AROOSTOOK COUNTY, Maine — Reaching out-of-staters about snowmobiling opportunities in Aroostook County can be a challenge, but this winter, officials with Aroostook County Tourism (ACT) are getting a little help and hopefully a lot of exposure.
Snowmobiling is big business in Maine. According to ACT, the sport brings in an estimated $350 million to the state every year, and a growing number of snowmobile registrations are from non-residents. In 2000, 15 percent of registrants were from out of state; last winter, 27.3 percent were non-residents. One of those non-residents is coming to The County to share local trails with a national audience.
ACT is assisting with a FAM (familiarization) tour for noted powersports journalist Craig Nicholson, who will be in Aroostook in late February or early March to document and photograph his travels on trails of Aroostook County. The story will appear in the fall 2018 issue of SuperTrax Magazine, which is North America’s number-one snowmobile magazine with 170,000 subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
“In addition, I will preview the ride to my almost 40,000 followers on The Intrepid Snowmobiler Facebook page, post daily updates during the tour and do a tour summary on my Intrepid Snowmobiler website afterwards — this way Aroostook County gets promotion both this season and next,” said Nicholson.
Nicholson is a freelance journalist, writer and communications consultant who specializes in recreational activities, including snowmobiling and jet-skiing. His book, “Canada’s Best Snowmobiling,” is the only national compilation of snowmobile tours to date. An avid snowmobiler, he logs up to 10,000 kilometers each winter and has snowmobiled in most regions of Canada.
“Our system of well groomed, interconnected snowmobile trails is world class,” said Alain Ouellette, planning and development director at Northern Maine Development Commission, and executive director of ACT.
“In fact, northern Maine is home to more than 2,200 miles of snowmobile trails that offer days and weeks of endless sledding adventure,” Ouellette added. “We hope Nicholson and his team have a wonderful experience and let others know about opportunities in northern Maine.”
“We offer probably one of the best products out there for snowmobilers,” said Gary Marquis, ACT board member and author of the Aroostook County Snowmobile Trail Report. “And with gas prices still low, people are willing to drive to the region and experience the exceptional trails of Aroostook County.”
A link to the trail report will be available on www.visitaroostook.com and on the Aroostook County Tourism Facebook page.
