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The Ski-Doo is born

Broadcast Date: June 22, 1967

J. Armand Bombardier is an inventor who never rests. By the late 1940s the quiet French Canadian has survived several setbacks and has a modestly successful small business centred in Quebec. But Armand is not satisfied with the status quo and dreams of developing a fast, lightweight snowmobile (the Ski-Doo) that can carry one or two people. He works tirelessly on his idea but always finds the engine too heavy for the vehicle.
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In the early 1950s Armand sets aside his dream to focus on developing his company's other tracked vehicles. But by the end of the decade, smaller, more efficient engines have been developed and are starting to come on the market. Armand resumes his efforts to build a "miniature" snowmobile. He works alongside his eldest son Germain, who possesses his father's mechanical talents. Armand and Germain develop several prototypes of the lightweight snowmobile and finally the first Ski-Doo goes on sale in 1959.

The Ski-Doo is born

• The first Ski-Doo had a metal shell and wooden skis. It sold for $990.
• Polaris Industries of Minnesota first sold a "motorized sled" in 1955 but the Bombardier design became the industry standard.

The Ski-Doo is born

Medium: Television

Program: Telescope

Broadcast Date: June 22, 1967

Guest(s): Wes McGill, Len Pirère

Host: Jean-Luc Bombardier

Duration: 3:51

Last updated:
Dec. 23, 2008