The Savage Sno-Pacers, the local snowmobile club, has announced their 2008 Youth Snowmobiling Safety Training class to be held this fall.

This year’s classroom session will take place on Sunday Oct.5 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Savage Dan Patch American Legion Post #643, 12375 Princeton Ave S in Savage. Students are required to pre-register as no walk-ins will be allowed. Lunch will be served, and the registration fee is $10 including supplies and lunch. Students will take the written test during the class.

As certified Minnesota Department of Natural Resources snowmobile safety trainers -- Savage residents Tom “Digger” Anderson, Robert Bauer, Todd Miller, and Todd Tadsen --will be conducting the classes with several other volunteers from the Sno-Pacers.

Those youth who successfully complete the classroom portion of the training will be required to pass a “behind the wheel” test on held Saturday. Dec. 6 at Savage Community Park. Snowmobiles will be provided for the “behind the wheel” test and no outside sleds will be permitted.

Students are required to successfully complete eight hours of classroom training, pass a written exam, and successfully pass a driving test to receive their certificate. No “make up” sessions will be held.

Local residents that need Youth Snowmobile Safety Training are encouraged to register immediately as class sizes are limited and rosters fill up quickly. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting Tom “Digger” Anderson via email only at tomanderson@integraonline.com.   

Minnesota Law states that any resident born after Dec. 31, 1976 must possess a valid Snowmobile Safety Certificate. Generally a person must be 14 years of age or older to operate a snowmobile unless supervised or accompanied by a parent or guardian, with 12 years of age being the minimum operators age. Students must be 11 years old by the start of class to register for the training. Separate adult safety training classes are available for those 16 or older, or adults over 16 are welcome to receive their certification at our classes.

It is estimated that there are 225 youth snowmobilers in Savage that need to complete their Snowmobile Safety Training.

“The Savage Sno-Pacers are honored to bring this community service to our city, and are proud to have successfully trained nearly 500 new riders over the past three years,” said Anderson, “The youth are the future of our sport, and the safe and considerate operation of snowmobiles is critical to the preservation of this traditional Minnesota pastime.”