International Groomer Operator of the Year

Sponsored By Arctic Cat

Each year at the three chapters of the International Snowmobile Congress choose a groomer operator to be the “Groomer Operator of the Year” and to be honored by Arctic Cat.

To carry this program one step further, the INTERNATIONAL GROOMER OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD was developed with the cooperation of the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Arctic Cat to give credit to one of these groomer operators, that put so much time and energy into the sport and are seldom recognized for all they do for snowmobiling. This one individual will be introduced and recognized at the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame Induction weekend ceremonies.

This years selection committee, was made up of three groomer operators, an DNR Administrator, , one snowmobile trail coordinator, and one snowmobile program director. They have chosen ROSS GARRETT, from Burk’s Falls, Ontario, Canada to receive this prestigious honor of being name “International Groomer Operator of the Year for 2006."

Ross entered the work of snowmobiling in 1969 and has been dedicated to the sport since then. A member of the Magnetawan Ridge Runner Snowmobile Club which is part of the Parry Sound Snowmobile District in Northern Ontario.

A master trail groomer is only part of what he has one and is doing, having built two groomers from directions he got from a USA club.

In 1989, Ross decided to build a trail from the Sundridge Trail down to Horn Lake so those residents could connect up to the trail system. Trying to find the best route, friends bought him an airplane ride for his 65th birthday. He used that ride to take ariel photos to map out the new trail, thus “Trail 708" was born. All year Ross and his helper pack, brush, and fine tune the trail to his perfection.

Ross helps out the club in many other ways such as, selling trail permits and making sure the trails are the best signed and smoothest for friends, members, and visitors so they have access to the Province wide trail system.

Look for Ross if you’re in the area, he can be found most day’s on the trail with Marcel, his trusted helper at his side.