The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
According to the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation, there are currently 17 clubs across the island portion of the province, about 2,500 kilometers of set snowmobile trails and 18 dedicated groomers. In Labrador there are 1,500 kilometers of trails, and nine clubs, according to Labrador Winter Trails Inc. There are approximately 65,000 snowmobiles in Newfoundland and Labrador. Last winter, about 750 snowmobilers went on the annual Grenfell Ride, which converges on Main Brook, great Northern Peninsula. Snowmobiling is one of the most hazardous sports in Canada, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Their report, "Major Injury in Canada 2002," indicates that 16 per cent of severe sports and recreational injuries in winter are caused by snowmobile accidents, much higher than for either downhill skiing (6 per cent) or snowboarding (5 per cent). And Newfoundland and Labrador has the dubious distinction of having the highest snowmobile fatality rates in the country. Therefore it's imperative riders not drink alcohol while riding and check conditions before venturing over any ice. Something to Ponder: Santa Claus is said to be the world's best navigator, but he is just about the worst judge of size and colour.
