Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/4505
10 SNOWEST DECEMBER 2009 Letters To The Editor Letters To The Editor "You're Not As Daring As You Used To Be" Dear Editor: I'm sitting here writing this letter as my husband and his guy friends are out having the epic ride of their life, one of whom is on my sled. Why am I so upset you may ask? Last weekend we went on a poker run. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time with the new riders and did a little off-road stuff. However, as we were riding along, my husband pointed to an incline with tons of little trees and no turn out and told me to go. As I inspected it and tried to see what line I'd pick between all the little trees and where I would turn out, I shook my head "no." Not long after that we came to our first poker stop where he told me, "You're not as daring as you used to be." Those words have echoed in the back of my mind ever since. I really was hurt by this comment, but I didn't know why until today. Then it dawned on me. By a show of hands, guys, how was it that you came to be a good rider? I can guarantee it wasn't from road riding and every so often getting off the road. Let's face it … you had someone to take you into the backcountry where there were wide open spaces and room to make mistakes, room to practice hill- climbing, sidehilling, turn outs and all the necessary skills to climb anything "from the road." I just wonder how good you would be if all that you did was what you took your wife to do. The final straw was the words of encouragement he gave me before he left, "We are going tomorrow, just the family" (my eldest daughter has been once), "I don't understand why you're so upset." I feel a little lousy, but it had to be said. I told him I was upset be- cause I really wanted to ride with Rick (his guy friend and the one that made me love sledding) because he takes you places where you can practice and he knows his way around. His response was, "We're going to the same place we always go and I know my way around." There is something really wrong with that answer … and I'd love for anyone out there to tell my husband what it is. Frustrated and stagnant wife-rider Suzanne Via e-mail (ED—Well, I'm no marriage coun- selor ... but I'll bet there are plenty of our readers who would love to give "ad- vice." Let's keep it civil, though, folks.) Yamaha/Polaris Engine? Dear Editor: I love your magazine and love the new machines even though I can't af- ford one anymore. My last new sled was a 1981 MX Blizzard 5500. I only buy wornout sleds now and rebuild them. Anyway, the article in Volume 36, No.1 ["Change. Why?" SnoWest, Janu- ary, 2009, page 20] about the Yamaha Phazer, you wrote in the specs it has a Polaris engine. I'd love to have one of these ma- chines someday, but I'll wait 'til I find a fixer-upper like the ones I buy now. My son is mechanic at a Yamaha dealer that doesn't have demos for the staff, only the owners so I can't try one out. I bought a brand new sled from 1971 to 1981 but when they went past $2,000 I started getting used sleds. I've found Polaris to be the best, due to ease of parts. I would really love to try the new Phazer MTN, but it's the $$$$ again. Thanks for replying. Most mags don't that I read. Ken VanderBurg Barrhead, Alberta