We started working on getting a TFA for this event in January. The ESRD officer involved made it sound like there would be no problem with hosting the race. We submitted a map with the course on it. In July we were told to make a couple of adjustments so we could use existing bridges over a couple of creek crossings. We made the course adjustments for him.
In late July he informed us that we would not be getting a TFA as a few kilometers of our proposed course went into the new proposed provincial highland park and he said he feels our type of event doesn't fit in with the South Saskatchewan Region Plan. We disputed this and found that if we used existing trails there should be no issues. He conceded we were correct.
Just before August long weekend he came back with the fact a majority of our course was in an area where no commercial activity shall take place from Aug 22 till beginning of June every year because it causes undue stress on the mountain goat population. All off road motorcycle races are consider to be a commercial activity, we are lumped in with logging and oil and gas exploration. This legislation really is intended to limit aircraft flying over the region.
We then submitted a totally new course to miss all the goat area. The ESRD was happy with the new course and we were told there should be no more issues. One week before the event we were told no TFA due to 1 kilometer of our course at the bottom of a valley touched on the edge of the goat zone. This was rectified by mid week. We were then told verbally( no record this way) no TFA, the ESRD doesn't want us in the area, and they have no more time to spend on this matter.
On Saturday morning the ESRD and fish cops set up a check stop on the entry road to event informing all BC riders they would be fined $300.00 if they unloaded their motorcycles.
They also came into the camping area to inform all riders would be ticketed for the same plus no headlight taillight tickets.
I have had to go over this ESRD officers head on previous occasions to obtain TFA's for events. Now that we have a NDP government which is not supportive of our sport this ESRD officer has been on a war path to get rid of our events in the south.
An appeal has been filed on the complete TFA process for off road racing on crown lands. I dont think it will go in our favour.
The Lethbridge Motorcycle has accomdated all requests from the ESRD to put on events so this is a real slap in the face.
All those riders and racers who never help out and whine about races may not have to worry about that anymore as it may be done here in the south.