At the end of one chapter of Rob Hanna’s life, he discovered a passion for the outdoors, he became closer to his children and he rekindled a romance with his childhood friend.
Hanna, president of the Mid-Island Sno-Blazers on Vancouver Island, bumped into Saari Hamilton, who is now the safety co-ordinator of the snowmobile club, after his divorce. The duo made a pact to teach each other about their respective hobbies—which meant snowboarding lessons from Hamilton and snowmobiling lessons from Hanna.
The pair agreed to go sledding before snowboarding, but the day after they went out snowmobiling, Hamilton pawned her snowboarding garb and declared that sledding was better than snowboarding. Hanna and Hamilton became snowmobiling instructors, avalanche specialists and partners—in both business and romance.
“I have two kids, both boys,” said Hanna. “And they think (Saari’s) cool because she does boy’s stuff.”
The snowball effect
The couple advocate snowmobiling safety, and their goal as club representatives is to get more families involved in the sport. Last season, Hamilton introduced her friend of more than 20 years, Colleen Praill, to the sport during a girl’s weekend in Whistler.
“She loved it,” said Hanna. “She can’t wait to do it again.”
Praill said it was her first time snowmobiling as an adult.
“It’s pretty incredible that you can reach these kinds of places on a snowmobile,” said Praill. “And you think you might know the area, but when you get up to a different vantage point, you get a whole new perspective about it.”
Praill said that Hamilton brought enough equipment to last for their day trip and she provided a day’s lesson; in total they, spent between four and five hours riding sleds in Whistler. Praill anticipates she will meet up with her friends to go snowmobiling again this year.
“It’s something everybody should try at least once,” said Praill. “I’m planning to go again by the end of this season.”
Arranging a play date
Hanna is anxiously waiting to plan a gathering for the whole group; his goal is to rent a cabin for everybody so that both of their children can go tobogganing and snowmobiling, and build snow couches or forts.
“If you stay overnight and you wake up (in a cabin) after it snowed more, it’s almost like being in wonderland,” said Hanna.
