SPECIAL SNORIDERS SSA REPORT www.sasksnow.com >> EVENTS A ROARING SUCCESS Annual General Meeting 2012 FESTIVAL RIDE WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WINTER June 23, 2012 BY BARRY BRADSHAW, Chairman West Harvest Inn, Regina, SK Diamonds in the Snow Banquet and Awards This year’s Festival Ride to Hudson Bay was lights of the day were seeing two black timber June 23, 2012 one of the best in a long time even though our wolves in the Good Spirit pasture, moose and West Harvest Inn, Regina, SK snow conditions to start off were not the greatest. deer along the trail, the Elks warm-up shelter at 2012 Snowmobile Show This year’s ride consisted mainly of the old Thunder Hill, Forget Me Knot Corner and some November 9 - 11, 2012 standby riders—most of whom aren’t that old— great trails, especially going through the rolling Prairieland Exhibition Park, who have been doing this ride with me for ap- hills around Thunder Hill. Saskatoon, SK proximately 10 years. The ride consisted of three Thursday, Day 2: It was an enjoyable ride couples: Don and Marie Happy, Trent and Doris through the Norquay and Hudson Bay trails to >> CLUB NEWS Kresak and Nelson and Shannon Scott; along the Weekes Hotel for lunch. The trails were great with single riders Brent Moore, Curtis Ange, and so was the lunch. It was then on to Neely SSA Four-Sled Jack Powell and myself for a total of 10 sleds and Lake Shelter. raffle winner riders. All, of course, belong to the Yorkton Sno- On the way we took a detour off the trails Congratulations to Craig Riders. through the area where Jack and I hunt moose. Rodine of Weyburn, SK, who Being the ride would only be one day up and When riding in this area the week before we were was the lucky winner of the one day back the consensus was that it needed to lucky enough to see a couple of moose and found SSA’s Four-Sled raffle. The be made a couple of days longer. We decided the a pair of shed moose antlers that were a match. winning ticket was No. 19025 first stop would be Moose Range Lodge in the Finding two antlers from the same animal sold by the Ramsey Bay Porcupine Hills, and on the way back we would doesn’t happen very often. We finally got to our Snowmobile Club of ride as far as Tisdale and stay at the new Canalta destination at the Treeline Motel in Hudson Bay. Weyakin, SK. Hotel. We enjoyed a great meal and more camaraderie Wednesday, Day 1: We all met at the Good that evening. It had been a clear day with the 2012 Saskatchewan Spirit Market at 9 a.m., Wednesday, February temperature being -15°C Snowmobile Show 22, to prepare for our ride and we rode a total of 232 This year the 2012 Sask- and, after some debrief- kilometres for the day. atchewan Snowmoble Show Friday, Day 3: ing, everyone was given The Pre- will be held at the Prairieland the job of recording our mier’s Ride left the Tree- Exhibition Park, 503 Ruth ride. We finally left just line at approximately 10 Street, Saskatoon, SK, on: before 10 a.m. First we a.m. Premier Brad Wall • Friday, November 9 headed north on our own couldn’t be in attendance, 4 to 9 p.m. trail and then did a mixture but we had MLAs Fred • Saturday, November 10 of cross-country and trail Bradshaw from Carrot 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. riding to the Whistle Stop at River Valley and Greg • Sunday, November 11 Norquay. As always, the Ottenbreit from Yorkton A stop at Forget Me Knot Corner on the Swan River 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. food was great and the high- Trails was just one highlight of our day. both representing the Weekend Pass: $17 light for most of us was the province of Saskatchewan. The Adults: $13 sour cream raisin pie. After ride headed out west to the Challenge warm-up Children 6 to 12: $6 fuelling up our sleds at the Co-op it was on to shelter along the Greenbush River. The Hudson Bring the whole family to Benito, Manitoba, Thunder Hill, Forget Me Knot Bay Trail Riders served a great trail lunch to the this event featuring current Corner, Norm’s Place, etc., and finally our desti- 40-plus snowmobilers that came on the ride. It snowmobiles and accessories, nation of Moose Range Lodge. The owners, was the highlight of the day to see the two vacation packages, sled decks, Dave and Sherry McCann, treated us to an excel- MLAs, who are “Friends of Snowmobiling,” join trailers, oils, safety and train- lent steak supper and their usual wonderful hos- the ride. A great time was had by all. ing, clothing and much more! pitality. If you are looking for a great place to Friday evening included registration, meet and stay and sled, email them at [email protected]. greet, wing night and entertainment at the Brooks The temperature was an ideal -10°C and we Hall put on by the Hudson Bay Trail Riders. The 22 rode a total of 260 kilometres for the day. High- Continued on page sidebar ▼ For snowmobiling info visit www.sasksnow.com Register your sled; call SGI at 1-800-667-8015 >> CLUB Common courtesy is a must NEWS PLEASE STAY ON THE TRAILS AND KEEP THE NOISE DOWN BY CHRIS BREWER, President/CEO ▼ CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Continued from page 21 Hudson Bay club had a record This article will coincide with the end of anoth- snowmobile club to pay the cost to clean up the registration with most of the er successful snowmobile season and get us mess. ATVs now have larger motors, 32-inch expected 350 registering. working on next year’s. This season has been an tires and snorkels, and can rip up the trails in There were more than 100 on odd one but not one we haven’t seen before. I can such a way that Mother Nature can’t repair. ATV their waiting list as 350 was remember back to the early ’80s when we had users need to get organized and build ATV trails the maximum for the hall. It poor snow for snowmobiling. I remember on and parks. ATVs need to be licensed with a fee was a long night for some. Valentine’s Day loading sleds in the mud to head attached so the users have the funds to build trails Saturday, Day 4: This was to the Southern Rally. This is not something and parks and keep them maintained and off the Festival Day. After a pancake new—we will live through it and we look for- snowmobile trails. I have finished my rant for the breakfast at the Brooks Hall ward to next season and what it offers in terms of year but we, the SSA, will continue to urge that our group decided to ride snow. You don’t have to think back too far to re- ATV users get organized. north up to the Wildcat Hills member a winter with great snow—I think it was Now on to some of the good things that come as some had never been there. the winter of 2010/11 that saw outstanding snow with snowmobiling. We rode east on Trail F to the province-wide and it will return. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Wachee Shelter, then on the P Low snow in the majority of the province and folks that have helped snowmobiling: Trail to the Bankside Shelter, fair snow in the Northeast put a lot of pressure on • Landowners who provide permission for and around to Larry’s Place the trails in that area and created issues. Land- snowmobile trails Shelter where we had ridden owners are not happy with off-trail riders so the • Rural municipalities that provide permission on the first Premier’s Ride clubs posted stay-on-trail signs, but snowmobil- for snowmobile trails four years ago. Then it was on ers chose to ride off trail anyway. Sledders need • Cities, towns and villages that allow snowmo- to the Dahl Lake Shelter and to understand that if you wish to ride in open bile access to the community Fir River Shelter, then a quick fields you need to get permission from the land- • Snowmobilers who register sleds with SGI ride back down the Fir River owner, and when it’s posted “Stay on Trail,” • SSA member snowmobile clubs for being in- Trail to Hudson Bay. It was please stay on trail. volved to host trails, shelters, safety and events noted by all the riders what Loud sleds—ones with “cans”—are really • Volunteers—the most important part of snow- great shelters the Hudson Bay causing problems. Sledders arrive in the small mobiling. They are the ones who keep this won- club has on their trails and in communities and unload, start up their sleds and derful industry alive. Without volunteers we what great condition all the then ride the sled around the community. I have wouldn’t have what we enjoy today, so please trails were. It was another heard from the mayors of several communities take the time to thank a volunteer and please con- great day of riding with tem- and they have informed us that they are looking sider volunteering with your local club. peratures of -15°C and 140 at closing the snowmobile trails into the commu- I would like to personally thank Jon and kilometres for the loop.