14 | Snowmobile VERMONT I had the privilege of meeting Bobby Tower at the SAM show in October this year. He was volunteering at the Brighton Club booth. After speaking with him for only a few minutes, you could tell he was excited to be involved with snowmobiling. Bobby is from western Massachusetts and was introduced to the sport by his dad when he was just 2 or 3 years old. They were fortunate to be able to ride right from their home and onto the trails. Some of his earliest memories are the times he was out ice fishing with his dad on Lake Littleville in Huntington. His dad would take the snowmobile with them and they would ride in the field next to the lake. As he got older and more experienced, his father would let him drive. For many years, Bobby and his dad shared an Arctic Cat 440 Panther. One very special Christmas in 1996 when Bobby was 15 years old, he got his very own Ski-Doo MXZ 583. For the next few years, he and his father would ride as often as they could in the Massachusetts area. Like many other young people, Bobby got busy with school and working. Riding took a back seat to his busy schedule. He still considers this “a mistake.” In 2016, he moved to Hyde Park, Vt. for work. There he began his career in the electrical field. He didn’t know too many people though, so he focused on working. One day his co-worker, Carmin Lemery, asked him if he would like to go riding with her and a group of friends. Bobby thought this would be a great way to meet some local people. The following weekend they went to Island Pond and within the first hour of riding, he had the riding bug again. Bobby met a solid group of VAST volunteers that weekend and most of them were directors for VAST. They all made him feel welcome and part of the VAST family. He decided to join the Brighton Snowmobile Club after talking with Essex County Director Dave Page. Grooming was something that always interested him, but he wasn’t sure what was required to be a groomer. When the opportunity arose, Bobby asked Dave if he could ride with him in the groomer sometime. Without hesitation, Dave said, “How about tonight?” Grooming the trails one night with Dave was all he needed. When he saw Dave again, he asked him how can he become a groomer. The following weekend, Bobby started his grooming training. He says he really loves grooming! These days, young Bobby Tower rides, grooms and helps the club with trail maintenance and signage. He is still new at grooming and helping with all other aspects of the snowmobile club life, but he is thrilled to have this opportunity and more importantly, all the wonderful friendships he has made and continues to make within the VAST community. Bobby enjoys the amazing riding that Vermont offers. He plans to stay involved with the club and volunteering as often he can. Snowmobiling has once again become a big part of his life. One day in the future, he hopes he can share this experience with his own children and grandchildren as his dad did with him. VAST Potential Bobby Tower By Patty Companik Bobby Tower and his grooming mentor, Dave Page, take a break from riding to build a new friend during a ride in the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.