Two of the major snowmobile manufacturers, Arctic Cat and Polaris, started in Minnesota and are based here.

POLARIS INDUSTRIES: 2004 marked the 50th Anniversary of Polaris…the oldest company in the snowmobile business.

ARCTIC CAT: A major employer in northwest Minnesota, Arctic Cat Inc employs approximately 1,400 people at its corporate headquarters in Thief River Falls.

• Since the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources began Youth Snowmobile Safety Training in 1969, about
  .5 million young people have completed the training program
• There are more than 2,000 active certified snowmobile training instructors in Minnesota

Economic Impact: The economic impact of snowmobiling in Minnesota alone is an estimated $1 billion each year.

• Minnesota snowmobilers spend an average of $4,296 each season on snowmobile equipment and related gear - not including travel costs.

Overall Economic Impact of snowmobiling:

• United States - $7 Billion annually
• Canada - $3.6 Billion annually
• Scandinavia $1.6 Billion annually

Minnesota has approximately 20,000 miles of snowmobile trails, which are widely regarded as the best in the nation. The maintenance of approximately 90% of these trails is the responsibility of snowmobile clubs and Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MnUSA) volunteers across the state.

Volunteer snowmobile clubs play an important role in creating and maintaining Minnesota snowmobile trails.

• Clubs map, design, construct, mark, groom and maintain approximately 18,000 miles of trails.
• Clubs provide the culverts, bridges, signage, trail maps, etc.
• Clubs obtain permits from land owners to use their land for the trail system.
• Clubs purchase their own grooming equipment.