Thu Apr 13, 2006; CHICAGO Illinois, USA snowmobile manufacturers news press release; 3-Polaris posts lower profit, warns on full year; (Reuters) - Polaris Industries Inc. , Thursday said first-quarter earnings fell 34 percent, and it trimmed its full-year forecasts, saying quality problems and a string of warm winters had weakened demand for its snowmobiles.

The news sent Polaris shares down as much as 5.2 percent on the New York Stock Exchange, though the stock later regained some of those losses.

Polaris, which also makes all-terrain vehicles, said ongoing efforts to reduce ATV inventories had also weighed on its quarterly results and it warned that aggressive pricing by rivals such as Honda and some newer Asian competitors, and rising gas prices, might crimp sales going forward.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota based company said first-quarter net income fell to $11.5 million, or 28 cents a share, from $17.6 million, or 41 cents a share. Sales fell 7 percent to $333.5 million.

Polaris said snowmobile sales tumbled 65 percent during the quarter and that meetings with dealers made it "obvious" that its expectations for 2006 sales had been too optimistic. It predicted full-year revenue from the segment would be off 30 to 40 percent.

In a conference call with investors, Tom Tiller, the company's chief executive, said a number of factors, including product flaws and scant snowfall, had hurt dealer confidence.

"Our snowmobile dealers, generally speaking, are pretty miserable right now," Tiller said. "Our snowmobile business is down. Their snowmobile business is down. They're frustrated and there's not a whole lot of other people they can blame besides us ... The quality issues are ours and we have to fix them."

Tim Conder, an analyst at AG Edwards, said that while the mild winters had hurt all snowmobile makers, Polaris was "losing share in a bad market because they have worse quality products than their competitors ... They need to take a step back and revamp their whole quality approach in the snowmobile area."

One of the company's few bright spots was in the motorcycle segment, where sales of its Victory bikes rose 8 percent during the quarter. Polaris said it continues to expect that full-year sales of the bikes will rise by 15 to 20 percent.

Polaris shares were last down $1.16, or 2.3 percent, at $49.42 after earlier falling to $47.90.

Prior to Thursday's sell-off, Polaris shares were little changed since the start of the year, underperforming the S&P 500, which had risen about 3.2 percent during that time. At Wednesday's close, the company was trading at about 15 times estimated earnings, in line with the S&P 500.
***

March 06; MINNEAPOLIS, MN; KTM becomes Polaris' distributor in Germany
A strategic partnership between Polaris and KTM was formed with the goal of strengthening both companies.

Your logo here; only 180. pr yr

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE/PSE: PII) today announced that effective March 1, 2006 KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG has become Polaris' ex-clusive distributor in Germany for Polaris All Terrain Vehicles, Quadricycles, Snowmobiles and Polaris RANGER™ vehicles.

"KTM has established a dedicated sales force to manage the Polaris brand and product sales. KTM will leverage our back office operations in Germany to increase sales, build the Polaris brand, and increase dealer service and satisfaction while minimizing distribution costs," said Hubert Trunkenpolz, KTM's Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "We are excited to get this project started."

"Polaris is excited to leverage KTM's strong presence and understanding of the German powersports market to further develop the Polaris brand and sales in Germany," said Mark Blackwell, Polaris Vice President Victory Motorcycles and International Operations. "Polaris dealers in Germany will sign a separate Polaris dealer contract with KTM and be managed by a separate sales force dedicated to the Polaris product line. While there will be some common KTM and Polaris dealers in Germany going forward, market conditions in specific areas and individual dealer capabilities required for the KTM and Polaris product lines will dictate how many common dealers there will ultimately be."

In July 2005, Polaris and KTM announced a strategic partnership with the goal of strengthening the competitive position of both companies and providing tangible benefits to customers, dealers, suppliers and shareholders. KTM's distribution of Polaris products in Germany supports this goal. It is not expected that KTM will become the distributor of Polaris products in any other European market in the near future.

Blackwell said, "We want to focus our joint cooperative distribution effort on this key market to ensure success and demonstrate the compatibility of our product lines, brand positioning and dealer networks."

***

Here's the latest scoop about new Yamaha products, projects and more

Polaris Kicks Off 2007 Early With Demo Rides Featuring Limited Build 2007 Models

’07 600 HO IQ™ and 600 HO RMK 155” to Debut in February

MEDINA, MN (January 23, 2006) – Polaris is producing a limited number of two powerful new 2007 snowmobiles so it can give riders the chance to see – and ride – next year’s performance leaders earlier than ever at Polaris dealerships and dedicated demo ride events across the snowbelt.

Polaris is currently conducting a pilot build (an early, low-volume production run) of two all-new 600 HO engine-powered 2007 models – the 600 HO IQ and 600 HO RMK 155. The two models will be available for demo rides at select Polaris dealerships, snowmobile rallies or races, and demo ride events in February, March and, weather permitting, April, 2006.

“The response to our new 600 HO engine this winter has been tremendous,” said Polaris Snowmobiles General Manager Eric Lindquist. “But some riders haven’t yet experienced this new level of 600-class performance. So we’re producing a limited number of these two 2007 models to give more riders the chance to experience the power and quickness of the 600 HO engine as well as get a taste of the many improvements and enhancements to two of our 2007 models."

Besides sporting a fresh aggressive look, the new 2007 600 HO IQ will be built on the innovative Polaris IQ Chassis, and will once again feature the industry’s best front suspension, the IQ IFS. Without question this is hands down the best suspension in the business and leading snowmobile publications agree.

Other improvements include enhanced skis and mounting geometry to reduce steering effort while further sharpening the bite of the razor-like handling of the IQ IFS. The 2007 600 HO IQ is also more purposeful in design, shedding pounds and focusing on the needs of the performance rider through such changes as true performance ergos which include fixed steering with standard riser and hooked bars and a digital gauge package.

The dramatically new 2007 600 HO RMK 155” provides everything the mountain rider wants, and nothing they don’t. With its completely revamped ‘raw’ look, the all-new 2007 RMK features a redesigned tunnel and chassis along with an innovative new cooling system – the design of which is an industry first. There’s also a fixed steering system, purpose-built ski and a whopping 25-plus pound weight reduction. Add it up, and deep snow riders will get to experience a dedicated factory mountain sled unlike any other. What’s more, the incredible combination of the IQ RMK Chassis, 600 HO power and all new Series 5 deep-lug 155”-long track will make the new RMK one of the most exciting mountain sleds of the 2007 model year.

Visit www.polarisindustries.com for Details
Starting on January 23, visit the Polaris snowmobile web site to learn complete details on these all new snowmobiles and more importantly where you can experience them this winter. A complete schedule of dealerships and demo events for both models will be listed as well as possible pre-event registration if required.

About Polaris
Information about the complete line of Polaris products is available from authorized Polaris dealers or from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.

With annual 2004 sales of $1.8 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Victory motorcycles and the Polaris RANGER for recreational and utility use.

Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry and one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive inroads into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships. Consumers can also purchase apparel and vehicle accessories anytime at www.polarisindustries.com.

Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index.

***

Solution to snowmobile theft in Lanaudiere Region; Are you worried about snowmobile theft? Do you want to be sure that your truck and trailer will still be around when you get back from your snowmobile holiday trip? The Mini Entrepots of St-Michel-des-Saints in Quebec has the answer for you! For as little as 50 bucks a month, you can rent a secure storage garage within this secured location, protected by barbed wire fencing, video cameras, and 24/7 surveillance, right here where you love to ride! more
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Polaris Racers Reach Podium in X Games (Friday, February 03, 2006)Press Release - Joy turned into heartbreak and gold became silver in the blink of an eye in the snocross final at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, on January 31.

Polaris snocross racer Levi LaVallee – who had led by a wide margin most of the race – landed awkwardly off a jump and bounced off his sled on the final lap of the race, costing the 24-year-old racer the lead and forcing him to settle for second place.

Fellow Polaris racer Ross Martin, 21, finished third, putting two Polaris IQ race sled pilots on the podium with winner Blair Morgan.

At the start, LaVallee battled with Arctic Cat racer Robbie Malinoski for the holeshot. They made contact coming off a jump on an early lap and Malinoski’s sled was knocked sideways while LaVallee maintained his balance and sped off in the lead.

The Polaris IQ® race sled with its Liberty™ engine carried LaVallee to a lead of as much as 13 seconds, and he lapped several racers while maintaining a solid 12-second lead.

Heading into the final lap, LaVallee still had a lead of about 7 seconds over Morgan. LaVallee landed roughly off a jump just past the start-finish line and was pitched off the right side of the seat. He was reconnecting his safety tether cord when Morgan went past.

LaVallee won his quarter-final and semi-final heats leading up to the X Games final. Martin finished fourth in his semi-final and Gulla took second in the last chance qualifier to reach the final. This year’s final lasted 15 laps, up from six laps in previous years, and 12 racers were on the starting line, rather than the 10-man fields of the past.

LaVallee and Martin represent the talented, aggressive and fit younger generation of snocross racers. While they’re not nearly as experienced as a veteran like Morgan, LaVallee was competing in his fourth Winter X Games and he won the gold in HillCross in 2004. Fellow Polaris racer T.J. Gulla, 24, finished eighth in Wednesday night’s final.

Martin is the current point leader in leads the WPSA Pro Open class and Polaris racer Dennis Eckstrom is second. Gulla is eighth in Pro Open points and LaVallee and Carl Schubitzke fill slots 13-14, respectively.

The X Games snocross was run on sleds used in Pro Open competition. For the Polaris racers, that meant riding on the smooth-handling, super-durable IQ® Chassis powered by modified versions of the class-leading Liberty™ 600 HO engine.

In WPSA Pro Stock points, Eckstrom is currently in fifth, Martin is sixth, LaVallee is ninth and Gulla is 10th. The next WSPA racing is the Park X National, February 11-12 in Hill City, Minnesota.

***

Snow Blast Announced ; Snow Goer ; February 13, 2006

Headliners Named For Snow Blast

Country music acts Jo Dee Messina and Blake Shelton will headline this years Snow Blast (formerly Arctic Blast) in West Yellowstone, Montana, on March 10–12. The concerts will take place on Saturday, March 11, starting at 6 p.m. in West Yellowstone’s City Park.

A weekend pass, which includes admission to both days of snocross racing, pit access, the concert, as well as unlimited demo rides is just $95.

One-day tickets, which include admission to the race and demo rides are $25, while tickets to just the concert are $60. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketstar www.ticketstaronline.com), by calling 800-895-0071, at the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce and other locations around the state.

Racing action begins at 10 a.m. each day, while Saturday’s concert starts at 6 p.m. with gates opening at 5 p.m. Demo rides are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Sunday, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

The event won’t be a sole Arctic Cat deal: The World PowerSports Association is taking an active part of the event, as well as organizing a snocross race on that weekend. The racing event will be called the PowerSports Snowmobile Tour West Yellowstone Snow Blast Snocross race, hosted by the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce.

The snocross race will be the second-to-the-last race in the WPSA national series. The race track will be located on the former airport site in West Yellowstone. The race will be telecast on ESPN2 on March 27 at 5 p.m. EST.
***********

Polaris' New Four-Strokes Yellowstone-Approved

Snow Goer December 30, 2005

Two model year 2006 Polaris snowmobiles with the Polaris FS four-stroke engine have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Interior as having Best Available Technology (BAT), so they are certified for use this winter in Yellowstone National Park.

Snowmobile use in National Parks such as Yellowstone has been closely monitored and subject to stringent operating regulations in recent winters. With their BAT certification, both the 2006 Polaris FS IQ Touring and FS Classic may be ridden on the scenic snowmobile routes throughout Yellowstone National Park this winter.

The FS engine used in both models is a smooth, quiet and fuel-efficient four-stroke engine with a sophisticated engine management system. This liquid-cooled, two-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder already exceeds EPA emission standards set for the year 2012.

“We are proud to have earned BAT certification for our newest generation of efficient four-stroke engines,” said Polaris Snowmobiles General Manager Eric Lindquist. “This marks the fifth consecutive model year in which Polaris four-stroke technology has earned BAT certification, and we continue our commitment to developing four-stroke technology that meets Polaris riders' performance standards and is environmentally friendly.”

Earlier Polaris snowmobiles that were certified and continue to meet BAT requirements include the Frontier Touring of model years 2002 through 2005 and the Frontier Classic of 2003 and 2004.

The BAT-compliant 2006 Polaris FS IQ Touring and FS Classic are powered by the FS engine.

The engine management system regulates the fuel-air mixture at every throttle setting and it adjusts for elevation or temperature changes. The FS IQ Touring is built on the Polaris IQ Touring Chassis, which includes features such as Rider Select ergonomics package. The FS Classic is built on the IQ Chassis, and like the FS IQ Touring, it has Rider Select.

***

BRP NEWS
It's Time To Shake Up The Snow Globe

Proud event sponsors:

Again this season, BRP along with the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) is proud to host the 2007 V.I.C. (Very Important Customer) Ride & Customer Appreciation Event March 10-11, 2006 with the help of the Munising, Michigan Visitors Bureau.

Join us in Munising, Michigan March 10-11 for the Ski-Doo Very Important Customer [VIC] Ride. It’s the most exciting Ski-Doo

event of the spring. We’ll have the 2007 Ski-Doo sleds on display, and BRP staff and engineers will be on hand to talk everything Ski-Doo throughout the weekend – including Ski-Doo snocross racing star Steve Martin. Bring your sled for the totally fun
Zero Tolerance Fun Run.

Sure, our official unveiling of the 2007 Ski-Doo snowmobiles is reason enough to attend this event but the Zero Tolerance Fun Run is the real highlight that will take you to some of Michigan's most scenic riding areas, including the Hiawatha National Forest, Munising Falls and majestic Lake Superior. Word travels fast among our loyal Ski-Doo owners and snowmobiling enthusiasts because this is the one event of the season that you certainly don't want to miss.

So come to the Munising, MI area and bring your sled, do some riding, have a chance to win some great prizes and even talk some tech with our factory service team. All brands of snowmobiles are welcome with the understanding that all riders must adhere to the strict Zero Tolerance requirements for the event. Ski-Doo riders already know how to have a good time with the #1 selling sleds out there.

Questions? You can also contact the Munising Best Western Cherrywood Lodge, the headquarters for this event, by phone at (906) 387-4864 and indicate that you’re inquiring about the Ski-Doo / MSA event. Participants in this event are responsible for lodging expenses incurred, if any. Download the event schedule and, if you are staying overnight, you’ll just need to check availability and make reservations directly with your preferred hotel. See our lodging page for the details on other area hotels.

All of us at BRP and our network of Ski-Doo dealers in the Central Region U.S. welcome your attendance at this event whether you ride every weekend or just sit in the office and wish you could. (We'd rather be on the trails too.) So thank you for your interest and support of Ski-Doo. We look forward to seeing you at this event. You’ll see that for 2007, there’s still nothing like it!

I'll see you there!

Scott Weber
Regional Sales Director, Central United States
BRP US Inc.

***

January 2006 SnoWest Canada magazine

Retrospect Chapter 7

Polaris Inc's 2005 Report

Arctic Cat Financial News

Polaris Kicks Off 2007 Early With Demo Rides Featuring Limited Build 2007 Models

’07 600 HO IQ™ and 600 HO RMK 155” to Debut in February

MEDINA, MN (January 23, 2006) – Polaris is producing a limited number of two powerful new 2007 snowmobiles so it can give riders the chance to see – and ride – next year’s performance leaders earlier than ever at Polaris dealerships and dedicated demo ride events across the snowbelt.

Polaris is currently conducting a pilot build (an early, low-volume production run) of two all-new 600 HO engine-powered 2007 models – the 600 HO IQ and 600 HO RMK 155. The two models will be available for demo rides at select Polaris dealerships, snowmobile rallies or races, and demo ride events in February, March and, weather permitting, April, 2006.

“The response to our new 600 HO engine this winter has been tremendous,” said Polaris Snowmobiles General Manager Eric Lindquist. “But some riders haven’t yet experienced this new level of 600-class performance. So we’re producing a limited number of these two 2007 models to give more riders the chance to experience the power and quickness of the 600 HO engine as well as get a taste of the many improvements and enhancements to two of our 2007 models."

Besides sporting a fresh aggressive look, the new 2007 600 HO IQ will be built on the innovative Polaris IQ Chassis, and will once again feature the industry’s best front suspension, the IQ IFS. Without question this is hands down the best suspension in the business and leading snowmobile publications agree.

Other improvements include enhanced skis and mounting geometry to reduce steering effort while further sharpening the bite of the razor-like handling of the IQ IFS. The 2007 600 HO IQ is also more purposeful in design, shedding pounds and focusing on the needs of the performance rider through such changes as true performance ergos which include fixed steering with standard riser and hooked bars and a digital gauge package.

The dramatically new 2007 600 HO RMK 155” provides everything the mountain rider wants, and nothing they don’t. With its completely revamped ‘raw’ look, the all-new 2007 RMK features a redesigned tunnel and chassis along with an innovative new cooling system – the design of which is an industry first. There’s also a fixed steering system, purpose-built ski and a whopping 25-plus pound weight reduction. Add it up, and deep snow riders will get to experience a dedicated factory mountain sled unlike any other. What’s more, the incredible combination of the IQ RMK Chassis, 600 HO power and all new Series 5 deep-lug 155”-long track will make the new RMK one of the most exciting mountain sleds of the 2007 model year.

Visit www.polarisindustries.com for Details ;

Starting on January 23, visit the Polaris snowmobile web site to learn complete details on these all new snowmobiles and more importantly where you can experience them this winter. A complete schedule of dealerships and demo events for both models will be listed as well as possible pre-event registration if required.

About Polaris Information about the complete line of Polaris products is available from authorized Polaris dealers or from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.

With annual 2004 sales of $1.8 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Victory motorcycles and the Polaris RANGER for recreational and utility use.

Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry and one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive inroads into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships. Consumers can also purchase apparel and vehicle accessories anytime at www.polarisindustries.com.
***

MINI Conquers Snow and Ice
Sections: Uncategorized Feb 10th, 2003
From a MINI press release:

How about a MINI Cooper that can claw its way over 4-foot snow drifts and speed effortlessly across a frozen lake? Is this the next new model? Not exactly.

A bright-red MINI Cooper was transformed into a larger-than-life, 300 horsepower snowmobile by Discovery Channel's Monster Garage TV program.

The program takes vehicles and transforms them into outrageous, but functioning re-creations, doing double duty not only as a car or truck, but as in MINI's case, a snowmobile. The trick is that the building process cannot take longer than five days or cost more than $3,000.

A team of five guest fabricators led by show-host and custom motorcycle builder, Jesse James, spent five days creating the custom snowmobile out of a MINI Cooper.

“Witnessing a MINI Cooper transform from a road-hugging street car, to a snow-climbing snowmobile, will be a real treat for viewers.” said Jack Pitney, general manager, MINI. “MINI is an ideal car to be customized and that is exactly Monster Garage's thing. Although, I do not expect most MINI customers will go to such spectacular extremes,… you never can tell.”

With the aid of the custom mechanical wizardry, the MINI Cooper morphs into a snowmobile exhibiting a raked stance. Skis lower under the front end and a pair of deeply grooved traction belts extend under the rear wheels to grip the snow and ice.

Once completed the Monster Garage MINI will be pitted head-to-head with a Polaris snowmobile in snowy Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Monster Garage's Jesse James will be behind the wheel of the monster MINI while Richard Petty of NASCAR fame will pilot the snowmobile.

The Mini Cooper/Snowmobile episode makes a World Premiere on Monday, February 24, from 8-9 PM (ET/PT) on the Discovery Channel. The encore episode airs Saturday, March 1 from 7-8 PM (ET/PT). Written By: MF Staff; photos here...

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Snowmobiling is a $27 Billion Dollar Business ; Ed Klim

Snowmobiling is recognized by Economic Planners as a major job generator and an important part of the "Economic Engine" in rural America. Over $27 Billion Dollars worth of Economic Activity occurs because of snowmobiling, with the majority of the money generated by tourism related activities. Approximately $1.2 Billion dollars is the result of new snowmobile sales alone. Slightly over $1 Billion dollars worth of parts, garments and accessories were sold in the marketplace this year, a 15% increase from the previous year. Sales of snowmobile registrations, licenses and permits will reach a new record high in 2006. It is estimated that over 2,600,000 snowmobile registrations and/or permits will be sold in North America this winter season. The sales of permits and registrations will generate well over $120 million dollars, most of which will go immediately back into the trail system in the development, improvement and maintenance of the greatest recreational trail system in the world. Over 200 thousand miles of groomed and marked trails traverse North America allowing snowmobiling families to see North America in a unique way not available to any other form of recreation.... more... ISMA HERE

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Snowmobile Manufacturers Reach out in Go Snowmobiling Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ed Klim
The snowmobile manufacturers have initiated a new campaign created to highlight snowmobiling as the fun family activity we all enjoy. Numerous economic impact studies have been conducted and we realize that snowmobilers spend over $25 billion annually on their chosen recreation lifestyle. That is a lot of US and Canadian dollars spent in promoting a huge economic job-creating engine. more...