It was started in a living room. But 50 years later the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club (RSC) has 803 members and $2.5 million in assets. Over the weekend RSC celebrated its golden anniversary.
According to club director Gary Vamos, as much as the 50-year-old not-for-profit is about sharing a love of sport, it is also about camaraderie.
“We’re a big family. As much as we’re a bunch of rednecks or whatever you want to call it. When it comes down to it, I’ve never been left on the trail or not been helped by another sledder,” said Vamos. “That’s what the club does. We foster that camaraderie.”
To mark its half century, the club hosted a number of events between March 23 and 25.
The celebration kicked off with a banquet held at the Revelstoke Community Centre on Friday night where the organization hosted 15 of its 20 past presidents.
Club President Daniel Kellie said it was attended by more than 160 people.
On Saturday the weekend continued with the BC Snowmobile Federation’s (BCSF) Annual General Meeting.
Vamos said clubs from across the province discussed business and their relationships with the government.
“As much as it is a fun hobby, there is a lot of business involved with what we do as well,” said Vamos.
On Saturday night RSC hosted the BCSF excellence awards, and on Sunday RSC hosted a club ride on Boulder Mountain. Members of the BCFS clubs, local search and rescue, and RSC partook in the group ride.
Tickets at Boulder Mountain were $5 for the day, the same price as an annual membership in 1968.
The weekend capped off with a barbeque fundraiser at the RSC clubhouse at the base of Boulder Mountain.
All of the funds raised were donated to the family of Travis Squair, the former president of the Lumby Mabel Lake Snowmobile Association, who passed away earlier this month.
Squair lost control of his snowmobile and crashed into a creek. He died as a result of his injuries.
Related: Snowmobiler dies near Lumby
Squair had been nominated for BCFS’s snowmobiler of the year award, which was given out on Saturday night.
“These mountains that give us life — they also take it away. So we have to embrace the days we get and be grateful where we are,” said Vamos.
Vamos attributed the club’s success to the support of the City.
“We wouldn’t be where we are without the buy-in from our town, and we have that support for 50 years,” said Vamos. “It’s been like that since the day the club started.”
@Jnshermanjake.sherman@revelstokereview.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
