Next Friday and Saturday you can expect to see many snowmobiles in the Battlefords and surrounding areas.
Snowmobile enthusiasts will converge on the area for the Provincial Snowmobile Festival Feb. 26-27. The Battlefords Trail Breakers are the host snowmobile club for the annual event.
According to Dale Woytiuk of Battlefords Trail Breakers, the event is held each year and rotates among various locales in the province. The host club must bid two years in advance.
“It’s been 16 years since we last hosted it here in the Battlefords,” said Woytiuk.
Approximately 300-350 riders are expected, said Woytiuk, with additional local club members and volunteers involved.
Snowmobilers are expected from around the province and some groups are confirmed from Yorkton, Christopher Lake, Meadow Lake and elsewhere.
“With the snow conditions being slim to none in a lot of parts of the province, it’s a bit of a challenge this year to get registrations. But they‘re starting to come in now, our phone is ringing, we are getting a lot of online registration,” said Woytiuk.
“Our conditions here locally are very good. We’re in good shape for the snowmobilers to come up and enjoy the trails.”
The schedule includes registration and a meet and greet at Kramer’s Auction Friday, Feb. 26, starting at noon, and events include a vintage sled show and shine display, a cash bar and sandwiches. Trucks, trailers and snowmobiles can park at Kramer Auction while participants are staying at local hotels. Sleigh rides and hay rides will take place at Kramer Auction as well. There is free shuttle service back and forth to all the area hotels and venues.
There are also two trails that are assigned and groomed which run to most of the hotels in the city, so riders can take their snowmobiles on those trails.
Saturday morning, Feb. 27, will include a pancake breakfast at Kramer’s Auction and final registration, and trail rides will go on during the day. All snowmobiles must be registered for the event.
There are predetermined trail rides of 50, 100, 150 and 200 kilometres scheduled as well as a vintage trail ride from 9 a.m. to noon.
While North Battleford is the hub of activity the trail rides will take the snowmobile enthusiasts kilometres away from the city and to the surrounding areas.
“The trail system runs from Denholm to the southeast corner all the way to Turtle Lake on the northwest corner,” said Woytiuk. The route will hit communities such as North Battleford, Meota, Edam, Glaslyn, Cochin and Blue Mountain resort.
“We want to try and funnel the traffic in a certain direction all the time so we don’t have a lot of traffic that’s going against each other. We would prefer to try and direct it one way if we can.”
There will be maps made available, a local map plus trail maps, so they can “pick and choose how far a ride they want,” said Woytiuk.
A country and western themed banquet and dance is in store for the evening, with the live band Danny and the Dusters. It will include a dance, raffles, silent auction and Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association sled draw. The supper is roast beef and is catered by Second To None Catering.
The public will most definitely notice the number of snowmobiles on the trails, and Woytiuk says drivers will need to be aware of the extra snowmobile traffic during that weekend.
“We kind of caution during that weekend, particularly Saturday, the trails will be heavy use all over so watch for any oncoming traffic.”
For more information go to www.sasksnow.com, where snowmobilers can register online.
For those adults registering after Feb. 1, the full weekend package is $95 while it is $45 for 14 and under. The cost for those who are interested in attending the banquet and dance only is $45.
