ATTENTION SNOWMOBILERS – IT’S (ALMOST) GO TIME!!!

Posted on | by OFSC

Yes, you read that correctly. It is the time of year when we start to pull our sleds out of storage, try on our gear, and plan for another season of organized snowmobiling in Ontario.

We hope you are as excited as we are for what lies ahead in just a few short months. After a 19-week winter that gave us some of the best snowmobiling conditions in years, we are deeply grateful to our club volunteers, landowners, partners, and you – the permit buyers – who continue to support this sport with passion. Before trail prep kicks into high gear, permits go on sale, and groomers start turning tracks, we wanted to take this opportunity to provide a glimpse into the operational side of our sport. I hope you read on (it’s a long one, but don’t worry – it’s not snowing yet!).

Managing Snowmobile Trails is Expensive

Simply put, rolling out 10’s of thousands of kilometers of white carpet is an expensive endeavour. Even with volunteer blood, sweat, and tears subsidizing this sport to the tune of $16M+ annually in labour and resources, our costs have risen considerably.

Over the last 5 seasons, expenses have increased by approximately 52%, from $17.8M in 2021 to $27.1M in 2025. There are several contributing factors: significant increase in the cost of goods and services we consume (fuel, steel, etc); increased capital investments in our grooming fleet (acquisitions and refurbishment) and infrastructure (bridges, culverts, etc); and increased funding to support our clubs’ trail maintenance and grooming demands. To put this into perspective, the OFSC has invested more than $61.6M into the trail system over the past 3 seasons alone – this includes $35.2M+ towards trail and grooming costs, $8M+ towards 98 infrastructure projects, and $18.3M+ towards 283 total groomer refurbishment and/or replacement projects.

From a revenue perspective, permit sales are the lifeline of organized snowmobiling, but it is a volatile market. Speaking frankly, in this sport, snow sells. When Mother Nature blesses us with favourable conditions and plenty of trail availability, permits fly off the virtual shelf. When conditions are less favourable, there is a noticeable decline in sales. As expenses have increased over the last 5 seasons, total permit revenue has decreased by approximately 6% over the same period, creating further challenges.

Further complicating the matter is the fixed and variable cost component – our fixed costs (ex., pre-season trail and groomer maintenance and prep) exist no matter what the winter brings and are spent long before the snowmobile season begins. Our variable costs (ex., grooming hours and repairs) increase dramatically the more we have to flex them. As an example, clubs groomed 758,000 km of trail last season, clocking a staggering 80,141 hours in the seat; this means we groomed the circumference of the earth 18.9x last winter!

Said differently, the better the season, the happier the riders, but the higher the costs. When permit sales align with these expenses, we strike a perfect balance. When they do not (like last year), it creates a financial challenge.

Sustaining Snowmobiling In Ontario

Why are we sharing this information with permit buyers? The answer is simple – it takes a village to keep this sport going. Over the course of the last 10 months, we have been hard at work exploring ways to ensure snowmobiling can continue for generations to come. Here are three key items to highlight:

  • Maintaining Permit Fees: Permits go on sale as of October 1, and fees will remain at the same pricing level as last season, but we need your commitment to make it work. Buying a seasonal permit and riding all winter long is the best way to show your support for the hard work of our volunteers.

  • Focusing on Quality vs. Quantity: Annually, the OFSC trail network fluctuates in size, depending on a variety of factors like landowner permission, environmental considerations, etc. The availability of that network then fluctuates even further based largely on local conditions. As one could imagine, 56 years of trail development have created a vast network that is taxing on our current resources. In an effort to both control costs and increase the quality of every kilometre we maintain, the trail network size for the 2025/2026 season will be capped at 25,500 km. The trail network has been locally curated and evaluated to focus our resources on quality, connectivity, and ridership, while removing underutilized, duplicate, and seldomly available trails. While this has indeed been a difficult process, we are confident it will allow us to balance our financial considerations while continuing to deliver an exceptional experience to permit buyers. As you will see once the Interactive Trail Guide (ITG) launches later this Fall, our province and our communities remain connected via a vast snowmobile trail network, which would take your average rider more than 13 years to experience in totality.
  • Finding Efficiencies: With no stone left unturned, we are evolving in all aspects of how we operate. As an example, we are optimizing our grooming fleet operations to both maximize the use of the asset and ensure our trail network is groomed based on conditions and demand. By better coordinating our grooming activities province-wide, we are confident your riding experiences will be consistently exceptional, irrespective of where you ride. As a not-for-profit organization, any efficiencies we can realize will go right back on the snow to support our operations in other ways.

A Call to Action — How You Can Help

  • Buy a seasonal permit and encourage others to do the same. Permit sales remain the single greatest driver of trail sustainability.
  • Support your local club. Whether through volunteer hours or helping at events, every contribution matters.
  • Share your story. Let others know how snowmobiling impacts your life, your family, and your community. Real stories make the value of trails impossible to ignore.
  • Respect the trails. Protect landowner agreements and help reduce wear and tear so resources stretch further.

Looking Forward Together

Ontario snowmobiling is a community like no other. It is built on passion, tradition, and the belief that winter is meant to be enjoyed. But none of it works without you — the volunteers and riders whose permits keep groomers running and trails available. Your support, understanding, and action today will mean snowmobiling tomorrow, and for many winters to come.

For questions or to schedule a media interview for the week of September 29th, please contact: [email protected]

OFSC Shares High Level Plans for Upcoming Ontario Snowmobile Season

Posted on | by OFSC

 

New Health & Safety Initiatives Coming For Snowmobile Trail Operators & Riders

(Barrie, ON – August 11, 2020) – As the voice of organized snowmobiling and a recognized leader for powersports tourism and recreation in this province, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is developing new strategies to ensure the health and safety of its volunteers, landowners and riders for the coming snowmobile season.

The OFSC believes these initiatives will deliver the best possible trail riding experiences for snowmobilers, while helping to sustain up to $3.3 Billion of snowmobiling-related economic activity that is so important to Ontario’s northern and rural communities each winter.

Continue reading →

URGENT MESSAGE TO ONTARIO SNOWMOBILERS RE: COVID-19

Posted on | by OFSC

Due to the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the constantly changing updates and directives from all levels of government, the OFSC is taking proactive measures to support efforts to reduce the spread of this worldwide pandemic.

These are unprecedented times and like many other responsible businesses we are taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of you, your families, our communities and businesses across the province.

Yesterday, the OFSC Board of Governors made a formal decision to cease trail operations and grooming effective immediately on any trails which are still available to the public.  Effective midnight, Saturday, March 21st all OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails in Ontario will be closed and anyone accessing such trails from that date forward will be trespassing.  This advance notification will provide all remaining touring snowmobilers ample time to get home.

We’d like to thank all our loyal permit buyers, landowners, club volunteers and partners for their support this season and encourage everyone to do their part and stay healthy and safe as we all work together in overcoming this pandemic. We want to stress that this decision is not based on an economic basis. Although grooming operations are reduced at this time of the season, we still spend substantial monies on our open trails. We want to ensure permit buyers that any savings from funds not spent this permit year will be invested in the next season.

We encourage you to stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 information from our government here:

Federal: https://www.canada.ca/en.html

Provincial: https://www.ontario.ca/page/government-ontario

OFSC GIFT CARDS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!

Posted on | by OFSC

 

The much-anticipated Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) Gift Cards are now available for purchase online. Everyone now has the opportunity to purchase permit gift cards both for sleds which have not yet arrived and for others as gifts.

The gift card fee is the same as the permit fee at the time of purchase and can be redeemed any time throughout the season. All Gift Cards purchased for the 2020 season expire on May 31, 2020.

The process is simple and the purchaser only requires the last name and postal code of the registered sled owner. Gift cards can be purchased at: https://permits.ofsc.on.ca/giftcard

“Gift cards are unquestionably a welcome and convenient option that directly benefits consumers” said OFSC Chief Executive Officer Ryan Eickmeier.

Give the gift of snowmobiling this season!

PROVINCE OF ONTARIO ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF SNOWMOBILING INDUSTRY

Posted on | by OFSC

September 23, 2019 (Mississauga, ON) – Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney addressed over 200 members of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs at their annual meeting in Mississauga on Friday, committing to long-term, sustainable funding of $500,000 annually to support Ontario’s snowmobiling industry. Minister Mulroney also reiterated the government’s support for online snowmobile driver training and permit vouchers, streamlining processes and cutting red tape.

“On behalf of our clubs, thousands of volunteers, and more than 100,000 snowmobilers who come from near and far to enjoy over 30,000kms of trails each winter, I want to thank Minister Mulroney and the Government of Ontario for their incredible support of the snowmobiling industry. With an annual economic impact of up to $3.3 billion in Ontario, this announcement provides a model for how industry and government can work in partnership to deliver world-class experiences. A multi-year funding agreement affords us the ability to plan our infrastructure renewal well into the future, a key pillar in ensuring our long-term sustainability” said OFSC Chief Executive Officer Ryan J. Eickmeier.

In addition to the long-term funding, Minister Mulroney announced that online driver training would be available in October and that Ontarians would soon be able to purchase gifts cards and redeem them for a permit, locking in the permit price at the time of gift card purchase.

“The OFSC has listened to its members and is happy to deliver on these two important initiatives,” Eickmeier said. “I thank the Minister as well as Ministry of Transportation officials who have worked closely with us for over a year on developing the online course and gift cards. The launch of the online driver training course will open up our sport to a whole new generation of Ontarians, and the new permit gift card is unquestionably a welcome and convenient option that directly benefits consumers.”

Further details on the online training course and permit vouchers will be available shortly.

For further info, please contact: Andrew Walasek 705-739-7669 x251 [email protected]

NEW STUDY FINDS SNOWMOBILING CAN CONTRIBUTE UP TO $3.3 BILLION ANNUALLY IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Posted on | by OFSC

(Barrie, ON – June 12, 2019) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) has released a new economic impact study based on the 2018-19 snowmobile season. The study found that the economic impact of snowmobiling has the potential to generate between $1.6 and $3.3 billion in total economic activity in any given season, dependent on factors such as weather.

“Snowmobiling continues to be the major driver of Ontario’s winter economy,” said OFSC Chief Executive Officer Ryan Eickmeier. “Thanks to our Club volunteers, snowmobilers experience 30,000kms of world-class riding conditions, supporting local businesses across the entire province. From job creation to taxation revenue to keeping a small business open all winter, snowmobilers certainly contribute across the board.”

Among the key findings of the study was that $842 million in expenditures contributed to $403 million in direct GDP and a total of $665 million in direct, indirect and induced GDP impacts. Additionally, direct employment from the season’s snowmobiling expenditures totaled an estimated 6,436 full-time equivalent jobs.

“Through our strong partnership with the Government of Ontario and increased marketing of our product, the economic impact of snowmobiling will continue to grow in the years ahead” continued Eickmeier.

The OFSC retained Harry Cummings & Associates Ltd to study the 2018-19 snowmobiling season, using the Ontario Ministry of Tourism’s Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model (TREIM). The study was generously supported through a grant by the International Snowmobiling Manufacturers Association (ISMA).

A copy of the report can be found here: OFSC Economic Impact Study

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is a volunteer led, not for profit association that provides the voice for organized snowmobiling in Ontario. OFSC snowmobile trails managed by 200 community based, member clubs generate up to $3.3 billion in economic activity in the province each year.