Facts About Snowmobiling - 2019

The sport of snowmobiling brings together people - whether it's family members, friends, or members of your riding club, snowmobiling is better with a buddy

Row of snowmobilers out on a snowy trail.
Photo courtesy ISMA

As we begin the 2019-20 snowmobiling season, we thought you may be interested in the following facts while you are preparing to go ride this season:

1. Snowmobilers come in all ages. The average snowmobiler however, is 45 years old.
2. The average snowmobile snowmobiler last season rode 1,500 miles / 2,414 kilometers ( a 20% increase in ridership compared to 2018.) The number of miles ridden, on average, is dependent on snow cover, so we will see if Mother Nature brings us more days of snow for riding this season.
3. Many snowmobilers belong to a club and participate in many of their club’s events. Clubs hold great riding events, great parties, and are made up of wonderful people that become great friends. Join a club and have a great time!
4. About 50% of the people that snowmobile, trailer their snowmobile to their riding area. The other 50% ride from their home or cabin.
5. Snowmobiling is a family friendly activity. Most of all those responding to surveys report that they snowmobile with family and with friends and with club members.
6. Snowmobilers are outdoor recreationists all year around. Following is a list of recreational activities that snowmobilers participate in when they aren’t out riding:

  • 60% go ATV Riding
  • 57% go Camping
  • 54% go Fishing
  • 53% go Boating
  • 38% go Hunting
  • 35% go Hiking
  • 32% go Motorcycle Riding
  • 26% go Golfing
  • 17% go Personal Watercraft Riding
  • 15% go Downhill Skiing
  • 15% do other recreational Activities

Yes, we are a year around active group!

7. Approximately 79% of the snowmobilers are male.
8. Snowmobilers are a big part of the winter economic engine by spending an average of $3349 each year going snowmobiling, traveling to their snowmobiling spot, and food, gas, and lodging. In many places of North America, snowmobilers pay the bills for people involved in the Winter Tourism Industries and related businesses.
9. To help snowmobilers promote their sport, the snowmobile manufacturers have created a number of supporting communication tools.

  • We have created a Dropbox where interested individuals can access the most current family friendly snowmobile photos. We encourage people to use these photos in the development of trail maps, advertising pieces, or just flyers supporting a snowmobiling activity. The photos are free and can be used in promoting recreation family snowmobiling.
  • Also, ISMA has created a Facebook page. If you are on Facebook and want to see snowmobiling posts, please FOLLOW our page. You can also share your snowmobiling pictures, events, etc. on our page and they will be viewed by followers from around the world!
  • We have two websites: www.snowmobile.org and www.gosnowmobiling.org that contain a lot of information, links, downloadable materials, etc. to help support you and educate you on key issues related to snowmobiling and help you better know the activities going on. Our websites are connected to other websites around the world including all of the United States and Canadian state and provincial snowmobile associations which contain all of the local information that you may need.

The winter outlook is looking good for snowmobiling and we are looking forward to a great season!

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