Sault Ste. Marie is also known for it's chilly winters. The record for most snow-fall on one day in Sault Ste. Marie is 26.6 inches (December 10th, 1995). That same winter, Sault Ste. Marie had the greatest recorded snowfall of its history with a total of 208.8 inches. In our most recent winter, there was a snowfall total of 204.7 inches of snow. This can make it challenging for students to get to school in the winter months, but it also provides a great opportunity for community involvement. Near the Sault Area Secondary School, there is a sledding hill that operates in the winter months (depending on the weather). With such great amounts of snow, the school was able to host our annual Sledding Family Fun Night!

All the wintery weather is also great for the annual I-500 snowmobile race! In the winter of 1968, several local businessmen were admiring the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro that would be the official pace car for the upcoming Indianapolis 500. This led them to the question, "Could a snowmobile run 500 miles?" At the time, the winter months were quieter with the main tourist season taking place in the early summer and late fall. However, with the creation of the I-500 snowmobile race, this quickly changed. Now, the race takes place each year with community activities surrounding the race itself. Community members volunteer to run the race and its related activities like the Miss I-500 pageant, the open-skate on the snowmobile track, and the junior I-500 race. The race takes place every February and brings with it buzzing excitement from our students, which makes it a great opportunity to explore the historical significance of the race.