About Snowmobiling
Author: Kaylen Shubrick, SnowmobilingStore.com
Water lovers have their jet skis and land lovers have their four wheelers - what about those who love the cold sparkle of the mountain snow? They, of course, have their snowmobiles. Snowmobiling has actually existed for many years, primarily for search and rescue teams in remote snow covered areas and for transportation and hauling purposes for people who live in cold climates. Snowmobiling has just recently taken off as a recreational sport, but the popularity is growing exponentially. For snowmobile lovers, there's nothing like cruising down a mountain covered in pristine, untouched snow!Like jet skis and four wheelers, snowmobiles are small automobiles that are designed for a user - usually just one person - to ride in the snow. Popular snow sports such as snowboarding and traditional skiing must be done from the top of a hill or mountain, propelling the person down the hill using a combination of force and gravity. Snowmobiles, on the other hand, rely on a small engine to propel the craft, so it can be ridden on hills, mountains, inclines and flat land. Snowmobiles can actually be ridden on asphalt tracks, on water and in the grass for snowmobile enthusiasts who don't have access to snow, but traditionally, snowmobiles perform better when used in the snow.
History of Snowmobiling
The first snowmobile, although a crude model, was built in 1908. It was quite large and propelled via steam locomotive, but worked well for its intended purpose - getting 
rescue teams out to people stranded in the snow. Virgil White, a Ford dealer, was the first to coin the term "snowmobile" when he built his model in 1913, using blueprints from the Model T Ford and adding useful adaptations such as tracks and skis for steering. From 1922 to 1950, many different snowmobile models were born, including wind driven snowmobiles and motorized toboggans. In 1954, the first recreational snowmobile was built by David Johnson and Edgar Hetteen. This design became known as Polaris and was the first, after which modern day snowmobiles followed suit.
Snowmobiling Facts
Over 106,000 snowmobiles were sold in the year 2007 alone and the average selling price of a single snowmobile was $8700, making the snowmobile industry a multi-million dollar industry. Three of the four major snowmobile manufacturers reside in the U.S. and are responsible for selling the whopping 1.5 million registered snowmobiles in the United States alone. Snowmobiles are quickly getting a bad rap for being environmentally taxing, but the positive impact on the economy from this profitable industry greatly outweighs any disadvantages of snowmobiling. New studies are showing that snowmobiles do not have an impact on outdoor wildlife such as deer and wolves when users exhibit care when taking their snowmobiles out for a run.
Snowmobiling for Fun
snowmobiles for recreational purposes. In some areas of North America, snowmobiles become the primary source of transportation when snows get heavy and the winters are long. Law enforcement officers also have snowmobiles at their disposal, although the far majority of people who purchase snowmobiles do so for fun. Those who live in cold climates where snow is prevalent have the most to benefit from snowmobiles used for leisure. There are many reasons people take up snowmobiling, including immersing themselves in nature and viewing new scenery as well as spending time with family and friends. For snowmobiling enthusiasts, taking part in such a sport enriches their lives and gives them a way to de-stress and have a good time.