Have you ever heard the term 'Ditch Pickle?' Growing up, we heard and used the term a lot in Northern Minnesota because they were everywhere. It was a sense of pride for many owners of them and ditch banging was a thing. Now, the future of them is in jeopardy.

What's a ditch pickle?

A ditch pickle in this case means an Artic Cat snowmobile. They got the name "Ditch Pickle" because, in Minnesota, you can ride the ditches on public roads. In the 90s Arctic Cats featured a green color and looked like a pickle when they were riding in the ditch. So there you have it: ditch pickle.

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Arctic Cat Suspending Manufacturing Indefinitely

Arctic Cat's parent company (Textron) made the decision to suspend manufacturing operations and their Thief River Falls and St. Cloud plants indefinitely in the coming months.

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In a letter to dealers, Textron blames the ongoing business conditions in the power sports industry. The "softness in consumer end-market demand" has resulted in them needing to reduce costs.

Sleds Will Still Be Sold In 2025

They will continue to build pre-sold and ordered units in the first half of 2025, but after that, they will suspend manufacturing. They will continue to sell 2025 model-year Artic Cats at dealerships and operate their sales organization, customer service teams, and distribution centers.

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Powersports Industry Has Suffered In Recent Years

Yamaha used to be in the snowmobile business, but they discontinued their snowmobile line. Now the only two big snowmobile manufacturers left ar Ski-Doo and Polaris.

Also in shocking news, following the pandemic, Evinrude stopped production on their outboard motors. Another legendary name in powersports is gone.

It doesn't help that these toys like snowmobiles cost an arm and a leg. You need a truck and a trailer to haul them around, and those aren't getting cheaper. Inflation in recent years also has put a strain on everyone's budget.

Last year was the least amount of snow we've seen in many parts of Minnesota. That definitely put a strain on businesses that need winter weather.

It remains to be seen what the future will hold for Arctic Cat Snowmobiles.

LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born

Looking back on trends from 1924 through 2023, Stacker gathered a list of toys that came out each holiday season that captivated the public zeitgeist.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

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