Jerry Hansen has been hosting a sled rally on his property for around twelve years with the most recent rally held on Feb. 24. Close to 100 sledders showed up to ride the 40 kilometre loop and play hands of poker at checkpoints along the trial.
A member of the David Thompson Snow Riders, Hansen enjoys the convenience of having the rally close-by.
“You know it will be here forever when you own the land,” he said, adding the original staging area was going to be Sylvan Lake but the dates coincided with Winterfest. The snowmobile group had to make a quick decision as to where they would host their annual poker rally and decided on Hansen’s property. The rally has been there ever since.
The group was unable to hold a rally last year because there were still crops in the fields. The Snow Riders has a brand new volunteer executive team this year that came together in time to organize the event.
“We’re trying to pick up steam again,” Hansen said. Along with donating his property to be used for the rally, Hansen donates his time to groom the trails so they’re sled-ready.
“It’s fun. It gets everybody together,” he said. “It draws people from everywhere.”
A free hot dog lunch was provided by Rusty Tailgate, Medicine River Oil Recylers and the Lightbrown family.
myra.nicks@eckvilleecho.com
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