WEST STEWARTSTOWN — Bright sunshine, a blue sky, and early afternoon temperatures in the mid-20s made a perfect first day for the two-day Swift Diamond Riders’ Snodeo at Coleman State Park.

The day started off with dire predictions of only-slightly-above-zero temperatures but, happily, the weather predictors were wrong, and the tents filled with people enjoying themselves, lines formed to test ride demo models, snow machinists zoomed onto the solidly frozen lake to park, and $25 C-R helicopter rides were available. Swift Diamond president Kevin Drew said that compliments were coming in hot and heavy for the great trail conditions.

Fears of boycotting locals who were unhappy with what at first appeared to be the snowmobile club’s endorsement of the proposed Northern Pass Transmission line project were calmed. In the end, Drew said, the utility company paid the agreed-upon lead sponsorship fee and then stayed away so as not to detract from the sport and snowmobiles, now so important to the area economy.

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPN-HF) and the Live Free or Fry group (opposed to the Northern Pass project) handed out pins, collected petition signatures, and handed out information on why they oppose the siting and construction of transmission towers to carry 1,200-megawatts of high-voltage Direct Current electricity generated in Quebec into New Hampshire.

Sleek and shiny new Yamaha, Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, and Polaris models were on display, although Arctic Cat was unable to make it. Hamburgers sizzled on the grille, and coffee and soft drinks were available.

Executive director Gail Hanson of the N.H. Snowmobile Association, Trails Bureau chief Chris Gamache, and northern region trails head Chet Savage of Gorham, as well as the state Fish and Game Department’s new Administrative Captain John Winsatt, who in January was put in charge of overseeing the Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) Enforcement, Safety Education and Registration Programs, were all on hand and chatting up the crowd.

Swift Diamond Riders’ president Kevin Drew cheerfully greeted ticket-buying snowmobile riders on Friday afternoon who parked their machines out on the solid ice of Little Diamond Pond.

Poore Family Homestead executive director Rick Johnsen lobbied on Friday against the proposed Northern Pass Transmission Line project at the 19th annual Swift Diamond Riders’ SnoDeo at Coleman State Park.
 

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests vice president of Communications-Outreach Jack Savage staffed a table at which stacks of “Trees Not Towers No Northern Pass” bumper stickers were available.

Coleman State Park was abuzz with excitement on Friday, March 4, the first day of the 19th annual Swift Diamond Riders’ SnoDeo in West Stewarton.

A 44-inch wide 1923 Ford Model T antique snowmobile, built and restored in Ossipee, was much admired in the Annual Antique and Vintage Snowmobile Show at the Swift Diamond Riders’ SnoDeo in West Stewartstown.