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This is an article posted by Castanet.net news group and this dillhole also ran a radio program on CBC telling everyone how the government should shut down sledding on crown land. This comes from Mike Weigle who is an import from Austria. He is a very pompous azz who is rich so he thinks he owns everything around him. Well, just for this Mr. Mike , I am going to make sure that I and all my turbo buddies rip up and screw up all the fresh pow on all your precious heli ski runs next year. This is crown land he is talking about, the land that I have a god-given right to access and recreate on. I was born here and have paid taxes here all my life, I'll be damned if some import is going to tell me where to ride. friggin azzhat.
From castanet :
The operator of the world's largest Heli-Ski business says the B.C. government should immediately ban snowmobilers from all Crown Lands.
Mike Wiegele, in Kelowna for the Canada West Ski Areas Association Conference, says too many snowmobilers are oblivious of the dangers they face heading into the back country.
"The community disregards any advice. We watch it. There were 20 people killed. There should have been 50 or 60," says Wiegele.
He says snowmobilers tend to be arrogant, as evidenced by the fact not one of their organizations is attending the safety components of the conference.
The president of the Kelowna Snowmobile Club, Rick Given, says Wiegele's reaction is unfortunate.
"I think it's unfortunate somebody would have a reaction like that. It would be like saying let's close all the airports because we've had an airplane crash," says Given.
"This is the worst year for snowmobilers as far as avalanche incidents are concerned. Everybody is concerned."
He says the snowmobile community is very tight knit and pointing fingers is not the right approach.
Given says education is the proper way to approach this, not coming out with a statement that one back country user group should be banned.
"It's very tragic when anybody that is doing a recreational activity, no matter what it is, is involved in a death. You don't shut down one industry. Everybody that uses the back country needs to work together to provide more education."
Given says there is risk, not only from avalanches, but also from creeks and frozen lakes.
He adds the Kelowna Snowmobile Club has hosted avalanche awareness courses in the past and says there will be new and free avalanche information sessions this winter.
Wiegele is a lead search and rescue official who took part in many snowmobile rescues this past winter.
He says the cost to B.C. taxpayers was too much by an industry that is uncontrolled.
From castanet :
The operator of the world's largest Heli-Ski business says the B.C. government should immediately ban snowmobilers from all Crown Lands.
Mike Wiegele, in Kelowna for the Canada West Ski Areas Association Conference, says too many snowmobilers are oblivious of the dangers they face heading into the back country.
"The community disregards any advice. We watch it. There were 20 people killed. There should have been 50 or 60," says Wiegele.
He says snowmobilers tend to be arrogant, as evidenced by the fact not one of their organizations is attending the safety components of the conference.
The president of the Kelowna Snowmobile Club, Rick Given, says Wiegele's reaction is unfortunate.
"I think it's unfortunate somebody would have a reaction like that. It would be like saying let's close all the airports because we've had an airplane crash," says Given.
"This is the worst year for snowmobilers as far as avalanche incidents are concerned. Everybody is concerned."
He says the snowmobile community is very tight knit and pointing fingers is not the right approach.
Given says education is the proper way to approach this, not coming out with a statement that one back country user group should be banned.
"It's very tragic when anybody that is doing a recreational activity, no matter what it is, is involved in a death. You don't shut down one industry. Everybody that uses the back country needs to work together to provide more education."
Given says there is risk, not only from avalanches, but also from creeks and frozen lakes.
He adds the Kelowna Snowmobile Club has hosted avalanche awareness courses in the past and says there will be new and free avalanche information sessions this winter.
Wiegele is a lead search and rescue official who took part in many snowmobile rescues this past winter.
He says the cost to B.C. taxpayers was too much by an industry that is uncontrolled.
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