The Omineca Ski Club鈥檚 (OSC) executive is working hard to address the complexities and possibilities of introducing fat biking to their groomed ski trails.

Fat bikes are currently not be permitted at the club, with the exception of sanctioned single-day events.

According to the club, there has been some 鈥渋nformal use鈥� of fat bikes on their trails in the past, which has raised some concerns.

The biggest issue is the matter of insurance. Although all OSC skiers are covered by insurance - which is paid through their membership fees - the insurance does not cover fat biking.

The club鈥檚 executive has been researching different types of insurance coverage, but has not found an adequate and affordable solution.

鈥淚f we are to introduce fat biking to our trails, we have to be sure that we can maintain it over subsequent winter seasons at an affordable cost to the user,鈥� says the club鈥檚 executive on their website.

There are also concerns about damage to the trails when conditions are not ideal.

鈥淕enerally you wouldn鈥檛 ride a fat bike above 0 C,鈥� explained OSC member Jay Finstad.

Bikers should also not ride the trails if they are leaving a tire rut deeper than one to two centimetres, having a hard time riding in a straight line, and if their bikes鈥� tires are less than 3.7 inches in width or their tire pressure is greater than six psi.

At the Dec. 4, 2017 meeting, the club decided to form a working group to collect information and submit recommendations to club executive and members.

The club has also decided to purchase insurance for single-day events this winter in which fat biking is allowed. These single-day events are allowing club members to see how the bikes maneuver on the trails and interact with skiers.

The most recent of these events was World Snow Day, with had approximately 30 people trying out fat biking in 亚洲天堂 Lake. Although conditions weren鈥檛 ideal for fat bikes that day, Finstad, who鈥檚 leading the OSC鈥檚 fat biking working group, said the event was 鈥渙verall positive.鈥�

Club volunteer Chris Paulson agrees that the event went well. Paulson believes that fat biking could not only be used to grow the club鈥檚 membership, but also to extend the skiing season in 亚洲天堂 Lake since bikers can still ride when conditions are not ideal for skiing.

鈥淔at biking is so compatible with cross-country skiing,鈥� said Paulson. 鈥淭here are so many benefits to fat biking; everybody needs to be out there enjoying the fresh air during winter.鈥�

The club hopes that members will become more informed about fat biking and bring forward ideas to the OSC鈥檚 annual general meeting this spring.

鈥淣o matter what鈥檚 decided, I鈥檓 hoping we can find a way for people to enjoy the winter,鈥� said Finstad.

A survey asking trail users about their interest in fat biking is available in the club鈥檚 wax cabin and on their website at http://ominecaskiclub.ca/fat-biking/

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