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On the tooling and gearing part - it really does seem this has become almost dead, you do not see this much anymore, at least I do not, people in the garages working on cars, sleds, bikes, lawn mowers, etc....be it kids or dad in his 30's & 40's these days. As a new younger person with limited resources, this is how so many in the past could afford to sled, and was also part of the fun of owning a sled, working with friends on them, etc....., and this is also when things were more reasonable from a cost of living standpoint. Just another thing that I think deters people from the sport and powersports in general.   "Sledding ain't dead" - but it sure has and will continue to change, like so much else in life, it will never be the same as it once was, but you can still make the best of it and have a ton of fun if you have the desire & resources. Even the OFSC has curbed their stance or initiatives on getting new riders, they tried and as many has said, it did not add to the permit buyers - they need to determine year to year what is needed to support the current system based on the pieces and set the price accordingly based off of that. 

The manu's make what sells. They have all made entry level units that sit in boxes.   Hell, a 120 cc sled is $6k. A 200cc is $8k. Doo has been marketing 600cc EFI sleds for several years around the $11-12k mark and you often see them as left overs for less.   So what would this "Spark" sled be? and cost?   The used market is full of 5 year old high tech 800+cc sleds around the $10k mark. It doesn't inspire the youth to buy in. The youth are not motor heads. They've grown up on video games and instant access to anything on the internet.   If I wasn't so deeply entrenched in sledding, I'd be buying a SXS for offroad thrills myself. It offers more bang for the buck.   I expect Cat to bring a turbo 4-stroke to the market as soon as they can manage. That's why they have gone the EPS route. They will likely have to massage the Catalyst chassis to fit the block as well.   Even with the negativity, I don't think sledding will "die". It will continue to shrink, it will evolve and change with the times.    

Ski Doo already has that, a huge lineup of entry level 600EFI 2 strokes, very reasonably priced and well equipped.       People just over look them as they want all the bells and whistles

People on PWC, boats, bikes do not need to go as far to enjoy those other fun toys, plus cold vs. warm - huge pro & con for the two power sport groups and big reason for the interest or lack there of, IMO. Just like you and many other parents, my kids are exposed to sledding and dirt bikes too, I was never as a kid exposed to sledding, but always had a dirt bike when I was growing up, but I ended up on a sled at some point and still am, both my kids look forward too and enjoy the sled rides. Now both kids are exposed to the water sports, plan is to buy a PWC for just that, the fun factor, so a boat first and PWC soon. Kids can then decide on their own when the time comes what if anything they want to invest in themselves based on exposures we gave them. I wonder how many parents are doing that these days (exposures) - my guess is a lot less then before for obvious reason.   So, is your son going to be doing some off trail ON riding with his 146  ... lol I think it is great to hear kids doing what your kid is doing, but I feel like it is the exception to the norm and really do not feel like even with a "spark" type of sled, that is the saviour to the sport - I hope I am wrong.   I hear way more "older" or more established people getting back into the sledding sport, but also those that are getting out at the same age or older - so maybe a wash, no idea, but those people mostly want the mid to high end stuff and not the entry level "cheap" sleds. Mountain segment, that is a western culture, younger folks and I have asked this a few times, I really do wonder how that market is doing - shrinking or status quo or growing....new tech we see comes from the mountain segment sleds, so I have to imagine still going strong.    The 26k remark was simply comparing a sled to PWC, not the spark specifically - you have PWC that range the same as sleds, yet as you suggest, the PWC market is growing, which has more to do with the activity & environment that it is enjoyed in vs. the price, IMO.   I do not usually like to be a downer, but I really do not see the sled market changing a great deal, not enough that will see some massive increase in followers/riders.....it will not die, shrink in our backyard, for sure, but in places like northern ON, QC and NB, no way, just means if you want to ride, you need to go further, whereas on a bike, PWC, you do not have too!   

Mark I am sure we will cross paths somewhere in Ontario or Quebec this season . I  am updating my Gps this year hopefully the G8 will help me navigate the trails this winter. Greg