Many of you are familiar with the event, but few know its origins. It all started in April 2005 with five friends in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. It was a simple spring ride, and the weather was so nice and warm that we couldn’t keep our coats on when we took a break.
THE ORIGINS OF THE ACTIVITY
As we basked in the sun and sunbathed in our T-shirts on our snowmobiles, it was during lunch on that memorable day that the expression “Short Sleeve Ride” was born.
The experience was so enjoyable that I decided to organize the event on a regular basis. From one year to the next, the number of people we added to the invitation continued to grow. It therefore became imperative to organize a more official activity. Over time, the format of the event changed because the more people there were, the more difficult it became to ride together.
So we changed the format and offered several starting points so that we could get together for dinner, enjoy a friendly social gathering, and share with other enthusiasts. That is the main goal of the event: to get together and exchange ideas. It’s worth noting that during the activity, we all meet people who become friends. Some people will recognize themselves here!
We also have another goal, which is to have a minimal impact on the environment. We ask all participants to take their trash home with them. The principle is simple: if you have room to bring your kit, you have room to take your trash home. We expect all participants to behave respectfully, and so far we have never been disappointed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you.
People come from all over the province, and some have been attending the event for over 15 years. For many, this is their last hike of the season. It’s a great opportunity for them to meet people and enjoy the snow that is still abundant, even though the season has been over for several weeks in their region.
PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS
As the years go by, more and more snowmobilers offer to contribute to the event. Considering that the event has been growing for over 10 years, it’s obvious that I can’t do it alone, and I am very grateful to be able to count on the help of many people.
Simon Dufour has been in charge of the music component in recent years. Simon is a snowmobile enthusiast and is very involved. In addition to being a member of the board of directors of the Club Motoneige Saint-Raymond, he is also an operator and helps provide us with beautiful trails.
Over the last few editions, I would like to highlight the superb collaboration of my friends, volunteers, and clubs, the Association des motoneigistes de l’Arrière-Pays (AMAP) and the Saint-Raymond Snowmobile Club. We can also count on the participation and collaboration of my long-term test partners Polaris Snowmobiles and Pro Performance.
The bring-your-own-lunch format is much easier to manage, but providing a meal on site is a goal that is sometimes difficult to achieve. This presents several challenges since, with a few exceptions in the past, the activity does not take place at a location accessible by road. We therefore have to transport everything needed to prepare the meal, including the food. We also have to consider the complexity of estimating the approximate number of meals. All of this incurs expenses, and we must be able to cover our costs. It is also possible that the number of people expected to attend may be lower than anticipated. This means that we may have to absorb a deficit. The same applies if we are forced to cancel the event due to unfavorable weather or other reasons.
Trusting people can also take an unexpected turn. We have already had to deal with this situation, as the people who were supposed to take care of the meal from A to Z simply withdrew less than 48 hours before the event. So we switched to “hybrid” mode. The formula: bring your own lunch, and with the help of the Forêt Montmorency organization, they were able to offer us a choice of hot meals at a more than reasonable price.
CONSTRAINTS AND UNEXPECTED EVENTS
When organizing this type of activity, a host of unforeseen events can affect whether or not it takes place.
Weather
It is becoming increasingly difficult to set the date in advance. When there were fewer than 20 snowmobilers, it was easy to change the day, even at the last minute. One thing is certain: it is important for us that the event be held in April, ideally on the second or third weekend. We generally aim for the second weekend, as this gives us the option of postponing to the following week if necessary. However, with climate change, we understand that the weather is uncertain.
Trail conditions
All participants must understand that we can expect end-of-season conditions and that grooming is not guaranteed. However, when possible in the past, the Association des motoneigistes de l’Arrière-Pays (AMAP) and the Club Motoneige Saint-Raymond have brought out their groomers to provide us with better quality trails.
Access to the meeting place
We would like to have access to several starting points in order to spread out participants as much as possible and thus preserve the quality of the trails. We may be limited by the amount of snow on the ground, but this is beyond our control (see weather).
LOYAL AND FESTIVE SNOWMOBILERS
The presence of everyone and the originality of some participants make the event a success every year, regardless of the weather or the number of people in attendance. It’s very pleasant to walk among the group. The atmosphere is incredible, warm, and so friendly!
My long-term snowmobile testing partner for over 10 years, Pro Performance, has played a major role in the event for several years. A renowned company for over 35 years, the new management team brings great continuity and ensures that the future is secure. The founders can be proud.
On a few occasions, they took care of organizing the meal. Everything was offered at a very reasonable price to cover costs only. They also brought door prizes for raffles and a quantity of caps and hats to give to participants.
CONCLUSION
In some years, more than 400 snowmobiles and snowmobilers have participated in the activity. The event has grown so much that it has even attracted media attention.
Although many people inquire at the beginning of the season to find out when the event will take place, it is difficult to set the date so early. At this point, however, I can confirm that I am currently working on a new concept to reach even more snowmobilers. Details will be provided later this winter. We hope to see you there.
As the season begins, enjoy the trails safely and, above all, keep to the right!
JoAnn Winter, columnist
