This past season has been one of the most entertaining for me at OSM. Of course it all evolves around riding sleds; it’s what we do here. We’re riders! Each year there are a few rides that seem to stand out over others. As usual, that always seems to include my ride with Ross Antworth across New Brunswick, but this year to my surprise, Snow Shoot 2011 was just as memorable.
Riding with Ross over the years has given me many great memories and stories to share. OSM’s Warren Geer made the short list again, as did NBFSC’s President, Leon Bourque. New guy Dan Cain joined us, as well as my very good friend Harold McCann. It was important to me to have Harold out on the trails with us after missing last year’s ride. Big miles, lots of territory and unforgettable scenery were covered on our tour. The trails were amazing and so was the terrain, but what really made this trip stand out was our group of riders. It’s amazing how the company you roll with can make or break the trip. Sure, the trails and snow conditions help, but when we stopped, it was the company and the laughs that made it one of the best rides of the year.
Snow Shoot 2011 is a great ride but it’s also hard work. I imagine many people are shaking their heads right now, as this would seem like the ride of a lifetime. It certainly is, but there is a lot of planning and organizing involved. Being given the opportunity to ride new prototype snowmobiles from all four manufacturers, in such picturesque mountain settings is a pleasure, but with this comes work. We need to get the right photos and impressions from our group of riders, and our editorial team has many critical decisions to make around the editorial line up for the following publishing year. It’s work alright, with a little bit of fun.

Believe it or not, I’ve been attending Snow Shoot for about 20 years now, visiting some of the most amazing places. There were a few years where we had five snowmobile manufactures at Snow Shoot, with AD Boivin/Snow Hawk, but model year 2011 was by far one of the best. This recent 2011 shoot had us out in West Yellowstone, Montana. The usual suspects were in attendance; OSM’s Pat, Big Virg, Edwards and I. Joining our team in Montana was Jeff Steenbakkers, Taera McLean and Mr. Joe Parsons. This group sure was entertaining, and a lot of good times were had by all. The riding was just like it has been over the years, extremely intense. We’re always doing our best to get that perfect shot, while taking in the experience.
The snowmobile manufacturers did a great job this year organizing the event, making it a great success. It was well managed, providing all of the media outlets a great time. Our media group of magazines and websites worked well together and we all enjoyed each other’s company. It could become difficult if groups don’t put in the effort to work together to ensure that everyone receives the chance to get needed photos. Enjoying ourselves as much as we did proves that “it’s the company you keep that makes the ride.”  Next season’s photography and editorial layout will reflect this.

Thank you to our entire team at OSM for a great year! Thank you to our friends we were able to ride with this year, and to the team of manufacturers for another great event. It’s not always about the kilometers piled on, or about the terrain and scenery. Sometimes it’s about the company you keep that can make the ride worthwhile.
Take care this summer and we’ll see you on the trails in no time. Until then, I’ll be counting the days down until the next snowmobile event!


Richard