Climbing Basics?
- Thread starter JustinB
- Start date
Get a brand new yamaha nytro or M1000 cat and turbo it and drop another 6 grand into light weight parts and just pin it up anything and everything.
Learn to throw your sled around down low first. Practice powder turns in the meadows. Go both directions then transition to figure 8's.
Ride in the trees.
Start on gradual hills and learn to sidehill in both directions then practice switchbacking up those same gradual hills.
Then move to some steeper stuff with room to turn out and practice turning out. Nice wide inverted U's at first, then getting narrower and narrower until you run straight up, pull a nice 180 degree buttonhook turnout and return on your same track.
At some point you will get on a hill that's long and steep enough where your sled runs out of grunt and you will need to transition into a sidehill to gain some smash before turning back uphill, or it's got an obstacle that you need those tree skills to avoid, or you commit to a narrow place where big arching lazy U turnout are just not an option and you either stand it on it's a$$ and 180 out, stick it and dig out, or lose it watch your baby yard-sale down the mountain.
Ride in the trees.
Start on gradual hills and learn to sidehill in both directions then practice switchbacking up those same gradual hills.
Then move to some steeper stuff with room to turn out and practice turning out. Nice wide inverted U's at first, then getting narrower and narrower until you run straight up, pull a nice 180 degree buttonhook turnout and return on your same track.
At some point you will get on a hill that's long and steep enough where your sled runs out of grunt and you will need to transition into a sidehill to gain some smash before turning back uphill, or it's got an obstacle that you need those tree skills to avoid, or you commit to a narrow place where big arching lazy U turnout are just not an option and you either stand it on it's a$$ and 180 out, stick it and dig out, or lose it watch your baby yard-sale down the mountain.
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I am going to assume you are capable of all the basic riding and not go into how to turn out. But this is my #1 rule and advice that will save your bacon when climbing.
#1 Analyse the hill and understand your turn out routes BEFORE climbing!
This goes for avalanche escape routes as well.
I always see newbie climbers go for the top and in there mind they are going to make it only to find themselves having to turn out before they intended and generally into trouble spots. If you have a good plan it will save your sled and possibly your life.
#2 Thing I will do before going over the top is do a trial climb to see how it feels. This lets you get up to the areas above everybody elses highmarks and see the snow conditions before pinning it and going over the top. You will get up there sometimes and find your speed may be a little short to go over or there is mirror ice on the snow and it gives you time to figure it out before going full bore into it.
#1 Analyse the hill and understand your turn out routes BEFORE climbing!
This goes for avalanche escape routes as well.
I always see newbie climbers go for the top and in there mind they are going to make it only to find themselves having to turn out before they intended and generally into trouble spots. If you have a good plan it will save your sled and possibly your life.
#2 Thing I will do before going over the top is do a trial climb to see how it feels. This lets you get up to the areas above everybody elses highmarks and see the snow conditions before pinning it and going over the top. You will get up there sometimes and find your speed may be a little short to go over or there is mirror ice on the snow and it gives you time to figure it out before going full bore into it.
Start small, practice, work your way up to the bigger stuff. The higher up you are when you lose it, the more carnage there is likely to be.
Excellent tip by HiMark to go up and see what its like before putting down a big one. It gives you a chance to see what you are riding. It is often very different up the slope than you may have expected.
Learn to sidehill your sled in as many different snow conditions as possible. Get comfortable pulling it onto one ski, on a slope on hard spring snow. It is all sled control and takes practice. You need to be as comfortable as possible when making a turn out on a steep hill. The machine will do it, will your brain remain focused on what you need to tell the machine to do?
Excellent tip by HiMark to go up and see what its like before putting down a big one. It gives you a chance to see what you are riding. It is often very different up the slope than you may have expected.
Learn to sidehill your sled in as many different snow conditions as possible. Get comfortable pulling it onto one ski, on a slope on hard spring snow. It is all sled control and takes practice. You need to be as comfortable as possible when making a turn out on a steep hill. The machine will do it, will your brain remain focused on what you need to tell the machine to do?
Never let go !!!!!!!
The tip of test runs is sooooooo important. My hubby decided to forego one a couple of years back (he typically does the test runs first)......flat light day. Went WOT up the hill, only to find there was some road type bench........and he went straight into it. 
Not enough time to react. Broke his hand, bent his bars from impact, and wound up with the sled on top of him. He just disappeared from everyone's sight. No one could see what happened, as the bench wasn't visible from the bottom. A couple of the guys in the group went up to *find* him, and help. Thank goodness he had a vest, or he would have been in really bad shape.
Not enough time to react. Broke his hand, bent his bars from impact, and wound up with the sled on top of him. He just disappeared from everyone's sight. No one could see what happened, as the bench wasn't visible from the bottom. A couple of the guys in the group went up to *find* him, and help. Thank goodness he had a vest, or he would have been in really bad shape.
S
suitcase
Well-known member
Catwoman bings a good point to the flat light and the unexpected on the hill. Get comfortable on the small hills, find some bumps or a road that will let you jump your sled while pulling a small hill, and become familiar with your sled in the air on a hill. Learn to pull your sled around so you can land going across the hill. There will be a time when you miss judge your line and hit a big rock or root wade under the snow that will launch you straight in the air, and will need to throw a turn out while trying to stay on your sled.
Don't forget all your gear, Helmet (BUCKLED), Boots (With support), Vest, Good Goggles (SO YOU CAN SEE)! We all know there is more but IMO those are the most important..
Like Ouray said START SMALL learn how to do these things, where it is not going to cost you your sled or get you hurt on the hill. Don't just find a big hill and grab a hand full of throttle and point and shoot just becuse your sled can make it over the top. Take the time look at what you are about to climb. You and your sled will last a lot longer, and you will have alot more fun!!
Don't forget all your gear, Helmet (BUCKLED), Boots (With support), Vest, Good Goggles (SO YOU CAN SEE)! We all know there is more but IMO those are the most important..
Like Ouray said START SMALL learn how to do these things, where it is not going to cost you your sled or get you hurt on the hill. Don't just find a big hill and grab a hand full of throttle and point and shoot just becuse your sled can make it over the top. Take the time look at what you are about to climb. You and your sled will last a lot longer, and you will have alot more fun!!
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Throughout the day keep mental notes of the differences in snow conditions between shady areas and sunlit areas. The test runs are definitally good, but you will still encounter shaded areas past the point of no return and you need to know what is going to happen when you get to them or if you should chose lines that go around them.
J
JustinB
Well-known member
I have the basics down I have been riding for 15 + years really got into backcountry a few years ago. I have bee practicing turn outs and I love side hilling. But it seems everytime I head up a big hill I end up in a giant rut trying to pull my ski's down hill. I watch these guys go and right where I end up stuck they do something to get the sled to float up it instead of sinking. What about weight distribution back forward centered?
here is some clips I got of me on a small hill. There a little dumb but hey I trying to figure it out!
here is some clips I got of me on a small hill. There a little dumb but hey I trying to figure it out!
I'm no expert, but after looking at your video's I have a couple ideas and input. They are separate things, but when put together, they willl make a big difference.
1. Get a handlebar riser. You're way to bent over to be able to make the quick adjustments you need to make while climbing, ie; rapidly shifting your weight from one side to the other to keep your center of gravity.
2. I think this one will cure itself with the bar riser. Your foot is all the way at the back of your running board when you started your climb. You are creating a wheelie before you start the run. Start mid running board and adjust as needed during the climb, (a more upright stance with the risers will help achieve this also).
Stand with your feet just behind the foot wells with your arms at your sides. Raise your hands up a bit so they are level with your jewels, That is about where your handlebar grips should be.
Correct bar height will make all the difference when you are trying to shift the sled around while riding. The way your bars are now, with your body positioning is all wrong to be in complete control of the sled.
Thats my .02 cts, Hope it helps
1. Get a handlebar riser. You're way to bent over to be able to make the quick adjustments you need to make while climbing, ie; rapidly shifting your weight from one side to the other to keep your center of gravity.
2. I think this one will cure itself with the bar riser. Your foot is all the way at the back of your running board when you started your climb. You are creating a wheelie before you start the run. Start mid running board and adjust as needed during the climb, (a more upright stance with the risers will help achieve this also).
Stand with your feet just behind the foot wells with your arms at your sides. Raise your hands up a bit so they are level with your jewels, That is about where your handlebar grips should be.
Correct bar height will make all the difference when you are trying to shift the sled around while riding. The way your bars are now, with your body positioning is all wrong to be in complete control of the sled.
Thats my .02 cts, Hope it helps
J
JustinB
Well-known member
The day after that was shot I moved the bars up 2" and rolled them forward now I am more forward on my boards and my bars are about my waste!
Thanks for the input.
I'm reading some good information. It is an equation that you need to put together all at once.
My .02...............I see many people just point and pin it........while that is all well and good............rule of thumb........."hesitation brings devastation".........my point is: when the sled starts to power out, TURN OUT immediately. You should be turning out with power and momentum. If you hesitate, I see people get enormously buried or they start to turn out too late and at the apex of the turn out the sled starts to roll downhill.
To make matters worse they then either put their downhill leg down (bad idea......broken leg soon to come when running board rolls into leg and "snap"!! or they bail downhill and the sled rolls over them.
Doing a pirouette on the tail of the sled to point it back downhill comes much later..........but it is damn fun.
My .02...............I see many people just point and pin it........while that is all well and good............rule of thumb........."hesitation brings devastation".........my point is: when the sled starts to power out, TURN OUT immediately. You should be turning out with power and momentum. If you hesitate, I see people get enormously buried or they start to turn out too late and at the apex of the turn out the sled starts to roll downhill.
To make matters worse they then either put their downhill leg down (bad idea......broken leg soon to come when running board rolls into leg and "snap"!! or they bail downhill and the sled rolls over them.
Doing a pirouette on the tail of the sled to point it back downhill comes much later..........but it is damn fun.
amen !!!!
you always see people standing towards the back of the sled, thats all fine and dandy if your on a turbo 174", but try to get your weight forward on your sled while climbing, as stated before, try not to make your sled wheelie and trench more than it already wants to.
know your sled, know when to turn out, when you start losing speed...turn for f sake
know your sled, know when to turn out, when you start losing speed...turn for f sake
I'm reading some good information.
Doing a pirouette on the tail of the sled to point it back downhill comes much later..........but it is damn fun.
Yes Yes it is...and sometimes you didnt even mean to do it
This thread is a good thread and gives good info to peeps!!
