snowmobile history
There are four main snowmobile manufacturers in the world. Artic Cat, based in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Bombardier Inc., of Valcourt, Québec, Polaris Industries of Medina, Minnesota, and Yamaha Motor Corporation based in Cypress, California.
In the late 1950s, with the development of the small two stroke engine, a new type of vehicle was born. With its lightweight chassis, the snowmobile was the first vehicle to be able to transport one or two people by propelling itself with a rubber track stabilized by a pair of skis. With this birth came the dawning of a new recreational sport opening the previously cold and barren winters to a new and bold type of traveller.
Ten years later there were dozens of manufacturers producing snowmobiles which sold for a few hundred dollars each. In 2002, the four remaining manufacturers produced over 200,000 destined for the Americian, Canadian and European markets. With over 4 million users, the snowmobile is an important seasonal activity and an important factor in increasing tourism to a large part of the snowbelt regions of Canada and the United States.
The snowmobile is undergoing constant evolution. The current models bear little resemblance to those of the 1960s or 70s- which are now clearly antiques.
There are over 4 million snowmobile owners in North America. Statistics show that 94.5% of these people view snowmobiling as a family activity. There is a trend towards taking longer trips involving more opportunities for shopping, and destinations permitting a selection of hotels and restaurants. The average distance travelled per excursion with overnights is between 166-250 kilometres.