BRP launches avalanche safety awareness program

Story by Snowmobile.com Oct. 12, 2010

Program aimed at British Columbia and Alberta

BRP is taking proactive steps this season to ensure snowmobilers are better informed and aware of avalanche safety issues by offering seminars at 15 different locations throughout western Canada.

The outreach program will feature a three-hour seminar conducted by a certified avalanche safety instructor, and is taught from the snowmobiler’s perspective. The courses are free of charge and open to owners of all brands of snowmobiles. Most will be held at BRP Ski-Doo snowmobile dealer locations as part of their Open House events with other entertaining activities going on at the same time.

Working with curriculum developed by the Canadian Avalanche Centre, BRP created an outreach program tailored to the snowmobiling public.

“This program will provide participants with a basic awareness of avalanches and avalanche terrain,” says Ian Tomm, executive director of the Canadian Avalanche Centre. “The intention is to raise awareness of the risks of backcountry sledding and encourage participants to continue with their avalanche education and take a two-day Avalanche Safety Training course.”

In light of the incidents involving snowmobilers in the past two years, BRP is taking a lead role in spurring awareness and educating the snowmobile public on the potential dangers of avalanches.

“We recognize the need to increase safety awareness,” says Robert Lumley, vice-president, Sales and Marketing, Ski-Doo/Sea-Doo. “This program will help bring the avalanche safety message to our customers quickly and more effectively.”

Seminar Locations and Dates

British Columbia: • Banner Recreation (250-979-2889) in Kelowna, BC on October 14, 7-10 p.m. • RTR Performance (250-374-3141) in Kamloops, BC on October 15, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. • Playmor Power (250-359-7111) in Slocan Valley, BC on October 18, 7–10 p.m. • Forest Power Sports (250-563-1021) in Prince George, BC on October 28, 7-10 p.m. • Greater Vancouver Power Sports (604-888-8700) in Vancouver, BC on November 3, 7-10 p.m. • No Limits Motorsports (604-815-4444) in Whistler, BC on November 8, 7-10 p.m. • Best Western Hotel in Princeton, BC on November 9, 7-10 p.m. • Glacier House Resort in Revelstoke, BC on November 10, 7-10 p.m. • Evergreen Industrial (250-847-4456) in Smithers, BC on November 15, 7-10 p.m.

Alberta: • Mr. R’s (403-380-3376) in Lethbridge, AB on October 19, 7-10 p.m. • A&E RV Sales and Service (403-362-6401) in Brooks, AB on October 20, 7–10 p.m. • Bow Cycle South (403-441-1299) in Calgary, AB on October 21, 7–10 p.m. • Riverside (780-458-7227) in St. Albert, AB on October 25, 7-10 p.m. • Martin Motorsports (780-452-2790) in Edmonton, AB on October 26, 7-10 p.m. • Stojans (780-568-2934) in Grand Prairie, BC on October 27, 7-10 p.m.

More information on Ski-Doo snowmobiles can be found at http://www.ski-doo.com/. To register for a course, contact a host dealer directly. To register for a two-day Avalanche Safety Training Course, contact the Canadian Avalanche Centre at http://www.avalanche.ca/.