Fernie Snowmobile Association Named BC’s 2025 Snowmobile Club of the Year
The BC Snowmobile Federation is proud to recognize the Fernie Snowmobile Association (FSA) as BC’s 2025 Snowmobile Club of the Year, an honour presented at the BCSF Excellence Awards last spring.
The award comes during a milestone year for the Fernie Snowmobile Association, as the club celebrates 35 years as the voice of organized snowmobiling in Fernie. It reflects decades of leadership, innovation, and commitment in one of British Columbia’s most complex and dynamic snowmobiling regions.
Located in the southeast corner of the province, Fernie is an authentic mountain town where snowmobiling plays a major role in both recreation and the local economy. With a permanent population of roughly 5,000 people, snowmobiling generates nearly $12 million in annual economic output each winter — supported by the infrastructure, access, and experiences delivered by the FSA.
A Grooming Program Built for Fernie
The Fernie Snowmobile Association manages five distinct riding areas, supported by more than 250 km of groomed trails that climb from nearly right downtown at 1,010 metres to alpine terrain above 2,100 metres, including BC’s highest groomed snowmobile trail.
With an average of 29 feet of snowfall each season, the grooming program in Fernie requires exceptional teamwork and strong organizational frameworks to continually adapt to weather, avalanche conditions, and a complex web of land use agreements and logistics. Grooming here is not just operational — it’s strategic.
In 2017, the FSA made a defining decision to bring grooming operations fully in-house. The move required major investment in equipment, staffing, infrastructure, safety systems, and avalanche planning, but it gave the club full control over when, where, and how trails are groomed — and ensured riders could clearly see the value of their trail dollars.
Today, the club operates a modern fleet of BR350 snowcats and completes more than 5,000 km of grooming each season, seven nights a week from mid-December through mid-April. The program supports a seasonal staff of 8–12 people, backed by a dedicated volunteer base contributing approximately 3,000 volunteer hours each year.
More Than Trails
For the Fernie Snowmobile Association, grooming is about more than smooth trails. It’s about safely connecting riders to the backcountry and focusing recreation within approved areas.
The club also maintains three day-use warming shelters, including recently receiving government approval for the replacement of the Ram backcountry shelter, and regularly fundraises for organizations such as Avalanche Canada and the Fernie Women's Resource Center — reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the Fernie community.
Avalanche Awareness & Demo Days
This commitment to safety and education is showcased each winter at the FSA’s Avalanche Awareness & Snowmobile Demo Days — one of the largest avalanche awareness events of its kind in British Columbia. The event brings together riders, dealerships, manufacturers, safety professionals, and community partners for a weekend focused on education, hands-on learning, and giving back.
This year’s event takes place January 17, 2026, featuring training from local rescue professionals and on-snow demo opportunities from Ski-Doo, Polaris, and Arctic Cat.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Fernie Snowmobile Association’s recognition as BC’s 2025 Snowmobile Club of the Year celebrates not just a strong season, but 35 years of sustained leadership in access, stewardship, safety, and community impact.
Inspired by Fernie’s success?
Nominations are now open for the 2026 BCSF Excellence Awards, including BC’s Snowmobile Club of the Year. These awards recognize clubs across the province who are advancing snowmobiling through strong governance, volunteerism, and responsible recreation.
Together, we celebrate the clubs and volunteers who keep snowmobiling thriving in British Columbia.
