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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

On the first bold - they're all similar unless you live on the water or have property and a track on your property. You're travelling and going to a destination to enjoy it. The season is longer - but it's not without considerable time/money to enjoy it.   On the second bold - all of them - if they had access to it and could afford it. Influence 100% starts at home - I exposed my kids to it and 1 loves it - 1 enjoys and will ride - but is not going to spend her money on it.   My son bought a 146 Switchback. We let him use the one purchased for him to sell/trade - he paid the difference with his own money and is on his own now.  He didn't go 146 to get more tunnel length to put saddlebags on.   Younger interest is not great right now - but if the industry does not do a better job of capturing that and building something that caters to it - it will be dead in less than 10 years when all of the 50+ crowd stop riding.   There is no 26k spark. The Spark market remains top selling for a reason. Lightweight, cheap to run, FUN.   Sledding needs to realize this and understand that saved the PWC industry. 26k 3 seater turbo charged PWC are boats - they are NOTHING like how the PWC started, or intended to be. BRP recognized they had gotten too far away from what that identity was and smartened up.   The amount of Sparks in the last 5 years has gone through the roof. We bought a pair the year they came out. I think there were 2 others on the lake that summer. Fast forward to today and there is hardly a dock without at least 1 of them there. They are everywhere And what are people doing with them - having fun - putting on wraps, doing "tricks" - just having fun - what they were always intended to be.  And doing it economically vs. the ridiculous 3 seater turbo charged whatevers...   Snowmobiling needs to wake up to this.        

Yep, but I cannot see that changing much, tweaked for sure, but they will not stop putting out sleds with all the extras, 4-stroke, 2-stroke with turbo, etc...., just need to take that same chassis and remove all the extra stuff, like a Spark, those same PWC go from what, $9'ish to $26'ish new....I would think similar to sleds from a price standpoint. Need to see the numbers to put some educated thoughts on the targeted sales though, but even that right now will be skewed with the dip in the market that may or may not stick around.....even though we just came off some of the best back to back winters in a bit.    The bigger hurtle of comparing sledding to dirt bikes or water sports, is the season, distance to travel for it and out of home potential expenses. How many of your kids friends really want to sled, are sledding now, etc....there are options today for that, look what your son started on, albeit I think bought by mom and dad and likely the reason he is involved (family influence), take away the parent encouragement & sometime paying for that now a days and I think the younger interest drops off even more. There is the used market, etc....that for weekend warriors, are perfect, but I do not think the "younger" crowds are exploring those options currently, getting dirty doing the needed repairs or upkeep vs. paying a shop to do it, etc....even though there are options for them if they so wanted it bad enough, I just do not think enough of them are as interested like they used to be.    

Too expensive to have multi-level options. The market simply is not big enough for that, and shrinking, so that does not make any sense at the manu end of things.   I wouldn't worry about guys like you mentioned either, they need to be focused on what's coming in behind. If you miss the mark on that market, you'll get left behind. They know it.   Snowmobiling needs a Seadoo Spark generation/market and needs it now. For sleds, that means cheaper 2 strokes ( I know the Sparks are not ), that suit the younger generation and their tastes. Save the R&D money on the 50 + plus crowd and let Doo have it - it's not that big anyway and they'll fade away. Mountain riders and young people = future   I have a just turned 17 year old - I can tell you there is not one single person in his friend group and age demographic looking at big 4 strokes, with luggage space etc. for saddle bagging and daily riders. They could not care less about any of that stuff and have little to no interest in it. They also do not want to pay for it.    my 2 cents of course