Pro for 5' 4", 110 lb Rider

[GreenState]

Hey All,

I'm looking for some advice on how I may be able to help my wifey's sled setup. I'm looking to make it as easy to get on edge as possible. She is a beginner rider, 5' 4", 110 lbs. Athletic, but tiny. She has a '13 Pro 155. Moves that are easy for us to do she tries and the sled simply does not move. Bigger guys have an advantage in this sport, we have muscle and size to make up for any lack of finesse. She knows she has lots to work on, but she doesn't have the size to make up for mistakes.

Current changes are a Dan Adams Bar cut as small as possible and a WRP Shorty seat. The sway bar has been removed. Stock springs are spun all the way out on the front end. Battery has been swapped for a Shorai that weighs as much as a cup of coffee.

I've got an Alt. Impact 36" A arms on the way as well as a set of Fox Floats to go with them.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[ullose272]

try preloading the center shock a little more, will help with transfer. i think the a arms will help alot

 

[GreenState]

try preloading the center shock a little more, will help with transfer. i think the a arms will help alot

I did that today as per the advise of the local shop guys, we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

 

[Danny Dangles]

Get her in the habit of getting the sled to work for her. Obviously setup suspension etc is going to help but really it is all down to riding style, body position.
1.) Wrong foot forward on these sleds!
2.) Use the brake lever before trying to punch and pull it. Just a light tap and the right body movement and it way lay over much easier and quicker than waiting for the engine to send you in the direction you want to go.
3.) Move around a lot, I am a fairly light guy (160) and broke my ribs this year, I used my legs a lot more as to pull on the bars it was painful.

This is not intended rude (as I have thrown countless dollars at my sled,) but skill will always produce better results than throwing money at the sled.

 

[GreenState]

This is not intended rude (as I have thrown countless dollars at my sled,) but skill will always produce better results than throwing money at the sled.

Not taken as rude at all. Solid advice. I'm just trying to stack the deck in her favor. I know from setting up mtn. bikes for customers that the right setup won't make up for ride time, but it will make a world of difference on how the bike feels. Even something as simple as a handlebar swap can be huge. Better feel = more confidence.

 

[Danny Dangles]

Oh for sure, I wish someone had told me to do all the things i just listed right from the beginning. Watched a new rider on a pro go from unable to sidehill to sidhilling great in a matter of hours switching to wrong foot forward.

Actually I rode the new XM and that sled makes new riders look like a pro (on the open stuff at least) just lean and it initiates turns, a lot easier than the pro. But when things get technical.....

 

[roni87]

Never tried it myself, but others say cutting the outside back edge of the skis off really helps.

 

[0neoldfart]

Revalve & sprung for rider weight

My wife is 5'2", rides a ProRMK 155 with a Carl's 660. Uses Z-broz 39" arms with sway bar removed, all shocks are revalved and sprung for her weight, MODS skis, and RSI bars (2" shorter then stock, and narrower). The biggest help in getting the chassis to work for her was setting the suspension for her weight, and lowering/narrowing the bars. Backing off the preload on springs designed for a 170lb rider is just a bandaid at best, and the Pro's valving out of the box is garbage. Call Carl's Cycle or Holz, and send the shocks in.

 

[Pownar]

Hope it's the 600. They're heaps easier to initiate turns.

 

[Excalibur]

I have twin daughters 17 years old. Same size as your wife - small. Learning to get the sled up on edge is the key. Many skills can be added after that. Yes set up will help, yes different parts can make it easier. But learning to counter steer and throttle to get the sled on edge is a must. Seems impossible at first but once they get the hang of it - easy and fun. It is technique more than muscle. Yes a six foot tall 200lb rider has an advantage. The schooled videos are helpful, Dan Adams has some great articles in Sledheads Magazine. Time and practice. My girls ride a stock 13 PRO 600 and a stock 12 RMK 600, they also ride big brother and Dads 800s. The 12 or newer RMKs or PROs are one of the best sleds to learn on! Give encouragement, time and an easy place to learn. And make sure her clothing is good! If she is warm and relaxed, learning is fun! Picture is of Kristina last year learning on some hard pack. (16 years old) Maybe review your front suspension setup, sway bar out needs a different shock setup to be a benefit.

 

[mountainhorse]

It is about technique and practice.

Best money spent would be for her to enroll in a clinic like Dan Adams runs... Basics and a good coach will set her farther ahead in her riding, on any sled, than most mods or setup.... IMO.






.

 

[ak]

Never tried it myself, but others say cutting the outside back edge of the skis off really helps.

X2 this does help, most refer to it as a carls cut.

 

[Older & Wiser]

I second everything above. A lot of patience and encouragement.

Watch the keepers on the front shocks. Unless Polaris fixed the issue since 2011, if you go too loose the keepers can fall out and the springs drop to the a arms.

 

[GreenState]

It is about technique and practice.

Best money spent would be for her to enroll in a clinic like Dan Adams runs... Basics and a good coach will set her farther ahead in her riding, on any sled, than most mods or setup.... IMO.

.

Totally agree. She went to a Dan Adams clinic last year, which was over her head. Dan's 'beginner' clinic wasn't quite as beginner as she needed. She also got to ride a little with Amber Holt last year, but was injured at the time and didn't get as much out of it as she could have. So she's got some education on how to do the moves and knows why and when to do the moves.

After riding with Dan and Amber, I have good things to say about both, but if someone is a true beginner, go to Amber. No questions asked. She has a progression of skills she teaches that build on each other. On Amber's scale, Dan starts his beginner class on step 7. She's also a fun person and great educator.

 

[Old Scud-doo]

Have to add my nickel in here and cutting the ski with a Carl's cut does help but the one thing that you can't initiate for them is to counter steer. The wife and I have Scala Rider G4's and I can talk to her while we ride. It helps to be able to tell them, "Turn the ski's the other way!", while they are trying to initiate a carve.

 

[OuraySledder]

Hope it's the 600. They're heaps easier to initiate turns.

How so? It is the same chassis, same wieght and less power.

 

[wjl]

This is a good read to help out.
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=332431

 

[ullose272]

How so? It is the same chassis, same wieght and less power.

rotating mass is less, gyroscopic force is less making the sled more "flickable.

 

[2Quickrides]

How so? It is the same chassis, same wieght and less power.

I honestly can't explain it. Best guess is smaller motor less centrifugal force. Lol.
But it's true, ridden my 800 163, my buddies 800 155, and the gf's 600 155 and it's just easier to throw around. They are amazing and you tend to forget you're even on a 600 until you hit stupid deep snow or a big climb.
Putting the RSI/Burandt bar narrowed a full 2 inches on it just made it that much better.
Mine is very beginner (no courses, just me teaching and only 100 miles with over half being trails) and at first I was looking for every mod possible to make it easier for her but realized the most modded sled out there still just needs technique and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Give her time on it to get used to it before modding to make it easier.

With the sway bar out and the shocks backed off it'll only help roll it over, won't help keep it there. Frankly a midget could ride one of these with the right technique, countersteer and throttle and it'll roll on it's edge if you're sitting on the seat.
So concentrate on things that make it easier for her to be comfortable while on edge, getting it there will come but only if she's confident once it's up there.

 

[WYsteph]

Hmm.. lots of good thoughts. She's in the same boat as myself size-wise. Revalved my shocks which helped. RSI bars and a shorter seat. But like the others have said it comes down to skill rather then brawn. This year has been frustrating for me. I watch the guys doing all these technical lines and in complete control on the steep stuff. I want to do that too!



So my very kind husband has spent a lot of time with me this year just helping me become a better rider. The best place to learn seems to be a open hill with a nice open bottom. A few trees are nice as markers. Then we do follow the leader for a while. Then I pick my own lines. A lot of coming down hill, stop, then a very slow sidehill.



Throttle control is huge, I tend not to use my throttle (which is a issue for most women.) When a blip would bring the sled over instead we try to muscle it. I think we are trying to smooth and controlled but it really is less then helpful. Brap that throttle!



Also I tend to ride with my arms fully extended, which means I have really no control. Last ride out my hubby told me to try and keep my helmet over my bar pad. Light bulb! It made for a great mental note. With bent elbows I was able to keep some force on the bars which in turn keeps the sled from going where it pleases.





Tell her to hang in there, it does get easier!