I attended this clinic, and thought I would share my take...
I am not a great sled rider, but I want to be. Which is why I jumped at the chance to attend a Ride Rasmussen Style clinic presented by Twisted Terrain. If you don’t know who world champion rider Bret Rasmussen is, you need to check out the Schooled and Schooled Again instruction videos. You can also get more information on Bret and Ride Rasmussen Style at:
http://www.riderasmussenstyle.com
Twisted Terrain Promotions, who brought Bret in for three days of riding and instruction, hosted the clinic in the Washington Cascades. A hosted event of this type was exactly what I was looking for, for these reasons:
1) It was much closer geographically than other clinics.
2) It was more cost effective
3) It was a package deal, which included lodging, all meals, etc.
4) All logistics were handled by someone else.
This was truly a turnkey event. I just had to show up with my sled and ride. The biggest responsibilities on my part were: getting dressed in the morning, fueling the sled up, driving to the sno-park. Twisted Terrain was so accommodating and helpful that I probably could have gotten away with only performing one of those tasks.
The Twisted Terrain / Ride Rasmussen Style clinic I attended was held outside of Cle Elum, Washington in mid-January. It included three nights of lodging and three days of riding with Bret. The lodging consisted of a private room and bathroom in a very nicely furnished newer resort-style cabin only 15 minutes or so from the riding area. Meals were all home cooked, with a full breakfast and hot multi-course dinner with appetizer. This wasn't frozen pizza or heat-up fare, but fresh hot meals like salmon, pork loin, lasagna, soups, desert, etc. Sack lunches were made to order. Plenty of food was on-hand at all times to satisfy about any craving.
We had an outstanding group, consisting of mostly riders from Washington. Along with us clinic riders there was a videographer (Shaun Brender from Kobra Kai Productions) who captured some of the antics on film, and a still photographer (Zack Kinnear). I feel fortunate to have been in the company of all that were involved – everyone from Bret and his assistant Tony, Jana and her crew from Twisted Terrain, some of the local riders who helped us navigate through the mountains and the rest of the clinic group. They were all super cool, and hanging out with the whole group in the evenings was almost as much fun as the riding. I learned a lot during those evenings, asking Bret and others all kinds of questions and gaining new insights.
The riding was unlike any I had done before. Much of the area received between 7-11 inches of rain in the days before the clinic. While there was still plenty of snow for sledding, and the weather was nice, there were a variety of creeks and drainages to deal with while accessing the higher terrain. This necessitated some creative route finding here and there. Quite honestly, I was a little out of my comfort zone a few times. Although looking back this was exactly what I needed, and gave me some skills and confidence that I might not have found otherwise. I was also never alone, as there were always several pairs of hands around to help with a pull or push as needed – riding was really a team effort. It was also comforting knowing that I had one of the best riders in the world right there willing to help if I got into too much trouble.
Climbing to higher elevations we were able to find some decent play areas, including one absolutely gorgeous bowl. Here is where we worked with Bret and received advanced instruction and instant feedback on our riding style and techniques, such as wrong-foot-forward, the bulldog maneuver etc. Bret was always available to discuss technique and provide pointers as needed. I was able to explain, and demonstrate, some of my own hang ups with the riding techniques, with Bret showing me ways to overcome them and offering encouragement. While Bret does encourage you to step outside your comfort zone a little in order to learn, I never felt that I had to push myself beyond what i was capable of or do things that I wasn't ready for. The Rasmussen clinics are designed to accommodate all levels of riders, and you learn at your own pace in a non-threatening environment.
Snow conditions are always a bit of a gamble with events such as these. Twisted Terrain was able to use their expertise and knowledge of the area to adjust as needed to provide the best possible experience. They also solicited the group to understand what the group wanted or needed out of the day and took this into consideration. I never felt that I was along for the ride, but more like I was part of the adventure. I definitely learned a lot, and the entire trip really was awesome from start to finish. I came home feeling like I had accomplished something, and with some new friends. I would also like to add as a side note that my Klim gear performed flawlessly. Even with the fluctuating weather, and the amount we were working at times, I never got hot, wet, or damp from perspiration. It kept me warm and dry, regardless of the conditions or my activity level.
I would highly recommend that you attend a Rasmussen clinic sometime soon, you will learn a ton and it will be one of the best snowmobile experiences of your life. If you do, a Twisted Terrain experience is one of the best ways to make this happen. They are truly top notch and will go out of their way to make sure you are taken care of and have the best possible time, on and off the snow. Twisted Terrain has two more Ride Rasmussen Style events scheduled in Washington this winter (Leavenworth and Mt. Baker). You can view upcoming event details on their site at:
http://twistedterrain.com/events.html
This is NOT directed at AK. He's usually a very good (contributing) member of this forum, IMO. This statement is a generalization... 
I couldn't think of a better leader...
I guess my point (above) was missed completely, I NEVER insinuated an attack by AK and I am at a loss. For those of you who have ever had any chance to speak to me on a personal basis or have met me, will know my tone of voice and not misread any of this as defensive, just a conversation and a response to the best of my ability.... I "talk" much better than I "type" and am sorry if I "lost" your interest 
dont take feedback personal when you are in business. It is just business and a big part of it.
