Kids learning to sled, any tips?

[corex radnar]

I picked up a couple 80's Phazers for the family, and I'm excited to get the family up to the cabin without putting everybody on my Rev!

First thing I'm worried about is the power, man do those Phazers pull! I've got a 300' driveway thats probably 15 or 20 degrees and I can keep the skis in the air the whole way up. Gotta be close to the best 1000 bucks I've ever spent! I'm worried about my 8 year old son on this "monster", not even sure if it's reasonable. My 6 year old daughter... no way!

Any tips on getting these kids going? I was thinking about trying to "tune down" one of the Phazers for when my son is riding alone, what do you guys think? Maybe just more pads and a bigger helmet ?

 

[MNSLEDNECK56308]

Funny i just picked up my son (8 today) his first sled as well 83 yammi 440ss. I was thinking on mine you can adjust the throttle cable for bit. Or maybe just let him go. He has rode moms 500xc just fine by himself so he should do fine, he is carefull...for now!!! Also does your phazer have a tether? that is always a good option for kids, also be prepared for a few fall offs and bump into's!!!! Good helmet and warm cloths and if he is like my son, he will be smiling ear to ear!!!!!

 

[Yamadoo04]

Well, I started out on a phazer back in 88. I had a blast on it. Although the first few years it drove me more than I drove it. LOL I was an average size kid so I couldn't really shift my weight in the deep snow. I would follow my dad and brother around and they would have to come back and dig me out several times durring a ride. At 8 years old there is no way i was going to get that thing unstuck by me self. So the coment about riding alone I hope was just because you are on your own sled close by, not he is out by himself.

Anyway that sled was a great learning sled for me. That sled would take my anywhere that I should be going at that age. We didn't tune it down or anything like that. Just teach your kid how to ride and to watch out for things and he or she will do great. Start out in some open meadows and ride on back with them until they get the hang of riding and turning it. This way you can direct them and have control before you turn them loose by themsleves. Deffinately get some good helmets for them. I would get a motocross helmet because those handle bars can hurt a face with an open face helmet. When they are on something that big they tend to go a little slower until they really get the hang of riding the sled. In a few years though watch out cause they will soon be jumping that thing everywhere. It is so light that you can jump it pretty good.

We still have our phazers and my nephew who turns 8 this year will be upgrading from his 120 mini to the phazer. It should be fun to watch him this year. He's been wanting to ride that sled for 2 years now.

 

[BiffMC]

Cut my kids loose on phazers and indy 500s.They were the same ages. If your not sure about power most sleds can be fitted with some sort of throtte stop to prevent full pulls. I also limited them to a 1.5 acre lot until (I) felt comfortable with them on the sled. It took a couple of learning years and then graduated them to ride the lake ( Minnesota what can I say). By the time they were able to take snowmobile safty and able to ride trails with me I was very confident of thier riding abilities, now they pretty much smoke the old man on and off trail and am learning a few things from them as well.This is a great sport.
P.S Teathers/Teathers/Teathers

 

[Kootenay-Stomper]

i started off on a 92 phazer long track,really good learning sled! davidoff rode phazer's for years to...so he's knows lots about them and his dad today still rides them!

 

[corex radnar]

No, he's not going to be out by himself, and he'll definatly be in a full face. Nice to hear the feedback on the phazers, I'm sure having fun around the yard. The last few years I have just put him on the front hanging on to the strap, last year we landed a 6 or 7 footer together, and had some of the best pow turns of the year! Guess he'll be accepting a little downgrade till he gets the hang of it on his own.

I've never really understood the teather thing... I use mine to turn off the sled cause I turned off the kill switch, but I never attach it to myself because it doesn't really slow down the sled much more. Is there a special reason kids would need teathers? Neither sled has one.

 

[ALTITUDE SICKNESS]

tether queation

The biggest reason for a tether I have seen has been if the throttle sticks. I have seen sleds roll and end upside down and pin the throttle wide open till the belt explodes. if you have the tether attatched they fall off and roll sled dies no harm no foul.

 

[Coxy]

Oooh the phazer days, man it took me years to work up to a phazer! Loved that little short tracked bugger. Lucky kids! I too would get a tether on those two, I never use one myself, but am pretty cautious on checking the throttle every time i start it, and the newer stuff isnt as prone to it as the older iron. Thats awesome tho, getting the kids started early, and scoring some serious Dad points!
Brian

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

if it was me..put them in kids tekvest...when they crash(which they will) it will really help protect them....I got lcuky..my son crashed his 600 hard last year(no vest) and amazingly he was unhurt..but I got very very lucky..they have vest now...also while it is a little money..collet helmet radios work great with kids..you can talk to them the whole time they ride..explaining lean more here...dont follow so close.....dad I need to stop...just a great training/safety tool I think...

 

[Ex-Member]

if it was me..put them in kids tekvest...when they crash(which they will) it will really help protect them....I got lcuky..my son crashed his 600 hard last year(no vest) and amazingly he was unhurt..but I got very very lucky..they have vest now...also while it is a little money..collet helmet radios work great with kids..you can talk to them the whole time they ride..explaining lean more here...dont follow so close.....dad I need to stop...just a great training/safety tool I think...

+eleventybillion. Knee guards are a plus too, i won't ride without those. Makes stupidity hurt a lot less.

Tether's a real good idea too.

 

[smittysnow]

phazers are great!!

I'm a big fan of the phazer...I have a 95 that I put a 1.5 X 136 track on and it goes lots of places. Anyway it is in waiting for my son to get a little older. I had him on it just last week and I think one of the drawbacks is the brake isn't hydraulic, it's cable actuated so it's a little harder to pull then a hyd. one.

Does anyone make remote kill switches that can be installed on a sled?? I know those chinese made little ATV's have them but I don't know if I've ever seen one that can be installed?? I would love to be able to watch the little guy buzz around and be able to kill the sled if I saw him starting to get in trouble.

 

[KrazyKen]

Love them Phazers...here's my sons mod

He's 12 now but started riding on his own when he was 8 or 9. Like some of the other guys said, limit the throttle at first until they learn throttle control and start them off in wide open spaces, give them instuction on where exactly they can ride and see how much control they have. I was lucky, my kid was a fast learner.

 

[Shelfrost]

They're plenty old to go on their own!!!! Tethers and protective gear along with adult supervision are a must. I wouldn't put any type of throttle stop on them though. There are times when they might need full power to get out of trouble.

A wise man once told me that whan you are heading to a fence post or tree or anything like that, don't look at it.... you will hit it for sure. Instead, look where you want the sled to go and power on.... it will go there!!!!!!

My grandson is 5 months old and I already got a Kitty Kat for him!! Have fun!

 

[Idaho Slim]

First and foremost........

Teach them the respect of riding defensively. Even tho this can be a solitary sport, THERE are other riders out there.

#1. Learn how to use hand signals.
#2. Look BEHIND you.
#3, Take them out to an isolated open field and make them pin it and then BRAKE to know what it takes to stop a sled and not pile into someone else.
#4. When on a trail stay to the right side whether coming into a curve or OUT! Many riders have been killed by an always inside rider.
#5. MAKE them wear a vest.
#6. ALWAYS clip their tether to them.
#7. NEVER ride without a helmet.
#8. If riding mountains,. always wear a beacon and know how to use it.
#9. If riding the mountains, teach them of wind loaded slopes and what to stay off of.
#10. If riding the mountains, teach them only one at a time when hillbanging.

You may think this is overkill, but it is not, since if you dont teach them, it could mean they kill or are killed and that would be so sad.........

My best thoughts are in this reply to you, please heed my advice.

Happy trails and good rides to you.

 

[corex radnar]

Thanks guys, lots of great input! I'm familiar with teaching sports to this guy... Skiing, MTB, even Kayak (ya it's possible, check the Jackson Kayak site!) He's really excited about this winter and so am I. Got an old Powell-Perelta skull and crossbones sticker that covers the whole hood. Very cool.

Does anyone know if there is a way to get some kind of teather on this sled. I'm thinking of how to build one, like a pin that pulls out of the ignition wires or something. Doesn't have to look pro, the hood is held on by bungees

 

[snoman8]

Wow talk about good old days! I started out on an old 78 panther that my dad had we actually had two of them and I remember him putting on a hose clamp between the throttle and the handle grip so i was limited to how much i could give the ole girl and as i got older he would slide it out to give it a little more and more each time he slid it out til finally he took it off and it was fair game then!!! maybe i should put that hose clamp back on this year! Hope this might help!

 

[Team Wild]

If you have a throttle limiting device make sure you can remove it. If your kids gets the sled stuck and you need to help get it out it you may need more throttle.

We have 2 polaris 340's for our kids that turned 8 yesterday. I think the biggest issue we have is there little thumbs get tired from the throttle.

 

[Sasksummit]

carful you don't create a monster like I did this is my 12 year old boy in Valemount last March. But i am loving ever minute of it.

 

[MTNMAN800]

If your at any elevation the Phazer won't be over powered. I would hesitate about any throttle limiter unless your kid is one of those that has no fear. In my experience spending a good amount of time in the garage talking about how, what, and when helps a lot. The more things you can "program" into their thought process before they hit the snow helps.

 

[corex radnar]

carful you don't create a monster like I did this is my 12 year old boy in Valemount last March. But i am loving ever minute of it.

Thats exactly the monster I'm trying to create!