Here is Yeti's history, from the information I have got,people I have spoken too and information I could find, this is as accurate as I could make it. If you know any different, or indeed any more, please let me know....... Yetifan

Now Includes the Brochures for each year

It all started off in 1984.......

Why Yeti cycles? The Origin of the Yeti name by Frank the Welder.

Before Yeti Cycles John used to work in Special effects for the movies. He was racing sprint cars and owned a 1931 Indian Scout Motorcycle. He was working part time (between shows) at a sleeping bag factory in Santa Monica Ca. The name of the sleeping bag was 'Yeti', some time later John crashed hard and decided to give up racing. He had a friend 'Bob' who was making bicycle frames called 'Motocruiser' or 'Sweetheart cycles'. While John was in hospital (Where he met his wife Linda) he decided to trade the Indian Motorcycle for the bicycle comapny Bob had. He found that Yeti (camping gear) had gone out of business and the name was available. Some years later he found that Inidan Scout again and purchased it. He kept it at the Factory and rode it regularly (I rode it once too)

FTW.

What's the deal with the ICE AX in the Logo?

I`l try and keep it simple , as a kid I was into Hiking ,Rock Climbing & mountaineering ! when I raced motorcycles in nor-cal I worked for Class=5 sleeping bag Co. They had a Ice Ax in their logo ! I always liked it ! I kind of got out of rock climbing and into winter mountianeering ...When I started Yeti up a dear friend Chris Franze did our stickers & T-shirts, He loaned me the chanoired Ice Ax to me to let LINDA Parkers cousin the artist Craig Stormin use for the art work ! Craig did the YetiMan ,The Ice Ax & the mash stencil block letters for free, he wouldn't take money from family ! we finally settled on a Trade a Bag of Weed For all that Beautiful art work .... Dont forget Yeti made a proto type set of snowshoe hoops with Easton before Schwinn gave me the heave ho ...

John Parker

Why the colour Turquoise on Yeti race bikes?

In Late '84 early '85 while recovering from my real bad accident at Manzanita Speedway, I was recovering and trying to figure out what to do with my life, and how to start Yeti. I sold my '28 Indian Motorcycle, I bought Bicycle Bob out. I welded up the first three bikes. I asked Linda what color she would like her bike to be (one of the first 3). And there was a really nice guy named Terry Gearheart. That worked at Hendicksons bicycles on State Street in Santa Barbara. Terry used to help me a lot., Teaching me about bicycles, included road cycles and cycle cross. And was pretty knowledgable about Mt. Bikes. We used to smoke a lot of pot down in the basement of Hendricksons and talk about what the future of Mtn. Biking would be. We weren't far off. Linda waited to the last minute and finaly when presses to choose her color she asked Terry who had this beautiful Desert Turquoise Ritchey, if he would be affended if she painted her Yeti desert Turquoise. Terry was very gracious and pointed out that it was a 1971 chrysler auto color, called desert turquoise. Through the years when we switched from wet paint to powder paint, the color changed a little bit. With in a year of establishing the race team and going with the color turquoise my dear friend Terry died of an enlarged heart. It turns out no male in his family had lived beyond there 30s. He was such a happy go lucky freespirited bicycle mechanic. Somebody I still miss to this day. That I made the commitment to always use turquoise in association with the race bikes

John Parker

How did Paul Tracy get involved with YETI?

Paul Tracy grew up in Canada, his first MTB was a pretty middle of the road Diamond Back from the late 80's, During this time he discovered YETI Cycles, but while his parents were funding his racing in Indy Lights, he did not feel he could ask them for a few more thousand dollars to buy a new YETI Mountain bike. His father worked in construction at this time, and racing is expensive! In around 1991, Paul got signed up with Penske as a test driver, Soon after Paul got signed as a fully blown IndyCar racing driver, and got his first credit card.
He spoke with his local Bike shop about getting a Yeti, and they told him that they were not a dealer, and to call Yeti, as it was all custom stuff back then. Clutching a MTB mag with a YETI advert in, he dialed the number for YETI in Durango. He wanted a frame & Yeti fork, and was going to sort the build out for himself, the guy on the phone asked what size, colour, braze ons, exact spec, and then said this was not in stock, so they would have to make it.

Then the guy at YETI asked Paul how he was going to pay, he said credit card, and then started to read his details out down the phone, when he had said the info, and the Yeti guy asked his name 'Paul Tracy' was the reply. The phone went silent, the voice on the end of the phone at Yeti was none other than John Parker, he replied ' I know you, I've seen you race, you don't have to buy one of my bikes, You will get one for free. And sure enough, Parker sent Paul Tracy a Yeti bike.

John Parker and Paul became good friends, with Parker going to a few Indy car races and seeing Paul drive. From that time until the last 90's, Paul Tracy was on the Yeti 'Team', and got new Yeti bikes every year, he even appeared in a Ringle Advert riding his YETI ARC. Paul had many cool bikes, from his first through a Yeti ARC, ARC AS, Thermoplastic ASLT(Leant to a friend who then broke it), Lawwill DH bike to name a few, he still has a couple to this day.
Thanks to Paul Tracy for taking the time to share his Yeti story:) 2012 sees Paul's retirement year from the Indycar series, of which he has been a major figure.

SUB NOTE- For a long time a rumor was that Paul Tracy's ex wife took his carbon ASLT, Paul tells me she took his Lawwill, and later on he leant the ASLT to a friend who ended up breaking it.

Some extra Yeti Stories and info, I thought you'd like to read.(Thanks to Jerry Martin)

My name is Jerry Martin. From 1990- 1994 I produced a little TV show called Fat Tire Journal. I thought you might find some of my stories interesting as I noticed a few discrepancies on the history of Yeti section.

The first time I met John Parker was at the 90 worlds in Durango.I remember that 1st Cube van and have video tape of it. Without hesitation he agreed to sponsor our TV show and remained committed to us for the duration." We are committed to the racing end of this sport and will help you launch your TV show" he said to me.

We did a factory tour that aired in the summer of '92 I'll let you post that link if you want. At worlds in 90 Juli was concerned at the start of the downhill that her brakes were not correctly adjusted. I have a shot of my buddy james McLean adjusting her brakes before winning the race. People also seem to forget that HB was the first Pro to run RockShox. " They aren't to heavy?" I asked " They are worth every pound and more" HB replied. I also remember he had the course pinned up on his ceiling to memorize every turn before he slept every night. HB was also part of the Yeti crew even though he was riding for another manufacturer. Tomac, Deaton and HB were all helping the company early on with ideas and testing. We shot a MTV sports piece in 91 where Tomac was running a concept bike built by Yeti. I have copies of that too if you'd like to see it.

1984/1985 John Parker, Yetis founder, raced sprint cars. At the end of 1984, he had a big accident whilst racing at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix. After the accident, he could not pass the physical examination to return to his job working in the Special Effects industry. John Parker and Chris Herting work together for 'Sweetheart cycles'. In the Fall of 1985, John Parker sells his 1928 Indian Motorcycle 'Beulah Mae' and brought a Frame 'jig' and chromoly tubing. John and wife Linda left the world of special effects behind and started up a 'little bicycle company' Yeti cycles. Parker and partners Chris, brother Eric Herting and the now infamous Frank 'The Welder' Wadelton, Setup in the back of Matt Sweeney's special effects shop, in Agoura Hills in CA. Tinker Juarez rides on a borrowed Yeti, then later signs for General. Greg Dres rides single speed and is Yeti's first big racer .The original Yeti Man was created by Craig Stormon, The Yeti Man soon becomes one of the most instantly recognised company logos, as does the ice axe logo. FRO is made out of Patco Cro Mo tubing.

1986/ 87 Yeti produces its first catalogue. (CLICK FOR BROCHURE)

The Yeti man gets a brush up he stays this way until 1991

1988 Yeti produces a 3 page fold out catalogue, featuring the now famous FRO, the FRO gets tested in Mountain Bike Action Magazine (MBA).It turns out to be a bomb proof race bike.

1989 MBA gets Yeti to build its project bike, the Ultimate, featuring elevated chainstays and a host of technological features. The Ultimate is made from Patco tubing, just like the FRO (For Racing Only), Its one of the first E stay bikes, E stays soon become very popular. Dr Al Farrell helps Yeti build on the business side.

1990 Yeti's first ever colour brochure is produced. (CLICK FOR BROCHURE)

Colin Bailey starts at Yeti, full factory ride at 11 years old! Campagnolo sponsor Yeti and the great John Tomac rides for them, as does Juli Furtado who wins the worlds. Yeti shows up with the first box van of the sport. Everybody takes note. C26 less than 12 were made, Tomac rides one, Juli wins on one. C stands for Chris Herting, and 26 is his age at the time. Chris was one of the first 2 Yeti employees, he stayed until 92, then leaves to set up 3D racing. John Parker, Doug Bradbury (Manitou, Yeti use his forks until 95)and FTW work with Chuck Teixeira. Early ARC hardtails are out there. in developing the ProGram tubing (Seen on ARC bikes). Ringle sponsor Yeti.

1991 Brochure. (Click for Brochure)

Yeti moves factory,and becomes the first Bike company to move to the Mountain Bike Mecca of Durango Colorado and soon settle in to the 10'000 SQft premises. The Yeti Man gets a brush up, and comes out drifting, he stays this way until 1998, showing up on many Head Tubes around the world. Yeti starts producing the AS a 2.5 inch version of the ARC hardtail. Also around this time the ASLT long travel version is being used. Eric Herting leaves.

1992 - (Click for Brochure)

Missy rides for Yeti, and misses out on the Nationals by just 2 points. Jimmy Deaton however wins the Kamikaze on his ARC AS.

1993 - (Click for Brochure)

Jimmy Deatons Gold medal is on the front of the 93 catalog. John Parker and Yeti work with Hed on its rims and fairings. UK semi sponsored rider Jason Mcroy comes second to Yeti rider Myles Rockwell (on an AS LT) at Mammoth

1994 - (Click for Brochure)

Myles and Missy leave Yeti. Ex Motocross star Jeff stanton rides for Yeti. .Penske driver Paul Tracy rides for Yeti, Penske produce single crown upside down fork,but it never goes into production.Yeti makes thermo plastic bike with kaiser, who are specialists in the aerospace industry, however only 2 are made, Paul Tracy has one, and John Parker has the other.

1995 - (Click for Brochure)

Parker sells Yeti to Scott Sports Group(Schwinns parent company), who plan to use their facility and knowledge for team bikes, and high end models (The sale is reported between $1.2 million and $2 million). Paul Tracy appears on his Yeti in a ringle advert. End of 95 Jason Mcroy dies in a tragic road accident, industry is shocked. Mert Lawwill starts working with Yeti, he designs the first Lawwill using a Risse Terminator push shock. Elke Brutsaert wins at Big Bear.Kirt Voreis rides for Yeti.They share race bikes and technology.Everything looks good.

1996 - (Click for Brochure)

April Lawyer rides for Yeti. Yeti and Schwinn do not get on.Schwinn appears to be using Yetis rescources and bleeding the company dry. Yeti employees still care. Yeti's 1997 range of Cycle wear, the Team Jerseys feature a Tattoo on the right sleeve in memory of Jason Mcroy and what he did for the sport. Yeti celebrates 10 years in the sport with an anniversary brochure, and makes a cruiser. Mert introduces a better Lawwill, Straight 6,The Lawwill is used in racing, and suprises the world with its special pull shock and Wins at numerous NORBA events.

1997 / 1998 -(Click for 97) (Click for 98)

Scott Sports group puts Schwinn (inc Yeti) up for sale.Yeti makes the AS-3 designed by Schwinn and replaces the now old ARC AS.John Parker gets fired from Yeti, he says its because it was 'for being me'. John Parker and Mert Lawwill get inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of fame. Schwinn is now neglecting the brand,around this time the factory closes,a small group see whats happening to Yeti and try to but it from Scott/Schwinn, they dont want to know and the price they want is to high.

1999 - (Click for Brochure)

Schwinn close the world famous Yeti Factory in Durango in Spring 99, about 75 steel FRO's were made out of tubing fpund before the move to the new factory the shop guys said they were some of the best steel frames ever made in the Yeti factory. Some Yeti frames were made at Anodize Inc in Portland OR.(NOT Boulder or GT Like it did say here) Only 2 Yeti staff are kept on when Durango closes, Joe Hendrickson and Chris Danforth.This remained the case for about 4 months until the sale of Yeti to Volant was complete. Yeti is brought from Schwinn by a parent company, Volant sports (makes high end Skis) sale is said to be $1.2, Things were looking up. Yeti moves to a purpose built factory at Golden in Colorado, Some staff remain. These were probably Yeti's darkest days under Volant. Also, it should be noted that the decisions were not all made by Yeti under the ownership of Volant. The companies shared the same President, who knew very little about the bike industry

2000 Marla Streb still rides DH for Yeti. the Lawwill gets a special Fox pull shock, NOT for sale! Nathan Rennie rides a Yeti DH8 in the World Cup.

2001 Things are looking good for Yeti, Sales are up, the Factory is getting well established, then the news that Volant are pulling the plug, because of continuing losses, they don't want to be in the sports industry anymore. Yeti is next for the chop! Chris, Mike and a few employees and enthusiast friends buy the company off Volant,they had 1 week to save Yeti, they did it, and signed the papers on the 2nd of November 2001. Yeti is now back, owned by people who care, and not by some big $$ company. Tara Llanes signes for Yeti at the start of 2001, Nathan Rennie stays with Yeti. They continue to be at the cutting edge of the sport.

2002 Yeti launch their ARC range of products to the Public.(Absolute Racing Components).MBA tests ASR and gives it the thumbs up, Yes its a real Yeti. January, Yeti start building custom made frames, you can even have your name where the frame number usually is! Nathan Rennie, Tara Llanes, Paul Rowney and Trent Lowe race for Yeti 2002, Nathan Rennie gets a joint second with an itendical time to Cedric Gracia at the Fort William world cup , then goes on to finish the World cup in 10th and Tara finishes 6th after a year full of injury. Trent Lowe gets a Gold at the Junior World Champs(XC).Yeti launches the 2003 range at Interbike. John Parker sells off his amazing Collection of Yeti's. This site Turns 1 year old 6th October. Yeti make a 1 off Tandem, using an AS-R rear. The 2003 AS-X goes into full production, everybody wants one. Pearl Izumi splits from Yeti, leaving Yeti with no way of Funding a world cup team, A still injured (From earlier in the year) Tara goes to Giant. Rennie goes to Iron Horse.

2003 Yeti's 2003 Range looks good, Scandium on the ARC, 6-7inch Yeti AS-X with the new 1.5 headset size, Lawwill stays the same. A new Yetiman turns up on the front of the AS-X, he might stay if you like him. Yeti Europe goes ahead and Yeti sponsor a large number of up and coming talent. The Irish National team use Black Lawwill's, Yeti Sponsor the FlowRiders, a bunch of Freeriders get to use the new AS-X.

2004 Yeti cycles sign young talent in Jared Graves and Jill Kintner, Yeti keep putting money and bikes towards the Yeti RPM Development team, the stars of the future. Yeti Europe stays on Yeti's for another year. Yeti makes the 4X available to the public, this 4X racing bike was previously only available to team riders, IE, Tara Llanes, Nathan Rennie, Ross Milan. Yeti Makes 575, an all day, all terrain bike. 2004 looks to be the last year of the famous Lawwill design.

2005 Yeti's business is booming! They launch a new DH frame, using Sliders instead of pivots, its forward thinking, but will be work? The AS-R gets its carbon stays after all this time. Team rider Jared Graves gets Silver at the world Champs in the 4X and Jill cleans up almost every major title and then leaves for GT.

2006 Jared continues to ride for Yeti, along with Tyler Kalassen and others, Jared is the big name on the team, riding the Rail 303 DH bike. The 303 finallly gets out to customers in 2006, some having waited for many months. the First 100 are all team coloured. Yeti clean up at the NORBA's and Jared gets 2nd in the World Cup 4X.

2007 Yeti is working on 3 new bikes, everybody waits to see what they will be, and when will they show up? Jared is again on Yeti. Worlds time, Jared gets a flat in the semi's on the Fort William track and misses out on Gold and the rainbow stripes again, it will happen, but when?

2008 Yeti Launches the MK2 Yeti 575, a new and improved version of the Original 575. AS-R now gets an option of full carbon. 303 gets Hydroformed tubes, race team news, Jared Graves Misses the worlds win again after a crash by Deldyke in the final round, Justin Leov & Sam Blenkinsop race the DH world cup series, with Sam taking the win at the final round in Schladming. Aaron Gwin does his first world cup DH races with Yeti, and gets 2 top 10s out of 3 races! Sam Willoughby is a young BMXer, Jared spots him and gets him on a Yeti Super X BMX bike, he wins the Junior Worlds. Jared Goes to the Olympics Wins most of the Qualifying rounds, gets to the finals which were delayed, goes from back of the pack to first, then gets involved in a turn 2 crash and goes down. Good try Jared! Best Aussie and best result for any of the MTBers in that race. Jared ends the season with 2 MTB world cup wins. Bringing his total world cup 4X victories to 3.

2009 The Yeti World Cup team has a new rider, American Aaron Gwin, despite being new to Downhilling, he soon shows great promise. Jared finally gets some luck and uses his skills to land himself his first world Championship. He wins the World Cup overall too.

2010 Yeti show the new World cup 303, an evolution of the first 2 rail world cup bikes, it is fully up to date with current geometry suiting world cup tracks. Aaron Gwin almost wins in Italy, but goes down hard while up. Jared leads 4x worlds, but a slow line out of the last but one corner sees him take silver. An update for the 575 comes in, stronger, more alloy in the rear end. Yeti 5 & 5C are new trail bikes in the range. YETI make a limited run of 303 world Cups available at the end of the year, limited to 100 to celebrate 25 years of YETI. They also make 250 575's, their most successful frame to date. USA Tribemeet has some old skool Yeti guys.

2011 Yeti launches a new suspension design for trail bikes, the SB. First shown in 6" Trail bike platform, and then for a 5" 29er. Carnage in 4X worlds, and Graves gets 4th after getting a flat in the qualification rounds. Yeti's World Cup DH team struggles through the year. YETI makes a new DH bike, shown at interbike, it will be a Far east made 303, similar to the World Cup, but more affordable.

Quotes

'Sometimes it's worth forking out a little extra just to get the right badge on your bike' MBUK 1993,caption next to a picture of the YetiMan headtube badge.

'So with some help from a few people,I started a little bicycle company' John Parker.

'During the time we rode the Yeti, it was obvious that it is a straight line bomber.... ....It's no wonder Deaton rides so fast' MBI magazine 1994

'The Lawwill designed DH8 is a perfect bike in every way' Grip Magazine

'Yeti has produced a reason for its staunchest hardtail owners to bolt their ARC's to the garage wall and join the world of dual-suspension' Mountain Bike Action,testing the 2002 ASR. Jan 2002

'The Colorado made bicycles are quickly returning to their glory days.....'Mountain Bike Action,Jan 2002

'I can drink most guys under the table' Sari Jorgensen riding for Yeti in 98

'I know your son will love his new ARC' Letter to my Father from Steve Kurowski, Yeti 1995

I'd say NOTHING beats the feeling of a steel Yeti!! 2001,Henning Hansen, regular Site visitor and fellow Yeti nut.

'The next day I rode my AS-R with a new sense of pride, I always wanted a Yeti, now I was one of the owners of the company' 2001, Mike who is one of the owners of Yeti.

'From the moment you walk in the door, you can tell Yeti Cycles are a special breed, the entry way is emblazoned with relics of days gone by. Old magazine covers,race photos,podium photos. Old jerseys, autographed paraphenalia..the list goes on' 2001,Transcend magazine

'The Dalai Lama has left the building' 1997,John Parker phone call to Zap at Mountain Bike magazine after leaving Yeti.

'I told Parker,My fork won't win a World Championship unless the drivetrain works!' Doug Bradbury (Manitou) talking about Juile Furtados Campag groupset just before they changed her bike to Shimano ,then she won the Worlds.

There was only one Juli Furtado c-26 ever made. I thanked god the whole way home back to So-Cal, after the worlds in Durango in 1990, that the thing didn't break! John Parker on the Juli Furtado C26.