Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Challenges - Revelstoke Snowmobile Strategy

This analysis looks at the strengths (internal advantages), weaknesses (internal challenges), opportunities (external advantages), and challenges (external challenges) as they relate to the snowmobile sector in Revelstoke.

3.1 Strengths

Revelstoke has many strengths as a snowmobile destination. These include spectacular mountain topography and scenery, with an abundance of wonderful snow, and a long season stretching consistently from November to May; an active and well-organized group of local volunteers who comprise the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club and Snowmobile Revelstoke Society; an excellent trail infrastructure which has been developed and is maintained by the local clubs; a well established reputation as a “snowmobile friendly” community; a wide range of snowmobiling locations that are in close proximity to the community; there are other areas close to the community which could potentially be managed for snowmobiling, including Sale, Mount McRae, Mount Hall, and the Keystone-Standard Basin; a number of experienced and successful snowmobile tour operators; and a wide range of accommodation properties to cater to an assorted clientele. Independent surveys undertaken by the Snowriders West magazine have consistently rated Revelstoke as one of the top snowmobile destinations in North America. Both the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club and the local Chamber of Commerce do a good job of marketing Revelstoke as a snowmobiling destination; and the Club has taken responsibility for providing information to visiting snowmobilers about safety and environmental issues in the area.

One of the greatest strengths has been the excellent relationship the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club and the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society have forged with the provincial ministries responsible for the management of the recreational land base. The Final Report of the National Snowmobile Tourism Study recognizes the major impact that volunteers play across the country in maintaining and developing trails. The Revelstoke Snowmobile Club and the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society were two of the first volunteer agencies in British Columbia to enter into a formal agreement with the Ministry of Forests to operate, maintain and manage snowmobile trails.

3.2 Weaknesses

Given the dramatic increase in snowmobiling activity in Revelstoke over the past decade, the reliance on volunteers to continue to maintain, operate and manage the existing trail system can be considered a weakness. As with many volunteer agencies, a small minority of club members actually carries out the work. Volunteers can burn out or decide that the amount of the work no longer makes the volunteer experience enjoyable, and decide to spend their leisure time in other pursuits. As more snowmobilers start to use trails areas other than Frisby Ridge and Boulder Mountain, so the volunteer resources become more stretched. Maps and signage for additional areas are required, particularly to reduce potential safety and environmental concerns.

While a longer term agreement with the Ministry of Forests will be complete before advent of the 2002/2003 season, significant changes to provincial agency responsibilities will likely lead to a period of uncertainty in terms of provincial government relations.

Managing and operating snowmobiling in the Revelstoke area has become a complex business which requires considerable time and resources. While the volunteer agencies have done an admirable job up until now, the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club and the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society do not have the resources required to continue to manage and develop the activity without a longer term business plan.

3.3 Opportunities

There are several opportunities to improve and expand snowmobile operations in the Revelstoke area. The present trail system on Boulder and Frisby could be expanded. Snowmobile touring could also be promoted if connections were made to other trail systems e.g. in the Okanagan.

Snowmobiling continues to be an increasingly popular tourism activity. If more trail areas are developed, including trails on flat terrain, there is an opportunity to expand the market to families, the fastest growing segment of the snowmobile market. There is an opportunity for the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society or the private sector to develop a service facility on Westside Road adjacent to the main staging area. This could provide additional services to the snowmobile visitor and, potentially, additional revenue for the Society.

Snowmobile touring i.e. long distance riding on groomed trails, is the most popular snowmobiling activity in North America. The potential to develop this type of activity is as yet undeveloped in Revelstoke. This is an excellent opportunity to expand snowmobile tourism by expanding the snowmobile trail system.

The low Canadian dollar and the fact that many backcountry areas in the U.S. are being closed to motorized recreation due to capacity issues present opportunities to market local snowmobiling in the U.S.

3.4 Challenges

Across British Columbia unresolved conflicts over wildlife and recreational access are seen as a limiting factor to the snowmobile tourism industry. The challenge lies in not coming to long-term agreement with environmental concerns and other user groups. Specifically, in Revelstoke, both the real and perceived impact of snowmobiling on mountain caribou is a major issue.

More recently, access to the recreational land base has become a major threat. At the time of writing, it is still not clear what the position of the provincial government will be with respect to the management of crown land for both public and commercial recreational pursuits.. There are fears that recreational land under the jurisdiction of the province may be leased or sold to the highest bidders who may not be better stewards of the land. Potentially, the areas that are currently operated and maintained for snowmobiling by the local clubs could be turned over to another group or private operator, and the community would have very little influence over what might occur on what is now a public resource. It is imperative that this issue be resolved as soon as possible.

If the local Snowmobile Club and the Society continue their agreement with the province to manage and operate the snowmobile trails, the issue of liability could be a major challenge. At this time, the province is suggesting it will divest itself of this responsibility, and the cost of insurance to assume responsibility for liability may be prohibitive for small, non-profit organizations.

As other communities develop snowmobile infrastructure and increase their marketing efforts, competition from other snowmobile locations will become a threat.