About James Valley Drift Skippers
James Valley Drift Skippers is a snowmobile club based in Mitchell, South Dakota, and it has been riding for more than fifty years. The club was born out of the winter of 1968 and 1969, the one older residents still call the year of the snow, and it held its first meeting in December 1970 with 67 people in the room. It is a member club of the South Dakota Snowmobile Association.
Born in the Year of the Snow
The winter of 1968 and 1969 dropped 58 inches of snow on Mitchell along with days of blizzard conditions. Streets became impassable, and snowmobiles turned into the practical way to get around town. Residents used them to reach people cut off by drifts, feed stranded cattle, deliver food and medicine, help with search operations and get nurses to their shifts at the hospital.
Once the snow melted, the people who had bought those machines wanted a reason to keep riding. The James Valley Drift Skippers held their first meeting on December 30, 1970. Interest was immediate, with close to a hundred people turning out for early gatherings. As one longtime member put it, just about everyone in town who owned a snowmobile wanted in.
Fifty Years of Traditions
The club's first year set patterns that still hold. Members rode to nearby communities, held a box social, and made the first annual ride to the Black Hills. That Black Hills trip has continued ever since and remains the club's signature outing.
In the early years, members rode to Mount Vernon together every Friday night. The club has evolved since then, but the emphasis has stayed the same: getting people together on sleds and keeping the sport alive in a part of South Dakota where snow cover is never guaranteed.
Meetings and Membership
The club meets monthly during the season, on the second Thursday evening at a local gathering spot in Mitchell. Meeting details and event announcements are posted on the club's Facebook page.
Membership supports both the club and the South Dakota Snowmobile Association, which promotes trail development, protects riding access and keeps members informed about legislation affecting the sport. The association also publishes the Sno-Plainsman for its members.
Riding Around Mitchell
Mitchell sits in the James River valley in south central South Dakota, along I-90 about an hour west of Sioux Falls. Riding here depends heavily on snowfall, and clubs in this part of the state ride when conditions allow rather than on a fixed season.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks publishes statewide snowmobile trail information and current conditions, and the South Dakota Snowmobile Association is the other good source before planning a trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is James Valley Drift Skippers based?
In Mitchell, South Dakota.
When was the club founded?
Its first meeting was held on December 30, 1970, with 67 members attending.
Why was the club formed?
The blizzards of 1968 and 1969 led many Mitchell residents to buy snowmobiles, and once the emergency passed they wanted a club to keep riding together.
What is the club's oldest tradition?
The annual ride to the Black Hills, which started in the club's first year and continues today.
When does the club meet?
Monthly during the season, on the second Thursday evening in Mitchell. Check the Facebook page for the current location.
Is the club part of a state organization?
Yes. It is a member club of the South Dakota Snowmobile Association.
More information on James Valley Drift Skippers; Click here https://www.facebook.com/p/James-Valley-Drift-Skippers-Snowmobile-Club-100064319604216/
For more snowmobile venues click here: https://www.plainspowersports.com/category/snowmobile/