Who and how were you introduced to snowmobiling?
I’d have to hand that one to my Dad (Fadder) - we had an older machine we’d use in the winter to go “in the country” behind the Southern Shore, visiting cabins and just having a good day out. That goes back just about as far as I can ever remember, when we had some more solid winters on the Avalon Peninsula of the island.
What’s your early memories of snowmobiling?
When I was about 10, Fadder went to work offshore on a rotation - 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. We still had the old machines from when I was smaller (About 4 sleds merged into one) and if I wanted to be able to take the sled for a run around the yard, and later into the country, then I had to learn to maintain it on my own. Fadder taught me whatever he knew while he was home, and that knowledge would be called upon while he was gone (And of course a scattered few questions when he called home at night) I got myself into and out of more than one jam on the old “Jag” (The skidoo) but it taught me a lot too - both from a mechanical and work ethic perspective.
Pic: Adam and old Jag (The Skidoo) - below. Pic above, Adam and a current whip.
Tell us about Harbour Customs and Adam Hodder?
Harbour Customs came into creation around 2009. I wrapped my buddies 2008 REV XP at the time with a LimeNine wrap - Orange and Blue plaid as I recall with the ZigZag logo on it - and we called that customization the work of Harbour Customs. In time I learned more about the sleds, and ended up doing more customization and repairs as time went on. Harbour Customs took a turn to Social Media in 2021, when I started out doing some short form media under that handle.
In terms of Adam Hodder: Just a fella born, raised, and remaining on the Southern Shore in Newfoundland, splitting my time between offshore on the SeaRose FPSO as an Instrumentation Technician, and onshore spending time with family, wrenching in the shed, and piloting something with handlebars, given the season. The takeover sport the past few years has been Enduro MTB, so there’s lots of afternoons spent in Quidi Vidi doing downhill laps.
What’s a day riding with Adam Hodder like?
I’ve been regularly making trips to the West Coast of the island since about 2014, and I usually base at Bonne Bay Big Pond. It’s an 8 A.M rise, quick simple breakfast, and on into the area SouthWest of Angus Lake known as the playground. Many days are poking into and exploring drainages, and always in pursuit of good snow. Always trying to sharpen the tree-riding skills, with lots of failures and success mixed in, and find some larger open areas to ride as well. Then, depending on the fuel situation, aim to be out of the backcountry around sunset.
What’s a vivid memory from a trip that sticks in your head to this date?
Oh there’s always one haha. Our first good trip out West, years ago, we aimed to head into Western Brook Gorge. None of us knew the country at the time, didn’t know how to read the weather, or how important either was. Armed with an old Garmin GPSMAP76 we set to go in. Well, we got up on the Big Barrens, which really isn’t far in the scheme of things, lost all visibility, and had no sweet clue where we were headed. While we didn’t have much sense back then, we had enough to know we were in over our heads, and managed to track-back to White River Road. We didn’t get started back up before a buddy busted the pull cord on his REV Summit 800. Fully exposed, with the wind picking up, we gathered a few sleds around his to try and get her running. I looked at my buddy, who just lit a smoke, and the snow and ice was just hanging off his beard - and I remember thinking - never again haha. I gained a lot of respect for the backcountry that day, and I really think it’s one of the reasons why I took such an interest to learn about the country, and the importance of reading the weather, both prior to and during a ride.
Tell us more about your Podcast and where you’re doing with that?
The PodCast is my first run into longer form media. The idea came after I sat down and recorded one with a fella by the name of Davy Holden in Kilkenny, Ireland. I had a great laugh doing it. I was working in Belfast at the time, and walking into the ship-yard one morning I thought - I could do that. There’s tons of interesting people home in Newfoundland I could sit down and have a good yarn with. And so was born The Harbour Yarn. I put together an idea for a loose running order of segments, came home that set of days off and put the studio together. That was last year, and we’re 12 episodes deep now, still having a laugh.
What’s your current whip and what have you got done to it?
The shop sled is currently a 2023 BRP Freeride 154, and she’s got the catalog thrown at it. Off the top of my head - iBackshift Clutching, HiTorque Rollers, TKI BeltDrive, CoilOver Suspension in the skid, ECDCustoms one-of Wrap, Smithgrade bumpers, Grip-N-Rip Bracing, Slydog color match skis, SECO Seat, iTek Wheels, CFR Bars. The only thing I haven’t modified yet is the exhaust, and a full SLP or JAWS pipe setup might find its way there yet haha.
What’s on the horizon for Harbour Customs?
Keep on keeping on ! The rotation lifestyle, coupled with a young family, social media following, and a few strong passions for hobbies ends up being a very busy life - but a fun one ! I wouldn’t have it any other way. And I still managed to fill my Moose tags the fall with a young Bull ! haha
