Since the past two years, many intervenors of the snowmobile world in the Province of Québec agree to say that we are presently living a major change in the way that Polaris approaches the snowmobile market in general and more particularly the Québec snowmobile market. The arrival of the Rush last year with the new chassis and the Pro-Ride trail-designed suspension is the proof that the American manufacturer is aiming to regain the first place regarding the snowmobile sales. Moreover, our last two presences at the SnowShoot allowed us to notice that Polaris’ engineers and managers listen to our comments. Indeed, for each ride on Polaris snowmobiles, we always had a delegate from Polaris Industries who was accompanying us in order to understand our way of snowmobiling and to collect our comments right on the field. Is it a coincidence? We do not think so… First, we must understand that during the last recession, even if the world sales (including the United States) have seriously decreased, the Canadian market had less problems. This is true mostly in the Province of Québec where the market remained absolutely at the same level. The result was that our prorata sales in North America has thus increased, especially as the Québec market is outstanding in regards of its undeniable stability, an important element for any company seeking for solid basis. Another important fact is that many changes have occurred in the Polaris Snowmobile Division in regards of the management and the philosophy of the organization. Finally, the Québec market has a very dynamic representation by the Polaris agents which, as even many dealers said, makes a huge difference on the actual manufacturer’s success. We must not forget either the longed-for arrival of the Polaris Industries web site in French language, at a time where the Internet is the number one communications medium.
Following this new philosophy coming from the American company, two representatives from the main office of Roseau, Minnesota, were present during all the Motorized Recreational Sports Show that was held at the Centre de foires in Québec City, last October 15, 16 and 17. They were Mr Chris Wolf, Product Manager of the Snowmobile Division, and Mr Branden Glissmeyer, Engineer and Project Manager at Polaris’s. In an exclusive interview with SledMagazine.com, they kindly agreed to talk about the reasons of their presence, about their perception of the Québec market and about Polaris’ priorities in the snowmobile industry. They answered point-blank to all our questions with pleasure and enthusiasm… Except for the questions about their 2012 models !
First, the two men confirmed that their presence was due to the need of a better understanding of the different north-american markets, such as the Québec market. While Ontario market is much the same than the american mid-west market, the Québec market is set apart in many ways. « It is a mix of trail riders and off-trail snowmobilers that makes a unique reality », said Mr Wolf. « The most distinctive element is that here, for the Québec snowmobilers, snowmobile is a way of being and a way of life while in United States, it is a hobby », added Mr Glissmeyer, specifying the great passion and excitement shown by people met at the Show. The use of a snowmobile in Québec is also very different regarding the number of kilometers that a Québec snowmobiler can ride annually versus the Americans. Interrogated about this, the two men clearly expressed that they were not worried by the high number of kilometers rode on their machines. « It is a challenge for us; our products durability is the center of all our concerns and we are glad that our machines are tested by the Québécois… », said Mr Wolf talking about the owner of a 4-stroke Polaris snowmobile met in the Province of Québec that counted over 75 000 km on his odometer.
Interrogated about the launch of the Rush last year, the two men said that they were very happy with the sales results. The only model offered last year, the 600, ended up at the 1st place of the sales by model as of Polaris’ statistics. « This season, we are offering 5 models issued from the Rush platform only in trail models…», says Mr Wolf talking also about many mountain and hybrid models now equipped with this chassis. A very interesting element when you buy a Rush this season is that you choose the windshield size. This is a first in the snowmobile industry; it avoids to buy a second windshield when the standard one is not convenient to the buyer. Two other proofs of the Polaris’s interest for the Québec market are the presentation of the Switchback 144 and Assault 144 hybrid snowmobiles along with the adjustment of most of the suspensions that are much smoother. The hybrid snowmobiles are clearly a product designed for the north-eastern part of the continent, particularly for the Province of Québec where this kind of machine is very popular. Regarding the suspension, our trials of the last years talked regularly about the rigidity of the suspensions on many Polaris snowmobiles. They seemed to be made for bumps of 2-3 feet high, often seen in the United States trails but less adapted to ours. But the 2011 line offers smoother suspensions that will sure please many snowmobilers of the Province of Québec. Once again, this is related to the comments collected in Québec, said Mr Wolf and Mr Glissmeyer.
Finally, it was hard for us not to ask the two men about what Polaris was going to offer us for the coming years. We were absolutely aware that the answers would not be specific but a smile is worth a thousand words. « Look at our evolution… Surprises are still coming…», said Mr Glissmeyer. We did not learn more from our two buddies but we can easily notice the major innovations of 2010 and 2011 regarding the chassis and the suspension. Thus we can assume that the motorization segment will probably be the main concern at Polaris’s very soon ! « We are committed to make the snowmobilers happy when they ride a Polaris…», concluded Mr Wolf who reminds us that this has to do with durability, performance and handling of the snowmobiles they offer.
