Some Minn. dealers selling out of snowmobiles; sales still lag pre-recession years

BELLE PLAINE, Minn. -- For snowmobile dealerships, deep snow won't trump a bad economy. But it doesn't hurt.

Several dealers contacted by KARE 11 say they are nearly out of inventory, the first time that's happened in years.

"This is a 2010 and I've got one non-current 2008," said Dan Holden, parts and service manager at Belle Plaine Motorsports as he pointed to the last two Yamaha snowmobiles in his showroom. "That's all we have left, new or used."

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Holden says snowmobile sales are up 200 percent at his dealership compared to last year, but is quick to point out sales are just half what they were ten years ago.

Anticipating the lingering recession, many dealersships reduced their orders going into the season. Tony Donahue, president of Delano Motorsports, say he cut his pre-season orders by more than 50 percent.

Delano too has sold out most of its inventory, but the real boost has come in parts and service. Said Donahue, "Most everybody if they have snowmobiles they spend a little money fixing up the old ones."

Considering the economy, Donahue called it a "pretty darn good year."

It's not just the amount of snow, but the duration. "We got the snow early and guys could ride in December," said Ernie Stier, operations manager at Belle Plaine Motorsports. "Last year you could ride in December, but the first of January it was all gone, we didn't get anymore. This year it came and it stayed."

Stier called it the best snow season his dealership has seen in nine years. "A winter like this people are enthused. They come in smiling because they get to us their snowmobiles."

For service technician Buddy Ely, it's meant a busy winter. "We actually had four sleds come in today," said Ely as he working in the shop at Belle Plaine Motorsports. "When the snow hits, everybody's gung ho about getting powder in their face and going fast."

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