Vendors that attended included:
- Pisten Bully by Track Inc with a PB 100 equipped for Nordic
- Bombardier by Aspen equipment with a BR180 and rubber tracks
- Tidd Tech with various groomers and new innovations
- Yellowstone Track Systems with the new Ginzu Groomer and gooseneck
- Alpina with the NEW dual-track Sherpa Snowmobile and new powertiller
- Ski-Doo by Ave’s Sport Center
- Cragin Groomers
- KRC Snow Paver
- Snow Implements is a dealer for YTS, Tidd Tech, Alpina and Xcskigroomers
The heated “Race Building” had tables for vendor’s displays, and had grooming video tapes playing during the 2 days. Vendors had over 80 pieces of grooming equipment on display and available for test drives.
Wednesday
8-9 AM registration coffee and rolls sponsored by Cross Country Skier Magazine
9-9:20 Tidd Tech: we learned about the Tidd Tech products from Phil Zink
9:20-9:40 YTS: we learned about the products from YTS from Doug Edgerton
9:40-10 Alpina we learned about the new 4 stroke Sherpa and tiller from Quirino Tironi
10-10:20 Cragin we learned about the aluminum Cragin Groomer from Bob Cragin
10:20-10:40-Ski-doo we learned about the Skandic SWT adjustments from Rick Slade
Artic Cat: we heard about the Bear Cat 4 Stroke from a owner groomer
Polaris: we heard the wide tracks from another owner/user
11:00-11:20 Bombardier (Thursday) we saw the BR 180 in Rubber low snow tracks
11:20-11:40 Pisten Bully we learned about the PB100 and Canyon from Greg Toomire
11:40-12:00 KRC Snow Paver we saw the new groomer from Russ Alger (demo 4 PM)
11:40-1:30 Pasty lunch sponsored by Track Inc at ABR and test drives
1:30-3:30 Lectures at the Erwin Townhall (½ mile down the road)
1:30 Low Snow Grooming Eric Anderson
2:00 Technical Grooming Doug Edgerton
2:30-3:30 Grooming Scenarios: Birkie 2002, low snow, hard snow, and icy snow
3:30-5:00 open skiing and grooming
6:30 –7:30 Social hour at Tacconellis sponsored by Yellowstone Track Systems
7:30-8:30 Dinner at Tacconelli’s sponsored by Snow Implements
8:30-9:00 Slide Show of The 2002 Olympics Behind the Scenes and the Grooming by Doug Edgerton, Chief of Course Preparation
9:00–9:10 Grooming Trivia Test and Prizes
Thursday
8-9 AM coffee and rolls sponsored by ABR and equipment viewing
9-12 test driving grooming equipment/ meet the vendors
Smaller Group Sessions
Beginner grooming meet in the Registration/Wax Barn
Snow Cat Maintenance by Greg Toomire Track Inc
Grooming from a skiers prospective by Phil Zink
Snow Science and Analyst by Russ Alger in the hardpack demo area
Analyzing the snow from a skier
Tracksetting “hardpack” demo behind the Registration/Wax Barn
Snowmobile pulling demonstrations: pulling 10,000 pounds by a dual track Alpina
“Loop de Loop” Steering tests of various snowmobiles by Dick Langer
Wiring your snowmobile for an actuator in the Registraton Barn by Eric Anderson
Lunch at Tacconelli’s Restaurant sponsored by Alpina
Lectures at Tacconelli’s in downtown Ironwood
1:00-1:30 Grooming Costs $5.05 /mile to groom with a snowmobile and 4 Implements
1:30-2:00 Safety- Trail design policy and grooming by Eric Anderson
2:00-3:00 More Grooming Scenarios
3:00 load and go… or stay and ski
What did we learn?
Snowmobile 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.
Why is snow density important and how to measure it.
Roll snow with a roller with ridges to farm snow blown across the trail.
Snowmobiles have a wide variety of turning circles (demo).
When do you roll or drag?
Adjust your suspension so your machine turns (demo).
When not to set a track on a curve, intersection or hill.
How speed relates to the grooming operation.
Conserve snow on the sides of the trail for when you really need it.
Don’t groom your snow too hard, too fast.
A hardpacked icy surface can be groomed inot a skiable suraface (demo).
How to set tracks in a thin base.
The “Shovel” is your best friend when you get stuck. (“hands on” demo).
How much weight is optimum for tracking.
The most dense part of the trail is where your groomers tracks go;’ alternate this position.
How to know if your fan cooled snowmobile is hot.
Wire actuators on your snowmobiles to optimize your implements efficiency.
Safety is a top priority in grooming and trail design.
When to groom….. and when not to groom.
What liquid cooled machines work for grooming and why?
Mount your electric actuators switches in a convenient location and fused.
Pull dry snow up from deep down when you have icy conditions.
What a skier likes for a track position on the trail.
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