Small details aside, Sturgis North is primed to come to Sicamous.
And the Sicamous Chamber of Commerce is pumped about the opportunity the community has been given to host the Sturgis North burnout competition on the Friday of the July 13-17 Salmon Arm-based event.
“It’s been the chamber’s position, and I think the District of Sicamous’ too, that we’re looking at this as a long-term promotion for the area,” chamber vice-president John Schlosar commented Wednesday at a chamber luncheon attended by Sturgis North site manager Steve Hammer. “People who would not normally come out to the Shuswap… would get an opportunity to see it. And the way it is with social media and YouTube, they’ll take videos and it’ll be posted up there and it will create a visibility for years to come, we’re hoping.”
Hammer was invited by the chamber to talk about the event and Sicamous’ involvement. He began by discussing some of the difficulties experienced by organizers in acquiring a venue, and how this was recently resolved with an agreement to use 29 acres west of Salmon Arm belonging to the Neskonlith Indian Band.
Addressing accommodation, Hammer said there would be lots of camping available, with 300 RV and 300 tent sites on the band property. He added there may also be an application going to the Agricultural Land Commission for camping on property adjacent to the Salmon Arm Fall Fairgrounds – the event’s other key venue.
“In a worst-case scenario, we do have camping inside the fall fairgrounds,” said Hammer, noting that activities on the fairgrounds would be closed down by 9 p.m.
As for Sicamous, Hammer said that on the Friday it would be the destination for the veterans ride, with riders coming in groups of 100 up to 5,000.
The event would take place on Main Street, with the Sicamous Legion being a sort of hub, offering a beer garden and live entertainment throughout the afternoon.
Hammer noted Sturgis North has a list of 250 bands who wish to play at the event if Sicamous is lacking entertainment.
In addition, chamber president Corrinne Cross said the day would begin with a pancake breakfast by the Sicamous Lions, and later, a bikini contest.
“They have suggested a bikini contest, they have suggested a female, under-40,” said Cross.
Asked if attendees would be consuming alcohol, Hammer said that would depend on whether it’s served.
“If you’re serving it, they’ll consume it,” he said.
It was also asked if there would be a shuttle bus available for bikers. Cross noted this has been discussed with Sturgis North organizer/ chief executive officer Ray Sasseville.
“I’m assuming Ray’s never been on a houseboat because he suggested that they shuttle people in on a houseboat,” said Cross. “I said your event will be over. So I suggested we maybe talk about getting the SilverBacks bus or something like that to go back and forth. But with all the security around, everybody is pretty responsible…”
Cross says she has not yet received a letter of acceptance from Sasseville, but Hammer was certain the event is already green-lit for Sicamous.
Regarding overall numbers attending Sturgis North, Hammer said there have been between 15,000 and 17,500 tickets sold. What he’s hoping to see is about 7,500 to 10,000 people a day at the Salmon Arm venues. He admitted, with such numbers, there are sure to be issues ahead for Sturgis North.
“Hopefully, we don’t have too many accidents on the highway and we don’t see people expire, but that’s a fact of life,” said Hammer. “We don’t stop the houseboat trade because we lose people in Shuswap Lake. We don’t close down the highways because people get killed on the highways. We don’t stop riding on long weekends because there seems to be more traffic. We do what we can to protect everybody. But, at the end of the day, when you have summer traffic and you have numerous amounts of people, there may be some issues.”
Hammer noted that Sicamous could feasibly host a different Sturgis North event next year, that it’s the organization’s intent to see the overall event grow geographically as well as in attendees.
“Whatever we get this year, we expect it will double, or close to double next year,” said Hammer. “That’s why we want to use Reveltsoke…, use the smaller communities and build up the areas.”
