Ontario snowmobile club aiming for a Guinness World Record

The snowmobile club in Wasaga Beach, Ont., is calling on Ontario snowmobilers who want to help set a Guinness World Record on Feb. 15.

“Ontario can beat this record, be part of History in the making!,” the club states on its Facebook page.

The Wasaga Beach Snowmobile Club (WSC) is aiming to set the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest snowmobile parade. It plans to attempt a new record during “Sledfest” in February — a part of the community’s annual Snowman Mania festival.

At present, the title is held by the Whitecourt Trailblazers Snowmobile Club of Whitecourt, Alta., according to the WSC. That club brought together 1,047 snowmobiles for a parade back in 2018. Another Ontario club, the St. Mary’s Science Hill Drifters, set the original benchmark with 847 snowmobiles back in 2012.

“This is the first attempt to bring it back to Ontario while fundraising at the same time,” the WSC told National Post in an email. “ The interest has been good so far, however, at this point it is difficult to speculate on our chances but we are certainly hoping for the best.”

The WSC is looking for groups of 50 snowmobilers at a time to form the parade. The groups will be guided by WSC parade marshals along a 47-kilometre trail, starting from the WSC Clubhouse. The parade will commence once they have at least 50 snowmobiles ready to start.

Participants are expected to bring their own snowmobiles, along with an Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) trails permit, snowmobile insurance, and a valid driver’s license. Online registration is required prior to the event. It can be done here .

Check-in takes place at the Royal Canadian Legion building in the Wasaga Beach Sports Park from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 15.

People who prefer to stand on the sidelines and cheer on the snowmobilers can buy $15 tickets from the event organizers.

According to Sledfest’s official Facebook page, funds collected from participants and onlookers will go to support several food banks across Simcoe County, Ont., including the Barrie Food Bank, Georgian Bay Food Network in Midland, St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Collingwood, and the Wasaga Beach Ministerial Food Bank. Funds will also be directed to help send kids to summer camps.

People are invited to buy a pancake breakfast at the Royal Canadian Legion in the morning, and chili in the afternoon.

If bad weather conditions lead to cancellation, a potential back-up date may be announced. However, if the event is cancelled, registrants will be refunded the fee.

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