Northern sledders gearing up for a busy season
Dealers and snowmobile clubs in northern Ontario say people are eager to get aboard their machines and hit the trails if early sales are any indication.
One recreational equipment store in Timmins said despite global supply issues, sales are strong so far this fall with new and returning enthusiasts eager for the season to start.
"Snow's falling, everybody's excited. Sales have been fantastic. Machines are leaving as fast as we can get them in ... everybody's looking ahead, getting prepared, getting ready, "said Evan Colameco, of Mikey’s Sales and Repair.
And, there’s a new toy for sledders this winter. The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs is integrating live trail data with a navigation app from Bombardier Recreational Products, the company behind Ski-Doo.
"It's a collaborative agreement to allow whatever you see on the 'Interactive Trail Guide,' the ITG, on the OFSC side. It'll also be displayed on those various offerings from that company as it allows more people to have access to that information, as it gets updated," said Patrick Dzijacky, of the Timmins Snowmobile Club.
The OFSC still has a major problem with a small number of individuals who choose to ride on private land that’s not approved for sledding.
Agencies in the industry have launched a new campaign asking snowmobilers to follow the rules on trails with a pledge.
"We are losing trails, we're losing landowners because folks are riding off-trail. It could be as simple as a two to three-metre detour to get snow in their sleds or it could be driving across a farmer's winter wheat and destroying their crops," said Ryan Eickmeier, of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs.
The problem could affect other law-abiding sledders,Dzijacky said.
"If we lose some of these landowner agreements, trail connections to Cochrane or Iroquois Falls could be lost," he added.
He recommends sledders read up on the rules for trails and streets or contact a local club for more information.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Canada Post’s newest stamp features special cookies for Islamic holiday
Canada Post’s newest specialty stamps feature “melt-in-your-mouth” desserts to mark two Islamic festivals, the crown corporation announced Thursday.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6 per cent in January as Quebec strikes end
Canada's real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.