2015 Annual NBFSC President's Ride to Jacquet River

The Annual NBFSC President’s Ride was hosted from Bathurst, NB, riding to Jacquet River on the

weekend of January 16th

to 18th

, 2015. A number of our Member clubs were the 2015 hosts of

Presidents, volunteers and guests from all over New Brunswick.

Past NBFSC President, Carl Smidt (1999-2001) created the concept of the Annual President’s Ride to

honor and thank the many volunteers in each of the member clubs who provide all of us with the NBFSC

trails. All of the Club Presidents are invited to attend each winter, usually the third weekend in January.

In addition, the NBFSC’s Directors from each Zone, all NBFSC Past Presidents and a number of Corporate

Partners and previous season’s Award winners may attend, annually.

Member Club Presidents or their designates attending this year’s Ride were from all regions of the

Province; Edmundston, Green River, Campbellton, Caraquet, St. Antoine, Baie Ste. Anne, Kedgwick, Cap

Pelé, Lameque, Saint John, Miramichi, Woodstock, Jacquet River, Grand Bay, Chaleur, Hartland,

Moncton, Goshen, Neguac, Nackawic, Bouctouche and Sackville.

Saturday’s ride took many of the Presidents into trails they had never seen or ridden before, especially

NBFSC Provincial Trail #24 that leads to the home of Member Club #69, the Super Village Trailblazers. At

the Super Village Clubhouse, the 60 plus riders were treated to a well-prepared lunch. Greetings from

the volunteers and local Club President welcomed everyone to the Jacquet River region.

The NBFSC has had eleven (11) club volunteers serve as President of the entire Federation in our 34-year

history. Attending the 2015 President’s Ride and joining current NBFSC President Sandy Young (SENBSA)

were five (5) Past Presidents; Hymie Surkis (Nepisiguit SC), Bob Walsh (Miramichi Valley SC), John

McLellan (Woodstock SC), Leon Bourque (Chaleur SC) and Jody Tower (Fredericton SC).

Corporate Partner, Auberge Atlantic Host Inn at Bathurst was our host for the entire weekend.

Proprietor Keith Degrace and staff have been our friends for many seasons and as usual did an

awesome job in overseeing everyone’s needs all weekend. The ‘Host’ is directly on NBFSC Provincial Trail

# 19. It is also accessible off of Provincial highway #11 if you are trailering to Bathurst instead of riding.

Accommodations and of course excellent food is on site. Snowmobile fuel (Ultramar is just 7 km north

by trail off NBFSC Provincial Trail #19 in the community of Beresford.

The weekend was capped off with a dinner on Saturday evening. Greetings and gratitude were brought

forward by President, Sandy Young and Vice President, Brad Mann. Corporate partners recognized with

the volunteers were Heather Pert of J.D. Irving, Bob Walsh of Hotsy Pressure Washers, Keith Degrace of

the Atlantic Host inn and Gaetan Thomas of NBEPC.

Mr. Thomas challenged all the participants to join him in ensuring the future includes an electric

snowmobile. When asked if he would ride it, he stated he would race it against any challenger! Thank

you to all the federation’s Corporate Partners and those who took the time to participate in the

volunteer’s weekend.

A final and very special thank you goes out to the volunteers and Groomer operators of the Chaleur SC

and Supervillage SC whose trails everyone enjoyed.