Do you know the people who prepare your snowmobile trails at night? The ones who work while you sleep to provide you with perfectly groomed conditions for your next snowmobile ride?
At 86 years old, Jean-Claude Canuel is one of them. He operates one of the three groomers for the Club sportif populaire du Bas-St-Laurent de Rimouski. Still as passionate as ever, he continues to volunteer with one simple goal in mind: providing snowmobilers with great trails.
His Early Days in Snowmobiling
At 86, Jean-Claude remains a very active man. A volunteer in his spare time, he first became involved with the club in the 1970s. Back then, trail clearing “was done by hand with pruning shears.” It was demanding, time-consuming work. Fortunately, modern equipment has made the job easier for some volunteers.
Jean-Claude has worked in several different trades, many of them related to agriculture. He spent many years working on farms. He later became a stable hand, caring for numerous horses. For a few years, he even transported horses by boat from Rimouski to Anticosti Island for the summer season. Quite an adventure!
Above all, Jean-Claude is a snowmobiler. Heading out with his wife, Nicole, for a meal at a neighbouring club’s warming hut was always a pleasure. Back then, an 80-kilometre ride could take an entire day. Trail maintenance was not as efficient as it is today, but the enjoyment was every bit as great.
His First Hours as a Groomer Operator
Nothing suggested that he would still be a groomer operator at the age of 86.
It all began about 15 years ago when he found himself without work during the winter. Never one to sit around doing nothing, he offered his services to the club as a groomer operator.
He may not have had every qualification when he started, but he had what mattered most: a willingness to learn and pride in a job well done.
Jean-Claude learned the ropes alongside Benoît Jean, a longtime club volunteer with extensive experience operating groomers and heavy equipment. Eager to develop the skills he needed, Jean-Claude never hesitated to ask the veteran operator questions. His goal was simple: to provide snowmobilers with great trails.
Jean-Claude proved to be a quick learner. Before long, he had mastered the club’s three groomers at the time: a Massey 6480 tractor, a Lamtrac 4000 and a Skidion, which was a one-of-a-kind machine in Quebec.
He learned his craft on terrain that presented every kind of challenge: wooded areas, open fields, rough terrain, strong winds, limited snowfall near the St. Lawrence River and heavier snowfall farther inland. In short, constantly changing conditions forced him to learn how to get the most out of each piece of equipment.
Jean-Claude also benefited from the expertise of a second mentor. He had the opportunity to learn from Mario Gobeil, now in his 33rd season as a groomer operator. Mario willingly shared his knowledge and experience. Passionate about the work, Jean-Claude recognizes and appreciates everything he has learned from his fellow operators.
The Work of a Snowmobile Trail Groomer Operator
As a snowmobiler himself, Jean-Claude understands the importance of quality trail grooming. When an operator does the job right, snowmobilers get to enjoy the results.
The job first requires a great deal of availability. Even with a regular grooming schedule, Mother Nature has a way of changing plans. Ideally, grooming begins after sunset and continues throughout the night. On rare occasions, Jean-Claude has to groom during the day, but he prefers working at night to properly prepare the trails.
For Jean-Claude, good trail grooming is all about precision and constant attention. The front blade must be used properly, while the blades on the grooming drag require continuous adjustment. Operators also have to be especially careful at road crossings to avoid leaving snow on the roadway. Sometimes, the best approach is to back up and work a section of trail again.
Every run is different. Contrary to what some may think, snow conditions play a major role in achieving an excellent result. Dry snow behaves very differently in the grooming drag than wetter, heavier snow.
Still Behind the Controls at 86
With regular grooming runs averaging eight to nine hours, Jean-Claude has slightly reduced his hours this season. But his passion for a job well done remains unchanged.
He is always available to fill in at a moment’s notice and can head out at virtually any hour of the day or night. When weather conditions demand it, he may spend 10 or even 12 consecutive hours in the groomer.
As he likes to say: “I love being behind the wheel. It doesn’t tire me out.”
For Jean-Claude, the ideal run begins at sunset and ends around 3 or 4 a.m. This produces quality grooming while giving the trail enough time to set up and harden before snowmobilers head out early the next morning.
Because some routes are particularly long, two operators may be required to complete the same grooming circuit. Jean-Claude has no hesitation about taking the second shift, starting late in the evening and finishing early in the morning.
A new challenge arrived last season when the club acquired three compact groomers for use early in the season and following major snowstorms. Jean-Claude quickly mastered the new equipment. He also takes the opportunity to test different techniques and share what he learns.
He remains ready to help the club whenever needed. He does not hesitate to tackle some mechanical work either. If a groomer develops a problem out on the trail, Jean-Claude is there to lend a hand.
He freely shares his knowledge while continuing to seek advice from other operators. Even after all these years, he is still learning.
A Passion for Doing the Job Right
Jean-Claude is passionate about what he does, and talking with him makes that immediately clear. He is always willing to explain how changing snow conditions require different grooming techniques depending on the type and quality of the snow.
Taking the time to fill a hole, backing up the groomer and making sure to run a track over the repaired area to properly pack the snow—these are the kinds of details a passionate operator pays attention to, simply for the benefit of fellow snowmobilers.
It is those small details that make a significant difference in trail quality.
Still an active snowmobiler himself, Jean-Claude often heads out for a ride to check trail conditions. He genuinely cares about making sure snowmobilers have great trails to enjoy.
Over the years, he has also become a mentor to the next generation of groomer operators. His goal is to ensure that new operators achieve the same high standards that he and the “old-timers” developed through years of experience.
His Motivation: Happy Snowmobilers
Jean-Claude’s greatest motivation is the satisfaction of a job well done.
He remembers coming home after certain grooming runs and telling his wife, Nicole: “I’m proud of the work I did. I’m happy!”
It is a sense of pride that snowmobilers benefit from every time they ride a well-groomed trail.
His greatest satisfaction comes when a snowmobiler takes the time to stop and thank him for the quality of the trail. He remembers one snowmobiler from Sainte-Luce who stopped him while he was grooming simply to thank him and tell him how beautiful the trail was.
For Jean-Claude, “That’s my pay!”
The Future? Keep Going as Long as the Passion Is There
At 86, Jean-Claude remains motivated to continue working as a groomer operator. As he likes to say, as long as his health allows him to keep going, the club can count on him.
Jean-Claude did experience a bit of bad luck in March. While out on the trail, his faithful 2018 snowmobile caught fire.
But make no mistake: he quickly purchased a new snowmobile and is already ready for next season!
86 Years Old and Still Passionate About the Trails
Jean-Claude proves that getting older does not mean you have to stop being active. He is a remarkable example of the important contribution a volunteer can make to a community.
Behind the beautiful snowmobile trails we enjoy are people like Jean-Claude—people who give their time, work through the night and put years of experience to work for the benefit of others.
If you happen to meet him, take a moment to thank him. And if you have a few extra minutes to talk, his passion for snowmobiling and trail grooming will undoubtedly leave an impression.
A Special Thank You
Thank you, Jean-Claude, and thank you to all the men and women who operate trail groomers.
These are the people who spend their evenings, nights and weekends preparing beautiful snowmobile trails so the rest of us can simply get out there and enjoy the ride.
