THE JOURNEY FROM HERE

Five Women Shaping The Future Of Our Sport

The face of our sport is changing. Somewhere between 12-30% of today’s riders are now women, bringing unique perspectives and skills to one of British Columbia’s most important tourism and recreation sectors.

Here are five women shifting attitudes and ideas about snowmobiling in our province.

Donegal Wilson The Mothership

BY SAMANTHA TODD

Nicole Matei Together Is A Great Place To Be

The tourism industry is a key driver of economic success in BC, and one that is growing faster than the economy as a whole. Welcome LetsRideBC—the official snowmobile tourism partner of Destination BC.

The BC Snowmobile Federation has been the voice for organized snowmobiling since 1965. What began as a social group for racers has grown into a federation of 60 snowmobile clubs, and is today considered the largest manager of public recreation sites outside of BC Parks.

At the helm is Executive Director Donegal Wilson, whose steady and competent leadership is safeguarding a bright future for snowmobiling and providing a lifeboat for clubs during stormy seas.

The BCSF leads efforts in the province to protect riding areas, promote safety and stewardship, and bridge strategic partnerships that enhance our sport. While clubs carry out day-to-day operations on the ground, it is the BCSF framework that supports them through membership administration, programming and marketing, insurance and funding co-ops, safety and stewardship initiatives, best practices resources and communication with the government.

In her dual role as Program and Marketing Coordinator for the BC Snowmobile Federation and LetsRideBC, Nicole Matei’s mission is to build resources for sledders while simultaneously showcasing to government and community stakeholders that snowmobiling is a meaningful, sustainable and economically beneficial industry worth getting behind.

Launched last winter, the brand has already completed a number of significant contributions to sledding, including: a BC Provincial Snowmobile Trail Map that features live closure and grooming updates; ride guide videos for nearly every zone in BC; and the new visually stunning Iconic BC Road Trip series, helping riders explore their own backyards in new ways.

Kyra Casorso Lighting The Spark

Organized snowmobiling was born on the backs of our grandparents’ generation. They gave time, shared their passion and gained purpose from getting together to create riding opportunities for others.

Today, while rider numbers skyrocket, volunteerism and engagement are on the decline. But some riders, like Kyra Casorso, continue to give and share their passion like their parents and grandparents did before.

Sledding is in Kyra’s blood. Her grandfather was a founding member of the Kelowna Snowmobile Club. Her father was also a very active member, bringing Kyra along to events and meetings. For Kyra, sledding has always been a family affair, and a legacy she now passes on to her daughters with pride.

Kyra Casorso is the recipient of the BCSF 2021 Snowmobiler of the Year award, and one of the driving forces behind Enderby, BC’s Hunters Range Snowmobile Club—the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations’ 2021 Snowmobile Club of the Year.

Kyra posts updates regularly on social media shedding light on the work happening behind the scenes to keep the club running. She also organizes women’s rides and fundraisers. Her goal is to create a spark in the minds of others about what it means to be an active and contributing member of the snowmobiling community.

Jennifer Coulter Sharing Is Caring

Salt and pepper-haired sledders may remember when avalanche bulletins were issued by fax and posted at skis shops rather than delivered to our phone or laptop like they are today. It was a topdown approach full of technical jargon that missed the mark with the emerging snowmobile industry.

In 2008, after a significant avalanche event near Fernie took the lives of eight snowmobilers, it became clear that more should be done to keep the sledding community safe. Jennifer Coulter responded to that accident as a Search and Rescue technician and was deeply affected by the incident. When the Avalanche Canada South Rockies Field Team was established in 2009, she knew it was an opportunity to make a difference.

The South Rockies Field Team’s mission is to increase outreach with backcountry users while collecting snowpack and weather information for the forecasting team in Revelstoke. In her role, Jennifer revolutionized how sledders use social media to stay safe in the backcountry, although she certainly won’t take credit for all the work.

Nearly every day during the season, field teams generate social media content and Mountain Information Network posts that make learning about avalanche safety fun while spreading critical information about what they are seeing in the backcountry. The content is approachable, often humorous and is breaking down walls between the technical avalanche world and everyday riders. This season, Jennifer moves into a new role as Field Program Supervisor, responsible for all six of the Avalanche Canada field teams and their continuing efforts to make avalanche safety fun and accessible.

Donna Barnett Friends In High Places

Donna Barnett is the latest inductee to the BCSF’s distinguished lifetime achievement award roster for her work supporting snowmobiling as a key player in rural economic development. In her numerous government roles over the years, Donna knocked on doors and pounded parliamentary desks on behalf of snowmobiling.

Donna worked on various projects including the creation of the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail. Considered one of the premier riding experiences in North America, the 463 km long trail heads north from 70 Mile House to Wells and beyond, linking several Northern BC communities and businesses.

Snowmobiling isn’t what it was, but neither is the world. What if more riders rationed a little of their time, energy and resources to support organized snowmobiling efforts?

These women are making a start by showcasing to the world—through a new lens—what snowmobiling has to offer, so that others may see, hear and value sledding as much as riders do.