In Bathurst - Caraquet on March 3rd to 5th approximately 40 Club President volunteers, Past Presidents of the NBFSC, Directors of the NBFSC and Corporate guests gathered to ride on the 4th annual Irving Oil President's Ride. The original President's Ride was the vision of Carl Smidt, NBFSC President from 1999-2001. The ride has become a means to thank all of the hardest working and most dedicated volunteers in the NBFSC; the individuals who have, or will, and do occupy the tireless position as NBFSC President or one of our 54 member Club Presidents.

There are many individuals and corporations who support the NBFSC's vision including of course Irving oil and the snowmobile manufacturers. Originally the 2006 Irving Oil President's Ride was scheduled for January, but with the weirdest winter anyone can remember for years, we rescheduled. Unfortunately this rescheduling prevented the attendance of two of the most supportive individuals who were going to ride with us in January, Rick Lingley, the District Sales Manager for BRP - Ski Doo and Pat Hicks, the District Sales Manager for Yamaha Motor Canada. As part of BRP - Ski Doo and Yamaha's Corporate Partnerships, they have provided Safety and Media sleds to the NBFSC for the 2005-2006 season. Both of these sleds accompanied the President's Ride; thank-you Rick and Pat and we look forward to you joining us next year.

At this year's Irving Oil President's Ride, we were joined by three of the seven Past-Presidents of the NBFSC. Hymie Surkis of Bathurst, Bob Walsh of Miramichi and Carl Smidt of Penobsquis were all in attendance. Other Past-Presidents who were not able to attend were; Mr. Greg Green, Mr. John Labonville, Mr. Gilbert LeBlanc and Mr. Stuart Blair. We hope to have all 7 Past-Presidents attend during the NBFSC's 25th Anniversary celebrations in 2006-2007.

A special thank-you to the club's trails we used and to the group leaders Jean Claude Lanteigne, Richard Cormier and Leon Bourque. We traveled primarily on NBFSC Provincial # 19, maintained by the Nepisiguit Sports Lodge club and Club Motoneige Nord Est and returned from Caraquet on local club trails maintained by Nord Est and Club Motoneige Paquetville. In all the riders completed just over 280 kilometers on Saturday.

Upon returning to the Auberge Atlantic Host Hotel, a longtime Corporate Partner and friend of the NBFSC, the riders were all present at the Irving Oil President's evening dinner. John McLellan, President and Ross Antworth, General Manager, brought greetings and gratitude to all the volunteers present on behalf of the NBFSC and also on behalf of Mr. Terry Small, Irving Oil Ltd., Portsmouth, N.H.

The Irving Oil President's Ride has now successfully run for four consecutive seasons. The event was developed to say thank-you to first the 54 member club Presidents and volunteers, but also to expand and grow our longstanding partnership with Irving Oil Ltd. So again, on behalf of the NBFSC's Board of Directors and 54 Club Presidents, we express a gracious thank you to Irving Oil Ltd., our "Exclusive Partner" since 2002. Thank you to everyone involved and we look forward to seeing you again in 2007, at the NBFSC's 25th Anniversary.

For further information and/or comment, contact;
Ross Antworth,
General Manager, NBFSC
Tel: (506) 325-2625 or ross@nb.aibn.com.

Well when I find myself writing this note Christmas and New Years Celebrations are already behind us, so lets get some sledding done.

Just when we thought we hit the all time low on Trail Pass sales, we had another devastating temporary drop in sales. I personally asked everyone I saw, that I knew snowmobiled in previous years if they bought their Trail Pass and was surprised to learn what I heard for answers. Was out of town never returned home until Friday Dec 16/05 and was already a day late, not much snow last couple of years, thought I would wait until we had some snow, out of 12-14 guys I asked these are the only two answers I received ,well we have some snow now so lets go get your pass.

The volunteer clubs can use the extra $50.00 so let me be the one to thank you guys for the extra funding. If you think you are going to get away without buying a pass this year, well I hope you don't get caught, or if you do don't complain to me or anyone else about having to buy your pass @ 180.00 plus HST and then pay the fine of 168.00.

Remember last year we did some experimenting on RCMP enforcement, well its ready to go this year and I have had a commitment from " J '' Division we will receive all the enforcement we want from every district we want so if the volunteers of each club think there are a lot of free loaders out there I urge you to contact your Zone Director for advice on how to receive some enforcement for your area. Was out sledding believe it or not Friday, Sat, Sun , and Monday, was early so I was also cutting some bushes out of the way for the groomer to get through easier, when a fellow sledder came along and said what are you doing cutting bushes I thought you were the President of this organization. Well folks I told him I was a volunteer same as hundreds of other people, so I urge you to rather than complain about trails, be the first one to call your club President and offer to also volunteer your services as well rather than complain. Until next time happy sledding and remember there are some things you should not do alone sledding is one of those them, keep safe hope to see you on the trail.

John McLellan
NBFSC President

Oh boy, one year has passed since I became NBFSC President. I hope Environment Canada is wrong with their predictions of not a lot of snow this winter. The Farmers Almanac predicts lots of the white stuff for this winter! Oh well, we will take whatever comes our way. If you haven't already heard, we are the first Snowmobile Federation in Canada to have our insurance rates drop. It is the first time in seven years, I hope this is good luck. On the marketing side we are discussing a lot of new ideas, stay tuned I shall keep you posted as they hopefully become a reality. Until then hope to see you on the trails!

John McLellan
NBFSC President

Of all the recreational vehicles produced and available in Canada, the motorcycle has the longest history and lifespan. The buzzword since the middle 1990's is powersports so lets clarify what we mean. The recreational vehicle dealerships that market themselves as powersports dealers usually sell motorcycles, off-road cycles, dual-purpose or enduro bikes, snowmobiles, ATVs, and personal watercraft as well as other product lines from lawnmowers and chainsaws to boats and outboards. (I know boats have been around longer than motorcycles but hang in with me.)

Motorcycles or street bikes and cruisers, as the faithful hail them, have been around for 100 years plus. Ever hear of Harley Davidson? Off-road cycles that are labeled as dirt bikes, moto-cross and enduros, I am not certain, but couldn't have been far behind. Snowmobiles take their place as 50-year plus cousins. Honda started the ATV business, albeit 3-wheelers sometime in the late1970's and after a false start by Sea-Doo, also in the 1970's, Kawasaki (Jet Skis) is generally credited with the first wave of personal watercraft growth in the next decade.

Motorcycles, only younger than boats, have a distinct advantage over all the other powersports. Why? Well l will admit it; I give you the answer with a tinge of jealousy inherent; the motorcycle has a publicly (tax-based) funded highway (trail) system. No other powersport's enthusiasts have the benefit of enjoying their recreational passion on a trail system built with your neighbour's dollars. Maybe in the next 50-years we can change this.

No surprise then, whether you own a motorcycle or not it is generally accepted that motorcycles, while primarily purchased for recreation and pleasure, can travel all the places that you do in the family's mini-van.

Motorcycle owners and snowmobile owners enjoy their passion similarly, that is, they travel extensively and from other Provinces and States. They also generally come from similar demographic bases, higher than average incomes, above average educations and an average age over 40 years. They may already have their mortgage paid, they may be a business-owner and they likely have above average disposable income.

They use their motorcycle and snowmobile for vacations. These vacations are numerous weekend trips; and could be with their riding buddies or sweetheart. They also use their motorcycle and snowmobile for extended vacations; one and two week jaunts and the really dedicated enthusiasts commit the whole month of August, or February, depending on their type of business, to the 'trails'.

They carry limited personal belongings, cell phones, maps, maybe a "Blackberry", and sufficient money. Almost standard handwarmers and some heated seats are for the very best. Camps are fun but two days without a shower does not interest these riders. Resorts, hotels and sometimes motels, but accommodations are a must to see the country and reward the senses. No lunches in the cooler, unless it is a romantic weekend picnic and the use of alcohol while riding was put to bed more than a decade ago.

They care most about the ride. They are not interested in a trail, that is not really a trail. They want a certain sense of security. They do not complain about the cost of their ride, the associated fees and understand that it costs money to produce the experience. They expect and want to see enforcement (security) and understand that personal liability insurance is not optional. They also know that the least expensive part of their whole vacation, whether for two days or one month, is their trail pass and/or license.

A snowmobiler experiences his pleasure primarily on the endless efforts of hundreds of volunteers that he or she does not even know. A motorcyclist experiences his pleasure with his own money but primarily, and this is really the only major difference, on a publically funded system not dependent on volunteers.

However, the snowmobiler and the motorcyclist are more likely to be one in the same. They travel, they spend and they are socially respected and accepted. Last and very important they are a godsend for tourism economies, winters and summer.

The Province of New Brunswick has an opportunity to be a part of this commonality. Please ensure you explain it to them, especially if you are a motorcyclist or snowmobiler. We are almost the same.

Ross Antworth,
General Manager, NBFSC

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