The recent fluctuating weather has not deterred the Athabasca River Runners Snowmobile Club in preparing for their annual rally.
Even having to postpone the club’s media promotional rally a few days – moving it from Feb. 6 to Feb. 10 – due to weather conditions, which then forced local media outlets to cancel because of previous commitments didn’t discourage the club from going ahead with the ride.
River Runners club members Dave and Jean Bilsky, Jim and Lynn Olson, Ernie and Diana Kuzyk, Annie Wagner, Cory Jardine plus Richard and Byron Fontaine were joined for the day – which turned out to great weather-wise – by Alberta Snowmobile Association president Lyle Birnie, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater MLA and Seniors minister Jeff Johnson and his son Jacob as well as two representatives from Athabasca County – manager of planning and development Elaine Leeuw and Laura Barfoot, tourism and economic development officer.
Ready to Rally
Jean Bilsky, spokesperson for the River Runners, explained the purpose of the media ride was to show off the trails, promote how fun and safe snowmobiling can be as well as garner some attention for the rally that is slated to run this Saturday.
Pre-registration takes place Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m., with registration going Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m., both at the Forfar Hall.
The hall is located on Township Road 654, one mile west of Highway 812.
It can be accessed from two directions – from the north off Highway 2 at the Baptiste Lake turnoff and from the south via Highway 663 west at the Cross Lake Provincial Park turnoff on Highway 2.
The rally, which will run along the club’s excellently maintained trails in the area, will feature cash and other prizes in what Bilsky described as an event for the whole family.
It includes both short and long runs on the fully groomed trails.
Food will be made available along the trail as well.
For more information, call either Lynn Olson at (780) 675-2154, Dave Bilsky at (780) 689-8074 or Jean Bilsky at (780) 675-3229.
