March 2005

Last winter my friend and I set out for a weekend of fun on our sleds. We were just outside Fenelon Falls, Ontario when the accident happened.

I was on my Yamaha and my friend was traveling about 1000 feet behind me on the "Rail Trail" when I stopped to look out over Cameron Lake. I decided to move up a little further to get a better look. My friend thought I was leaving, so he thromped on the gas to chase me down the tracks. He'd thought I had taken off, but I hadn't - I was a sitting duck. He hit me full on from behind. His sled climbed up and hit me in mid-back - right where the Tekvest covers.

The impact was so hard I thought my back was broken - even worse I thought I was going to be paralyzed. As I laid on the trail I realized what had just happened. I was in shock, the wind was knocked out of me and I was afraid to move an inch, as I thought it would make things worse. 15 mins later I got up and rode my sled to town. Relaxing later on that day in a local bar I realized that the Tekvest had saved my back from further injury.

I remembered being at the sled show the previous fall and looking at the Tekvest. Even though I'd been sledding all my life I couldn't think of a time when I could have used the Tekvest. In any event I decided at that show that it was time to buy a Tekvest just because it made sense to wear it, plus it looked so cool and provided great wind protection on those freezing days. I guess what I want to say is that everyone should wear a Tekvest when they snowmobile. It will protect you if you need it, and will be something that you will never ride without!

Karl Reuber 2005 RX1 ER