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The Citizen, 1997-10-01, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1,1997. PAGE 7. (f{ecrecition Winter sport enjoys popularity increase By Janice Becker Citizen staff From the top of the line to the more modestly priced cross-country machine, snowmobile manufac­ turers and sellers are gearing the product to specific rider needs and requirements more than ever before. And customers appear to be responding. According to Brian Hoy of Lynn Hoy Enterprises, Wingham, the popularity of the sport has grown steadily over the past few years, with every sector of the market affected. "We had one group buy nine sleds. The son bought first, then got his parents, sister and brother-in- law, cousins and friends interested." It appears no longer to be a sport dominated by groups of men covering miles of trails on a weekend. Hoy says there has been a definite increase in the number of women buying machines, close to 40 per cent of last year's sales were to women. However, it is not generally to single women, but to the girlfriends and wives of guys who are involved in the sport. There has also been increased interest shown by families, parents who may have had a snowmobile 20 years ago and now that they are in their 40s, they are coming back to the sport, says Hoy. And for those doing some snowmobile shopping, what is in the showrooms this fall? For Arctic Cat riders, B&K Tire and Battery in Brodhagen, is showing off the newest ZL 500 models. "They are more stable with 13 1/2 inches of travel in the rear suspension and the front end is wider at 43 inches," says owner Jim Bauer. "They are more maneuverable because of keeping the centre of balance low. We emphasis rider comfort and handling.” Arctic Cat's focus this year has been to improve the power to weight ratio, he says, allowing the light sleds to stay on the market while maintaining the power. "People are backing off from the big cc sleds," says Bauer. They want smaller and lighter." He has also noted an increased call for two-seaters. "They are family riders who are buying new sleds for family winter recreation. Fifty to sixty per cent of the customers are baby boomers who want to enjoy life and spoil the kids." Polaris dealer, Graham Cassidy, co-owner of Cassidy Farm Equip­ ment in Teeswater, has also seen a resurgence in the demand for mid­ range cc and family-oriented sleds. "We have sold more two-up sleds this year than ever before," he says. Couples are buying the two-seaters instead of having two machines or buying a second two-seater so the children go go along. The ride with a two-seater has also improved. Aside from the family aspect, Cassidy says the cost and insurance coverage for big sleds is also a factor. Clubs are also promoting safety on the trails and high- powered sleds can be dangerous, he says. "Customers are going with 500cc to 700 cc sleds instead of the 800 cc models." However, Cassidy also recom­ mends customers do not go too small. "A 340cc sled may not be able to keep up with others in the group," he says. Hoy is seeing the same trends with Ski-doos. With more than 30 models from which to choose, Hoy says the sled can be matched to where the rider rides, how they ride, with whom they ride and how often they ride. Often, customers will come in with an idea of the machine they need to have because they have seen it advertised or someone else has one. However, it may not be suited to their needs, he says. "People tend to ask for bigger and more expensive than they need." "Someone may come in wanting the new MXZ, which is equivalent to a motocross bike. It is for cross­ country, high speed and ditch banging. An aggressive rider will get proper suspension use, " says Hoy. "If they want the sled for trail riding, with no off-roading yet soft suspension, other machines will do better and the cost would also be better." Being a family-oriented dealership, Hoy says most of their sales are in the 380 to 500cc range. "A price of $6,000 to $7,000 will buy a decent family sled." Something new for the youngest member of the family is the Mini Z, says Barry Vincent at Vincent Farm Equipment Ltd., Seaforth, also a Ski-doo dealer. The new small model is designed for children aged six to 12 and costs approximately $2,000. "We only had two and they went fast." Ski-doo has high performance machines, with a new body for the triples, the CK3 chassis, which features a sleeker body, two-piece belly pan, easier access clutch panel and double halogen headlights with multi-refracting lenses. Prices can range up to $12,000. "This year, everything is selling," says Vincent. "A few years ago it was one model, now it is across the board." Vincent explains the changing trend by saying, "The market is segmented. There are work sleds, touring and performance touring sleds, cross-country, sport performance and muscle sleds. Manufacturers are catering to all segments, giving people what they want. There is a sled which will really fit the budget and riding style." For those interested in the security of the sled, a new digital encoded security system eliminates the opportunity to switch tether caps and start the machine. The tether cap inside the ignition switch is programmed electronically for the specific sled. The machine will not start unless the codes match, says Hoy. However, with all the new options available on sleds, how often should riders trade up? According to Bauer and Hoy, it is best to keep a snowmobile at least two years because of the immediate depreciation of a new machine. Arctic Cats change something each year, says Bauer, so dealing up for the latest design is not a factor. For Ski-doo, the model look is changed approximately every five years, says Hoy. B&K Tire and Battery currently has numerous used sleds on the lot so Bauer recommends not trading in a machine only a year old. "There is a saturation of used sleds." The snowmobiles are also coming in with more and more miles, he says. An average 1995 could have 4,000 to 5,000 miles on it. However, he says, the mileage is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of the used machine as it depends on how the sled was ridden and the care given it. For those in the market for a new ‘95 SKI-DOO FORMULA S ‘2900. ‘95 YAMAHA PHAZER DELUXE ‘4200. ‘95 POLARIS XLT ‘4600. ‘95 POLARIS XLT SPECIAL ‘5100. ‘95 SKI-DOO MACH 1 ‘5500. ‘95 SKI-DOO MACH Z W/ETS ‘6200. ‘95 POLARIS STORM ‘5500. ‘96 SKI-DOO GRAND TOURING 580 ‘6400. ‘96 SKI-DOO FORMULA III ‘6000. ‘96 SKI-DOO FORMUAL III ‘5900. ‘96 SKI-DOO FORMUAL III ‘5950. ‘96 SKI-DOO FORMULA III ‘6100. ‘96 ARCTIC CAT ZRT 600 ‘6000. ‘96 POLARIS XCR ‘5700. ‘96 SKI-DOO MACH 1 ‘6450. ‘96 SKI-DOO GRAND TOURING SE ‘7500. ‘96 SKI-DOO MACH Z ‘7400. ‘96 SKI-DOO MACH Z STUDDED ‘7400. ‘97 POLARIS XLT LTD. ‘5900. ‘97 POLARIS XLT LTD. ‘5900. ‘97 YAMAHA VMAX 600 XT ‘6100. ‘97 SKI-DOO MACH 1 ‘7300. ©1997 Bombardier Inc. All rit^its reserved ’ ©Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. and/or affiliates, 'Financing offered on the Ski-Doo* Gold Card available trhough H.R.S.I. and M R S L. 16.8% A.P R In U.S with $.50 min. finance charge. 17.25% A.PR. in Canada. No interest il paid in full by 1/4/98. No annual fee. Financing offers cannot bo combined and aro subject Io credit approval, applicable terms and conditions lor qualified applicants. Offers available from 9/1/97-10-31-97 Videos and posters available while supplies last. Soo your participating Ski-Doo deaJor for complete dotails. BOMBARDItR ski-doo ‘81 SKI-DOO CITATION SS ‘1100. *81 MOTO-SKI FUTURA L/C ‘650. ‘83 SKI-DOO BLIZZARD 9700 *1200. ‘84 MOTO-SKI SONIC L/C ‘1450. ‘87 SKI-DOO FORMULA PLUS $2500. ‘88 SKI-DOO SAFARI 377 ‘1500. ‘88 SKI-DOO SAFARI 377 *1500. ‘89 YAMAHA EXCITER ‘2500. ‘90 ARCTIC CAT PROWLER ‘2550. ‘90 SKI-DOO MACH 1 ‘3100. ‘91 SKI-DOO FORMULA PLUS ‘3200. ‘91 SKI-DOO FORMULA PLUS EL ‘3100. ‘91 ARCTIC CAT EXT ‘3300. ‘92 SKI-DOO SAFARI LCE ‘2750. ‘92 SKI-DOO MACH 1 ‘3600. ‘93 SKI-DOO SAFARI DELUXE ‘2500. ‘93 ARCTIC CAT EXT ‘4100. ‘94 ARCTIC CAT PUMA DELUXE ‘3100. ‘94 SKI-DOO MACH Z ‘5600. ‘94 ARCTIC CAT THUNDERCAT ‘5500. ‘95 SKI-DOO TOURING LE ‘3100. SEAFORTH 527-0120 sled, now is definitely the time to begin the search. Sales of the 1998 models began before last season ended, says Bauer, with the number of pre-solds high in March. Hoy agrees. "There will be few sleds available by December. Availability is tight." At Cassidy's, sales of 1998 models began last April with discounts for early puchasers. New this year for the Polaris sleds is a two-cylinder engine designed and manufactured in the United States. "Instead of getting the engines from Japan as in the past, they have their own plant now, says Cassidy. Customers can obtain information about the latest in snowmobiles by going on-line. Several manufac­ turers have web sites which offer information before dealers obtain it, says Hoy. "People have come in in January telling us about model changes before we have heard about it." Each dealer also noted the "fantastic trail system" in this region and across the province USED SNOWMOBILES These sleds are .11 warmed-up and readv to go! which has enticed people back onto snowmobiles. "The trails here are as good as anywhere," says Vincent. "With the trail network, riders can go anywhere without bothering anyone," adds Bauer. Clubs too, have begun to focus on family outings, says Hoy. Snowmobile clubs are beginning to look at the family appeal of the clubhouses, he says. "If it's not somewhere a family would stop, they realize they are losing money. Hoy pointed out that the Walkerton clubhouse is one of the best, family-oriented locations he has seen. It is a large heated building with a kitchen offering a selection of foods as well as pool tables and other recreational activities for the family, he says. With a return of popularity of snowmobiling and an increased number of families taking to the trails, it appears manufacturers, dealers and clubs are taking the changing demographics into account for the coming season. fNGINtERfO FOR THf WAY YOU RIDE.' ©1997 BOMBARDIER