FSA Avalanche Awareness Days: Breaking Records Despite A Slow Start to Winter

Snowmobile enthusiasts converged at the Rolling Hills backcountry shelter over the weekend, marking the fifth annual Fernie Snowmobile Association Avalanche Awareness and Snowmobile Demo Days. Recent snowfall compensated for a slow start to the season, extending a warm invitation to riders from as far away as Saskatchewan. The event focused on fostering backcountry safety and camaraderie within the local snowmobiling community.

With over 300 riders in attendance, the weekend featured free training sessions and hands-on demonstrations, equipping enthusiasts of all ages with essential skills for responsible backcountry recreation. Key local partners, including The Avalanche Canada South Rockies Field Team, Fernie Search and Rescue, and Elk Valley Snow Shepherds, provided valuable insights through snow pit demos, companion rescue training, and essential gear showcases.

Attendees also had the opportunity to demo the latest sleds from Arctic Cat, Polaris, Skidoo, and Husqvarna Timbersled, thanks to dealership partners such as Ghostrider Motorsports (Fernie, BC), Mountain Toys Polaris (Cochrane, AB), Elk Ridge Rentals (Jaffray, BC), and A&E Motorsports (Brooks, AB). These partners facilitated a unique experience for riders to explore and test various models all in one on snow location. Dirty Sledder was on hand showcasing sled decks and trailers in the staging area as well as Elevation Stitching who crafts handmade tow straps and radio mic covers for sledders. 

The Fernie Snowmobile Association underscored its dedication to community support by matching rider donations for the Avalanche Canada South Rockies Field Team. This act highlighted the snowmobiling community's collective appreciation for a regional team that gathers crucial weather and snowpack data, instrumental in crafting accurate public safety avalanche bulletins for our valley.

FSA Organizer Nicole Matei expressed gratitude, saying, "The success of the event wouldn't be possible without the passionate tapestry of riders and our incredible community partners. When I look around today, we have representatives from BC Snowmobile Federation, the FSA, neighboring Elkford and Crowsnest Snowmobile Clubs, dealerships from every manufacturer on the market, local safety partners, and riders from all over Western Canada  — weaving together a celebration of our shared stoke for the sled community."

Highlighting snowmobiling's economic impact, Matei pointed out that Snowmobile Clubs across the province maintain over 18,000km of trails making them the largest manager of public recreation sites outside of BC Parks. In Fernie alone, the sport contributes a substantial $11.6 million annually in economic output, underscoring its significance for the community and the province of British Columbia. ‘These are individuals that choose to live, work, and play in Fernie because of the incredible snowmobiling opportunities and I think the number of people here today showcase the value we place on doing it safely and with respect for the land and people.’

Reflecting on an unforgettable weekend, we're revved up for what's next. Mark your calendars for our upcoming 80's-themed Vintage Poker Ride on February 17th – the excitement continues!

Until next year!

photos provided by Alex Hanson, Brent Tardiff, and Nicole Matei