Any advice...

[skidoodoug]

First year for my daughter driving her own sled. She has been riding for ever and driving a 2-up with me or the wife for a few years. She's 15 and I think if she reads the same rules and advice from strangers, it may sink in deeper.

OR...does anyone have any unfortunate experiences they would like to share as lessons learned.

 

[Grant Hoar]

First year for my daughter driving her own sled. She has been riding for ever and driving a 2-up with me or the wife for a few years. She's 15 and I think if she reads the same rules and advice from strangers, it may sink in deeper.

OR...does anyone have any unfortunate experiences they would like to share as lessons learned.

Drive at your own skill and comfort level, don't try to keep up with the faster, more experienced people. (My 16 year old daughter has a smashed ATV front bumper mounted on the wall of her bedroom as a daily reminder of what happens when you don't obey this rule). If she is riding with other riders faster than her, she has to be comfortable enough to tell them they need to slow down to a comfortable speed for her.

Have fun, be safe, but remember, 100% concentration at all times, it only takes a split second distraction and things can get real ugly real fast.

And, advice for those riding with her, drive at her skill level and speed, not yours.

 

[indy_500]

If ya ain't first your last

 

[xcsp]

Grant Hoar's post sums it up pretty well.

I would also suggest that she drive her sled behind yours so you can set a pace that is comfortable for her.

Also, as I have told my nephews when we went out riding, in regards to hand signals to tell oncoming sleds how many sleds are in your group, if you can do it safely, fine, otherwise, keep both hands on the bars to stay in control as you pass oncoming sleds.

Also, keep right on the hills and corners and make sure to look in both directions (more than once) before making any road crossings!

 

[zr500rider]

Seems like all good adivce so far. Just a quick lesson my son learned last yr. (he's 14). I always lead our group. He has (oops HAD) that racer metality and wants to be right on my rear bumper. Came into hard left corner last yr. met 2 sleds racing side by side in corner. I lock up brakes and take it off trail. Guy on my side of trail runs over skies and bounces down side of buddies sled, as he bounces off his buddies sled he almost side swipes my boy. I get stopped, boy pulls up wide eyed and says "Now i know why you don't want me so close behind". I nodded, said nothing, thanked Lord all were safe and smiled as we rode away, with son well behind as safety cushion!! He does not follow anyone close anymore (even in back of pack).

 

[indy_500]

Listen to dad

 

[fcat700]

I guess I wouldn’t change anything I did with my kids. Teach them everything you can (they learn from what they see) and say a prayer before each ride. The picture is from Sundays ride, there is nothing like it, the UP in 4 days.

 

[meathead]

indy,speed??

if ya ain't first your last

indy ; i was surprised at your 1st comment , then saw the 2nd comment and said yea, that is a young man that other young people will follow ,cause he is one of them ,,,young ,,not dumb ,,and full of energy!!!!!! Oh to be young again.. Indy you set a great example through your posts and actions ...good job,meathead

 

[mefroe]

The number one thing is ride at your skill level not necessarly that of the people your riding with. do your best and watch for others and expect someone coming around that corner up ahead. even if your ready for someone to come around that corner the first time you meet them it makes your heart go a 100! keep to the right and leave some space a head of you. don't day dream, rocks and tree limbs pop out of nowhere. this all can be used by any age of novice rider just because a person might have driven a car for years makes no difference on a trail. Have fun,thats what we do this for!!

 

[xsledder]

Drive at your own skill and comfort level, don't try to keep up with the faster, more experienced people. (My 16 year old daughter has a smashed ATV front bumper mounted on the wall of her bedroom as a daily reminder of what happens when you don't obey this rule). If she is riding with other riders faster than her, she has to be comfortable enough to tell them they need to slow down to a comfortable speed for her.

Have fun, be safe, but remember, 100% concentration at all times, it only takes a split second distraction and things can get real ugly real fast.

And, advice for those riding with her, drive at her skill level and speed, not yours.

Grant Hoar, about time you got on here!

 

[fatdaddy]

hey Indy, its the second mouse that gets the cheese

 

[skutr]

(1) don't try to keep up with the guy in front of you. (2) don't let the guy behind you push you to go faster (3) Dad needs to be a good example - or else Mom gets mad at Dad

 

[harvest1121]

Indy its actually second is the first loser. I have been riding all my life was fortunate to have kitty cats and every other snowmobile growing up.

I wish I would of learned there is nothing wrong being last. Being last would of saved me the 20 year back problem. I would just tell her you are going to wait at every stop sign or intersection so there is not chance of getting lost. And if she thinks she has been separated from the group just stop and wait someone will come back for her. And tell who ever is in front of her to use there brake when stopping or but up a hand. More then anything its just about having fun and being with family.

 

[jstreh]

I used to have my son ride behind me so I could control how fast he went. We had stopped on the trail for a minute, which happened to be the side of a road on this particular occasion when I saw some movement out of the right side of my vision. It was my son' sled barrel rolling past us on the side of the road. After my heart started beating again I looked behind me to find my son sitting on the trail looking at me. He had looked down to change the hand warmer settings on his sled and when he looked up he was so close to my stopped sled all he could do was aim his sled off the trail. Luckly no one was hurt and he learned a valuable lesson about keeping your eyes on what's in front of you all the time.

 

[Sno-Bandit Gary]

One of the first scary experiences new riders aren't ready for is the fact that sleds don't have great traction or steer very well when crossing roads. We talked about that at our last Safety Class. All of the other advice posts on here are right on target.

 

[footinforever]

yielding to faster traffic

I see this a lot, and if you are training someone new, its worth mentioning.

No matter how fast you are, there will always be someone who is faster behind you. So when you come to any intersection, instead of plowing on ahead, check behind you to see if there are faster sleds that want to move past you. This includes being in the middle of the pack. Many times you can pass half a pack, and then the middle person looks back and sees it not his group, and all of sudden thinks he is the next snocross champ. If its not your group, then clearly you can't hang, so move over and let them pass. That way you aren't frustrating people behind you. I wouldn't always be checking over my shoulder, but on a safe stretch, slow down and check behind once in a while. In addition a set of mirrors are great, especially at night, that way you can see the light behind you. In addition, if someone is "knocking on the door" ( when you move up to a slower group and let them know you are there by riding up along side or other attention getting manuevers. Please pull over and let them pass, don't try to be a hero, it causes animosity and is dangerous for everyone. I don't condone high speed antics, but especially in the U.P. with the longer rr grades etc, there are always people wanting to pass.

In addition, to being alert, I can't tell you how many times people are either startled or surprised that someone is behind them, DUH you aren't the only one the trail, so don't be scared when you get passed.. Its not a matter of if its just when!

Otherwise, many other good suggestions in the other posts.
FF.

 

[sledboy482]

Here's my addition to the mostly good, common sense information this far. Spend $25 and put some mirrors on those sleds! Getting blown away by another sled always startles you- doesn't matter how many miles you have ridden. If you are just enjoying a family ride, you will probably be going slower. Being able to see headlights coming from behind can save everyone a lot of frustration. After my wife almost crashed when she got blown away by some holeshot heroes, we installed mirrors on both of our sleds. Money well spent. As for someone setting a pace that a youngster is comfortable with- that doesn't work. Have the youngster or least experienced rider lead-once they know how to kind of be the trail boss. To me, it's just like taking a cycle trip in a group. The least experienced rider should lead once they know the ropes by watching an experienced leader. Also- Carry you snowmobile safety certificate with you if you need it.

 

[xcr440]

FF said it very well. If someone has come up behind you, LET THEM PASS. There is a reason they suddenly are behind you, they were going faster!

Same rules on a sled as should be on the road, LET THEM PASS.

Safer for everyone, and keeps the hot heads cool.

 

[footinforever]

one more thought

I know it was previously mentioned, but what I was trying to say was don't be the kind of rider that takes up the whole trail, swaying from side to side as if they own the whole thing. That happends to me everytime I encounter a group, the third guy always wants to be a hero.

I agree that anyone can be startled, when a piped up sled braaaps the throttle, I am talking about the people that are in la la land.. pay attention. Anywho, sounds like she will be a good rider..

I am not so certain about she being the trail boss, but most certainly second. That way she has at least one person to encounter the first set of oncoming sleds. That can be hairy when you are into a corner and you have a sled in your lane.. Generally most people slow up for a "bit" to see if there is any other sleds in the pack.. so I would put her second. That way if the leader gets up ahead too far, she is kind of the unofficial leader, but has a group of family and friends behind her.. Also to critique the ride so far and give helpful tips.

I would get a helmet cam as well.. that way you can let her watch the ride, and if a picture is worth a thousand words, I am not sure how much a movie is worth lol!

Have fun sledding.. The snow is here~!

 

[G]

Go up hills on the right side of the trail. Always assume a sled is coming at you on a blind corner. Mirrors are O.K. but there is no substitute for actally looking behind you every now and then. Know your sled and your own limitations. If you do stop for a little break for whatever reason do not plug up the entire trail. Also stop in a sensible place - not right before or after a sharp turn. Don't be an idiot. We have enough of them already.