Marcuss Sainz, President, and Heath Schmid, Vice President, with the Star Valley Sno-Skippers stepped into the SVI Radio studio on Monday, December 29 to promote the club and upcoming events for the winter season.

(0:00) Learning more about the Star Valley Snowskippers this morning, (0:03) joining me live in studio is Marcus Zines. (0:06) He’s president of the Snowskippers (0:07) and also vice president, Heath Schmidt, (0:10) joining me in studio as well. (0:12) Marcus, Heath, good morning.

(0:13) Glad you put on your coats and came in today. (0:16) Yeah, good morning. (0:16) Appreciate it.

(0:17) Thank you. (0:17) Marcus, let’s start with you as president of the Snowskippers. (0:20) Tell us how long you’ve been involved with the club (0:22) and kind of what you do as president.

(0:24) So I would say the club kind of kicked back off here, oh, (0:29) probably five years ago, maybe a touch longer. (0:33) I don’t know the exact dates, but it kind of (0:35) stems clear back from we’ve heard like into the 80s, 90s. (0:41) A lot of the members in the club, their grandparents (0:44) were actually part of the first club.

(0:46) So that was pretty neat to have kind of get started back up. (0:50) I’ve been the president for the last three years now. (0:55) And I can’t say I do a whole lot as the president (0:58) because I have really good helpers at the vice president, (1:03) secretary, treasurer.

(1:05) So those people, Heath, and my wife was the current one, (1:09) Megan. (1:10) She’s a rock star. (1:12) She always has everything that I pretty well just have to read.

(1:15) Still a big help now. (1:17) And then Bailey Clark is our new one. (1:19) She’s been a ton of help.

(1:21) And our last vice president was Phillip Hall. (1:25) So we’ve had just a bunch of good guys. (1:27) Now he’s filling in for Phillip and Natasha Kennington.

(1:31) And then Natasha Kennington, she’s (1:33) been the treasurer for about the whole time (1:36) she started this club back up. (1:38) Perfect. (1:38) We couldn’t do it without her there.

(1:40) Perfect. (1:40) Well, Heath, how about you? (1:42) How long have you been involved with the Snow Skippers? (1:44) And why are you involved? (1:46) What draws you to it? (1:47) Yeah, so I’ve been involved for three years. (1:49) So we actually moved to the Valley three years ago (1:51) and been involved since we’ve been there.

(1:54) Wanted to get involved with the community, (1:55) wanted to get involved with clubs (1:57) that are supporting outdoor recreation (2:01) and helping support the community. (2:03) And Snow Skippers does exactly that. (2:05) Absolutely, they do.

(2:06) So Marcus, let’s talk about exactly what the Snow Skippers (2:10) do. (2:10) You mentioned it’s a club that has been around forever, (2:13) but went dark for a little bit, kind of revitalized. (2:16) So if you can, maybe slide right into that mic a little bit (2:20) closer.

(2:20) There you go. (2:20) So what’s the overall goal for the Star Valley Snow Skippers? (2:26) The biggest thing is there’s all sorts of groups clear (2:30) across every, I would say, every aspect of recreation (2:33) that are trying to get trails shut down, (2:37) minimize our use for public lands. (2:41) And really, the only way we can fight back (2:44) is as community members, as avid snowmobilers.

(2:49) And I mean, side-by-side riders, is be part of a club. (2:53) I mean, you’re going up and fighting against government (2:56) at that point. (2:57) You’re not just going to be able to talk yourself.

(3:02) You can’t talk to those people yourself. (3:04) You have to be part of the club. (3:06) And so being part of a club, you’re (3:08) part of WSSA, which is Wyoming Snowmobile State Association.

(3:13) And they’re the ones that are fighting for us daily. (3:16) They, all of our money from memberships to fundraisers (3:22) throughout the year to our WSSA event that’s held annually, (3:29) all that money raised there goes right back (3:31) to trying to keep trails open and scholarships, actually. (3:35) Great big portion of proceeds go to scholarships (3:39) through the state level with Wyoming State Snowmobile (3:42) Association, plus our club.

(3:45) We were able to start a scholarship here, what, (3:50) Heath, three years ago? (3:51) Three years ago. (3:52) Last year, we had three different members receive that. (3:57) $500, so $500 each.

(4:01) Whether you were a graduating senior or current enrolled (4:05) in a college program. (4:07) Very cool. (4:07) OK.

(4:08) So it’s really community-oriented, obviously, (4:10) with the scholarships and the trails. (4:12) Heath, since you’ve been involved, (4:13) have you maybe just explain the impact (4:17) that you’ve seen here locally, especially (4:20) with the trails and the access portion of it. (4:23) Maybe some of the impacts that you’ve seen because of this.

(4:26) Yeah, so one of the big things for us (4:29) is helping keeping the community safe, right? (4:32) And so this past weekend, we were out (4:35) and at three of the major put-in areas, (4:37) we put in Beacon Check Station, right? (4:39) So a lot of the fundraising money (4:41) that we do and fundraising events (4:44) that we do throughout the community, we take that money (4:47) and we put it back into giving back to the community. (4:50) And with that, our big cornhole event. (4:54) We’ve got one coming up this weekend.

(4:56) It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year. (4:59) What do we have, 26 teams? (5:01) Or caps at 32. (5:03) And that money all goes back into giving back (5:07) to the community.

(5:08) And with that money, we were able to get (5:10) the Beacon Check Stations, the boards, (5:13) and then fund and put those out (5:15) and help keep the community safe. (5:16) Excellent, excellent. (5:18) I’m glad you brought up the cornhole.

(5:19) I was going to ask about upcoming events (5:21) and that’s right up on the schedule. (5:23) So Marcus, tell us about it. (5:25) So yeah, every year we’ve been doing (5:29) two different cornhole tournaments.

(5:32) So the next one’s coming up Friday the 2nd, 630. (5:36) It’s a pick your own partner. (5:38) Kind of the same format that we have done in the past.

(5:43) So Megan is the contact here. (5:47) She said spots are filling up quick (5:49) so the quicker you can get signed up. (5:52) She has, you can text her at 307-887-6279 (6:00) or there are some flyers out and about (6:02) and there’s a QR code on the flyers.

(6:04) You can scan that, get you right signed up. (6:08) Our Facebook page has the QR code, link up as well. (6:10) Perfect, yeah, I think we’ve got the flyer (6:12) on the events page as well of sbinews.com (6:15) so people can find it there.

(6:16) And I understand there’s tacos. (6:17) So even if you don’t play cornhole, go get a taco, right? (6:20) Yeah, well, and there’s some great prizes too (6:22) that we’re raffling away. (6:23) There’s going to be a Climb Avalanche backpack (6:26) that’s been donated to give away, (6:28) a set of custom cornhole boards, a 30-quart cooler, (6:33) a Polaris, some glass cups and some kickback rocking chair.

(6:38) So there’s some great prizes to win too. (6:40) Nice, so that’s this Friday, 6.30 at the fairgrounds, (6:43) correct? (6:44) And again, you can contact the Snow Skippers for details, (6:47) contact info on their Facebook page website (6:49) and also on the events page of sbinews.com. (6:51) Any other events that you have planned? (6:54) Yeah, so actually this is something, (6:56) so our club meets once a month, (6:58) kind of go over all of our goals (7:02) and things that we’ve talked about the month before. (7:06) But we had a couple of people in the club bring up an idea.

(7:09) This year we’re starting an avalanche awareness breakfast. (7:14) So we don’t have the exact date on that. (7:17) It’s going to be the end of January, (7:18) first part of February, (7:19) but we’ll be set up on the South end.

(7:23) You show up, you prove to us you have your avalanche gear, (7:26) we got a free breakfast burrito for you. (7:29) There’s something, you know, (7:31) we live in some pretty gnarly territory (7:35) and your avalanche equipment is the only way (7:38) you’re going to be found. (7:40) I don’t care if you’re with five people, 100 people.

(7:42) If you’re buried, you don’t have anything on, (7:46) it’s one in a million, needle in a haystack scenario. (7:49) So very important, make sure not only (7:52) that you have your equipment, (7:53) but that it’s properly working. (7:54) That’s kind of the point of all these beacon check stations.

(7:57) They’re not cheap, but to us, (7:59) that’s why we do these fundraisers. (8:01) So we can put that stuff out there (8:02) to just make everybody as safe as possible. (8:10) Our next meeting, right? (8:12) Yeah, as far as the next events, (8:14) we meet every Monday or the first Monday of every month.

(8:19) And we actually just meet down here (8:20) at the Afton Fire Station at seven o’clock. (8:24) We just encourage everyone to come out. (8:27) And if you’re looking for people to ride with, (8:31) we have people of all stages in the group.

(8:33) We have people from two years old to 70 years old (8:38) that are part of the club. (8:39) So we have trail rides, (8:40) we have a little bit of beginner rides. (8:43) And then we go and do some of the hardest stuff (8:47) out there we know about.

(8:49) Love it, love it. (8:50) You mentioned, of course, a lot of these (8:53) the fundraising that is part of it. (8:55) So what is a membership fee (8:57) and how does somebody join the club officially like that? (9:01) Yeah, just come to one of our meetings.

(9:04) And if you’re a member, (9:04) you don’t have to show up to every meeting, (9:06) but it is a great way to get involved (9:08) and meet other people with similar interests. (9:13) For individual, I believe it’s… (9:17) I’ll put you on the spot. (9:19) Frantically shuffling papers right now.

(9:21) Single membership is $35 and a family membership is $55. (9:25) And that also includes your membership to the WSSA as well. (9:29) Excellent, perfect.

(9:30) Again, in studio this morning, (9:32) that’s Marcus Saenz and Heath Schmidt (9:34) with the Star Valley Snow Skippers Club (9:36) and the Cornhole Tournament, (9:38) the next event that’s coming up this Friday (9:39) at the fairgrounds and then meet every Monday. (9:42) First, sorry, first Monday of every month (9:44) at the Afton Fire Station at seven o’clock p.m. (9:47) Guys, anything we missed (9:48) that you’d like to share about the Snow Skippers? (9:50) I just want to put out there too, (9:53) there are two other clubs in the Valley. (9:56) We have Top of the Rockies.

(9:58) They’ve been a huge club for a long time. (10:02) They’re based out of Alpine, (10:04) but Heath’s actually part of that as well. (10:06) So we encourage, even if you are part of another club, (10:10) come to the other, or multiple clubs there.

(10:13) We have Top of the… (10:14) Top of the Rockies, Rev It Up Girls. (10:16) Rev It Up Girls, that’s another one. (10:18) And we work together as well with those clubs (10:22) to help raise money for the community.

(10:23) I mean, Festival of Trees, (10:24) we work together to donate a tree (10:26) and give back to some families in need (10:29) in the Valley as well, so. (10:31) Excellent, love it. (10:32) So again, you can be involved with any of those clubs, (10:35) including the Snow Skippers.

(10:36) Marcus Sines and Heath Schmidt in studio this morning (10:39) with the Weekday Wake Up. (10:40) Guys, thank you so much for coming in. (10:42) Anything we missed, anything else? (10:43) Did we get it all? (10:44) I think we got it all.

(10:45) All right, perfect. (10:45) We have just a few more days for Cornhole, so. (10:47) Get ahold of Megan or that QR code (10:51) and let’s fill it up again (10:52) so we can have everyone have the opportunity (10:55) to get some money and some awesome prizes (10:58) that are donated by local community members.

(11:00) Absolutely, love it. (11:01) Again, it’s the Star Valley Snow Skippers this morning, (11:03) live in studio as part of the Weekday Wake Up on SVI Radio.