Snowmobiling is a popular local pastime each winter, but John Trumbley believes it could be more than that.
Trumbley, president of the local Border Explorers Snowmobile Club, says snowmobile tourism has boomed in the past few years.
Unfortunately, he says, Flin Flon and area is not taking advantage of the economic opportunity.
“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “It’s a growing tourism business and in Flin Flon and Creighton, where we have the lakes and the rocks, the terrain and the big timber, we have some unique riding but the communities don’t sell it. The community just doesn’t grasp it.”
The Border Explorers club is part of Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) and the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association (SSA), and receives funding to oversee area trails.
Each year, the local club earmarks a budget of between $45,000 and $50,000. Through extensive work, Trumbley says the club is able to upkeep the trails, maintain its building and pay two contractors each year.
He says with the trails the way they are, there should be tourists from other communities itching to get to Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach and Cranberry Portage.
The club does print and hand out maps of the local trails, which are distributed locally and as far south as Swan River and as far west as Prince Albert.
“Snowmobile tourism is a big deal. It’s huge in Ontario and Quebec with tens of millions put into the economy,” said Trumbley.
On average, Trumbley says, a snowmobiler will spend about $200 a day while on a tour.
“You carry nothing with you [really] – they aren’t that great on fuel, you’re staying in hotels and you’re buying food and parts,” he said.
Trumbley and his family are no strangers to snowmobile tours as he and his wife both ride.
“It’s expensive, but it’s what we do,” he said. “And that’s what makes it such a growing sport. More riders are out touring and bringing their families.”
Trumbley says the community “needs to get on board” to help make this area a booming snowmobile tourist attraction.
“No one has the trails that we have and even the ice fishing is right there,” he said.
Trumbley hopes to bring in another provincial rally – similar to the one held in 2011 when 250-plus snowmobilers paraded through the community – in the coming years.
“We have to sell the community and show them [our] part of the world,” said the club president.
The Border Explorers will continue to market the area through their maps and word-of-mouth, with Trumbley hoping to see an increase in snowmobile tourism in the coming winters.
Other regions of Manitoba are reaping the benefits of snowmobile tourism. A Snoman report shows the economic impact of snowmobiling in the province has risen 38 per cent since 2009-10. Snowmobiling also creates over 900 jobs in Manitoba, according to the report.
There are more than 35,000 registered snowmobiles across Manitoba. The Border Explorers have 25 riders.
