F
fuzz
Well-known member
I recently saw where somebody griped about Alaskan’s using the term, “snowmachine”, to describe our toy. When I started riding a “snowmachine” in Alaska in 1968 that was the common term for them. It later evolved into “snowmobile” and even later “sled”. When someone first asked me what kind of sled I had, I replied, “Well, I think it’s just called a Freighter sled”. To me a “sled” was the thing you pulled behind your “snowmachine” to haul firewood, moose quarters, your groceries, your kids or your dogs. Back then you only went about 40 mph so it was fun to ride on the back of the sled like dogsledding. Cat even made one called the “Cat Cutter” that had springs to make it ride softer but you still got a face full of snow from the “puller”.
Folks from one region would go “skidooing” no matter what brand you drove. For others it was “snowcatting”. To me a SnowCat was like the groomer tractor or Thiokol.
In the early 70’s everyone made “snowmachines”. The Vintage guys can give you a list but the ones I remember were of course the 4 that still make them today, Arctic Cat, Polaris, SkiDoo and Yamaha. Over the years the rest have gone by the wayside. There was SkiRoule, SkiWhiz, Scorpion, Viking, MotoSki, BoaSki, Chapparal, SnoJet, SkiDaddler, SnoSport, Kawaski, Rupp, Mercury and even John Deere.
I don’t care if you ride a snowmachine, snowmobile or sled, as long as you have fun, who cares? What did the poet say? A Rose by any other name is still a Rose.
Folks from one region would go “skidooing” no matter what brand you drove. For others it was “snowcatting”. To me a SnowCat was like the groomer tractor or Thiokol.
In the early 70’s everyone made “snowmachines”. The Vintage guys can give you a list but the ones I remember were of course the 4 that still make them today, Arctic Cat, Polaris, SkiDoo and Yamaha. Over the years the rest have gone by the wayside. There was SkiRoule, SkiWhiz, Scorpion, Viking, MotoSki, BoaSki, Chapparal, SnoJet, SkiDaddler, SnoSport, Kawaski, Rupp, Mercury and even John Deere.
I don’t care if you ride a snowmachine, snowmobile or sled, as long as you have fun, who cares? What did the poet say? A Rose by any other name is still a Rose.
