Clearly jumping has always been the part of sledding I enjoy the most. One of the first things I learned was to not get in a hurry. Take your time and find a jump that is safe and easy to learn air control. What your body, brake and throttle will all do. You will never be able to drop cliffs or jump big air until you know how you and your
machine will react in the air. Start small and eventually you will be hucking with the best.
-Paul Thacker
What I see the most is riders taking off and getting a few miles into the ride and their suspension drops out, bolts fall out or the rear axle comes loose. Or they blow a belt and don't have a spare. Before you go riding, take five or ten minutes and check a few things. Take the belt off and look for bad spots, ripped threads, cracking or burned sides. Make sure you have a spare. Check all of the suspension bolts and axle bolts. Don't forget to grease it now and then, too. Check the antifreeze, oil and
gas (it sounds obvious, but you wouldn't believe how many people forget).
-Troy Johnson
Looking ahead-and I mean way ahead-your mind is able to tell your body what to do ahead of time. Sometimes towards the endof the day when I'm tired, worn out and starting to bounce off trees like a pinball, I have to remind myself to stay focused on what is ahead of me rather than what I'm already riding over. Practice this one and you won't believe how much more fluid your riding will be.
-Chris Burandt
Photo: Ryan Harris
When the snow is deep and the day is really socked in, chances are visibility will be tough. Having a spare pair of goggles will keep you ripping up the powder all day long if you provide a dry, warm area for your spare gogs. Putting a wet, fogged up pair of goggles into your backpack won't do it. You need to get your goggles dried out using the heat from your snowmobile. Come up with a way to strap a bag under your hood for your goggles that won't interfere with the engine. You will be so pumped to put on a clean and warm pair of goggles before you head out for more pow shots.
-Dan Adams