Trail groomer a hit for Riverbank Discovery Centre

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This article was published 23/12/2024 (269 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cross-country skiers, fat-tire cyclists, dog-walkers and those taking a stroll with their families hit the snowbank-lined, groomed trails at the Brandon Riverbank Discovery Centre on a mild Sunday.

Briana Kelly, who is visiting relatives in Brandon, but lives in Halifax, N.S., said the conditions and the experience of being out on the trail “made for a perfect day.”

“It’s beautiful out here,” said Briana as she stood next to her uncle Wayne Kelly after a Sunday morning ski. “I grew up in Winnipeg, and moved to Halifax for school, so it’s nice to get back out on the prairies, back in the snow. And the hoar frost is gorgeous, so it was incredible,” she said.

Her uncle Wayne said he agreed.

“We did about five-and-a-half kilometres, and it was fantastic,” Wayne said. “The trails are sweet, they’re nice and groomed. We were just saying,” as he nodded to his niece, “when you’re out on the river loop, you’re out in nature in the middle of Brandon. It’s so nice to have this right in town.”

Dean Hammond, the Riverbank’s executive director said those kinds of comments are exactly what he and his team like to hear.

“We’re trying to build a winter paradise here,” Hammond said. “We’re aligning with the Travel Manitoba strategy to invest heavily in winter. So, Travel Manitoba is capitalizing on winter, and we’re happy to capitalize on winter as well.”

In December 2023, Travel Manitoba and the Brandon and Area Community Foundation helped the Riverbank invest in a grooming machine that had a price tag of $75,000.

The machine grooms the four-metre-wide trails and is driven by six volunteer operators who Hammond said are always eager to take their turn.

A side-by-side utility vehicle that runs on tracks pulls the groomer, which is the machinery that packs the snow and leaves ridges that look like corduroy.

The groomer also has two track setters that can be dropped independently, so it makes a ski track on one side of the trail, and the remainder of the trail is packed for all other users, Hammond said.

“We’ve got most of the trails open, and in another couple of weeks, we hope to cross the river and connect to Dinsdale Park,” he said, adding, “And we have permission to connect west to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Station lands to make a loop. So, once we get everything opened up, there’ll be about 20 kilometers of trails,” said Hammond.

Colleen Lacey said she walks her dogs at the Riverbank once a week and noticed the groomed trails last winter and was happy to see them again this year.

“I love it here,” Lacey said. “I do remember three years ago saying I wish they groomed these trails, and thank goodness, because it’s a nice place to walk and makes it so much easier to walk with the dogs,” Lacey said.

Sunday was the second day in a row that Kelly Pettinger strapped on his cross-country skis. “I’m going to come here as much as I can because it’s nice and wide. Everybody can use it, people can ski, and others walk their dogs. I think it’s great.”

As Kelly Graham put on his helmet and climbed on his fat bike, he said he was looking forward to his first ride on the Riverbank trails and hoping for “nice windy trails, not totally loose snow, just a little bit packed.”

“Super convenient,” Graham added, describing how he feels about the location. “Last weekend, I was out at Minnedosa, which is also really nice, but it’s more than an hour of driving by the time you drive there and back, so this lets me get out for a little bit and then get home.”

Hammond said one of the goals of the Riverbank Discovery Centre is to attract more users from other communities that are “investing in winter like we are.”

“The North Gate trails (in Dauphin) and the Squirrel Hill trails (in Minnedosa) are very popular. And you know, that’s nice that they’re there for us to visit,” Hammond said.

“But the reality is, I want to stem the tide. Instead of Brandonites leaving here every weekend, I want people from other communities to come to Brandon,” he said.

Fire pits will be installed in the new year, added Hammond and those who don’t have snowshoes or cross-country skis can rent them inside the Discovery Centre.

A new ski club is in the early stages of startup, said Hammond. It’s not a Riverbank club, but the centre is helping them get organized.

“Brandon hasn’t had a ski club for decades, so, we’re really excited about that,” Hammond said.

“And the club will be based out of the Riverbank. So, to have that, and a winter trail network with skiing right in the heart of the city, that’s pretty special, and we’re glad to be able to do that.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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