This year ABR will again be hosting the Midwest Grooming Clinic endorsed by the CCSAA on January 16th and 17th, 2002, Wednesday and Thursday.

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. Even veteran groomers will learn something if they keep an open mind and ear.

Changes from last year....
There will be some small changes to the program based on feedback from groomers and vendors.
* Wednesday morning will consist of organized large group demos 1 vendor at a time.
* Individual demos and hands on during the Thursday morning session will be broken into smaller groups
* We will have an "iced down" trail for icy condition demos.
* We will separate the vendors in the stadium and warm up loop areas (on snow in the flats and on a hill).
* We will concentrate more on recreational skiing grooming techniques in the lectures.
* We will have a beginner groomer hands on group lesson.
* We will have free ski rentals and beginner ski instruction for all registered participants.

Costs/Meals/Lodging
The cost for the clinic is $100/person, or $125 if registered after January 9th. This includes rolls and coffee and lunch both days and the Jan 16th dinner. The Social hour is sponsored by Track Inc (the Pisten Bully Dealer). The dinner is included in all groomer and vendor registration fees. We will also have discounted lodging available. Book your lodging early and ask for the groomers discount. Indianhead Motel 906-932 2031, Sandpiper Motel 906-932-2000, Black River Lodge 906-932-3857.

In the Press
Last year we had very good coverage and reviews from CCSAA, Skinnyski.com, Silent Sports writer Ron Bergin, and various Nordic Web sites. Ron's story "Gabble of Groomers" was a feature article run in Silent Sports in November 2001. Cross Country Skier Magazine also ran a feature article in the November 2001 issue. Our database of groomers is growing, now including over 330 groomers and grooming vendors.

Press Release: ALPINA in the MIDWEST!
ABR Trails will be an Alpina Twin Track Distributor/Dealer in the Midwest. We will be setting up as a distributor for the Alpina snowmobile and power-tiller. The equipment is manufactured in Italy and imported by Sam Geisse Engineering in Pennsylvania. The large twin track snowmobile and pull behind power-tiller fits a common need in between the typical work snowmobile and the snowcat. Come to the clinic and see for yourself.

We are in the process of finalizing the speakers and vendors. There will be some new speakers and new topics. We have 10 vendors committed, 7 undecided and 4 we have not heard from. We do not want to delay the mailing of the registration waiting for others, you can follow our Web site. www.skiabr.com for other vendors as they commit.

Confirmed Vendors


1. Pisten Bully by Track Inc with a new PB 100 demo equipped for Nordic
http://www.trackinc.com


2. Bombardier by Aspen equipment with a BR 180
http://www.aspenequipment.com


3. Tidd Tech with various groomers and new innovations
http://www.tiddtech.com


4. Yellowstone Track Systems with the new Ginzu Groomer
http://www.yellowstonetrack.com


5. Alpina with the NEW Twin Track Snowmobile and powertiller
http://www.alpina-snowmobiles.com


6. Trakor by xcskigroomers.com a new track-setter
http://www.xcskigroomers.com


7. Ski-Doo by Ave's Sport Center
http://www.bombardier.com


8. JACA by First Tracks of Thunder Bay Canada
http://www.jacatrax.com


9. ASV's Track Truck by Duffy's Sales
http://posi-track.com

10. Bachler by YTS with a renovator

Unconfirmed Vendors
Falline, Polaris,Yamaha, Arctic Cat, Mattracks, Argo, Prinoth, Walker Grooming, Cragin, Marcel, VMC,

There were many sales as a result of the Clinic; We purchased a new PB 100, a YTS/Bachelor track setter and renovator, Tidd Tech super flaps and Simmons Flex-i skis for ABR Trails... and we had not been "groomer shopping" prior to this. Vendors did sell their demos and feedback from the groomers indicated that they wished there were more pieces to buy at the show. 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.

Some of the speakers include the following:
* Doug Edgerton, president of Yellowstone Track Systems and the Chief of Course Preparation for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City
* Russ Alger of The Keweenaw Research Center at Michigan Technological Univ.
* David and Phil Zink of Tidd Tech in Fraser, CO
* George LeFeuvre of JACA in New Brunswick, Canada
* Dave Forbush of Forbush Corner in Frederick, MI
* Ing. Quirino Tironi of Alpina in Italy
* Jay Richards of Maplelag in Callaway, MN
* Greg Toomire of Pisten Bully, Track Inc, in Bloomington MN
* Erik Petersen of Bombardier of Aspen Equipment, in Duluth MN
* Jim VanderSpoel Supervisor of Operations at Mt. Zion and faculty member of The Ski Area Management Program
* Eric Anderson of ABR Trails.

The topics for this year's clinic are as follows:
* Snowcat safety and maintenance by Jim VanderSpoel
* Keep your Snowmobile from burning up by Rick Slade
* There really is an Alpina twin track snowmobile and power tiller! Quirino Tironi
* How to get the most from low snow conditions
* Snowcat grooming in low snow by Dave Forbush
* An open session discussing various grooming scenarios for different conditions.
* Powertilling and snow density.
* The compact Nordic version of the Keweenaw Snow Paver Groomer by Russ Alger
* Where to find used equipment and how to know if it's any good by Track Inc
* Grooming for races and hi level competitions.
* How to get the most out of your blade on your snowcat by Doug Edgerton
* Grooming with a snowmobile in freeze/thaw conditions
* Automating your drags and attachments
* A New Concept ? "Molding" vs. tilling skate lanes by Dave Forbush
* Summer care of your grooming equipment
* What snowmobile works the best for grooming
* Getting unstuck!
* Grooming with a Track Truck by Duffy Anderson
* Snow Characterization by Russ Alger
* Basic Grooming 101 for beginner groomers
* How to evaluate your groomed trails
* Grooming for efficient skier flow by Jay Richards

Clinic Agenda (as of 12/18)
Jan 16th 8:00-9:00 groomer registration and sign in / coffee & rolls/ equip. viewing
9:00-11:30 formal/structured vendor demo's 15-30 minutes /vendor
11:30-12:00 show and tell of home made equipment and innovations
12:00-1:00 lunch at ABR
1:00-3:00 lectures (indoor)
3:00-5:00 open skiing and groomer hands on demos'
3:00-4:00 free skiing, beginner ski lessons and rentals
6:00-7:30 social hour at Tacconelli's by Track Inc /Pisten Bully
7:30-8:30 dinner at Tacconelli's 215 S. Suffolk St in downtown Ironwood
8:30-9:00 1500 Mile Trek Across Antarctica Slide Show
9:00 Drawings/Prizes to be given away

Jan 17th 8:00-9:00 coffee and rolls / equipment viewing
9:00-12:00 informal vendor demo's and hands on (group sizes 10 20)
12:00-1:00 lunch at ABR
1:00-3:00 lectures (indoor)
3:00-4:00 free skiing, beginner ski lessons and rentals
3:00-5:00 open skiing and groomer hands on

Used Equipment For sale:
1996 Skandic WT Very good condition, low miles $4,000 firm
Dick 815-459-5663 or 715-542-3741

8 foot wide finishing comb $300
call Dave 906-932-3502

1996 BR 160 with tiller and blade 3600 hours $40,000
call Hugh 800-451-5167

PB 070, 2850 hours well maintained, County run, Power Tiller , Compactor bar, track-setters, aluminum $38,500 call Greg 952-888-7372

1998 BR110 7 1/2 foot wide groomer 600 hours with Comag Cross Country Groomer and blade $35,600 call Joseph 604-218-7458

1993 Track Truck low hours, clean, 2 sets of rear hydraulics $23,000
call Dave 715-537-3259

Skandic SWT front weight racks $35 and backrest/light bars $135
call Eric 906-932-3502

2002 Skandic SWT no hours, new condition
$7,280 call Chuck 715-561-2720

1994 Bombardier BR 180100 hours, 8 way blade, rear hydraulics, $59,000
call Erik 800-888-2773

Triton Double Snowmobile Trailer with full clamshell cover
2 years old excellent condition call Phil 651-653-9697

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