How long have you been sledding?
I think I was about 30 years old when I first started sledding. My own first sled was a used 1974 Ski-Doo Olympic 440.
What do you ride now?
I ride a 2008 Ski-Doo 600 Renegade - I really like it because it handles well and has a very comfortable ride. It can handle a variety of terrain, mountain as well as flat rides. It’s very versatile. If I were to upgrade, I’d stick with Ski-Doo.
Why do you like sledding the Smoky Lake area?
George and I (see accompanying photo) like it better than the Edmonton area because we have such close access to the trails. We don’t have to load the sleds onto a trailer and drive to the trails like we would in the city. And we have a really good club here, with good people and a good trail system.
What other areas do you enjoy?
We really like the Fox Creek area. The golden triangle is one of the nicest systems I’ve been on. The grading of the trails is so good—the volunteers work hard and take a lot of pride in maintaining really good trails. We’ve gotten to know a few of them, and they are really dedicated. The grooming is very wide and comfortable and the scenery is very pretty. They have good warming cabins too.
Is there somewhere that you dream about sledding in the future?
I’d like to go east to Quebec or Ontario, or maybe the Maritimes. I’ve heard that it’s very beautiful and that they have a great trail system. I like to appreciate the scenery, and the camaraderie. I understand that the trails are more refined in the eastern provinces because there are more people to do the work and they have more funding support. Apparently everybody who uses the system is a paid-up member of the provincial association, and has insurance, and it’s enforced. So the trail users all have more respect for the work that it takes to maintain the system.
Is sledding good exercise?
Oh yes, it certainly keeps us fit. Most of the time you have to actually maneuver the sled around, you can’t just sit and drive. When the snow is deep, I get a good workout and I really enjoy it.
