Pro for 5' 4", 110 lb Rider

[Scott]

GREAT points in this thread.
There are some very helpful technique and set up points.
It's not any ONE thing...but a combination. However, the saddle time is the biggest friend to her, coupled with a patient and knowledgeable instructor.

GreenState, as you well understand, your technique will be hard for her to emulate, since her size and strength are so different. She needs the technique that is matched to her size, weight and strength.

Steph, GREAT points.

A slight body shift, quick flexed-knee/heavy foot timed with a throttle blip (and maybe even a slight counter steer) will get that sled up edge so very quickly. Having the feet forward/back in just the right spot on the running board makes for different types of edge changes.

It does take finesse to find that spot, but once you get it, life is so much easier.

 

[sledless bdh]

Green State, where are you located?

 

[Scott]

Something interesting about the 600 and 800 in laying over to get an edge...
I've ridden both, with suspensions both set up for powder and light riders...side by side and that 600 has a way of getting on edge quicker than the 800.

 

[GreenState]

Thanks for all the great advice, the collective knowledge on here is awesome.

We are traveling this winter and are in Seeley Lake this month and will be in Victor/Driggs in February.

 

[polarisfornow]

countersteering... Its one of the hardest things to figure out for new riders. Here's what helped me. Go for a ride on a bike, you countersteer on those as well. But what's odd about a bike is you actually push with your arm instead of pulling. If you watch most sledders when they countersteer they usually are trying as hard as they can to pull the bars instead of pushing. If you make a mental note to push instead of pull it will help set up your body position and everything else kinda just falls into place. Works for me anyways.

 

[Scott]

Thanks for all the great advice, the collective knowledge on here is awesome.

We are traveling this winter and are in Seeley Lake this month and will be in Victor/Driggs in February.

I'll ride with you on Sunday if you are around...or maybe Monday. I've been riding Seeley the last few weeks.

 

[WYsledneck]

What a great thread! Thanks to all for great advice on both possible mechanical mods and technique stuff. My boy is 12, 4'11", 110 # and has been riding seriously for about 3 seasons but really coming into it last year and this. This is his second season on his 600 RMK Pro and this sled completely changed his riding. We've thought about or looked into a bunch of different mods including 36" arms..Benefits and drawbacks to some things but the shock adjustment for his weight has been key in turn/lean initiation…He's getting it, rides like a pro when it's deep and soft, a little harder time holding it over when it's dense or more consolidated. Anyway, tons of useful pointers here that we'll put to good use!! The comment about arms bent, head over the bars, is great! Here he is just the other day..Killin' it at 12!

 

[Pownar]

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.

I completely agree. They are the same weight but much easier to control. My wife has a 600 as well and I'll grab it to ride when we're doing a tree ride. Hard to imagine they're that much easier to lean over.

 

[savagecanuck]

Thanks for all the great advice, the collective knowledge on here is awesome.

We are traveling this winter and are in Seeley Lake this month and will be in Victor/Driggs in February.

Learning how to counter steer is a very tiresome for first time riders.With my wife it has a lot do do with stamina.I find. that after she has fallen off about 4_6 times she is worn out.When teaching my now 20 yr old son a few years back he kept falling off not quite getting it on the IQ chassis, I put him on my pro and after a few attempts he had it mastered. When teaching your wife its best to wait for optimal snow conditions like about18" of fresh in a big open meadow. I try to explain the basics like pulling up with your foot in the foot well along with handle bar and throttle control.They are going to fall off when learning, make sure their boot will come out easy if they fall.My wife got dragged whering the klim boot and killed her confidence. She still can,t do it.Son lays them over like a pro.If conditions are marginal best not to try a learn that day as it may set her back.Good luck and be patient.

 

[Scott]

Learning how to counter steer is a very tiresome for first time riders.With my wife it has a lot do do with stamina.I find. that after she has fallen off about 4_6 times she is worn out.When teaching my now 20 yr old son a few years back he kept falling off not quite getting it on the IQ chassis, I put him on my pro and after a few attempts he had it mastered. When teaching your wife its best to wait for optimal snow conditions like about18" of fresh in a big open meadow. I try to explain the basics like pulling up with your foot in the foot well along with handle bar and throttle control.They are going to fall off when learning, make sure their boot will come out easy if they fall.My wife got dragged whering the klim boot and killed her confidence. She still can,t do it.Son lays them over like a pro.If conditions are marginal best not to try a learn that day as it may set her back.Good luck and be patient.

The best riding technique can sometimes utilize the least amount of effort.

One thing I found on the Pro is that I did much better getting up centered on top the bars, like said above, before I weight my inside foot and counter steer as I wick the throttle. At that point (instead of leaning out and pulling the bars toward me) I lean just SLIGHTLY and PUSH the bars down and inside of the turn (so that the steering post is outside my hip).

By doing that, I could hook a vicious turn and not have to be way over into the snow, keeping my body centered over the sled better. Makes coming out of the turns a lot easier. Takes far less body English and I can pull some sweet moves and be FAR less tired at the end of the day.

I equate this to slalom water skiing. When I ski my best I found to use less effort, less body English, less strength and I have the BEST rhythm with the least amount of fatique and be most relaxed.
When I'm skiing well I fight everything far less and can ski all day without hurting tomorrow.

But when I am tense, fight my technique and work too hard at making it perfect, I am exhausted after just a couple miles...and one pull was enough that session.

 

[Leaf27]

practice, practice, practice. That's the great thing, the more you ride the better you get.

 

[GreenState]

Well, she got the 36" A arm kit from Alternative impact installed yesterday and got a chance to try it out today in about 10" of fresh over a soft base. Still stock shocks, springs, skis.

Night and day difference.

All of a sudden she can get her sled up on its side easily. She pulled off downhill, wrong foot forward, U-turns in both directions. For tighter turns she hops WFF and the sled actually goes where she wants it to.

Her confidence is up and she had a smile on her face at the end of the day.

Practice, practice, practice is still to come, but today was huge.

I hopped on her sled and took it for a spin and was actually blown away by how different it felt than mine. Carving is effortless, it's like riding a jet ski in pow. I also ripped some trail on it on the way out and it was fine on trail, even rougher stuff. I'm seriously considering doing the same on my sled.