When Bruce Sinding wants to go sledding, it’s a family affair. Bruce, his wife, Maria, and their three kids have a quarter section in Westlock, Alberta, with plenty of room and diverse landscapes to make any day of sledding a day to remember.
Sinding does not describe himself as an avid sledder. For him, it’s all about quality family time; and with his youngest at nine and the oldest at 13, it’s all about safe riding and learning how to handle your machine before any attempts to go out into the wild for highmarking.
Before a day of sledding begins for the Sindings, there are rigorous safety checks. The first rule is never ride alone. Next on the checklist are helmets, chest protectors, sledding outfits, and ensuring that machine liquid levels are topped off. And, of course, there are the obligatory wieners, marshmallows and warm beverages to pack.
It's all about family time
Sinding said that before having a family, he had only tried snowmobiling a couple of times. Times have changed. With friends and their families involved in the sport, the long Alberta winters, 160 acres including a five-acre pond to practise on and gain experience, and the chance to have family time together—snowmobiling is a perfect fit for this family.
The Sindings use four machines. Bruce drives a two-person Yamaha Venture Light, Maria rides a Polaris Transport 550, and the kids alternate between a Yamaha Bravo 250 and a Polaris Dragon 120.
Sinding’s son Andrew (the youngest) has taken to the sport and the garb it offers. While too young to be a daredevil, Andrew likes the "uniform"—as he calls it. With the boots, pants, gloves, helmet, chest protector and a recently purchased kidney protector, Sinding may have a daredevil in the making. Meanwhile, the girls have their own challenges.
“Their thumbs get sore . . .” said Sinding, “. . . from endorsing the gas. They’ll drive it for a little bit, then they’ll get tired of it. I find that kind of funny.”
A day of sledding creates the best memories
Springtime brings the fondest memories for the Sinding family.
“In late afternoon, it’s starting to get a little warmer," said Sinding. "We’ll have sweaters on, we’ll have a bonfire with a weenie and marshmallow roast. The sun will be setting, a beautiful blue sky, the sun going down . . . it’s just gorgeous. It’s really nice family time.”
This winter the Sindings are planning to go beyond the quarter section and venture out to blaze some new trails and create new family memories.
