With the arrival of some heavy snowfall that appears to be here for the duration of the winter, local snowmobile enthusiasts and dealers are gearing up for another season on the trails. The Yorkton Sno-Riders snowmobile club members welcome the early snowfall which promises and extended season outdoors enjoying their favorite outdoor activity. "The weatherman and mother nature sure helped us out," suggests Sno-Riders president Jason Popowich.
Popowich says the club will direct most of their efforts to maintaining the existing trail system and programs.
He advises snowmobilers to be extra cautious this year as there appears to be a lot of running water in area creeks. As well riders should be careful of big ruts which may have been left by large farm equipment moving across fields.
Popowich urges all members to purchase their memberships and to ensure their sleds are plated. In order to use the trail system, sleds must be plated he notes. The club receives funds to help maintain the trail system from the sale of license plates, he points out. "That keep the groomers busy. Puts fuel in the groomers and helps put signs on the trail," he explains.
Yorkton Sno-Rider memberships cost $25, Popowich reports. He expresses the club's appreciation of the membership promotion program established by Bombardier and Ski-Doo through the local dealership, King's Sport and Leisure. Each year the Million Dollar Program offers local clubs $10 for each member who purchased a membership by the time of the local dealer's tour up to a maximum of $1,500 per club.
Yorkton Sno-Rider general meetings, held the second Wednesday of each month, are held at the Hooters Club House, located north of Yorkton at the Art Bilous farm. Anyone who'd like to join the club or who would like more information about the club can contact any of the local dealers or Popowich himself at 782-8222.
The club currently operates some 500 km of trails in the area. In addition to the groomed trails, the club has constructed warm-up shelters along the trails for use by club members and visitors to the trail system. The trails are all signed to direct the sledders and help to keep riders safe.
Popowich admits the early snowfall caught the club, which typically has one month or so longer to set up their signs, shelters and equipment, off guard.
In the interest of safety and comfort, Popowich urges sledders to follow the signs and trails. He asks riders to respect late seeded crops and to avoid white grain storage bags located in fields. "Please watch out for those and stay away from them as they are easily damaged. Anytime you touch them, even with a ski, they will break apart and the grain in them can spoil," he explains.
Popowich also warns sledders to take extra precaution when crossing some areas because of the risk of falling into creeks or areas of running water which may be covered with snow.
The Yorkton Sno-Riders offers a snowmobile safety course for new riders of all ages. The course is helpful to those wanting to learn the basics of snowmobiling and to improve their skills. The course also teaches basic survival skills and simple mechanics in case of breakdown on the trail.
Popowich closes, urging all snowmobile enthusiasts to get out on their sleds, ride safely and responsibly and to have fun this winter.
