Today's snowfall isn't the only reason those in the snowmobile business have to be optimistic for the coming season. Early sales of trail permits have been promising.
John Broderick has been selling and servicing snowmobiles in Wasaga Beach for more than 30 years and he has been lining up the latest models in his showroom for this winter. Broderick says it’s nice to see it snowing and he can't wait to get out sledding himself.
“For those of us who still snowmobile, it's a passion and we look forward to every single year,” he says.
Broderick is hoping this blast of winter gets buyers motivated too because selling sleds isn't as easy as it used to be. More and more of his customers are buying ATVs instead because the snowmobile season isn't 10 weeks long anymore
“Six week we consider to be a long winter today,” he says.
But this early blast of arctic air and the snow could be signs that this is going to be a good year for snowmobiling around southern Georgian Bay and it looks like it’s going to be a busy one too because the sale of trail permits is way up for this time of year.
Kevin Hagen is the manager of the Mid-Ontario Snowmobile Trails. He says the Ontario federation of snowmobile clubs discounted early bird permits sold online and the results have been outstanding, More than 41000 have been sold already.
“I think people must be very optimistic for that many people to go out and buy permits early,” Hagen says. “There hasn't been much snow on the ground up until this point and more than 50 per cent of our ridership has already purchased their permit for the season.”
Broderick doesn't expect this snowfall to stick around but it’s a sign the season is close
“I basically woke up this morning with a smile on my face,” she says.
The price of permits has gone up to $210 from $180 but that price will go up again Dec. 1.
