The 25th annual run drew record crowds. When you have that highof a concentration of bikers in one area you would expect difficulties.Fender-to-fender traffic as riders walk their bikes through the over packedstreets as they try to spot an elusive parking spot. The streets would belined with the countless venders selling $10 water and hackneyed t-shirtsfor outrages prices. The bars would also be packed as people scrambled tocatch a glimpse of the latest creations of the master builders. The parkinglot of the local grocery store would resembles a tightly coiled maze as thepeople shuffle inches per hour for a chance to get an autograph from OCC.Camping should be at a premium as the locals charge $60-80 a night to stakea claim for a 6X6 chunk of lawn and hotel rooms easily fetching $200+ anight. These would be true if it wasn't for one thing, this is the St VictorBoogie and that's not the way we do things in Southern Saskatchewan.
For the last twenty-five years on the third weekend in June the small hamletof St Victor welcomes bikers to the campground just down the road. Whatstarted out as a handful of bikers has now grown to one of Western Canada'sbest rallies. Bikers from all over western Canada and northern United Statesmake the annual pilgrimage to the St Victor Boogie and this year was nodifferent. The organizers, the Southern Independent Riders or SIR as theyare known locally, have kept things simple and true to what a biker rally istruly about. The whole event has more of the feeling of a backyard Bar-B-Qthan of a biker rally such as Sturgis and Daytona. No RV's, four wheeledvehicles, or camper trailers are permitted into the campsite, as theever-expanding campground is ride in only. Once inside you are instantlyoverwhelmed by thousands of bikes nestled between the trees and tents.
If these hardcore bikers can't carry it on a bike it stays at home (SIR doesoffer a cart to haul supplies and people in from outside the grounds).
This year riders didn't let rain stand in their way as they started showingup early in the week to stake out their campsites in the luscious greenvalley of St Victor's Petroglyph Park.
The skies finally cleared for the weekend on Thursday as bikes continued topour in but it wasn't until Friday that things really started shaking. Thebeer garden opened and two of Canada's hottest up and coming bands took tothe stage cranking out tunes well into the morning. The huge fire pitsscattered throughout the campgrounds still served as meeting places forfriends as they gather to share road stories and to reminisce about the goodold days.
Saturday morning signaled in with the smell of hotcakes and sausageswhipped up in the steamy concession stand being manned by the Southern Rebelshockey team. That afternoon sunshine brought in the last of the hardcorepartiers and signaled the start to the biker rodeo. The crowds gather alongthe “street” beside the beer garden to watch as the riders were put throughthe paces in such events as hot dog eating, slow races, and the balloontoss. This year saw the addition of the newest event “Wife Hunt” in whichthe men were blindfolded and had to rely on their sense of touch to feel outtheir wives from a group of lovely ladies.
Many also took advantage of sun shine Saturday to ride the open prairiehighways to check out Saskatchewan's own Badlands where the original JesseJames and Billy the Kid are rumored to have hid out from the law. Theevening was capped off with the always-popular wet T-shirt contest as thebands again returned to the stage and play on through the night and wellafter the sun had rose. Sunday morning was announced with the continuousthunder as bikes rolled out of the valley to speed home while other partiersfinally grabbed a couple hours sleep after three days of hard living at theSt Victor Boogie.
So if you are looking for an escape from the deadening grind of mega bikerallies and are looking to have a good time, meet great people, drink coldbeer and listen to great music, find yourself on the open road the thirdweekend in June heading to St Victor, Saskatchewan for the annual St. VictorBoogie. That is unless you like posers, newbies, RUB's, $10 water, line ups,100's of venders selling the same t-shirt, RV surcharges, user fees, rallytaxes.
