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speeddemon
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mike
mike
Easiest way to improve skills?
- Thread starter blue fluff
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I'm right there with ya, I'm finding that the throttle is my best friend for that
If I start to tip downhill a bit, I just grab the throttle that much more, seems to be working.I'm sure something along these lines has already been said but I have most improved by listening to people on the forum. Guys like midnight rider, Darko, Fab, without a trace, and the list goes on and on. When I listen to those guys I can feel my abilities get more and more refined by the thread.
Think of sidehilling as balancing in a wheely on a bike.
On a side hill you are doing the same thing, "balancing"... You need the right amount of throttle, countersteer, and body shift to maintain a good side hill.
Differing snow conditions will change the "balance point" in a sidehill.
For me it is easier to the left, so pick the way that is easier for you, and practice.
What I would do is start on the flat in some powder... try doing circles or turns by lifting the sled on its side "oposite ski off the ground"... Once you get comfortable making some turns or donuts in a sidehill, then take it to an open powdered small hill.
Try going downhill off camber, then pick a point and try to pull your sled on its side, change direction and get to the point you had imagined.
Keep practicing.
A
Anti-Hero
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I'm right there with ya, I'm finding that the throttle is my best friend for that
Kick the azz end of the sled into the snow to start a nice flat trench,Throttle 3/4 down then back off once the trench is cut. use your outside leg as an outrigger to hold balance if needed. play with position of ski's they will always be pointed away from the hill, sometime more that others. and Balance!
Everything these guys have said is good advice I also have found it helpful to watch sled films and study the body postion of some kickass riders like Burandt . a good DVD player with good slow motion capabilitys is also helpful .If the film has options to listen to the sound track or live sounds only I think it helps to hear what thay are doing with the throttle as well. I have picked up a few tricks by doing this.and if nothing else its a good excuse to stock up on sledding vids!!
Here is a little video for you to watch. Sidehilling on an Apex. It's is much easier to sidehill in presh powder than it is on hard pack snow.
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj120/yamadoo04/
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj120/yamadoo04/
I like to ride with guys that are much better than me one ride and I sit and watch them most the day. Then the next time I go out with my normal riding buddies and I try everything I watched the others do.
Riding with others that are better then you is good advice....most everyone I ride with are better thne me so Im constantly improving......thankfully. If you ride with people who sit at the bottom and watch, thats all you will do.However if your group has to go up and over to get to the next play area your gonna learn alot hill from hill.
I still cant sidehill down hill???? Very hard. And I seriously want to learn the powerturn to head back up....... But I do more now then I ever thought I would do............
I still cant sidehill down hill???? Very hard. And I seriously want to learn the powerturn to head back up....... But I do more now then I ever thought I would do............
Find out what area of skill you want to improve on, Find an area that the improvement needing skill meets, And practice, practice, practice!
My the force be will you. (I dont know big words)
My the force be will you. (I dont know big words)
like me man, i started riding and sucked. then i started tagging along with slednecks guys and sucked compared to them. i have rode with them for about 2.5 years and now am fliping it comsistantly, and wile i am in the mountains i see jumps i never used to see. hit stuff that you would have used to say NO WAY!!!
you would have no idea how many times i have wrecked and bit it HARD trying to get better by going way to big...
you would have no idea how many times i have wrecked and bit it HARD trying to get better by going way to big...
been there done that, words to live by there
while your riding pards are sittin down with the engines off diggin chit out the back of their sled work on some things your not comfortable doing.
I'm always working on something I'm not comfortable with during off times, like sidehilling thru trees on your weak side etc
like my sig says
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pumpnlead
Member
I never realized that sidehilling was similar to powder carving in the meadows, that info. will sure help out next time up, thanks.
i went to the duke1n snowmobile school... I think i lost most my skill riding with him, except in the parking lot aspect
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IMO we all have a personal comfort zone and I try and just step outside that zone a little bit. As well, riding with skilled riders will help push you out of you comfort zone a bit. If someone gives you a piece of advice on riding, take it and keep it in mind. Watch others closely and look for what they do with their body position, movements etc.
You can't let fear control you, face it head on and give'r. Remember, you will get stuck, you will get tossed off the sled and you will get frustrated at times but keep trying and it'll come. Thats my attitude towards sledding.
You can't let fear control you, face it head on and give'r. Remember, you will get stuck, you will get tossed off the sled and you will get frustrated at times but keep trying and it'll come. Thats my attitude towards sledding.
I cant add much that hasnt been said, but I would stress the comment about the throttle being your friend. I have seen many newer riders shy away from the throttle because a racing motor sounds intimidating to them. Once I convinced my girlfriend of this she immediately became a better rider.
Challenge yourself every time out.
Challenge yourself every time out.
Another thing that will help tremendously is to look, and think ahead.
Same with a motorcycle, you should be looking as far ahead as possible, so the terrain you are currently riding on, you have already "procesed"(sp) in your mind.
"procces"(sp) information ahead of time... Conditions change, so the same obstacle may need a different aproach depending on snow conditions etc.
More importantly, store this information in your head... For instance... Say you start out early in the day, hard snow conditions, good traction... But you hit a drift, that is wind blown and get stuck. The next drift you come to, remember the first instance, and use more power/speed to get through it.
The same can be said for any obstacle... See it ahead of time, try to figure out the best way to aproach it, then afterwards, ask yourself if you aproached it the right way, or how you could of done better, and try to remember so the next instance you will be more prepared.
If you "think" more, you will ride better.
Same with a motorcycle, you should be looking as far ahead as possible, so the terrain you are currently riding on, you have already "procesed"(sp) in your mind.
"procces"(sp) information ahead of time... Conditions change, so the same obstacle may need a different aproach depending on snow conditions etc.
More importantly, store this information in your head... For instance... Say you start out early in the day, hard snow conditions, good traction... But you hit a drift, that is wind blown and get stuck. The next drift you come to, remember the first instance, and use more power/speed to get through it.
The same can be said for any obstacle... See it ahead of time, try to figure out the best way to aproach it, then afterwards, ask yourself if you aproached it the right way, or how you could of done better, and try to remember so the next instance you will be more prepared.
If you "think" more, you will ride better.
Ride an underpowered sled.
You will quickly understand that you NEED all your skills honed to hang with the group.
I see too many people substituting machine for talant.
(Sometimes myself included!)
That's true. When my husband's Doo breaks down, he rides the old '97 550 Cougar 136 track and can get that thing to do ANYTHING on any mountain in the powder.
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