On the trails with Rural Cass Snowmobile Club

Love sledding? Love prizes? Take a photo and you could win! Submit your best snowmobiling photos online for the chance to win a trailer! The Sled’N Snap photo contest returns for it’s second year, with a contest running until March 31, 2015.

Visit www.slednsnap.com to enter this year’s Sled’N Snap photo contest. This exciting photo contest is brought to you by the Flaman Group of Companies, the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association, the Alberta Snowmobile Association, Snowmobilers of Manitoba and Snowmobile North Dakota.

All winter long, capture your favorite sledding moments and upload them to the website in a variety of categories including:

• Trail/Scenery/Wildlife Shots
• Action!
• Buried! (Got the Powder Blues)
• Trailers/Truck/Wild Sled Wraps
• Youth/Family

Just by entering you could win an Aluma 2-place aluminum tilt trailer – there’s one for Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and North Dakota. Or you could win the Grand Prize – the use of an enclosed sled trailer of your choice (up to $15,000) for one year!

Other prizes from your local association and their partners will be offered as well. Photos will be judged by the Snowmobile North Dakota Board of Directors Awards and Nominations Committee.

Here’s the photo that won the grand prize last year.

And, here are the names of the lucky North Dakota winners last year:

• Dustin Gorder
• Jenn Korgel
• Susan Scott
• John Ries
• Deb Ness
• Laura Forbes
• Blaine Kotasek

With snow starting to fall around North Dakota, excitement is running high to get out and enjoy a snowmobile adventure.   So here are a few tips from Snowmobile North Dakota on the safe operation of your snowmobile.

• Complete a preseason check and replace any broken or worn parts
• Make sure the snowmobile registration is current and the snowmobile is insured
• Prepare an emergency kit that includes a tool kit, first aid kit, survival kit and other necessary items such as a tow rope, extra gloves, radio’s and GPS units
• Plan your ride and tell others where you are going, who is with you, where you plan to park and when you expect to return
• Dress for the weather and always wear a helmet; pack some extra clothes in case you get wet or the weather changes
• Pack some snacks, water and fire making supplies in case you break down
• Do not operate your snowmobile on closed trails or private property without permission
• Use caution when riding on ice
• Be a courteous snowmobiler, slow down when approaching others and wildlife
• Ride according to conditions, especially at night
• Cross roadways with care
• Be visible; reflective clothing helps to be noticed
• Youth operators 12 years or older without a valid driver’s license must complete a snowmobile safety training course from the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department in order to operate on any public lands including the state trails; for more information on upcoming classes visit ridesafe.nd.gov
• Prepare yourself for riding in the backcountry of the mountains; know and practice the 5 avalanche guidelines (Get the Gear, Get the Training, Get the Forecast, Get the Picture, Get out of Harm’s Way)
• Always remember to ride sober

Approximately 80% of snowmobilers use their snowmobile for trail riding and touring in marked and groomed trails. The other 20% of snowmobilers use their snowmobile for work and ice fishing.