Am I a flatlander? I know it's derogitory...

[high time]

There are many of us from the Mid-west that come riding in the mountains. Are we still flatlanders 'cause we live here?
I, as well as many of my friends have made countless trips to Revy, IP, Cooke, Tog, Pinedale. Alpine etc. We drive the best of equipment Nitro turbos with Vanamberg tunnels Mod. two stokes and lot's of work into them. We seem to climb and boondock as well as any on the locals.
I've noticed that many of the Western residents have poor equipment. Maybe they ride way more than us. Maybe we make more money.
Unless you're are calling the family riders of Yellowstone tours the flatlanders.
The skills learned on the crevased powerline of MI or the Northern MN tree dodging seem to work well in the mountains.

Flatlander and proud of it....Owen

 

[Ollie]

ok if you say so.

 

[tar]

I have been riding for many years.
One thing I notice is the guy that brags the most and has the best stuff
is usely the worst rider.

I'm not saying you are.

I have seen many times, some of the guys with the crappy sleds and old trucks are the best riders. They don't care what it looks like only that it runs
good.

Some people are just born with the skill. A 25,000 sled,and Klim doesn't make you a great rider.

Tar
Ride safe.

 

[gonehuntnpowder]

Klim doesn't make you a good rider? I wish I would have heard this before I could have saved a thousand bucks.
We all learned this, whether you started out a flatlander, or a mtn boy, we all learned to backcountry ride in the mtns at some point. You want to find out how good you are. Offer some locals dinner and drinks after the ride if they take you along.

 

[rockdog2112]

I never thought of the term "flatlander" as derogatory. I always thought it denoted the region from which a rider did most of their sledding(midwest). A couple of week ago when were sledding in the Snowys, we met and talked to a gal from Iowa. Her and her party refered to themselves as "flatlanders" and "Ditch Riders". "Why ditch riders" I asked and she explained "Because we got lots of them and they're generally full of snow". As long as you're riding it doesn't matter where. I'll bet each kind of riding needs a different knowledge base and different set of skills.

 

[Taminator]

"Flatlanders" is a pretty well-used term in the BC mountains...not necessarily derogatory, but perhaps a bit stereotypical. It's usually pretty obvious watching people ride what kind of 'terrain' they are from. Yes, the sleds are mountain sleds, but the body language usually gives it away! Not always riding ability being judged...but 9 times outta 10 you ask someone whom you think may be a 'flatlander' (not a 'bad' rider) where they're from and you'll be right! Nothing personal, just something that you observe when you ride the mountains regularly. Like 'tar' says, the most expensive sleds don't necessarily make the best mountain riders but seat time and experience in the mountains does!
You're not judged by your expensive/modded sled - but perhaps by your ability, style and your knowledge of the mountains.
We encounter many 'flatlanders' that are unequipped with mountain/avy gear and have no knowledge of current conditions, slopes etc...not saying you're one of them, but there are alot of people who don't ride the mountains enough to really understand what they're getting into and how they should be prepared.
In a nutshell, yes, you are a flatlander simply because of where you live...but if you are equipped properly and really ride like a local, noone would be calling you that!

 

[mod03rmk800]

Its ok. If I were to ride the flatlands you guys could make fun of my "sally" style riding as I wouldn't be ripping down the trails at 50+ mph. And would be riding standing up often.

 

[clodhopper]

I'm from Iowa, it's flat here and who cares? This is where I make my living. Let your riding and manners speak for you. I think it is as much the way some people act that gives the term "flatlander" a bad name as much as anything else. I totaly agree with "tar" the biggest talkers are the worst riders from what I've experienced. I've been taking some new guys out west for the last few years, trying to get some new people interested. And some guys are just bad riders that will never be good and others just have that balance or something that makes them a good rider.

 

[14longshot]

Its ok. If I were to ride the flatlands you guys could make fun of my "sally" style riding as I wouldn't be ripping down the trails at 50+ mph. And would be riding standing up often.

I'm a flatlander and learning the mountain riding and believe I'm getting it. You got the standing up part but why are you idling down the trail at 50. You might want to get to the side when riding that slow.

 

[breakingsomum]

Its ok. If I were to ride the flatlands you guys could make fun of my "sally" style riding as I wouldn't be ripping down the trails at 50+ mph. And would be riding standing up often.

Come ride with us and relize that in MN on the trails there is no sitting down (unless you own a touring sled) and that most very seldom ride trails mostly ditches, long tracks don't do corners very good, as far as the term "flatlander" yes I was called it once, then I got Better, bought more powerfull sleds, and soon started to get ask if I was a local(when in mountains), one thing that most people forget is that we take sleds out west that are sometimes over 150+hp in mn and then ride them in the mountains and want the power that we have in mn that is why you see turbo's, nitrous, and big bores on most fliatlanders sleds, I'm sure if you took a local person from Cook City and put them on the same sled in mn they would grin ear to ear at the emense power that they just gained just my .02

p.s. owen is like 50+ and still riding
way to go!!!

 

[Keeperswilly]

Taminator do you work at the Esso in Radium???

 

[Himark]

IMO we are ALL flatlanders unless you actually live on the mountain. If you live 30 miles from mtn. you are still traveling to get there like anybody else. I think locals use the term in a derogatory way because alot of locals are pizzed at the fact they have to share the mtn that they live so close to. Not all but you have to admit alot of locals feel that way specially when they look at 80% of the plates in the parking lot and out of staters.

 

[drinkwyo]

highTime, next time u come to pinedale or alpine get a hold of me and we can determine your mountain riding abilities and disabilities.
like some of the other replies said. Its not just about the sled u have. its not all about going straight over hills and back down.
Its about going places that arent straight or wide open, turning around in the middle of a big hill and going back up or spending the day in tight trees on steep slopes.
Im sure some of u guys back east are great mountain riders, so when u come this way lets ride. we will take u places that will make u pucker where u shouldn't. ALL FOR FUN HaHa Drink

 

[Taminator]

Taminator do you work at the Esso in Radium???

No, I don't...

 

[BigMan]

highTime, next time u come to pinedale or alpine get a hold of me and we can determine your mountain riding abilities and disabilities.
like some of the other replies said. Its not just about the sled u have. its not all about going straight over hills and back down.
Its about going places that arent straight or wide open, turning around in the middle of a big hill and going back up or spending the day in tight trees on steep slopes.
Im sure some of u guys back east are great mountain riders, so when u come this way lets ride. we will take u places that will make u pucker where u shouldn't. ALL FOR FUN HaHa Drink

Let's not forget, the majority of the food we produce comes from the flatland. I'll bet I can out maneuver you on a tractor or combine either one, any day of the week.

Just some food for thought..



Edit: You just name the place and time; or, I can give you lessons to get your skills up if you wanna go back to KS to the farm.

 

[WYsteph]

We drive the best of equipment Nitro turbos with Vanamberg tunnels Mod. two stokes and lot's of work into them. We seem to climb and boondock as well as any on the locals.
I've noticed that many of the Western residents have poor equipment. Maybe they ride way more than us. Maybe we make more money.

Just to be clear here, so your saying cause a lot of us don't have Nitro turbos or the like that means we have poor equipment?

Also I don't care that a lot of people the sled aren't locals. Plenty of room for everyone up there, never had a day when we couldn't find untouched snow. It means good things for our economy and that there are less people living here (more room for us!)

The US is a big place, I'm glad we don't all live by the mountains, that people are willing to travel. It would be very crowded otherwise....

 

[high time]

Yeah, I'm not saying there's not a learning curve.

And yes, Western riders have better skills for there normal way of riding. God knows I was awfull in 2000 as I just kept reverting to flat stearing instead of tipping the sled. I'm better now. I do see some great mountain riders from the Midwest. But I disagree that the equipment doesn't make the rider, it sure does. You'll never develope the skill If you never get to the top. It must be nice to have both the good sled and the skill.

Owen

 

[Keeperswilly]

No, I don't...

Thats good cause the chick I'm thinkin of is a douchebag...I'm a flatlander and proud of it ha ha....I have family in Invermere and ride out there and in Golden a fair bit...know and rode with a few of the locals from both places...friends of mine own GSR in Golden...

 

[drinkwyo]

Let's not forget, the majority of the food we produce comes from the flatland. I'll bet I can out maneuver you on a tractor or combine either one, any day of the week.

Just some food for thought..



Edit: You just name the place and time; or, I can give you lessons to get your skills up if you wanna go back to KS to the farm.

Im sure u can

 

[BigMan]

I think I can even take you in the mountains. I'm a jack of all trades and master of many.