International Snowmobile Hall of Fame names Harris Cox its Groomer of the Year

Nobody knows the cross-country ski trails around Whitehorse the way Harris Cox does.

Now 83 years old, Cox has been grooming trails for an incredible 66 years, and is a well-known fixture on the local trail network. He joined the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) as a director in 1998, and has since become the association’s vice-president.

Now, his work in the Yukon has earned him international recognition. He recently learned he is being honoured by the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame (ISHOF) as its Groomer of the Year for 2024.

“Even in my wildest dreams, I never thought I was going to get something like this,” Cox told What’s Up Yukon. “I didn’t even know it existed until I got the email saying congratulations.”

But Cox will be celebrating from home, rather than travelling to ISHOF headquarters in Eagle River, Wis. to accept his award in person. As he explains, the closest international airports—located in Toronto, Ont., Memphis, Tenn., and Chicago, Ill.—are still lengthy drives away from the awards ceremony site. 

“It’s an inconvenient place to get to,” he laughed. “In my mind, yes, I would like to be there, but the expense and the time and everything for 15 minutes of fame … you know.”

Cox’s legacy in the Yukon is far more than 15 minutes of fame, however. Through his voluntary work with the KSA, he spends around 20 hours per week grooming trails, as well as coordinating grooming with landowners and trail user groups as the association’s main groomer operator.

Before he discovered the enjoyment of grooming trails, Cox started out skiing while he was still in school.

“When I first came here, the [U.S.] air force had a recreation centre, which is now the Transportation Museum,” he explained.

“They had skis there they’d give out. They had toboggans for the kids to use, and all this other stuff. I started skiing right from the get-go up here because I wanted something to do in the winter time.”

According to its website, the KSA has been a volunteer-run organization since its formation in 1981. It strives to represent snowmobilers in the Yukon, with a mission to “protect, develop and enhance the sport and recreation of snowmobiling and snowmobiling-related activities in the Yukon.”

The ISHOF was founded in 1984 by Elmer Cone. More than 140 individuals in the world of recreational snowmobiling have been inducted. Inductions are made and awards given out each year. Nominations can be made online. 

Now enjoying retirement, spending as much time as he can on the trails, Cox says he’ll continue grooming as long as he’s alive–going as far as to say he’d like to spend his last moments out on the trails–but it’s never been about awards or recognition for him. 

“I’m not one to blow my own horn,” says Cox. “I’m just telling you that I love grooming trails.”