聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Arcola Optimist Club Snowmobile Rally will celebrate 25 years of sledding on Saturday, Jan. 27 - and the event will go ahead whatever the weather.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e typically expect 500 riders at each rally,鈥� says Optimist Club member and snowmobile rally trail coordinator, Kevin Paton. 鈥淎nd we go ahead with the rally, regardless of the weather. It's become kind of a spectacle.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e've had years with ideal snow conditions and years with little or no snow,鈥� says Paton. 鈥淣aturally, we're hoping for snow, but we've found that even with little or no snow, riders still come - because there are still lots of activities such as our prize draws and also, they seem to enjoy getting together to mingle with other snowmobilers.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淥ur prizes every year are great,鈥� adds Paton. 鈥淏ut this year, they're phenomenal - and along with riders, we welcome anyone to purchase our raffle tickets and enjoy a day of socializing at Prairie Place Hall.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year's event features a total of over $30,000 in prizes. In addition to a silent auction and other draws, anyone - rider or not - is invited to purchase a $20 grand prize raffle ticket. The winner of the grand prize will have the chance to choose between a 2018 AC XF 8000 Snowmobile, a 2018 Alterra Mudpro Quad, a 2017 Wildcat Trail SxS or an AC HDX 700 XT SxS. Second and third prize winners will receive two prizes of $1,000 cash.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here are only 2,500 of these tickets, so we encourage people to get them early,鈥� says Paton.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e also sell tickets for rider prizes that are sold at the registration desk the day of the rally,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd those are reserved for the riders only. But there are lots of chances to win whether you're a snowmobiler or not. There's a silent auction and other draws.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� As I said, the prizes this year are phenomenal.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd along with the prize draws, people can eat, drink and socialize all day at Prairie Place Hall,鈥� says Paton. 鈥淭here's a pancake breakfast, lunch, snacks and a beer garden. Last year, we had an ice bar outside and this year, we'll do something different. We try and keep it the same event that people look forward to every year, but we try and improve it every year, too.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 What hasn't changed throughout the rally's 25 years is the stunning 100 km of groomed trails that wind through the scenic Moose Mountains.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club grooms the trails and they do an excellent job,鈥� says Paton. 鈥淚n fact, we couldn't do what we do with this rally without them. They work really hard.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd we have a check point for the riders with something to eat, so we want them to have a great day and be well-fed and enjoy the experience,鈥� he says.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Paton says the rally's 25- year success story can be attributed to a few factors.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have a beautiful hall - Prairie Place - which can easily accommodate everyone. The riders can mingle and it's a pretty comfortable place to be after a long day's ride.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淥ur proximity to the Moose Mountains is another big factor. And we have well-thought out trails, so no one is lost. They can enjoy the ride and the rally.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd our club and community partners and members are committed to this rally,鈥� says Paton. 鈥淭here's a lot of dedication, volunteerism and expertise that make this a well-run event that attracts hundreds of people and raises thousands of dollars every year.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淏ut above all, Arcola continues to welcome all snowmobilers to this great event,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e'd like to thank everyone who has supported us for 25 years and we'd like to welcome you back or welcome you to the snowmobile rally for the first time.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd whatever the weather does or doesn't do, we promise to make it fun.鈥澛�
