Name: Paul Poohkay
Lives in: Calgary, Alberta
Age: 35
Hobbies: Sledding, motocross, skiing, golfing, mountain biking
Sledding since: 2004
First sled: 2005 Ski-Doo Summit X 800
Current ride: 2010 Yamaha Nytro with MCXpress Turbo, 2013 Arctic Cat 800 with BoonDocker Turbo
What do you like about your Nytro? I just like the four-stroke power with the turbo. I found it gave me great manoeuvrability through the trees. It took my riding to the next level from just a regular (sled). It gave me the power requirements when I needed it—like through tight trees with really steep slopes.
What is your favourite kind of riding? I would say a modified free riding—like through the trees with technical climbs, drops and jumps.
What are some of your favourite riding areas in Golden, B.C.? Silver Mines, Hobo, Area 51, Quartz Creek and Silent Pass.
Tell me about Silent Pass: That’s got everything. It has really good technical tree riding, some nice drops and really nice lakes with climbs up through trees and just pure hillclimbing. It’s great for riders of all calibres. You can always find untracked areas in Silent Pass.
What was your best ride last season? I put in a lot of days last year and there was probably four days I didn’t have three feet of fresh powder. It’s tough to pick a (favourite) day, but probably the day I went into Silent Pass with Dave Best. It was a ton of fun. Also, the ride with Chris Brown. I helped him out with the clinic out there and that was a fantastic day as well.
What is your motivation to ride? Just the freedom. Growing up on a small farm, the city drives me crazy so it offers the freedom to get out of the city—and part of it is as my skill levels increase, just going places where average riders can’t and having the ability to do things other people can’t. And just the challenge of it—it’s a great workout. You’re being active, you’re in the outdoors, having a ton of fun with your buddies. It’s a great friendship-building sport.
