(We started out in the
October issue with a couple
of questions for Chris Burandt
that address his riding style.
We continue with a few more
questions. -Ed.)
When you get stuck, you're probably by yourself with very low odds of help getting up to you. What are some of your tricks to getting a sled out by yourself and not getting completely buried in the first place?
Ahh getting stuck .. Yeah, the last time I got stuck a couple of years ago it was terrible. Ok that was a joke. Getting stuck for me is honestly awesome. It means that I put myself and my sled in a situation that somebody is going to get a good laugh out of.
Sure I might have to show the people the picture of the stick on my phone later, but I know Mother Nature is laughing her
butt off and those stupid little tree squirrels are whispering to each other, "That guy just ran out of talent, didn't he?"
The key to being able to get yourself unstuck is you must always have the thought in the back of your mind that nobody else is going to be able to get to you, so you're on your own. This means that instead of sticking the sled straight up and down, make
sure right before the inevitable happens you turn the sled down even if it's just a little and allow gravity to help you out a bit.
I am a big fan of rolling the sled. This is something you can do even if it's on flat ground. Grab a hold of the uphill ski and pull the sled over on its side. I've even got quick enough on most sticks to where I'm out just before someone else gets there. That
way I can claim I didn't get stuck, you know. Oh, by the way, never leave home without a saw either. Those trees like
to jump out in front of people.
However, there is another tactic that I like to use and that is don't get stuck. Getting stuck is a last resort for me. I will do everything in my power to not succumb to the humiliation of knowing that I just got served. This includes such things as going into "hover mode," pedaling a foot to try to push the sled, jumping off of the sled and running next to it while keeping it pinned (kind
of tricky), jumping off the sled and pushing it away from you in order to keep it on top of the snow, "lightly" bouncing off of the tree without letting go of the throttle, and last but not least, buy a Boondocker turbo. There have been times that I even bet myself that there was no way I was going to be able to pull a particular line without calling for the cavalry. That dang turbo just does
things each and every time I ride it that makes me shake my head and grin ear to ear. I just got a smirk on my face thinking about boost.