Deadly sledding?
Few snowmobilers have avalanche skills training to safely ride in mountains
Despite a record deadly sledding season last year, most snowmobilers still don't have adequate training to be safe in the mountains, according to the Canadian Avalanche Centre.
"I'd guess 10% or fewer" snowmobilers have basic Avalanche Skills Training (AST) certification, said Lori Zacaruk, outreach instructor with the centre.
The Revelstoke, B.C. centre sets training standards and maps avalanche conditions for Canada's western mountain ranges.
"We've got a long way to go with snowmobilers," she said.
At least 25 people -- most of whom were snowmobilers -- were killed by avalanches in Western Canada last season, making it by far the deadliest season on record. All but one were killed in B.C.
"It was a spooky season last year, guaranteed," said Zacaruk. "I think there were a lot of fatalities that could've been prevented if people recognized Mother Nature's clues."
Even snowmobile professionals at this weekend's Ride Alberta Snowmobile and ATV Show at the Edmonton Expo Centre said they didn't have training.
"I would like to" take AST training, said Pierre Letourneau, who sells sleds for Riverside Honda and SkiDoo, adding risk is a natural part of snowmobiling in the mountains.
"It's just one of those things. It's a chance you take every time you go."
"One of the guys in our group has it," said Steve Haworth, who builds hot rod mountain sleds for Vernon, B.C.'s Rat Sled. He said he rides every weekend.
"We're riding in areas that are steep with lots of snow," he said. "I will (take the course) ... I just put so much time into building these machines."
A first-level AST course requires at least 16 hours of training and costs about $300, depending on the course vendor, said Zacaruk.
Students learn how to identify the avalanche risk by terrain, properly plan trips and rescue a buried victim.
"(Snowmobilers) don't realize how much there is to know," she said.
Fortunately, she said she's seen an uptick in avalanche safety interest this season.
Each year she gets more inquiries at the Ride Alberta show.
A three-hour avalanche safety crash course is being held tonight at Riverside Honda and Ski-Doo, 15 Inglewood Dr. in St. Albert, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Few snowmobilers have avalanche skills training to safely ride in mountains
Despite a record deadly sledding season last year, most snowmobilers still don't have adequate training to be safe in the mountains, according to the Canadian Avalanche Centre.
"I'd guess 10% or fewer" snowmobilers have basic Avalanche Skills Training (AST) certification, said Lori Zacaruk, outreach instructor with the centre.
The Revelstoke, B.C. centre sets training standards and maps avalanche conditions for Canada's western mountain ranges.
"We've got a long way to go with snowmobilers," she said.
At least 25 people -- most of whom were snowmobilers -- were killed by avalanches in Western Canada last season, making it by far the deadliest season on record. All but one were killed in B.C.
"It was a spooky season last year, guaranteed," said Zacaruk. "I think there were a lot of fatalities that could've been prevented if people recognized Mother Nature's clues."
Even snowmobile professionals at this weekend's Ride Alberta Snowmobile and ATV Show at the Edmonton Expo Centre said they didn't have training.
"I would like to" take AST training, said Pierre Letourneau, who sells sleds for Riverside Honda and SkiDoo, adding risk is a natural part of snowmobiling in the mountains.
"It's just one of those things. It's a chance you take every time you go."
"One of the guys in our group has it," said Steve Haworth, who builds hot rod mountain sleds for Vernon, B.C.'s Rat Sled. He said he rides every weekend.
"We're riding in areas that are steep with lots of snow," he said. "I will (take the course) ... I just put so much time into building these machines."
A first-level AST course requires at least 16 hours of training and costs about $300, depending on the course vendor, said Zacaruk.
Students learn how to identify the avalanche risk by terrain, properly plan trips and rescue a buried victim.
"(Snowmobilers) don't realize how much there is to know," she said.
Fortunately, she said she's seen an uptick in avalanche safety interest this season.
Each year she gets more inquiries at the Ride Alberta show.
A three-hour avalanche safety crash course is being held tonight at Riverside Honda and Ski-Doo, 15 Inglewood Dr. in St. Albert, starting at 6:30 p.m.