TRAILS NORTH SYMPOSIUM 2016
MARATHON SNO-KICKERS The Marathon Sno-Kickers is a volunteer snowmobile club who are part of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and Algoma Snow Plan Affiliation.
History of Marathon Sno-Kickers • The club began in 1990 with a group of snowmobile enthusiasts who wanted to connect the communites along the north shore by snowmobile trails.
The club became a part of the OFSC and began grooming trails across the region. Shown in the picture is a groomer that was used in the early years of the club.
Interest in the sport grew, families were purchasing snowmobiles and making snowmobiling a favourite winter pass time. With trails being used more frequently a larger scale groomer was required to keep the trails in good condition.
The snowmobile trail usage peaked along the north shore in the mid to late 1990s. During these years our small communities could support multiple snowmobile dealers and service centres. Hotel parking lots would be packed on a nightly bases throughout the winter season with people who were eager to ride the north shore!
Poker runs in the 90’s, 4 sleds were given away as prizes and snowmobilers filled an arena!
PIC RIVER BRIDGE
THE 2000s • With the economic down turn in the area, the mid 2000s era was not a good one for the snowmobile community. With many local residents having to relocate and downsize, snowmobiling was no longer a priority. Trails were not being used, volunteers were burnt out and businesses could no longer depend on snowmobile tourists for income
EQUIPMENT IS GETTING OLD, BREAKDOWNS ARE THE NORM .
MORE WILDLIFE ON THE TRAILS THAN SLEDS!!!
HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? In 2011 the OFSC dismantled district 16 and the North of Superior • Snowmobile Association and began to sell off assets due to the lack of interest and the area was now costing money instead of making money.
SURVIVAL MODE? • After the closure of District 16, the Marathon and Greenstone clubs are the lone clubs in the district to survive based on the sale of trail permits . Both clubs are now islands of trails with no destination for locals to ride to and no link to bring tourists into the communities . Die hard riders continue to ride locally Removing distance signs to White River
2015: WE ARE ON THE REBOUND • Marathon Sno-Kickers make application to join district 13, The Algoma Snow Plan Affiliation and are successful! There is hope!
In February 2016, The Marathon Sno-Kickers break the trail through White River and on to Hammer Lake to meet the Dubreuilvilleclub. For the first time since 2011 White River is back on the trail and Marathon is connected with the rest of the province !
The work continues.... • After a lengthy closure and lack of maintenance the trail system still requires extensive work to get it back to pristine condition for riders to enjoy!
The Future is Bright • A 2017 Prinoth Husky Groomer is scheduled to be delivered to Marathon in the fall of 2016 to aid in the maintenance of the approximently220kms of trail that the club maintains.
HELP BRING SNOWMOBILING BACK TO WHERE IT WAS 2O YEARS AGO, EVERYBODY WINS!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwU5o e7NcSw
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