The fourth annual Humboldt Sports and Leisure Show came to town from Apr. 7-10 at the Uniplex.
Both Discovery Motorsports and South 20 RV Centre brought in everything needed for work and play and even though the show is over, the products are still available at their showrooms.
Lorne Pratchler with Discovery Motorsports says they filled up the curling rink with all new products and everything from chainsaws to ATVs to pontoon boats.
The selection of Crestliner boats was something that Pratchler says they have never had at previous week shows.
Other lines of wheeled products, like ATVs and side-by-sides, are constantly improving themselves in terms of quality and power.
“Every three or four years we have new products coming to market. If you haven’t been down here for a year or two, you’d be surprised what has changed.”
Now that spring is almost here, Pratchler says that people are looking for more fun things to do in the sun.
“The local fishing in the area is fantastic. When you have that resource close by, you’re going to get people who are interested in that sport.”
A lot of products that Pratchler sells are family orientated, he says, so people can go out with family and friends and have fun. That time is needed these days, says Pratchler.
“In this day and age we need that. We’ve crawled into individual type activities rather than family and group social activities.”
Working hard and working smart will also increase the fun time, says Pratchler, with his line of more well known Husqvarna products and a high quality less well known brand called Country Clipper.
With fabricated decks, Kawasaki engines, and plush seats, they can handle the rough and tough jobs with the zero turn joystick steering.
“When you are working on larger areas, you’re going to be able to get it down with that high end product.”
The right fit can turn any work into fun and that is just fine for some people, says Pratchler.
“A lot of people love working with plants so that is where a side-by-side that has a dump box on it can carry all the product around.”
Sarah Dosch with South 20 RV Centre says they opened up 25 units in the hockey rink for anyone to give a walk through.
From storage areas to outdoor kitchens, people got to see every nook of the units that South 20 had for sale.
Toy-haulers, trailers, and fifth wheelers were all on display. One toy hauler even had a dirt bike in the back garage to show the spacious room that also has queen bunks and a full bathroom for when the bikes, ATVs or Harleys are not being stored.
“It has a full drop down ramp door so you just drive your toys right up and inside the back,” says Dosch.
South 20’s range of travel trailers included everything from couples coaches to family units ranging in size from 20-44 feet and ranging in price from $20,000-$95,000.
People seem to evolve with their RVs, says Dosch, as they start out with small single campers, to couple coaches and then upgrade to fit the kids and the grandkids.
Needs are a matter of opinion, especially with the wide range of uses for people. Dosch says they have everyone from snowbirds and oil patch workers who live in their RVs six months out of a year and people who use it at the campgrounds on weekends in the summer.
“We like to think there is a camper out there for everyone,” says Dosch. “We’ve had people as young as 19 that want to buy it, they want to take it for work.”
From power theatre seating to full residential fridge to king sized beds, RVs can have all the comforts of home, says Dosch.
With versatile colours and panelling, different floor plans with everything from front, back, and outdoor kitchens to inside and outdoor accessed washrooms, these are no longer the boxes on wheels that they used to be, says Dosch.
People have not seen the change and Dosch says that people have to come down and see for themselves by walking through one.
“People still envision them as an 8 feet wide box but they are so much more than that...You name it, you can do it.”
Visit Discovery Motorsports on Hwy 5 west of the city, and South 20 RV Centre on Hwy 20 south of the city.
