OFSC Safe Riding Message For National Snowmobile Environment Month

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Environmentally-Friendly Sledding is Part of Being a Safe Snowmobiler

(Barrie, ON, January 31, 2023) – February is National Snowmobile Environment Month, and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs celebrates by reminding trail riders that snowmobilers have a collective interest in keeping nature beautiful. To do so, riders must snowmobile responsibly to foster a safe environment by protecting and preserving our land, forest and fauna. This proactive behaviour will help ensure that future generations can enjoy recreational riding on OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails for years to come.

National Snowmobiling Environment Month also celebrates the ongoing stewardship accomplishments of our member clubs and volunteers. These ongoing initiatives include effective trail planning to protect sensitive habitats and species, to control erosion, to protect rivers and streams with bridges and culverts, plus activities such as seeding, tree planting, working with provincial ministries and environment groups, and ongoing education and outreach efforts within the snowmobiling community.

“We are stewards of the trails we have the privilege of enjoying each winter”, said Ryan Eickmeier, OFSC CEO. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure we can continue to co-exist with the natural environment in which we ride, and all that inhabit it.”

To snowmobile responsibly, every rider must make a personal commitment to treat Mother Nature respectfully and be sensitive to our surroundings on every ride. Keeping nature beautiful means being responsible to:

Stay On The Trail: The OFSC reminds snowmobilers that the safe environmental choice is to stay on the trail. Trail riding minimizes any impact on the natural setting where we are transient guests, while also not disturbing crops and livestock. OFSC trails exist to provide defined and organized corridors that are safer for riders and for the environment, while minimizing any damage caused by random off trail riding.

Only Ride Available Trails: Shown in Red on the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide (ITG), unavailable trails are not yet ready for snowmobile travel. The reasons for a trail being unavailable to ride include insufficient frost and snow to protect the ground, swamps, bogs and creeks not being frozen, and clubs still working to complete the required trail preparations for safe and environmentally-friendly sledding.

Respect Sensitive Areas: Snowmobilers should avoid environmentally sensitive or protected habitats by sticking to OFSC trails.

Protect Wildlife: Animals are more vulnerable in winter, so keep your distance and leave them alone.

Leave Tracks, Not Trash: If you had space to bring it in, then respect nature by carrying it out with you.

Embrace Best Available Technology: New advanced technology snowmobiles run more efficiently and effectively, use less fuel and oil, operate with virtually no smoke or smell, and run quieter too.

Maintain Your Sled: A well-tuned snowmobile is more environmentally friendly, reliable and safer to ride.

Leave It Stock: Installing aftermarket pipes on your sled is not only illegal, but also creates unnecessary noise pollution that disturbs wildlife and humans.

OFSC trail riding takes place in an unpredictable and uncontrollable natural environment that we all enjoy and share. Keeping nature beautiful during every ride depends on the personal decisions and smart choices made by each snowmobiler to make OFSC trails as safe as possible for Mother Nature.

 

 

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.

For questions or to schedule a media interview with the OFSC, please contact Lisa Stackhouse at: [email protected]

OFSC Delivers Important Trail Messages To Snowmobilers For International Snowmobile Safety Week, January 14 – 22

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    1. Only Ride Available Trails 
    2. Stay On The Trail
    3. Ride Responsibly

(Barrie, ON, January 12, 2023) – As the non-profit, volunteer-driven association that oversees organized snowmobile trails in Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is cautioning snowmobilers that the greater majority of its 30,000 kilometres of OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails are currently identified as being “Unavailable” to ride. Most OFSC trails do not typically become Available to ride before mid-January, and although the recent unseasonal weather has impacted overall trail readiness, snowmobile clubs and their volunteers continue to work hard on making as many OFSC trails as possible Available to ride in the near future.

Only Ride Available Trails: For safety week, the OFSC reminds snowmobilers to only ride Available or Limited Availability OFSC trails and avoid riding Unavailable trails at any time during the winter. Snowmobilers can easily find out where there are Available trails to ride by checking Trail Status 24/7 on the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide (ITG) or on the OFSC Go Snowmobiling App. Trail Status shows on the ITG as:

  • GREEN for Available: The identified route is accessible with the understanding that the trail will likely vary considerably in quality, attributes and terrain over its length.
  • YELLOW for Limited Availability: Access to the identified route is limited with marginal riding opportunities, so snowmobilers enter with the understanding that they should ride with extreme care and reduced speed.
  • RED for Unavailable: The identified route is not available at this time, with access prohibited, and entering any Unavailable trail on private property is trespassing.

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OFSC Issues Urgent Appeal To Save Our Trails

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Snowmobile Trails, A Unique Winter Asset Benefitting All Ontarians

(Barrie, ON – January 24, 2022): For more than 50 years, community-minded landowners have partnered with volunteers in local snowmobile clubs to provide their area with recreational snowmobile trails. This rural tradition has created many economic, recreational, social, and health benefits to enhance the winter well-being of hometowns and their residents across the province.

With over 50% of trails now available for recreational riding, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is celebrating these unique and enduring relationships, and the incredible trail network of 30,000 kilometres of OFSC Prescribed Trails we’ve built together, about 60% of which are located on private property. Today, the OFSC is issuing a special call to action: Let’s work together to Save Our Trails.

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OFSC Calls For Snowmobile Safety On Every Trail Ride

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Recreational Trail Riders Encouraged To Make Smart Choices, Ride With Care & Control

International Snowmobile Safety Week, January 15 to 23

Key Points:

  • Ride responsibly for your own safety and for the safety those who share the trails with you.
  • Trail safety message especially important for participants new to organized snowmobiling.
  • Recreational OFSC trails are statistically the safest place to ride a snowmobile.
  • No snowmobile fatalities reported to date this season on OFSC trails.

(Barrie, ON – January 13, 2022): The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) joins the North American snowmobile community and our Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) partners in celebrating the 2022 snowmobile season with International Snowmobile Safety Week, January 15 to 23. The OFSC is the non-profit, volunteer-driven association that oversees organized snowmobile trails in Ontario.

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OFSC Delivers Strong Snowmobiling Season Despite Challenges

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Season Peak of 26,000 Kms of Available OFSC Trails Reached on February 25, 2021

(Barrie, ON: March 31, 2021) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) extends sincerest appreciation to our 6,000 volunteers, whose trail-building expertise and operational dedication are the grassroots backbone of our local snowmobile clubs across Ontario. Despite facing unprecedented and continually evolving challenges, their volunteer efforts, cooperation and determination during the past season helped achieved the commitment we made to snowmobilers in our Trails To Ride 2021 plan – to deliver the best possible trail riding experiences.

“I want to commend everyone on Team OFSC for our collective achievements this winter,” commented CEO Landon French, “from volunteers to landowners to stakeholders, and to staff who helped steer us through uncharted territory this year.”

In addition, the OFSC wants to thank each and every permit buyer for your patience and understanding through the season. We really appreciate your support of OFSC trails and your willingness to adapt to local riding this winter and for taking the necessary precautions. Certainly, if the positive, post-season feedback from snowmobilers on social media is any indicator, many of you agree that this season was a success story given the circumstances. And what a story it was…

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OFSC Provides Final Update For Snowmobile Trail System and Interactive Trail Guide

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(Barrie, ON: March 25, 2021) – During this OFSC Landowner Appreciation Week, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is confirming that there are now no OFSC Prescribed trails available for snowmobiling anywhere in Ontario. All of our more than 30,000 kilometres of trails are showing RED on the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide (ITG), meaning that the entire provincial trail system is now shut down for the season, thereby ending safe and legal snowmobile trail riding opportunities in every OFSC district until next winter. Meanwhile, we join the Ontario Provincial Police and other police services in warning snowmobilers to stay off any ice, which is disappearing rapidly now that Spring has officially arrived.

Out of respect for our landowners and to protect private property, crops and livestock from off-season trespass by other trail motorized users, the ITG will go offline effective March 26, 2021 until November 2021. Our Go Snowmobiling Apps will not show OFSC trails until December 1, 2021, while your subscription to PRO remains valid for 12 months from your date of upgrade purchase.

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