For the second time, Flin Flon takes sled town crown

This year's edition of the Snoriders Sledtown Showdown final is over - and Flin Flon has won.

In the final round of the online vote-based contest, Flin Flon was pitted against the community that received the second-highest amount of votes - Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. The vote ended May 8, and it wasn't close.

Flin Flon secured about two-thirds of all votes cast, beating Hudson Bay 7,216 votes to 3,671.

“Sledtown Showdown has ended with a first: Flin Flon, Manitoba has won the entire competition for the second time,” reads a wrap-up on the competition by organizers Snoriders.

“Never before has a snowmobiling destination ascended to the highest peak twice—until now.”

Flin Flon received more votes than any other Manitoba community listed in the competition, moving on to a semifinal round against provincial champions from B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan. Drawn against McBride, B.C., Flin Flon came away with the victory, winning 6,882 votes to 6,440 (52 per cent to 48) to advance to the finals. Hudson Bay won by defeating Swan Hills, Alta., in a battle that saw far fewer votes cast - Hudson Bay 4,642, Swan Hills 4,469.

Flin Flon received the honour of being western Canada’s snowmobiling hotspot in 2020 and has received more votes than any other Manitoba community three times. No other community has ever won the competition twice. Back in 2020, when Flin Flon first won the competition, the community beat and eliminated Hudson Bay in the semifinals, leaving local leaders to fly a Flin Flon “The Water and the Wild” flag over the town hall as a result of a lost bet with Flin Flon city councillors.

“In head-to-head competition, Flin Flon has only been outvoted in one round over the past three years, which was during Round 3 of last year’s Sledtown Showdown to the eventual winner, Lac du Bonnet,” reads the Snoriders wrap-up.

“That lone setback is the only blemish on Flin Flon’s record over the last three seasons. Flin Flon has won two of the past three Sledtown Showdowns and has been Manitoba’s provincial champion for three of the last four years.”

The winning community receives a Sledtown Showdown trophy, feature articles in Snoriders and bragging rights for the town and for local snowmobile clubs.