An Icy Birthday Treat

"It's as easy as riding a tricycle," encouraged the American. "There is nothing to it!!!"  A skidoo built with the comfort of a Harley and capable of 110km/h is not a tricycle and should not be treated as one. The skidoo trails South of Whistler were icy that evening and the Chinese girl being encouraged had never driven one before. I had just stepped off the skidoo Brian Southby and I had been sharing so he could do a speed lap around a bumpy frozen lake. The guide and I were watching him depart when a skidoo piloted by the Chinese girl flew past at full throttle nearly running us over. The skidoo skimmed over an embankment and landed in a ditch. Brian with all the screaming thought the guided group was cheering him on and booted his machine down to the end of the lake and back. He returned to find one skidoo missing, one still running and the group gone. Rightfully he was a little confused. We were all in the ditch digging out the Chinese couple who were half buried in snow under the now damaged skidoo. She had only meant to inch the Skidoo forward a meter. Thankfully the couple weren't hurt. 

Brian had bought the Snowmobile tour as my birthday present. It was a real thrill speeding along the mountain trails at night on a luxurious four stroke machine. The guide felt confident with the group (when the Chinese girl was a passenger) and we sped along the steep frozen trails at over 50km/h. We slowed for tight corners and stopped for wicked views. On the back it felt as comfortable as a lazy-boy recliner speeding along the bumpy trails. All you had to do was lean back into the ample backrest and grab on to the strap attached in front of you. The machine was powerful and driving was involved enough to feel like you were alone on the snowmobile.  Indeed you could have fit an entire Indian family between Brian and I on this family styled machine. For the driver leaning into corners was a must to allow the front skis to grip the icy surface. The snow machines skimmed over the frozen bumps in the frozen snow like a boat over waves as the icy wind bit through the helmet and stung your face. 

Tyson