Long Lake,
NY – Snowmobile registrations are lagging this year, and the
effect on New York States winter economy could be devastating.
For the last several years, warm Decembers have shortened the
snowmobile season. As a result, many have elected not to
register their sleds until the snow flies.
That
decision could jeopardize the more than 11,000 mile-long New
York State snowmobile trail system. Riders are being urged to
register their machines before December 1, 2007 to help increase
the amount of funding available to local clubs.
New York’s
snowmobile trails are funded directly from snowmobile
registration dollars. A snowmobile registration costs $100, $10
of which goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles. If the
registrant joins a New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA)
affiliated club, they are entitled to discounted registration at
just $45. Either way, the balance is deposited in a dedicated
Snowmobile Trail Fund, to be distributed to all-volunteer
snowmobile clubs across the state to help defray the costs of
their trail building and maintenance efforts. The grant monies
are distributed to local clubs in two separate disbursements
from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation (OPRHP)- one at the beginning of the season and the
other after the season ends in April.
As of
November 15,, only 24,000 snowmobiles are registered, compared
to last year, when there were over 130,000 registered
snowmobiles by the end of the season. .Only registrations filed
before the end of November, however, count towards this season’s
trail grant. This is why NYSSA is urging snowmobilers to join a
NYSSA club and register their snowmobiles now.
If
snowmobile registrations remain low, there will be very little
money available to be distributed to the clubs. “With the rising
cost of fuel across the state, many clubs are already feeling
the pinch” said Jim Jennings, Executive Director of NYSSA.
“Trail maintenance equipment, whether it’s a backhoe or a
groomer, requires fuel. The cost this year could be out of reach
for many clubs, without this grant money.”
Without
groomers to smooth out the snow, trails can become very rough
very quickly. This, combined with the high cost of fuel just to
get to the trails and to ride, could have a major effect on the
Upstate economy. “People are likely to take fewer trips this
year” said Bob Perry, NYSSA’s President. “Everyone’s budget is
just a little tighter. Following several ‘low-snow’ seasons, the
upstate businesses that depend on snowmobiling to survive could
be in serious trouble.”
According to
a study done by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation in 2003, snowmobiling has an estimated $875 million
dollar impact on the state’s economy.
“Join a club –
register today” Jennings continued. “NYSSA’s online membership
system makes it easy to join a local club and obtain the
official voucher needed to obtain the discounted $45
registration.” Snowmobile owners may go to the NYSSA Website to
register, at
https://membership.nyssnowassoc.org/ and can print their
voucher from the website.
