Sit-Down Skiing

The winter wilderness, once the province of a few hardy sportsmen, now opens up to even the flabbiest American with the newest things in snow-gadgetry. The snowmobile is a motor scooter on skis and can go where skiers fear to tread, and without risk of torn ligaments and strained muscles. It is, in fact, ideal for the man who prefers to get his thrills sitting down.

Originally a Canadian innovation (the Mounties use them to track their man), the machine grips all kinds of snow with a tanklike traction belt of metal cleats. Outboard Marine Corp., maker of Evinrude and Johnson motors, produced two new U.S. models priced at $895, and found it had started something of a fad. The number of snowmobiles sold nationally jumped to 10,300 this year, double last year's sales.

Snowmobiles offer more than utility service. They are capable of speeds up to 35 m.p.h., and a skillful driver can skitter and skid them through the turns of a slalom course. Versatile body English is needed on the sharper curves, and in case of a spill the engine is equipped with a deadman throttle that shuts it off and keeps the doodlebug from roaring off empty down the hill. Snowmobile rallies will be held this month in Tuftonboro, N.H., Tomahawk, Wis., Forest Lake, Minn., Skowhegan, Me., and Boonville, N.Y., with prizes for slalom racing, hill climbing, speed runs and cross-country marathons.

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