With the leaves turning their fall colours and the temperature beginning to drop towards freezing by the day, you know that winter is right around the corner. But for many, winter has another name: riding season. As snowmobiling enthusiasts get ready to hit the trails for another winter, they also have to be reminded of the many safety concerns that come with sledding.
Ken Lucko is the executive director of Snoman Inc., Snowmobilers of Manitoba Incorporated, and he has a simple message for riders when the time comes to ride: “Always be prepared and ride safe.”
Safety is always a highly stressed topic with Snoman, and taking that extra precaution when riding can keep a fun day of riding going and an accident at bay.
So what are some basic riding tips that Snoman has for you? Well for one, stick to the trails, especially when you are on a lake, river or any type of body of water. Ice conditions are never guaranteed and drowning is one of the leading causes of snowmobiling fatalities.
“Definitely stick to the trails,” said Lucko, “especially if we have weather like last winter, when it was fairly warm.”
Another big safety concern is consumption of drugs and alcohol. For proper safe riding, Snoman urges that you avoid drinking or taking drugs before riding. Alcohol is involved in over 70 per cent of snowmobiling fatalities.
“You have to be alert, cautious and attentive when on your sled,” Lucko said. “Even a little bit of consumption of alcohol or drugs can affect your ability to ride—so, no alcohol and no drugs.”
Snoman will also be rolling out a new technology this year that will help keep riders and groomers safe on the trails.
“We’re getting a GPS navigational system for our groomers,” said Lucko.
The GPS will be a new way for groomers to update which trails have been recently groomed and will provide a detailed map for all the trails in Manitoba for all 51 snowmobile clubs in the province. The groomers will also be easy to locate if they happen to have an accident or run out of gas, as the GPS function will pinpoint their location. All riders are encouraged to carry a cellular phone with them, but phone reception isn’t always a guarantee when you are out on the trail.
Updating which trails are groomed will let riders know where the best and safest trails are and will help them avoid the ones that may not be in top-notch shape. To find out which trails are groomed, it will be as easy as pushing a button.
“Everything will be uploaded to our website,” Lucko said.
Another way to be safe on the Manitoba trails is to make sure you buy a Snopass. With it, you will have access to over 12,000 kilometres. If you are found on a designated trail without a Snopass, your wallet will take the hit in the form of a hefty fine—$448.50.
“Snopasses will be $125 again this year,” Lucko said. “We sold over 17,000 Snopasses last year and we hope to sell even more this upcoming season.”
The $125 Snopass will allow you to ride all season long. You can also buy a seven-day Snopass at a reduced rate of $60.50. It is against the law to travel on any of the designated trails without a Snopass.
If you want to read more about snowmobile safety in Manitoba or find out how you can purchase your Snopass, head to the Snoman website.
