Winnipeg, Manitoba
No limits
It’s hard to choose a favourite
by TANYA LAING MOORE
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PLUNGING THROUGH POWDER: Trails near Gimli and Lake Winnipeg provide sledders with hills, spills and plenty of powder.
—Cory Squires photo |
Duncan Stokes doesn’t like to limit himself. Stokes is the executive director of Manitoba’s Snoman Inc., and when he was asked to list his favourite machine, favourite trail and favourite off-season activity, he couldn’t restrict any of his answers to a single selection.
“One of the great things about my job is I get to sample a bit of everything,” said Stokes. “(My favourite sleds are) Yamaha, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat, Polaris—how’s that? I like (sleds with) the quieter, more fuel-efficient technology . . . more than the performance stuff. But that’s the kind of rider I am—more of a trail guy as opposed to someone who’s looking for extreme performance.”
Stokes said many of the trails near Winnipeg make for excellent riding, particularly Whiteshell Provincial Park, which Stokes said is “one of the crown jewels of our system.” He said the trails there are well marked and well maintained and always well worth the trip.
A journey north to the Thompson area three years ago took Stokes on some amazing trails, including Paint Lake. The area around Swan River in northwestern Manitoba is also beautiful and one that Stokes highly recommends.
On his most recent outing, Stokes headed north to Gimli and explored the trail system along Lake Winnipeg, where he saw some amazing scenery.
“The ice ridges there are something to see,” said Stokes. “They’re huge—about 20 feet up in the air.”
During Manitoba’s season of bad sledding—otherwise known as summer—Stokes spends as much of his time as possible outdoors.
“I like to walk, I like to golf (and) I like to swim,” he said. “I follow the local professional sports teams very closely. I’m a huge (Winnipeg Blue) Bombers fan. I love to get outdoors.” |
