Members of the Williams Lake Powder Kings pulled out all the stops for the Yank’s Peak Fun Day event last weekend.
Held Saturday at popular Yank’s Peak located about a two hours’ drive east of Williams Lake, more than 40 snowmobilers took part in the club event, competing for fun and prizes in events such as the Beacon Search, Cracker Relay, Pole Bending and King of the Hill Sprints.
The sprints saw several riders vying for top spot but in the end it was Gord Rauch who took home first place and bragging rights on his Arctic Cat HCR 4 stroke Turbo 9000. Dan Schiller won second place on a Polaris 800 Pro RMK while Chris Lutters claimed third on a Polaris Pro RMK.
The fun day was organized by Rick Seibert, with help from volunteers Debbie Dunn, Gilbert Quesnelle, Sue Van Soest, Dave Herrling, Mark and Laurie Snowball and many more.
“Who’d have thought we could pull something like this off –– to have an event (as successful as this) at the cabin is awesome,” Seibert told the crowd.
“A special thank you to Mark and Laurie Snowball for really bringing the club around.”
The Powder Kings are enjoying a revival in recent years, going from 13 members to almost 100 currently, and that was evident at the fun day.
Snowmobilers were offered free chili and a warm fire inside the Yank’s Peak safety cabin Saturday where the fun day was staged nearby, and another campfire with barbecued hot dogs at the parking lot when everyone returned from the mountain.
Seibert said keeping the club membership strong is critical in maintaining current trail agreements and making new ones in the future.
“We have to stick together to have some representation in the community,” he said, adding the club wants more areas opened up to snowmobilers.
“It gives us a stronger voice with government.”
Club directors are also looking at purchasing a newer groomer that can handle grooming in the mountains. The current groomer is more than 40 years old and better suited to flatter terrain.
Club president Mark Snowball also acknowledged the previous work done by volunteers to get the club to where it is today, including the cabin itself and the many trail agreements in place.
“A lot of people did a lot of work before us, and we thank them for that,” he said.
Organizers of the fun day also thanked local snowmobile dealers Spectra Power Sports, Gordo’s Rent-all and Performance All Terrain for donating prizes and machines needed for the day.