xc skiing vs. snowmobiling

This survey tells me what I like to hear. Download it for the full story.

Greg Fangel

==============================
Press Release
For Immediate Release

Contact:

Bruce Slinkman

President

Minnesota Nordic Ski Association



10-29-03

2002/2003 NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA WINTER TRAILS SURVEY

A winter trails survey was conducted by the University of Minnesota Duluth,
School of Business and Economics and Sea Grant Minnesota in the winter
season of 2002/2003.

The technical report on the Cook County, Minnesota resident survey was
developed as a part of

the larger research project "Tourism and Winter Trail-based Recreation: An
economic and

environmental comparison of motor and quiet sports."

The project was designed to document and compare the impacts of snowmobiling
and cross

country skiing in a destination county. It will measure the economic impacts
and assess the

perceived social and environmental impacts of these activities. This study
employed

questionnaires with snowmobilers and cross country skiers and survey local
residents in Cook

County, Minnesota. An understanding of the differences between motor sports
(snowmobiling)

and a quiet sport (cross country skiing) is useful in planning future
development, minimizing

negative impacts, and improving marketing decisions.

Cook County, Minnesota has approximately 3100 registered voters while
hosting thousands of visitors that flock to the Arrowhead region of
Minnesota for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. There are over 300km of
groomed cross-country ski trails in Cook County, which many say are the best
in the Midwest.

Complete results of the Cook County Survey can be downloaded at
www.mnnordicski.org

###

Greg and all at the Minnesota Nordic Ski association,

Thanks for posting this link. It's worth perusing and shows the hidden
impact of silent sports.

I did feel the need to come clean in the newsgroup regarding information
cited in the table on page four of the sea grant survey. The table
delineates "10 Problems XC Skiing Creates for Cook County Residents."
Regarding the last line item,
'alleged theft of liquor by skiers'----one incidence
I believe it's pertinent to note that this is one ALLEGED incidence out of
156 reported problems; and furthermore, we did return the SnoShoe Grog,
Southern Comfort, Peppermint Schnapps and all Leinenkugles that were already
frozen...

Matt



2002/2003 NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA WINTER TRAILS SURVEY

A winter trails survey was conducted by the University of Minnesota
Duluth,
School of Business and Economics and Sea Grant Minnesota in the winter
season of 2002/2003.

snipp

Complete results of the Cook County Survey can be downloaded at
www.mnnordicski.org

###

In article Ki0ob.59591$Fm2.41844@attbi_s04, "Matt" wrote:
'alleged theft of liquor by skiers'----one incidence
I believe it's pertinent to note that this is one ALLEGED incidence
out of 156 reported problems;

No, Matt. According to the statistics, "alleged theft of liquor " is
10 percent of *all* reported problems caused by skiers.

May we infer that snowmobilers either bring their own or (as common lore
has it) they stop at every bar?

On the other hand, the use of liquor is "only" 5% of the reported problems
caused by snowmobilers...and surely, it's far more respectable to drink
rather than to steal.


I, for one, was disappointed in the study because (apparently) there was no
serious attempt made at quantifying the respective economic impact of the
two activities.

- Lee