Around 50ish years ago I sat down on a 69 Ski-Doo Nordic in front of my dad and took my first ride. I learned how to ride on that sled and though my early 20's rode various sleds. My first personal sled was a Yamaha EW433

Life intervened and the family (except my uncle drifted to other things) Mid 20-teens the family got back into into it with Yamaha's and I as well but riding others sleds. Over the last few years we've done week long trail rides in the UP of Michigan and shorter weekends in N. Mich., again riding family sleds.

A few days ago I rejoined the Ski-Doo family with a 2021 Renegade 900ACE Turbo XRS. I can't wait for snow

(Not my exact sled, I have a different windshield)

Looks like a lot of fun.

Congrats and enjoy it Rigthwire!

My family started off on an arctic cats (i.e. Mom and Dad each had one and my brother and I were passengers) and like your family transitioned to Yamaha. At one point in the 80s, every family member had a Yamaha. Then, I went off to college (sold mine), my brother moved out (sold his), and Mom only rode to make it a family thing (sold hers). Dad sold his and pooled the money to upgrade himself to a Polaris which I believe was the first fuel injected snowmobile. That thing was a drag racer as it was quicker than 25% larger displacement snowmobiles. Dad sold his after years of disappointing snow in the 90s.

My cousin is the only one who rides any more and he has a bright yellow Ski Doo.

It's amazing how much suspensions have changed from our original Arctic Cat to the better Yamaha to the better Polaris and to now with everything having double the travel.

Nice looking sled there congratulations!

I'm so old that we started out on a little Homelite snowmobile in early 60's. Then my father decided we needed a "real" one and after much (but poor) research bought a big Mercury sled that was *heavy*, buried itself in deep snow, slow, and just sat there with it's belt squealing when trying to start out on a hill.

One day he stopped on a hill on a snow covered dirt road to do something and 2 sleds (a Ski Doo and Arctic Cat) came from behind and stopped to chat with my father. Afterwards they started them and with their tracks spinning disappeared in an instant. I watched my father start the Mercury which just sat there motionless after giving it full throttle, with the belt squealing. I went over and with me pushing and him bouncing up it and down, with smoke coming out from the burning belt it finally started slowly moving up the road. At that point he said "that's it for this damn thing this company needs to stay with building outboard motors!"

The following winter he came home with an Arctic Cat 440 Panther and after that our family had a blast every winter with that snowmobile on the mountain property my parents and a two other couples jointly owned. Good times indeed.

Enjoy yours Rightwire!

Most winter forecasts I have seen for the Yoop are calling for average or above average snowfall.

Nice, always wanted a Tundra.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Most winter forecasts I have seen for the Yoop are calling for average or above average snowfall.

WOO HOO! We have a trip planned up around Seney in mid February for a week.

Looks great!! I grew up in the N U.P., of which you are familiar. Right now I still have 2 trail machines and Skidoo Elan.

My older son was the main rider, along with brother and his family. Since it’s low cost as a club member I sent for a WI trail pass. That said I do most riding in Baraga, Houghton, and Eastern Marquette Co, U.P.

My machines are older, lower miles, work fine. One a Yamaha 4-stroke, other a Skidoo 550F.

I’d say we are due for a ‘70’s type’ Winter. It wasn’t too long ago we had the ‘polar vortex’. My plan is to get the machines out of storage & go ever them a bit before cold temps.

I remember riding my neighbors Ski-doo in the 70s. They didn't look like that! It was like a tank. They have come a long way.

For you sledders looking at the Seney / Grand Marais area, I recommend the Fox River Motel. Nothing fancy but a clean, nice little family run operation in Seney.

As a lifelong southerner (mostly FL,) I can’t relate but they always look cool. Skidoo on the water was my thing so I can imagine. I’m assuming the pricing for snow craft is similar to comparable watercraft?

I've never ridden one. Nothing more than a light dusting down here in GA. But that looks Hella fun!

Standard protocol on the snowmobile is to ride with a few buddies then hit some fun trail stops. Of course any drunk driving infraction can bleed into your vehicle driving privileges or potentially work. Back the day I think snowmobiling was more associated with drinking than now. Of course, still a bit now.

A few companies recently got out of making snowmobiles, Yamaha is one, other Arctic Cat.

If one wears warm & wind proof clothing, you can be just fine in cold conditions.

Still plenty of drunks flying around on the trails. Machines have gotten way more powerful than what's needed and young kids are driving them with their thumb pressed to the handlebar. I had too many close calls with people that are driving on the edge of control on the trails. Made the decision to give it up.