Grooming – Page 11

January 18, 2007September 16, 2009

Grooming Economics

Conserving Snow and Money
Budget and Weather
Goals: Race/Event Grooming; Touring Center; Resort with Guests; Ski Club; Back Yard Trail; Municipality Park on a budget
Weekly grooming/contract: Empty Resort
Decisions

January 4, 2006September 16, 2009

2006 Grooming Clinic Agenda

This year ABR will again be hosting the Midwest Grooming Clinic, Wednesday and Thursday Jan 18 and 19^th 2006. The format will be set the same as we have had the last 4 years.

What is a Grooming Clinic?

For those of you who have not heard of the Clinic, let me try to describe it as a combination of a Clinic, Seminar, Workshop, Trade Show, and Show and Tell. You can take part, demo equipment, exchange ideas with the pro’s and vendors or you can browse the demo’s and watch and listen to the presentations. Groomers from the most experienced to novices are invited and have attended. Even veteran groomers will learn something if they keep an open mind. Speakers are invited from all over the country. Dress warm for the outdoor mornings and cooler for the afternoon indoor talks. Don’t forget to bring your ski clothes!

Costs/Meals

The cost for the Clinic is $150/person, This includes rolls and coffee and lunch both days and the Wed night dinner.

We will have free ski rentals and beginner ski instruction for all registered participants.

Lodging

Book your lodging and ask for the groomers clinic discount.

ABR Trailside Lodging 906-932-3502 Classic Motor Inn 906-932-2000

Black River Lodge 906-932-3857 The Montreal Inn B & B 715-561-5180

Indianhead Motel 906-932 2031 Anton-Walsh House B&B 715-561-2065

Invited Clinic Vendors to be confirmed.

Pisten Bully with new innovations from PB ©
Bombardier by Aspen Equipment with a Bombardier groomer
Tidd Tech with the NEW G2 groomers and new innovations ©
Yellowstone Track Systems with the NEW Ginzu Groomer and gooseneck©
Alpina with the NEW dual-track Sherpa Snowmobile and powertiller©
Xcskigroomers with the Sno Razor groomer and cutter bar
Ski-Doo by Ave’s Sport Center©
KRC Snow Paver
Snow Implements …. A dealer for YTS, Tidd Tech, Alpina and Trakor©
Northland Equipment with Arctic Cat and John Deere ©
Wildcat by Cushman
Kubota by Lulich©
Artic Cat factory
Polaris factory
Yamaha factory
Kawasaki factory
Payeur Inc by Metavic©
Honda
Kimpex Tracks TJD ©

There were many sales as a result of the Clinic. Vendors did sell their demos and we are encouraging this year’s vendors to load up their trucks and trailers for the Clinic.

The heated “Race Building” will again house tables for vendor’s displays, and will have grooming video tapes playing during the 2 days.

Tentative Schedule

Wed January 18^th

8- 9:00 Registration coffee and rolls sponsored by Kubota- Lulich Implements

9- 12:00 Vendor Demos 15-20minutes /vendors on snow and demos following

12:00-1:30 Pasty lunch (and test drives) sponsored by Yellowstone Track Systems

1:30-2:00 Snow Cat Grooming Paul Swanson

2:00-2:30 Grooming from a Skiers Prospective Ken Hazel

2:30-3:00 Repairing ATV Trail Damage Bruce Slinkman

3:00-3:30 Snow Grooming with an ATV Doug Edgerton

3:30-4:00 Early Season Grooming Eric Anderson

4:00-5:00 Open skiing and demo of grooming equipment

6:30 –7:30 Social hour and vendors indoor table displays at Tacconellis 215 S. Suffolk St in Downtown Ironwood. Social hour sponsored by Tidd Tech

7:30-8:30 Dinner at Tacconelli’s sponsored by Snow Implements

8:30-9:00 Presentation

9:00–9:10 Grooming Trivia Test and Prizes

Thursday Jan 19th

8-9 AM registration coffee and rolls sponsored by Ski-doo- Aves Motor Center

9:00-10:00 Grooming competitions on ice and on deep snow

10:00 Snow Cat Renovator demonstration

10:15:-11:00 Snowmobile pulling competition and turning radius testing

10-11:00 Grooming 101 (Chalkboard Discussion) in the Lunch Room at ABR

11-12:00 Basic grooming on snow

12:00-1:00 Bratwursts on the grill sponsored by Pisten Bully

1:30-2:30 Setting up your Skandic SWT for grooming in the heated workshop

1:30-2:30 Tracksetting on snow

2:30-3:00 Grooming Scenarios

3:30-5:00 Open skiing and grooming

3:00 load and go… or stay and ski

This tentative schedule is being developed and details and specifics subject to change. Watch the website for updates. The general time slots will remain the same.

Bring your used equipment that you have for sale or a photo and ad to post on the FOR SALE board at the clinic!

April 2, 2005September 16, 2009

Setting Your Snowmobile Up for Grooming

Typical Heavy Duty Work Snowmobiles

Ski-doo Skandic SWT, Yamaha VK Professional, Ski-doo Skandic SWT V800, the 2009 Polaris Widetrack IQ.

Medium Duty Utility Snowmobiles

Arctic Cat Bearcat, Ski doo TUV and SUV, Polaris Widetrack, Yamaha Viking

Light Duty Utility Snowmobiles

Arctic Cat Panther, Ski doo Tundra and many 2 up touring sleds. The 2 up sleds mean that they have a long track for extra traction. Cooling systems need to be evaluated for your groomer and grooming conditions. Gearing the snowmobile down is an option with low gears in the chain case.

Decide on your groomer

First you need to decide on what type of groomer you will be pulling. For example a 3 foot wood drag or bedspring will not require the same type of machine that a 108 inch Ginzu groomer will.

Set up

The snowmobile must pull a 200-300 lb groomer with up to 1500 pounds of pulling resistance due to the groomer teeth or knives, and carried snow, while maintaining, traction, steering, Traction requirements are a wide and long track with a medium size lug that is able to be studded for ice. Suspension requirements include a stiff rear suspension that does not squat with the weight of the groomer but delivers adequate ski pressure for steering. The suspension does not need to be soft for dampening bumps because trail grooming is done on a relatively smooth surface.

Read the owners manual or follow the Grooming DVD to set up your suspension for maximum steering and traction.

The low speeds require low gearing and low rpm clutch engagements to prevent belt burning. The low speed application of grooming requires a transmission with low gearing. Wide ratio clutches have been tried unsuccessfully. Many chain cases and some transmissions have replacement gears to gear the snowmobile down for low speed operation. Clutches are also rebuildable for low speed engagement.

The cooling systems must either be fan cooled or liquid cooled with a radiator and fan. The typical heat exchanger under the tunnel and floor boards does not provide enough cooling in slow grooming operations on hard surfaces without loose snow present . Special devices on the back of the skis have been tried unsuccessfully to spray snow on to the heat exchangers. Scratchers for the rails do work in providing extra snow on the track for the hi fax and for the coolers. Additional holes in the hood and belly pan provide extra cooling air. A temperature gauge and a manual switch to turn on the electric fan can be a big help to monitor cooling issues before the machine over heats.

Modern trail grooming implements have had electric actuators as standard equipment, the grooming implement has two to three actuators standard with each actuator drawing 20 to 30 amps and consisting of a reversible twelve volt electric motor. The ideal grooming machine has a twelve volt battery and charging system, able to keep with these electric loads. Many options are available to wire in your groomer.

You can use a stand alone battery and switch system that is movable form one machine to another. This system requiress charging the battery and adds extra weight to your machine.
You can tie into the vehicle wiring to get power from your machine battery and hard wire switches in to the console or dash.
You can tie into the vehicle wiring to get power from your machine battery have a connecot to the removable switch box that is attached to your steering handle bars with tie wraps or velcroe

A heavy duty pintle hitch is also a requirement. These are available from Dennis Kirk or from your dealer.

October 29, 2004September 16, 2009

2005 Grooming Clinic Agenda

This year ABR will again be hosting the Midwest Grooming Clinic. The format will be set up a bit different this year. We will have the standard grooming clinic, like we have had the last 4 years, on March 1-2, 2005, Tuesday and Wednesday. We will also have a one day “hands-on” Workshop on January 11^th, 2005, Tuesday. The workshop will be limited to 20 people and once the Tuesday Workshop is full we will schedule one for Wednesday, and Thursday if needed.

What is a Grooming Clinic?

What is a Grooming Workshop?

The workshop is a new format for this season. We will limit participation to 20 groomers/day for more individual attention and smaller group size. You can watch, listen, take part, demo equipment, and exchange ideas. Vendors are not being invited to display or sell equipment at the workshop, but will be attending the Clinic in March. The purpose of the Workshop is more grooming oriented and not sales or trade show based. All of the snowmobile pulled grooming implements will still be available for demo along with 3 – 4 models of snowmobiles. A Snow Cat with a blade and renovator will also be available. We will concentrate more on beginning grooming. There will be an indoor session on the SWT and implement wiring and steering improvements. There will also be a chalkboard discussion on grooming techniques using the snowmobiles and implements.

Costs/Meals

The cost for the March Clinic is $150/person, or $175 if registered after January 1, 2005. This includes rolls and coffee and lunch both days and the March 1st dinner.

The cost for the January Workshop is $100/person. This includes rolls and coffee and lunch.

We will have free ski rentals and beginner ski instruction for all registered participants.

Lodging

Book your lodging and ask for the groomers discount.

Indianhead Motel 906-932 2031 Sandpiper Motel 906-932-2000

Black River Lodge 906-932-3857 Regal Country Inn 906-229-5122

The Montreal Inn B & B 715-561-5180 Anton-Walsh House B&B 715-561-2065

Ski House Rentals 800-900-3620 x-03 ABR Trailside Lodging 906-932-3502

2005 ABR Midwest Grooming Workshop

Tenative Schedule

Tuesday January 11^th

6-8 AM Groom the ABR trails with Eric and Rick (by advanced appointment)

8- 9:00 Registration coffee and rolls

9- 10:00 Walk through of the grooming implements available (on snow)

10-11:00 Grooming 101 (Chalkboard Discussion) in the Lunch Room at ABR

11-12:00 Basic grooming on snow

12:00-1:30 Pasty lunch at ABR and test drives

1:30-2:30 Setting up your Skandic SWT for grooming in the heated workshop

1:30-2:30 Tracksetting on snow

2:30-3:30 Grooming Scenarios in the lunch room at ABR

3:30-5:00 Open skiing and demo of grooming equipment

2005 ABR Midwest Grooming Clinic

Tenative Schedule

Tuesday March 1^st

8-9 AM registration coffee and rolls sponsored by _________

9- 12:00 Vendor Demos 15-20minutes /vendor on snow

11:40-1:30 Pasty lunch sponsored by _________ at ABR and test drives

1:30-2:30 Grooming Lectures at the Erwin Townhall (½ mile down the road)

2:30-3:30 Grooming Scenarios

3:30-5:00 open skiing and grooming

6:30 –7:30 Social hour and vendors indoor table displays at Tacconellis 215 S. Suffolk St in Downtown Ironwood. Social hour sponsored by _____________

7:30-8:30 Dinner at Tacconelli’s sponsored by _________

8:30-9:00 Presentation

9:00–9:10 Grooming Trivia Test and Prizes

Wednesday

6-8 AM optional grooming teams hands on

8-9 AM coffee and rolls sponsored by ___________and equipment viewing

9-12 test driving grooming equipment/ meet the vendors

Smaller Group Sessions

8:45 – 9:45 Beginner grooming; meet in the Registration/Wax Barn

9:00-11:00 smaller group lectures and discussions

10:30-11:30 snowmobile pulling power and steering demonstrations in the parking lot

11:30-12 tracksetting “hardpack” demo behind the Registration/Wax Barn

12:00-1:00 lunch at Tacconelli’s Restaurant sponsored by _________

1:00-3:00 lectures at Tacconelli’s in downtown Ironwood

1:00-2:00 Grooming lectures

2:00-3:00 Grooming Scenarios

3:00 load and go… or stay and ski

This tentative schedule is being developed and details and specifics subject to change. Watch the website for updates. The general time slots will remain the same.

March Clinic Vendors to be confirmed.

Pisten Bully by _______ with new innovations from PB
Bombardier by Aspen equipment with a Bombardier groomer?
Tidd Tech with the NEW G2 groomers and new innovations?
Yellowstone Track Systems with the NEW Ginzu Groomer and gooseneck

5. Alpina with the NEW dual-track Sherpa Snowmobile and NEW powertiller

6. Xcskigroomers with the NEW Sno Razor groomer and cutter bar?

7. Ski-Doo by Ave’s Sport Center?

8. KRC Snow Paver?

9. Snow Implements …. A dealer for YTS, Tidd Tech, Alpina and Trakor

10. Northland Equipment with Arctic Cat and John Deere?

11. Wildcat by Cushman?

12. Kubota by Lulich?

13. Artic Cat?

14. Polaris?

15. Yamaha?

16. Kawasaki?

There were many sales as a result of the Clinic. Vendors did sell their demos and we are encouraging this year’s vendors to load up their trucks and trailers for the Clinic.

The heated “Race Building” will again house tables for vendor’s displays, and will have grooming video tapes playing during the 2 days.

Bring your used equipment that you have for sale or a photo and ad to post on the FOR SALE board at the clinic!

February 16, 2004September 16, 2009

2004 ABR Midwest Grooming Clinic

What did we learn?

Generalizations:

Fresh snow has air in it. Your job is to get the air out of the snow so it will adhere better to itself and older (base) snow. This is a time consuming process in which results are often not seen until the next day.
It is almost always best to mix older snow with fresh snow-thus just packing (rolling) snow will not do a good as job as adding work with a renovator.
Snow on regularly groomed ski trails will better withstand heat and traffic (skiers) than snow on ungroomed or irregularly groomed ski trails.
Best results occur when grooming occurs at or below 32 degrees.
Multiple passes over the trails are normally required
Track setting is normally done last if you are doing the full width of the trail.
Track setting works best if set the tracks and let them sit overnight before skiers use them.

Equipment:

“State of the Art” (2004) Nordic ski trail grooming equipment represents a significant improvement over similar equipment 10 years ago but a dedicated ski trail groomer using older equipment will have more success than undedicated ski trail groomer using ultra-modern equipment.
Nordic Ski Trail grooming speeds are normally in the 5-10 mph range. Faster speeds normally do not produce better results. Track setting may require speeds of 5 mph or less!
Skidoo Wide Track (24 inch) Skanda is the most widely used snowmobile for Nordic ski trail grooming. Purposes. It also has a known weakness with its generator and reports of it blowing up exist.
There is a growing trend to utilize a second battery (secured in the rear rack area of the snowmobile) to run the various electrical actuators found on ultramodern grooming equipment. Ultramodern grooming equipment has 2-3 electric actuators and manufactures are exploring the possibility of adding more in the future. You will need to learn how to wire in the implements to this second battery. If you use the accessory outlet on your snowmobile to run the electrical implements on the grooming machine, expect fuses to blow and items on your snowmobile to malfunction.
Most experience groomers are adding weight to the front of their snowmobile and adjusting (raising) the height of their rear suspension to improve steering when using an implement off the back of the snowmobile. These operators are also switching to aftermarket skis in which dual or triple carbines or runners are featured. All of these adjustments are normally required when using ultramodern equipment due to the increased length of the ultramodern equipment.
Compaction drags usually only work well with snowmobiles when there is less than 3 inches of snow on the trail.
Operating costs for a Pisten Bully or similar type of snowcat machine are approximately $65 hour. Snowmobile operating costs have been documented to be one-fifth the cost of using a snowcat. These costs include labor.

Fresh Snow:

The goal is to keep the fresh snow under your equipment in an attempt to pack it. If you are pushing the snow out and away from your equipment, you need to make some adjustments to your grooming implement including the possibility of slowing down the speed of your machine!

Normally it is best to use multiple passes over the ski trail by first starting in the middle and then alternating sides. This will help the center of the ski trail develop an increased base.
Rollers can be used with every new snowfall for packing packing purposes but some groomers prefer to restrict the use of rollers to very early season usage or when the ski trails receive 5 inches or more of unpacked snowfall. The reason behind this? The “Time Factor” is one reason as the use of rollers should be followed with use of other implements. It is felt most other modern implements can easily handle 4-5 or less inches of unpacked snowfall without rolling first.
Rolling the trails needs to be followed by use of a compaction drag and/or renovating device in an attempt to further break-down the snowflakes, remove additional air and to level the trails.
Use of snow flaps (items attached to the implements that are used to pull snow into the center of the implement) is commonly utilized on modern implements (G2 and YTS). The snow flaps also help “tumble” the snow which break the snowflake down so it can better adhere to other snowflakes and make a harder trail surface.
It is best to set “tracks” and let them harden overnight rather than setting tracks at 8:00am.
If less than two inches of snow will fall during the day, you do not have to regroom the ski trails. However, if a day long storm is to occur, it is best to groom thru the snowfall in an attempt to prevent producing a hard surface layer over many inches of soft snow.

Old Snow (no fresh snow on your trails):

Goal is to scarify a small amount of surface snow. A challenging goal when your ski base is not thick. Experience operators will often resort to home-made items in an attempt to deal with the situation.
It is often impossible to set track in low base conditions.
You do not have to always reset track
Having wide trails allows one to pull snow in off the side of the trails to improve conditions.
Just rolling existing snow will lead to multiple “bumps” on your trails. You must scarify and mix this with the existing base to produce satisfying results.

Off-Season Work:

Snow can melt from the ground upward. It is important to remove rocks, leaves and branches from your trail system in an attempt to drive the frost/cold further into the ground. These items will act as insulators to prevent the frost from being driven into the ground and will melt the snow from the ground upward even if the air temperature is below freezing.
If you cover problem areas of the trail system with logs, hay, insulator boards or wood chips, you are also insulating the ground from the frost and encouraging snow to melt from the ground upward. You should always attempt to cover these items with several inches of dirt and grass seed in an attempt to correct problem areas.

If you leave your trail system covered with leaves and sticks, don’t expect low snow skiing conditions. Off season work strongly effects the condition of snow on the trails.

From PACCA

Grooming is expensive at $5.05/mile, make the most of it.

Skiing across the parking lot is the most dangerous part of the trail (even though Doug Edgerton sets tracks across the parking lot every clinic)

Grooming deep snow takes many passes with a snowmobile.

Roll snow with a roller with ridges to farm snow blown across the trail.

Conserve snow on the sides of the trail for when you really need it.

Don’t groom your snow too hard, too fast.

The “Shovel” is your best friend when you get stuck.

The most dense part of the trail is where your groomers tracks go, alternate this position.

Wire actuators on your snowmobiles to optimize your implements efficiency

Pull dry snow up from deep down when you have icy conditions.

An ugly shallow scratched in reset track is safer than an old icy, firm, pretty track.

Mark your calendars for next year’s clinic Jan 14-15, 2004

A 45 minute highlights video is available from the 2002 Clinic