The excitement is growing as the Whitecourt Trailblazers in Whitecourt, Alberta, prepares for the club’s World Snowmobile Invasion (WSI). With it being only four months away, club members are starting to feel some pressure, but according to Dan Guenette—who is the president of the Trailblazers and an executive member of the WSI organizing committee—everything has gone well so far and they’re right on schedule.
“We’re very optimistic that it’s going to be a great event,” said Guenette.
Ticket packages are already selling and Guenette said there are some events that he figures will be sold out before February. Both the Beer Fest and the World Snowmobile Showcase have limited seating, so if you want to go to those events, it would be wise to get your tickets in advance.
The Trailblazers would also like those who are interested in the snowmobile tours they are offering during the WSI to register as soon as possible. Two tours will be offered: one that takes riders along the famed Golden Triangle trail and the other along the Silver Summit trail.
The place to be in February
Over the course of this five-day event, Guenette said the WSI could attract up to 25,000 people.
“Weather could change that,” he said, “but that is the number we are prepared for.”
The majority of those in attendance will likely be snowmobilers, but anyone and everyone is welcome. The World Snowmobile Showcase on Saturday evening is actually a music concert night, featuring Great Big Sea’s Alan Doyle, the Fleetwood Mac tribute band Dreams and the ABBA tribute band Arrival. Plus, cultural food and refreshments from around the world will be featured.
Switching it up
The Trailblazers will hold its annual snowmobile rally during the WSI this year, but instead of simply riding from checkpoint to checkpoint, participants will ride from Canada to Finland to Japan and so on.
“Rather than it being a typical rally that you have seen in Whitecourt or other communities, it will be focused on those other snowmobiling countries from around the world,” said Guenette.
Six countries in total will be represented at the rally in the form of decorations, food and beverages. Participants will even be issued a passport that they can have stamped at each themed checkpoint. The club also has some great door prizes lined up for the rally, such as a four-place enclosed snowmobile trailer.
Whips, flips and other tricks
The freestyle shows on Friday and Sunday of the WSI are bound to turn some heads. Levi LaVallee and other famous X Games riders will be performing. An attempt or two at breaking some world records will even be made. Again, you can buy tickets for this in advance, but Guenette said there should be be tickets available at the gate as well.
So if you have no plans for the week of February 11 to 15, 2015, or even if you do, change them, because the WSI is one event you won’t want to miss.
More information is available on the WSI website.
