Asnowmobile, also known as asnowmachine (chiefly Alaskan),motor sled (chiefly Canadian),ski-doo (Ontario and Quebec, dated proprietary eponym),motor sledge,skimobile,snow scooter, or simply asled is amotorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation onsnow.
Their engines normally drive acontinuous track at the rear, whileskis at the front provide directional control. The earliest snowmobiles were powered by readily available industrialfour-stroke,air-cooled engines. These would quickly be replaced by lighter and more powerfultwo-strokegasolineinternal combustion engines and since the mid-2000sfour-stroke engines had re-entered the market.
The challenges of cross-country transportation in the winter led to the invention of an all-terrain vehicle specifically designed for travel across deep snow where other vehicles foundered.[1]
As of 2003[update], the snowmobile market has been shared between the four large North American makers (Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP),Arctic Cat,Yamaha, andPolaris) and some specialized makers like the Quebec-based AD Boivin, manufacturer of the Snow Hawk[2] and the European Alpina snowmobile.[3][4]
The second half of the 20th century saw the rise of recreational snowmobiling, whose riders are calledsnowmobilers,sledders, orslednecks. Recreational riding is known as snowcross/racing, trail riding, freestyle, boondocking, ditchbanging and grass drags. In the summertime snowmobilers candrag race ongrass,asphalt strips, or even across water (as insnowmobile skipping). Snowmobiles are sometimes modified to compete in long-distanceoff-road races.
A patent (554.482) for the Sled-Propeller design, without a model, was submitted on Sept. 5, 1895 by inventors William J. Culman and William B. Follis ofBrule, Wisconsin.[5]
TheAmerican Motor Sleigh was a short-lived novelty vehicle produced inBoston in 1905. Designed for travel on snow, it consisted of a sleigh body mounted on a framework that held an engine, a drive-shaft system, and runners.[6] Although considered an interesting novelty, sales were low and production ceased in 1906.[7]
An Aerosledge, a propeller-driven and running on skis, was built in 1909–1910 by Russian inventorIgor Sikorsky of helicopter fame.[8] Aerosanis were used by the SovietRed Army during theWinter War andWorld War II.[9] There is some dispute over whether Aerosanis count as snowmobiles because they were not propelled by tracks.[10][11][12]
Adolphe Kégresse designed an originalcaterpillar tracks system, called theKégresse track, while working for TsarNicholas II of Russia between 1906 and 1916. These used a flexible belt rather than interlocking metal segments and could be fitted to a conventional car or truck to turn it into ahalf-track, suitable for use over soft ground, including snow. Conventional front wheels and steering were used but the wheel could be fitted with skis as seen in the upper right image. He applied it to several cars in the Royal garage includingRolls-Royce cars andPackard trucks. Although this was not a snowmobile, it is an ancestor of the modern concept.
In 1911 a 24-year-old, Harold J. Kalenze (pronounced Collins), patented the Vehicle Propeller in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.[13]
In 1914, O. M. Erickson and Art Olsen of the P.N. Bushnell company inAberdeen, South Dakota, built an open two-seater "motor-bob" out of anIndian motorcycle modified with a cowl-cover, side-by-side seating, and a set of sled-runners fore and aft. While it did not have the tracks of a true snowmobile, its appearance was otherwise similar to the modern version and is one of the earliest examples of a personal motorized snow-vehicle.[14]
In 1915 Ray H. Muscott ofWaters, Michigan, received the Canadian patent for his motor sleigh, or "traineau automobile", and on June 27, 1916, he received the first United Statespatent for a snow-vehicle using the now recognized format of rear track(s) and front skis.[15] Many individuals later modifiedFord Model Ts with the undercarriage replaced by tracks and skis following this design. They were popular for rural mail delivery for a time. The common name for these conversion of cars and small trucks wasSnowflyers.[16]
Carl Eliason ofSayner developed the prototype of the modern snowmobile in the 1920s when he mounted a two-cylinder motorcycle engine on a long sled, steered it with skis under the front, and propelled it with single, endless track.[17] Eliason made 40 snowmobiles, patented in 1927.[18] Upon receiving an order for 200 fromFinland, he sold his patent to theFWD Company ofClintonville. They made 300 for military use, then transferred the patent to a Canadian subsidiary.
In 1917, Virgil D. White set up to create a patent for his conversion kit that changed the Ford Model T into a "snowmobile". He also trademarked the term "snowmobile". At the time, the conversion kit was expensive, costing about $395. Virgil White applied his patent in 1918 and created his own snowmobile. In 1922, his conversion kit was on the markets and available only through Ford dealerships.[19]
The relatively dry snow conditions of theUnited States Midwest suited the converted Ford Model Ts and other like vehicles, but they were not suitable for humid snow areas such as southernQuebec andNew England. This ledJoseph-Armand Bombardier from the small town ofValcourt,Quebec, to invent a differentcaterpillar track system suitable for all kinds of snow conditions. Bombardier had already made some "metal" tracked vehicles since 1928, but his new revolutionary track traction system (a toothed wheel covered in rubber, and a rubber-and-cotton track that wraps around the back wheels) was his first major invention. He started production of the B-7, an enclosed, seven-passenger snowmobile, in 1937, and introduced the B-12, a twelve-passenger model, in 1942. The B-7 had a V-8flathead engine fromFord Motor Company. The B-12 had a flathead in line six-cylinder engine fromChrysler industrial, and 2,817 units were produced until 1951. It was used in many applications, such as ambulances,Canada Post vehicles, winter "school buses", forestry machines, and even army vehicles inWorld War II. Bombardier had always dreamed of a smaller version, more like the size of amotor scooter.
In 1951 Fritz Riemerschmid devised what he called a snow scooter. The machine had a track mounted beneath asnowboard-like base, on top of which were an enclosed engine with motorcycle like seat and fuel tank. the vehicle was steered via a steering wheel and cables linked to two small skis on outriggers either side of the vehicle.[20][21]
In the mid-1950s, a United States firm built a "snowmobile thearctic area ofAlaska that had the drive train reversed of today's snowmobiles with two front wheels—the larger one behind the smaller one—with tires driving an endless loop track". Little is known about this "snowmobile" meant to haul cargo and trade goods to isolated settlements.[22]
An odd version of snowmobile is the SwedishLarven, made by theLenko Company ofÖstersund, from the 1960s until the end of the 1980s. It was a very small and basic design, with just an engine in the rear and a track. The driver sat on it and steered using skis on his feet.[23]
Most modern snowmobiles are powered by either a four- or two-strokeinternal combustion engine, with the exception of the Taiga TS2. Historically, snowmobiles have always used two-stroke engines because of their reduced complexity, weight and cost, compared to a similarly powered four-stroke. However, four-stroke powered snowmobiles have been gaining popularity steadily in the last fifteen or so years, with manufacturer Yamaha producing four-stroke snowmobiles only. TheWhistler Blackcomb ski resort is testing Taiga'selectric snowmobiles with lower noise,[24] and similar vehicles exist.[25]
Early snowmobiles used simple rubber tracks, but modern snowmobiles' tracks are usually made of aKevlarcomposite construction.
Older snowmobiles could generally accommodate two people; however, most snowmobiles manufactured since the 1990s have been designed to only accommodate one person. Snowmobiles built with the ability to accommodate two people are referred to as "2-up" snowmobiles or "touring" models and make up an extremely small share of the market.
Most snowmobiles do not have any enclosures, except for awindshield.
The first snowmobiles made do with as little as 5 horsepower (3.7 kW) engines, but engine sizes and efficiency have improved drastically. In the early 1990s, the biggest engines available (typically 600cc-800cc displacement range) produced around 115 hp (86 kW). As of 2022, several snowmobiles are available with engines sizes up to 1,200 cc, producing 150+ hp, as well as several models with up to 1,000 cc engines producing closer to 210 hp (160 kW). Recently, some models areturbo-charged, resulting in dramatic increase of engine horsepower. Snowmobiles are capable of moving across steep hillsides without sliding down-slope if the rider transfers their weight towards the uphill side, a process calledside-hilling.
Higher-powered modern snowmobiles can achieve speeds over 150 mph (240 km/h). Drag racing snowmobiles can reach speeds over 200 mph (320 km/h).
Mountain sleds permit access in remote areas with deep snow, which was nearly impossible a few decades ago. This is mainly due to alterations, enhancements, and additions of original trail model designs such as weight, weight distribution, track length, paddle depth, and power. Technology and design advances in mountain snowmobiles have improved since 2003 with Ski-Doo's introduction of the "REV" framework platform. Most two-stroke mountain snowmobiles have a top engine size of 800 cc, producing around 150 hp (110 kW), although some 1,000 cc factory machines have been produced. These may not be as popular as many 800 cc models outperform them because of weight and an increase of unneeded power.
Cornices and other kinds of jumps are sought after for aerial maneuvers. Riders often search for non-tracked, virgin terrain and are known to "trailblaze" or "boondock" deep into remote territory where there is absolutely no visible path to follow. However, this type of trailblazing is dangerous as contact with buried rocks, logs, and frozen ground can cause extensive damage and injuries. Riders look for large open fields of fresh snow where they cancarve. Some riders use extensively modified snowmobiles, customized withaftermarket accessories like handle-bar risers, handguards, custom/lightweight hoods, windshields, and seats, running board supports,studs, and numerous other modifications that increase power and maneuverability. Many of these customizations can now be purchased straight off the showroom floor on stock models.
Trail snowmobiles improved in the past 15 years[when?] as well (many of them borrowed from endeavors to produce winning mountain sleds). Heavy "muscle sleds" can produce speeds in excess of 100 mph (160 km/h) due to powerful engines (up to 1,200 cc stock, and custom engines exceeding 1,200 cc), short tracks, and good traction on groomed trails. Sno-cross oriented snowmobiles often have an engine size cap of 440 or 600 cc, but lighter machines with redesigned stances, formats, and weight control have produced extremely fast and quickly accelerating race sleds.
.jpg)
.jpg)
 | This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is:Data is 17 years old. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2020) |
According to the research center RISE, approximately 135,000 snowmobiles will be sold worldwide yearly.[26]
Snowmobiles are widely used inarctic territories for travel. However, the tiny Arctic population means a correspondingly small market. Most snowmobiles are sold for recreational purposes in places where snow cover is stable during winter. The number of snowmobiles in Europe and other parts of the world is low.
Snowmobiles designed to perform various work tasks have been available for many years with dual tracks from such manufacturers as Aktiv (Sweden), who madethe Grizzly, Ockelbo (Sweden), who made the 8000, and Bombardier who made the Alpine and later the Alpine II. Currently, there are two manufacturers of dual-track snowmobiles; Russia's Buran[citation needed] and the Italian Alpina snowmobiles (under the nameSherpa andSuperclass).
Edgar and Allen Hetteen and David Johnson ofRoseau, Minnesota, invented what we now know as the modern snowmobile in 1955–1956, but the early machines were heavy (1,000 lb or 450 kg) and slow (20 mph or 32 km/h). Their company, Hetteen Hoist & Derrick Co., becamePolaris Industries[27] which introduced their first commercial model, the Polaris Sno Traveler in 1957.
In 1960,Joseph-Armand Bombardier introduced his own snowmobile using an open-cockpit one- or two-person form, similar to the 1957 Polaris Sno Traveler, and started selling it under the brand nameSki-Doo through his companyBombardier Inc. (now manufactured byBombardier Recreational Products). Competitors copied and improved his design; in the 1970s there were over a hundred snowmobile manufacturers.[3] From 1970 to 1973, two million machines were sold, peaking at 500,000 sold in 1971.[3] Many of the snowmobile companies were small and the biggest manufacturers were often attempts bymotorcycle makers andoutboard motor makers to branch off in a new market. Most of these companies wentbankrupt or were acquired by larger companies during the1973 oil crisis and succeeding recessions. Sales rebounded to 260,000 in 1997 but gradually decreased afterward, influenced by warmer winters and the use during all four seasons of small one- or two-personATVs.
Alpina Snowmobiles are manufactured inVicenza,Italy, by Alpina s.r.l., a manufacturer of various on-snow implements that had been building dual-track snowmobiles since 1995.[28][29]
Alpina manufactures one basic dual-track snowmobile design. In 2002 theSherpa was introduced and is the model name for the four-stroke machine. Prior to introducing the Sherpa, Alpina offered a two-stroke series designated theSuperclass. The four-stroke Sherpa is currently the top machine in production. A new version of the Superclass has been released in 2017, with a lot of innovations and a new four-stroke engine. TheSherpa andSuperclass series shared the same basic dual-track platform, twin 20 in × 156 in (510 mm × 3,960 mm) tracks with dual skis up front. Power for the Sherpa is supplied by a 1.6L in-line four-cylinder gasoline automotive engine. The new Superclass power is provided by a 1.2L 3-cylinder four-stroke gasoline engine. TheSherpa andSuperclass are designed as working snowmobiles for carrying supplies, pulling cargo sleds, pulling trail grooming implements, carrying several passengers, and negotiating deep snow. Engine and transmission combination are designed to deliver optimum power to pull or carry large loads while top-end speeds are kept below 52 mph (84 km/h), depending on the model. The large footprint of the dual tracks and dual skis allows theSherpa andSuperclass to "float" on top of deep snow and not sink in and get stuck.
Taiga Motors in Montreal created the first commercially produced electric snowmobile.[30] The Taiga TS2 can go from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3 seconds, with 250 N⋅m (180 lb⋅ft) of instant torque. The Taiga TS2 weighs 470 lb (210 kg).[31]
A snow bike takes a typical dirt bike and replaces the rear wheel with a single tread system similar to a snowmobile and the front wheel with a large ski. It is much smaller and nimbler than a snowmobile, and it has a tighter turning radius, which lets the rider go where many snowmobiles cannot. The first prototype of motorcycles with a rear tread date to the 1920s, with subsequent failed attempts to bring them to market. Many motorcycles made after the 1990s can be fitted with kits that transform them into snow bikes.
In 2017,Winter X Games XXI introduced the first snow bike event in the form of a SnowBikeCross race. The following year they introduced a Best Trick event.[33]
As a result of their inherent maneuverability, acceleration, and high-speed abilities, skill and physical strength are both required to operate a snowmobile.
Snowmobile injuries and fatalities are high compared to those caused by on road motor vehicle traffic.[34][35] Losing control of a snowmobile could easily cause extensive damage, injury, or death. One such cause of snowmobile accidents is loss of control from a loose grip. If the rider falls off, the loss of control can easily result in the snowmobile colliding with a nearby object, such as a rock or tree. Most snowmobiles are fitted with a cord connected to a kill switch, which would stop the snowmobile if the rider falls off; however, not all riders use this device every time they operate a snowmobile.
Swerving off of the path may result in rolling the snowmobile or crashing into an obstacle. In unfamiliar areas, riders may crash into suspended barbed wire or haywire fences at high speeds. Each year a number of serious or fatal accidents are caused by these factors.
Each year, riders are killed by hitting other snowmobiles, automobiles, pedestrians, rocks, trees, or fences, or falling through thin ice. On average, 10 people a year have died in such crashes inMinnesota alone, withalcohol a contributing factor in many cases.[citation needed] InSaskatchewan, 16 out of 21 deaths in snowmobile collisions between 1996 and 2000 were caused by the effects of alcohol.[36][37] WrestlerLindsey Durlacher died in 2011 following surgery for a brokensternum he sustained in a snowmobile accident.[38]
Fatal collisions with trains can also occur when a snowmobile operator engages in the illegal practice of "rail riding", riding between railroad track rails over snow-coveredsleepers. Inability to hear the sound of an oncoming train over the engine noise of a snowmobile makes this activity extremely dangerous. Collision with large animals such as moose and deer, which may venture onto a snowmobile trail, is another major cause of snowmobile accidents. Most often such encounters occur at night or in low-visibility conditions when the animal could not be seen in time to prevent a collision. Also even when successful, a sudden maneuver to miss hitting the animal could still result in the operator losing control of the snowmobile.
The next leading cause of injury and death isavalanches, which can result from the practice ofhighmarking, or driving a snowmobile as far up a hill as it can go.[39][40][41] During the 2018–2019 season, 7 snowmobilers in the United States were killed. Avalanche safety education is critical for those accessing the backcountry.
Risks can be reduced through education, proper training, appropriate gear, attention to published avalanche warnings and avoiding drinking alcohol. In some areas of Western U.S., organizations provide avalanche training, some of which is free. It is recommended that snowmobile riders wear a helmet and asnowmobile suit.
Depending on jurisdiction, there may be penalties for driving outside permitted areas, without an approved helmet, without a driver's license, with an unregistered snowmobile, or while under the influence of alcohol or other substances. There may also be regulations regarding noise and wildlife.
In some jurisdictions, adriver's license is required to operate a snowmobile. A specific snowmobile driver's license is required in, for example, Norway and Sweden. In Finland, a snowmobile driver's license is not required if the driver already has another type of appropriate driver's license (for example car or tractor).
Theenvironmental impact of snowmobiles has been the subject of much debate. Governments have been reacting slowly tonoise andair pollution, partly because oflobbying from manufacturers and snowmobilers.[citation needed] For instance, in 1999, the Canadian government adopted theCanadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, but the set of rules governing pollution emissions for off-road vehicles was only released in January 2005.[42] In another example of regulation, only four-stroke snowmobiles are allowed inYellowstone National Park since a bylaw was recently passed to minimize CO2 emissions and noise.[43] InYellowstone, snowmobiles account for 80% of total hydrocarbon emissions and 50% of carbon monoxide emissions in the winter. This is just less than 2% and 1% respectively of the overall annual pollution within the park. Snowmobiles are only allowed to be ridden on the unplowed roads used in the summer, and riding off the roads is prohibited. This accounts for less than 1% (0.002%) of the park area.
In 2005 theUS Forest Service published a Travel Management Rule[44] for off-highway vehicles, strengthening the implementation ofExecutive Orders issued in the 1970s. However, these rules were not applied to snowmobiles. In 2015, following a decision in a lawsuit brought by Winter Wildlands Alliance against the Forest Service, the rules were extended to snowmobiles, referred to as an over-snow vehicle (OSV).[45] National Forests with sufficient snow for winter recreation are now required to designate where OSVs are allowed to travel and where they are prohibited.[46] In doing so, the Forest Service must minimize 1) damage to soil, watershed, vegetation, and other forest resources; 2) harassment of wildlife and significant disruption of wildlife habitats; and 3) conflicts between motor vehicle use and existing or proposed recreational uses of National Forest System lands or neighboring Federal lands.
Most snowmobiles are still powered bytwo-stroke engines, although Alpina andYamaha have been usingfour-strokes since 2002 and 2003, respectively. However, in the last decade several manufacturers have been successful in designing less polluting motors, and putting most of them in production. Yamaha and Arctic-Cat were the first to mass-produce four-stroke models, which are significantly less polluting than the early two-stroke machines. Alpina offers only four-stroke EFI engines equipped with acatalytic converter and dual oxygen-probe. Bombardier's E-Tec two-stroke motors emit 85% less pollutants than previouscarbureted two-strokes. Polaris has developed afuel-injection technology called "Cleanfire Injection" on their two-strokes. The industry is also working on a direct-injected "clean two strokes" that is better in terms ofNOX emissions.
Independent researchers, undergraduates and graduate students participate in contests to lessen the impact of emissions from snowmobiles. TheClean Snow Mobile Challenge is held yearly atMichigan Technological University regrouping the entries from universities from across United States and Canada.[47] Some of the participants in recent years have been theÉcole polytechnique de Montréal with a Quasiturbine engine[48] and students fromÉcole de technologie supérieure of theUQAM with a less polluting two-stroke engine usingE85 and direct injection.[49]
Maximum noise restrictions have been enacted by law for both production of snowmobiles and aftermarket components. For instance, inQuebec (Canada) noise levels must be 78decibels or less at 20 meters from a snowmobile path.[50] As of 2009, snowmobiles produce 90% less noise than in the 1960s[4] but there are still numerous complaints.[51] Efforts to reduce noise focus on suppressing mechanical noise of the suspension components and tracks.[50] Arctic Cat in 2005 introduced "Silent Track technology" on touring models such as the T660 Turbo, Bearcat, and some M-Series sleds. Ski-Doo has since then also used comparative "silent track technology" on some models.
The use of aftermarket exhaust systems ("cans" or "silencers") is controversial. These replace the stock muffler with a less restrictive system that is usually claimed to increase power output of the engine. However, these aftermarket exhausts are often much louder than those from the factory, with only some being slightly quieter than a completely open, unbaffled system. Most, if not all, local snowmobile clubs (that maintain and groom trail systems) do not recommend them because of noise. Local and state authorities have set up checkpoints on high-traffic trails, checking for excessively loud systems and issuing citations. Typically these systems are installed on two-stroke powered machines (giving the distinctive "braap" sound); however, in recent years aftermarket companies have released silencers for four-stroke models as well.
According to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, snowmobilers in Canada and the United States spend over $28 billion on snowmobiling each year. This includes expenditures on equipment, clothing, accessories, snowmobiling vacations (lodging, fuel, and food), maintenance and others. Often this is the only source of income for some smaller towns, such asBralorne, British Columbia, that rely solely ontourism during the summer and winter months.[52] Once a booming gold mining town, Bralorne is now a very small town with a population of 60,[53] and it is relatively inaccessible by car in the winter.[54] The economy relies on visits from snowmobilers, who contribute to the economy by spending money on gas, food, and hotels.[55]
Since the invention of snowmobiles, isolated communities of northern North America have always had a demand for them. However, the early snowmobiles designs were not economical or functional enough for the harsh environment of northern North America. Joseph-Armand Bombardier started producing the Ski-Doo in 1959 at the request of a priest.[56] The priest had asked Bombardier to make an economical and reliable means of winter travel.[57] The Ski-Doo greatly changed life in northern North America's isolated communities, where Ski-Doo replaced sled dogs by the end of the 1960s.[58][59] The Ski-Doo also greatly improved communication between isolated communities.[60]
In northern North America, historically, isolated communities depended ondog sledding andsnowshoeing as their primary method of transportation for hunting during the winter months. The Ski-Doo allowed trappers to travel greater distances faster, allowing them to expand their hunting grounds.[60] Prospectors, mining companies, foresters, backcountry cabin owners, theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police andCanadian Army also found snowmobiles very effective because they were the most economical method of transportation of small loads.[58][61]
Joseph-Armand Bombardier's tests of Ski-Dog[further explanation needed] proved that snowmobiling was fun, and snowmobiling became a new form of outdoor recreation.[61] People who once sat dormant throughout winter were now given the opportunity in more outdoor activities.[62]
Not only are snowmobiles popular in the United States and Canada, USSR has their very own version of the snowmobile, which can be seen in the Aerosani. Aerosani, when interpreted, intends "aero sleigh." The Russians usage this propeller-powered snowmobile for delivering the mail, patrolling the metes, as well as for recreational intents.
An aerosani (Russian: aerosani, literally 'aerosled') is a type of propeller-powered snowmobile, running on skis, used for communications, mail deliveries, medical aid, emergency recovery and border patrolling in northern Russia, as well as for recreation. Aerosanis were used by the Soviet Red Army during the Winter War and the Second World War.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)We identified 480 injuries in 294 patients, and 81 (27.6%) of these patients died. Collisions accounted for 72% of the injury mechanisms. Of the injuries sustained, 31% occurred on roads. Excessive speed was a risk factor in 54% of patients, suboptimal lighting in 86% and a blood alcohol level greater than 0.08 in 70%.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
