Snowmobiles up in La Crosse, around country as temperatures fall
The demand is the greatest in more than 20 years
February 3, 2021 5:28 PM Greg White
Updated:
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) – Snowmobiles are growing in popularity this winter.
Americans’ desire to get outdoors during the pandemic, despite the cold, is creating a season unlike any in more than two decades for the snowmobiling industry.
Here in La Crosse, staff at Rod’s Ride-On Powersports say it doesn’t matter how old it is, if they have it in stock, customers want it.
“We had four or five used snowmobiles last week and they went out the door in like three days,” said Rod’s Ride-On Powersports salesperson Daniel Beane.
The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association attributes a 20% sales increase to the global pandemic.
The winter ride makes for a masked, socially distant and outdoor activity for people stuck at home. The big misconception about snowmobiling is you always have to travel, Rod s Ride On Powersports sales manager Weston Meyers said. It s parts of the country you typically don t see.
Meyers said new sleds are selling fast but used sleds sell faster. We ve got a couple used ones in and they only lasted here on the floor about a week, Meyers said. The biggest risks with snowmobiling are alcohol, speed and inexperience, Wisconsin DNR recreation warden Jake Holsclaw said. I can tell you unfortunately we have had some fatalities this year already.