From the OFSC

GOOD NEWS SNOWMOBILERS!!!
On September 13 and 14, more than 350 grassroots volunteers – representing 179 community-based OFSC member snowmobile clubs from across Ontario – gathered in Muskoka to officially kick off the 2024/2025 season! OFSC AGM is also when Member Clubs vote on Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit fees for the upcoming season. Our members, alongside our program partners at the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), are pleased to announce that there will be no increase in 2025 Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit fees. Revenue from permit sales allows the OFSC to continue to make investments into the provincial snowmobile trail network through groomer acquisitions and refurbishment, major infrastructure replacement and maintenance, and trail preparation and grooming operations.

From the OFSC

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ONTARIO PERMIT BUYERS!
In advance of permit sales kicking off on October 1, we wanted to take a moment to share details of a work effort underway this spring and summer, which will continue throughout the fall and early winter. Since the close of the 2023/2024 season, OFSC Club volunteers have been engaged in the largest trail data project in the history of our Federation. This effort focuses on using precise GPS data generated by our grooming activity to realign our digital trail footprint; with a network the size of ours, you can be sure that volunteers have had a much busier summer than normal. This is still very much a work in progress, and Clubs will spend the fall and early winter finalizing their network alongside the countless gracious landowners in our communities.
As a result, our trail network will look different than it has in past years, particularly at the beginning of the season. It will positively evolve in real-time as trails and updated land use permissions are confirmed as we move closer to the finish line of this project. To ensure volunteers have as much time as possible to firm up their network, we will be launching the Interactive Trail Guide (ITG) and Go Snowmobiling Ontario App on December 1, 2024, which will still provide permit buyers ample time to book trips and plan routes. Read more: https://www.ofsc.on.ca/…/ofsc-57th-ofsc-agm-convention…/

2024 UCSR Raffle Tickets for BEAST are now on sale at the following locations: Blacks Corners Motorsports, Carleton Place Marine, Perth Powersports, and Clayton General Store.

https://ucsr.ca/lottery/

End of Season Message 2024

Dear Members and Volunteers,

As the snow has sadly melted and the season comes to an abrupt close, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your dedication, passion, and commitment to the sport of on-trail snowmobiling. Although short, this season has been filled with unforgettable memories, hard volunteer effort, shared adventures, and a few thrilling rides through the breathtaking winter landscapes of our district.

Your unwavering support and enthusiasm to your club and to the district has truly made this season as successful … as it could be given the weather. There is an important Sherry Anderson quote to consider: “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.” Whether you are a seasoned volunteer or a newcomer to the clubs, your participation has contributed to the success and camaraderie that define our snowmobiling community in Eastern Ontario. Volunteers, like you, are the driver to make the whole snowmobiling system work.

When the trails were available this season, I received a lot of positive feedback from riders about the excellent trail conditions even given the low snow conditions. A big shout out goes out to our grooming operators and grooming coordinators for making this happen!

As you can appreciate, our volunteer base is aging and dwindling in numbers, which puts the clubs and trails at risk. We sell over 10,000 Ontario Trail Permits in UCSR but the clubs function only a fraction of those people – about 1000 volunteers. We need your help! Contact us or your local club to see how you can help. A 3390 km trail network spread over 16 clubs starts and ends with well-organized and healthy clubs.

As we look forward to the next snowmobiling season with anticipation and excitement, let us take this time to reflect on the memories we have created, the friendships we have forged, and the experiences that have brought us together as a united snowmobiling family.

Thank you once again for your continuous support, dedication, and passion for snowmobiling. I am confident that the seasons ahead will be even more exhilarating and fulfilling. Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable summer. Stay safe, stay connected, and keep the spirit of snowmobiling alive until we meet again on the trails.

Warm regards,

Ian Edwards

President

UCSR

Please see this important video message from our President Chris Angell about the trails status.

Even though we have had a disappointing season, there’s still plenty of work to do on the trails. Volunteers were out today on the E104A re-route building a Corduroy Road to help us out in the future. Contact us at info@thebeast.ca if you would like to volunteer to help with the trails.

Reminder to ATV’s, please stay off all OFSC trails, you are not allowed on them, and can be charged with trespassing, no matter if they are Unavailable status for snowmobiles. For the OVRT multi-use trail, you are never allowed from Dec 1 to March31. Other multi-use trails such as TCT never allow ATV’s. Check local by-laws. Please message or contact us at info@thebeast.ca if any questions. Thanks.