Snowmobile with active rider positioning

A snowmobile, comprising:

• a frame having a tunnel, the tunnel including a piece of bent sheet metal forming at least in part a longitudinal channel in an underside thereof;
• an engine disposed on the frame;
• a drive track disposed at least in part in the longitudinal channel of the tunnel and connected operatively to the engine for propulsion of the snowmobile;
• two skis disposed on the frame;
• a straddle seat disposed on the tunnel above the drive track and rearward of the engine, the seat being dimensioned to support a standard rider having the dimensions and weight of a 50-percentile human male, the seat having a seating position;
• a pair of footrests supported by the frame to support the rider's feet, the footrests having a footrest position;
• and
• a handlebar disposed on the frame, the handlebar being operatively connected to the two skis for steering the snowmobile, the handlebar having handgrips at ends thereof, the handgrips having a steering position,
• the snowmobile constructed and arranged such that when the standard rider is in a standard position defined as the standard rider straddling and being seated on the seat on the seating position with its feet disposed on the footrests on the footrest position and its hands disposed on the handgrips on the steering position with the snowmobile being steered straight on flat terrain and being in running condition, the hips of the standard rider are disposed above its knees by a vertical distance of between 5 and 15 cm.