ANTOIINETTE: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING FINALLY, SOME SNOW FELL THIS MORNING. DOUG: WE’RE GETTING ANOTHER WINTER TITLE THIS MORNING. BUT IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY MILD SEASON SO FAR. AND THAT CREATES SOME CHALLENGES FOR THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SNOWMOBILE BUSINESS. THE GRANITE COUNTRY HAS MORE THAN 7,000 MILES OF TRAILS AND MORE THAN 100 SNOWMOBILE CLUBS. WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES AND LACK OF SNOW, MANY TRACKS CANNOT BE USED AT THE MOMENT. DESPITE A SLOW START, MANY CLUBS SAY HOPE IS NOT LOST. >> THEY’VE SEEN THIS ALREADY, WE’VE ALL SEEN THIS ALREADY, SO WE’RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO FEBRUARY. DOUG: TALKING TO HIMSELF. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION SAYS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF WINTER SPORTS IS SOMEWHERE ABOUT $750 MILLION A YEAR. I FEEL FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALL THE GEAR THAT LIKE TO GET OUT THERE AND RIDE. ANTOIINETTE: BUSINESSES, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SKI RESORTS AND HOW DIFFICULT THEY WERE TO OPEN. GO O
A mild winter presents a challenge for the snowmobile business in New England
Updated: January 16, 2023 at 7:31 am EST
Many snowmobile trails in northern New England remain unopened this season, and the businesses that rely on them are trying to weather more snow. There are more than 7,000 miles of trails in New Hampshire and more than 100 clubs to choose from. Many, like the Belknap Snowmobile Club, are staffed by volunteers who spend months before the season clearing brush, building bridges and marking routes with signs. But this year’s cold temperatures and lack of snow and ice on the lakes make things difficult.”They’ve seen it before, we’ve all seen it before, so we’re all looking forward to February,” said Dan Gould, executive director of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association. Gould said that while you can’t control the weather, it’s hard for business. million annually. And in a 2-3 month period,” Gould said. “As a volunteer-driven industry, that’s pretty amazing. So hopefully it will turn around for everyone’s benefit.”
Many snowmobile trails in northern New England remain unopened this season, and the businesses that rely on them are trying to weather more snow.
There are more than 7,000 miles of trails in New Hampshire and more than 100 clubs to choose from.
Many, like the Belknap Snowmobile Club, consist of volunteers who clear brush, build bridges and mark routes with signs months before the season begins.
But this year’s low temperatures and the lack of snow and ice on the lakes make things difficult.
“They’ve seen this before, we’ve all seen it before, so we’re all looking forward to February,” said Dan Gould, executive director of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association.
Gould said that while you can’t control the weather, it’s hard for business.
“If you look at the snowmobile association, adjusted for inflation, the economic impact is somewhere around $750 million a year. And that’s over a 2-3 month period,” Gould said. “As a volunteer-driven industry, it’s pretty amazing. So hopefully it will change for everyone’s benefit.”