snowmobile

Now that it's looking more like winter, snowmobiliers are just about ready to get their sleds out.

The Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association is increasing the annual snowmobile registration fee from $70 to $80 effective from Wednesday. The fee will also increase by $10 per year for the next four years.

The fee increases will support a new four-year trail management agreement between the SSA and the Provincial Government, which will focus on managing and supporting the province's 10,000 kilometres of groomed snowmobile trails.

"The costs of everything have been increasing from wages, to fuel and equipment purchases, and what we've seen over the last five years have made it difficult for our clubs to maintain the trails," said Chris Brewer, President and CEO of the SSA. "We've worked with the province to see an increase over the next four years that will help keep the world going around in the snowmobile world."

Brewer adds some money from this increase will be set aside to help cover the costs for disaster recovery for the trails.

"We had quite an area last year hit with an ice storm, that devastated snowmobile trails in the parklands, including Emma Lake, Christopher Lake, Candle Lake and north of Nipawin," he added. "It shut everything down for more than half of the winter, and clubs were devastated with the heavy snow and ice that hit and knocked all of the trees down. Heavy equipment and lots of manpower had to go in and work endlessly to get the trails opened up, and they did so basically out of their own pocket. What we've done moving forward is created this disaster fund where clubs can apply to help to get trails open after a disaster."

Brewer also reminds riders that they must register their sled in order to use it on public land, including the trails, crown land, municipal land and highway right-of-ways. He also encourages riders to get permission from landowners before riding on private property.