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.)
Everywhere I go across Ontario, it’s the same story. Too many people just don’t get it. They benefit directly or indirectly from organized snowmobiling, but don’t give anything back. From the snowmobiler that rides maintained trails without paying, to the local business that derives revenues from snowmobilers, they’re biting the hand that feeds them. Organized snowmobiling is what makes sledding work on so many levels: from your local club or association, to your district, to their provincial umbrella group, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs. Without them, we wouldn’t have an integrated provincial trail system to ride and the winter tourism industry, and all who benefit from it, would be irreparably damaged.
It’s easy to take organized snowmobiling for granted. I’ve heard all the excuses: “I ride here for free before the maintained trails, so why should I pay now?” Or “Snowmobilers will ride to my business by sled anyway, so I don’t need to support trail maintenance.” Or “I’m not located near any trails, so they have nothing to do with my business.” Or “The trails are never any good anyway, so why should I pay anything?” And maybe this season: “I can’t afford it.” Boy, it’s amazing how many excuses there are!
The fact is that thanks to organized snowmobiling, riding generates over $1 billion in economic impact each winter in Ontario, most of it spreading out, trickling down and spinning off to various industry sectors and business owners, including manufacturers, distributors and tourism/hospitality operators. Not to mention the governments that collect millions in GST and sales taxes. Or the employees whose paycheque is in part derived from direct or indirect sledding revenues. Or the municipalities where snowmobilers eat, stay and entertain themselves — leaving plenty of cash behind in many rural and small town communities when not much else is happening economically during the winter.
Some business entities are on side with organized snowmobiling and offer ongoing support. The advertisers in this publication and on 2010 club trail guides can be counted among this group. But far more do not support. They expect others to invest all the money and do all the work — while they benefit free of charge. Many of these non-supporters will argue that the only investment they have to make is in their own business or that they are doing organized snowmobiling and snowmobilers a “favour” by their mere existence. Others will say that they don’t need snowmobiling to survive or that snowmobiling is only part of what they do. This year, they will probably plead a poor economy.
Some say it’s a chicken and egg situation. Which came first, organized snowmobiling or the business of snowmobiling? I say there is no contest — without organized snowmobiling, few sectors of this winter industry could sustain themselves in the manner to which they have become accustomed. Why? Because organized snowmobiling in Ontario provides the maintained, mapped, marked and legal places where snowmobilers want to ride and spend their cash. And without these winter corridors, active snowmobilers would soon be as scarce as Britney Spears’ panties.
Support for organized snowmobiling starts at the grassroots. Individual riders can show their support by paying to ride on maintained trails. They can also help by patronizing the businesses that support organized snowmobiling (like our advertisers) and not the others. And how about volunteering a day or two to help your club? Individual snowmobilers will make or break organized snowmobiling, because they say “Yea” or “Nay” at the most basic and numerous level. If most of them say “Yea”, clubs will have the wherewithal to continue. If more say no, and ride without paying, club expenses will soon exceed revenues and it won’t be long until it’s game over, back to riding the boonies.
Local “Mom and Pop” businesses and individual owner/operators can also tip this fragile balance. Their support can be as diverse as providing a meal to a groomer operator or advertising in a publication from organized snowmobiling instead of in one from a private company. Sometimes it’s volunteering for the local club, and other times, it’s providing facilities for club meetings or clerical/computer support for administration. Local businesses can also help by advocating on behalf of organized snowmobiling with the media, with their local council, chamber of commerce and with other business owners.
Support for organized snowmobiling is equally important at the provincial level. Companies that do broader business across many regions must consider the cumulative benefit of the countless riding opportunities provided by organized snowmobiling throughout Ontario — and what their own bottom lines would look like without that economic impact every winter. I’m not talking the direct correlation bean-counters love to measure so much — invest X and receive Y. It’s not that simple. It’s a question of securing a long term, healthy, stable and sustainable environment capable of fostering new business growth and opportunity as the economy recovers. And that often takes a visionary leap of faith beyond current realities, immediate rewards and conventional return on investment.
Organized snowmobiling may not be perfect, but it has 43 years of progress and achievement under its considerable belt in Ontario. Now’s the time for snowmobilers and snowmobile businesses to join this winning team and actively ensure that all of us continue to benefit from organized snowmobiling for many years to come. |
