Dragon tried to kill me! Any side hilling tips?

[DrSmooth]

I'm new to all this and bought myself a new d8163 this year. I went into a meadow and learned how to lay it over do some nice turns. Feeling confident I decided to try my luck heading up hill with little side slope on it. Not so good. I quickly realized that the sled was not gonna go the way I wanted it to. So I try to hang to one side and next thing I know, sled lurches down hill sending me flying... I land and look up to see my sled rolling down towards me. Luckily, I was able to get a foot up and stop the thing.

Not sure where I went wrong, but I do know a little learning is in order before I try it again. Any suggestions on what to do and what not to do when side hilling? Pics may help to illustrate techinque...

 

[drinkwyo]

Give it the donkey

 

[MPS]

I'm new to all this and bought myself a new d8163 this year. I went into a meadow and learned how to lay it over do some nice turns. Feeling confident I decided to try my luck heading up hill with little side slope on it. Not so good. I quickly realized that the sled was not gonna go the way I wanted it to. So I try to hang to one side and next thing I know, sled lurches down hill sending me flying... I land and look up to see my sled rolling down towards me. Luckily, I was able to get a foot up and stop the thing.

Not sure where I went wrong, but I do know a little learning is in order before I try it again. Any suggestions on what to do and what not to do when side hilling? Pics may help to illustrate techinque...

That is some funny chit! I laughed out loud. I rode one for the first time on Friday....it didn't take much to turn that sled over. I loved it! Didn't have to work nearly has hard like on my Escape. Don't know what to tell ya, I just know it doesn't take much to get it over and side hill. I learned that real quick.

 

[snobyrd]

thats y newbies should not buy new high horsepower sleds. buy a good beeter learn to ride in all kinds situitations, if u roll it oh well, no big deal. ive seen this so many times and laugh. i tell newbies'' take a picture of the sled befor u take it of the truck, caus it aint going to look like that for long''. just practice,its ballance and strength. once u master it its just like riddin a bike lol. im 5'8 160 lbs and ride a m1000 162,i dont use a left throttle, but lots do, it comes down to practice. good luck

 

[Ron]

Stay off the steep stuff til you feel like the sled is "part of you". Play on small rollers, sidehill on small stuff for a while. The IQ is a finesse sled so it requires small inputs and good timing.

 

[motorman]

thats some funny chit right there.
at least you know what not to do.practice,practice bud.it will come

 

[Ex-Member]

Yep, get real good playing in the flat meadows. I'm just starting to get the hang of sidehilling and I've had my sled for ... Exactly one year now!! Happy birthday, 900!

 

[Nelson]

The IQ is one of the easiest and most versitile chassis to ride when you get it figured out, I've owned 4 now and love them.

 

[Snowman 2001]

I think your on the right track, trying to improve your skills and asking for tips. Don't feel bad, my Dragon bucked me off several times when I first got it and I've been mountain riding for over twelve years. These new RMKs require so little input it can be easy to over correct and find yourself dismounted. I found that they handle more like a dirtbike. Lean the direction you want to go and use the throttle. A little more practice and you'll have it. Just remember to only play in areas you wont hurt yourself or others if have a disagreement with the Dragon.

 

[kas]

ha i have the same problem, side hilling is a challenge ugh
i just punch it and hope i get it over with in one piece

 

[Ollie]

Side hilling is just like carving in a meadow.
Turn away from the hillside to lay the sled into the hill, turn towards the hill to lay the sled away from the hillside.
Oh, and POWER ON.

Practice in the meadows till it is second nature, then sidehilling will be easy.

 

[Duvall Dean]

there is a great video on youtube on sidehilling


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDwBj6SxD90
DD

 

[adrenaline junkey]

I been there before, just last year why side hilling on spring snow the apex catapulted me down hill about 25 feet but it stopped rolling before it got to me. I found that standing both feet on the uphill side why turning down hill seems to work. when things go south the throttle is your friend.

 

[DrSmooth]

Side hilling is just like carving in a meadow.
Turn away from the hillside to lay the sled into the hill, turn towards the hill to lay the sled away from the hillside.
Oh, and POWER ON.

Practice in the meadows till it is second nature, then sidehilling will be easy.

AH HAH... I think I know why I got free flying lessons... Thanks

 

[lightening800]

luckily you never bought a new xp if you think the dragon is funky to sidehill with, i own both and thats what happens to me when i get to agressive with the xp in marginal snow, just practice in flat fields with good snow and it will come to you.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

sidehilling is tough to learn, it is just like turning in meadows but requires a little more finess, to start get both feet on the up hill running board and as you hit the hill turn the skis out (like you want to turn downhill) as you do that lean into the hill and pull the bars with you and give enough gas to spin the track as the sled comes over control it with lean/throttle/ and turning the bars..the more you lean into the hill/turn the bars away from the hill/full throttle it the more it will carve up hill the less of each you do it will go more downhill....good luck..

 

[MPS]

Which way are you turning your skis when sidehilling?

 

[spomey]

wow what a first sled! like someone said search on here there are a few threads but here is my input

First you have to understand that the sled digs a trench when climbing and that trench stabilizes the sled and you steer with your feet leaning from side to side.

the same applies when sidehilling slow down if you get going faster than say 10 mph at first your asking for trouble. start at the sidehill SLOW, then get the track spinningand lean the sled level or actually into the hill. remember to keep working the throttle to keep your speed SLOW.

keep one foot in or near the foot well the other foot as far back as is comfortable. in reality the ski position doesnt matter much but it can mess with your head, so now going slow across a sidehill start playing by adding pressure to your rear foot the back end will slide downhill and your forward progession will also slow and the sled will point up hill, pressure on the foot well and the sled will start point accross the sidehill and start moving faster, also blip the throttle. Remember SLOW. fast will cost you as you have already started to learn.!

spomey

 

[DrSmooth]

Which way are you turning your skis when sidehilling?

I turned into the hill... my bad

 

[JR Nelson]

hmmm"

u can learn how to ride a unicycle or have a friend pull you down the street on a bale of hay two things that helped me ,keep up the hard work /though i still can not ride the unicycle or a dragon