- Date
- Monday, February 9, 2026
Ski-Doo’s long-standing support strengthens Avalanche Canada’s field operations
Avalanche Canada has benefited from more than 15 years of sustained support from Ski-Doo that has played a key role in strengthening our field operations and data collection capacity. For the 2025–26 season, Ski-Doo has increased its contribution by providing four loaner snowmobiles, ensuring Avalanche Canada field program staff can continue gathering critical snowpack and avalanche data across Canada’s mountainous regions.
The South Rockies field team out for an explore on their Ski-Doo. Credit: South Rockies Field Team.
Ski-Doo’s support began with a donation of $5,000 to the Canadian Avalanche Centre in 2009. The following year, the International Snowmobile Manufacturer’s Association (of which Ski-Doo is a part) provided $10,000 in combined funding from the four manufacturers, along with in-kind support. That included soft goods and loaner snowmobiles, enabling avalanche professionals to collect forecast-supporting data in the field.
Beginning in 2012–13, Ski-Doo expanded its in-kind support by providing two loaner snowmobiles. From 2014 through 2019, Ski-Doo continued its commitment by supplying one loaner snowmobile each season.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ski-Doo again increased its level of support. In the fall of 2020, as many avalanche operations faced closures or reduced schedules, Avalanche Canada required additional field access to help offset anticipated data gaps in the InfoEx system. In response, Ski-Doo provided two loaner snowmobiles, a level of support that continued each year from 2020 through 2024. With the increase to four sleds for this season, we and our field teams are so grateful for the support of public avalanche safety.
Some well-deserved sunshine for the North Rockies field team. They use the Ski-Doos to access their vast territory. Credit: North Rockies field team.
As with Polaris, Ski-Doo supplies Avalanche Canada with brand-new machines built to demanding mountain specifications. These snowmobiles are equipped with 850 engines, long tracks, and the accessories required for professional avalanche work. Avalanche Canada licenses, insures and maintains the machines as if they were organizational assets. In some cases, loaner snowmobiles have been purchased outright; more often, they are returned to dealerships in excellent condition and later sold to the public.
This long-standing partnership has helped Avalanche Canada maintain reliable access to the terrain where avalanche forecasting, research and public safety work take place, reinforcing the organization’s ability to support decision-making in Canada’s winter mountain environment.