Here we are stuck in the frigid, dull days of winter.  Hell for some, but paradise for others--if you’re into skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling.  Over the weekend a guy from Smithville died when his machine went through the ice up in Baysville.  His three buddies got off lucky--they survived.  After stopping for gas they took a wrong turn and unknowingly headed towards open water when all four machines went into the drink.  I have but one question--just what the hell were these people thinking?

     Where does it say that as soon as you strap on a helmet and straddle a sled, that you instantly become a complete idiot?  There is no excuse for people dying on snowmobiles.  Some of you have a need for speed.  Some of you love booting across a frozen lake.  Trouble is, we don’t live in the Northwest Territories.  It is very rare that a body of water will completely freeze over these days.  Y’know, global warning and all that.  I don’t care if it is 20 below.

     The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs have gone to great lengths to market its’ sport as a safe, family oriented activity--but then some more folks go and get themselves killed.  I realize sledding in control and on groomed trails isn’t a lot of fun compared to cranking up your machine wide open--but them’s the breaks.  If you’re a snowmobiler, and all the accidents and deaths don’t make you stop and think-- then you’re either a person with a serious death wish, or just a complete idiot.  You snowmobilers--smarten up.

     And stay off the damned ice.