OFSC Delivers Important Trail Messages To Snowmobilers For International Snowmobile Safety Week, January 14 – 22

 

    1. Only Ride Available Trails 
    2. Stay On The Trail
    3. Ride Responsibly

(Barrie, ON, January 12, 2023) – As the non-profit, volunteer-driven association that oversees organized snowmobile trails in Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is cautioning snowmobilers that the greater majority of its 30,000 kilometres of OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails are currently identified as being “Unavailable” to ride. Most OFSC trails do not typically become Available to ride before mid-January, and although the recent unseasonal weather has impacted overall trail readiness, snowmobile clubs and their volunteers continue to work hard on making as many OFSC trails as possible Available to ride in the near future.

Only Ride Available Trails: For safety week, the OFSC reminds snowmobilers to only ride Available or Limited Availability OFSC trails and avoid riding Unavailable trails at any time during the winter. Snowmobilers can easily find out where there are Available trails to ride by checking Trail Status 24/7 on the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide (ITG) or on the OFSC Go Snowmobiling App. Trail Status shows on the ITG as:

  • GREEN for Available: The identified route is accessible with the understanding that the trail will likely vary considerably in quality, attributes and terrain over its length.
  • YELLOW for Limited Availability: Access to the identified route is limited with marginal riding opportunities, so snowmobilers enter with the understanding that they should ride with extreme care and reduced speed.
  • RED for Unavailable: The identified route is not available at this time, with access prohibited, and entering any Unavailable trail on private property is trespassing.

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OFSC & OFATV Sign Historic Memorandum of Understanding

New Era of Cooperation Focused on Protecting Landowners, Combatting Trespassing and
Ensuring Trail Sustainability

(Barrie, ON: November 30, 2022): The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) and the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs (OFATV) announced a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the province’s two largest recreational trail organizations. This first of its kind MOU solidifies a cooperative new approach in organized powersports with the goals to foster the protection, sustainability and growth of motorized recreational trails. The MOU will significantly benefit each Federation, their clubs, volunteers, landowners and trail users, as well as countless trail‐connected communities and tourism businesses across Ontario.

“Through these formal cooperative efforts, we will be able to leverage our collective communities to amplify messaging and strengthen our efforts to combat off‐trail riding, trespassing, and seasonal trail usage” said Ryan Eickmeier, OFSC CEO. “Where shared trails exist, the ability for our respective clubs to work together to build trail and infrastructure is also a definitive win for both organizations”.

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OFSC Driver Training Goes Exclusively Online

Digital Course Provides Many Benefits For New Snowmobilers

(Barrie, ON: November 10, 2022) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) has announced that effectively immediately, the OFSC Driver Training Program will be offered exclusively online.

Delivered by the OFSC under the authority of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) since 1976, Driver Training has graduated more than 260,000 students aged 12 and older, teaching the rules and behaviours necessary to be a safe and courteous snowmobile operator.

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Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit Fee Increase

(Barrie, ON: September 29, 2022) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is announcing a $5 permit fee increase for 2023 Seasonal and Classic Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permits. The increase does not apply to Multi-Day or Special Event Trail Permits. Permits and Permit Gift Cards sales commence online October 1, 2022.

Well below Canada’s current inflation rate of 7.0%, this modest permit fee increase ensures that trail riding will remain as affordable as possible for Ontario snowmobilers this season. At the same time, it also enables the Federation to keep pace with rising operational costs and allows us to make considerable investments in the groomers, trails, and infrastructure required to deliver Ontario’s premier winter tourism activity.

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OFSC Announces Landowner Appreciation Week March 21-27

Celebrating 18,000 Landowners Who Support Snowmobile Trails Across Ontario

(Barrie, ON: March 21, 2022) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is celebrating a “neighbours helping neighbours” partnership tradition that began more than 50 years ago. From March 21-27, OFSC Landowner Appreciation Week 2022 recognizes our community-minded landowners across Ontario. These generous landowners come from all walks of life, including thousands of farmers, and home or cottage owners, as well as private companies, municipalities, conservation authorities and others. Each voluntarily contributes to recreational snowmobiling and the well-being of their hometowns by donating the use of a portion of their private property for an OFSC Prescribed Trail during the winter months. OFSC trails on their land provide snowmobilers with safe and legal places to ride, while connecting hundreds of rural communities on the snow.

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OFSC Member Clubs Approve New Strategic Plan

Setting The Stage For the Successful Future of Organized Recreational Snowmobiling in Ontario

(Barrie, ON: March 3, 2022) – Last night, the membership of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) approved a new strategic plan. The new plan received a strong majority vote from member snowmobile clubs during a special meeting. More than 200 voting and non-voting Club representatives from across Ontario attended, even though most of these volunteers are still heavily involved in trail operations.

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