reversing down hill... thoughts?

[GDG]

Depends on where you ride really. Open areas could be just as risky as in the trees. If you use reverse to stop on hills, keep in mind you're putting more pressure on the snow surface, being more prone to starting an avalanche. These sleds weren't built to have that much torque put on them going in reverse IMO, but it's all up to you on that one. Avy danger is my main concern though.

 

[jhurkot]

it's a bad habit to get in to. a crutch that stops you from developing the proper skills to go downhill.

 

[Snodawg]

Norwegian design. Looks a bit heavy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoUqZq-QIrA

Wait 'til your sled rolls over the top of you.....that ones gonna hurt!

 

[Xrider]

Just can't seem to get my head around the idea of using reverse to come down a hill. But that's just me, we used to use the belts or chains years ago but got away from that too. I guess I got away from climbing really scary hills too....old age = shrinkage.

 

[Dam Dave]

cant figure out why you would want to do this, what if you encounter something you you need to jump over? or one of the other many reasons to have full control of he throttle, dont like it, its a bad idea and just a crutch to lean on

 

[RED BARRON]

used the chains over skis before we had long tracks like we do now. work really well on icy hills. reversing sounds like an accident waiting to happen especially if u need to get back on the throttle to navigate over logs or ditches that u cant see from the top of the hill.

 

[poorider]

I do it time to time, saved my bacon a few times, but you have to have it in your head before you even make the climb that you know when you're going to hit reverse on the way down. That pretty much means you probably shouldn't be climbing there anyways lol
Good idea to practice it a few times on low danger hills to get the feel of it. And make sure you know your sled's not going to stall when you hit the button!

 

[summ8rmk]

I used to do the reverse thing with my Doo but with my Cat I just lay it on its side and park. I can even take a lunch break or work on my clutches parked like that, right Snowdawg!

 

[allied1]

Like any tool or system, understand it, practice with it and use or operate it wisely.

 

[Dam Dave]

or learn how to handle sled downhill

downhills are not my favorite thing to do but no way would I want to go down a hill without the ability to control the sled with the throttle, no way can you turn a sled with the track locked up, no way can you do a u turn with the tracked locked and in reverse, sounds very dangerous to me

once you make the decision to put sled in reverse you are committed to whatever path the sled is headed, yes you might be able to slowdown or stop but you are still going off that cliff in front of you

just my 2c

 

[tudizzle]

Learn to TURN....it works downhill even!

 

[i'llDooit]

x2 what he said^

 

[IRC]

its like the lefty throttle i learned to ride without reverse so never thought about it but i can see how it can work used the track spinning foreward while coming down a hill backwards cuz it was icy and i spun out saved it and good thing cuz it wwasnt my sled and the owner was at the bottom of the hill i might try that if i ever need it

 

[IRC]

o by the way i dont have a lefty throttle or noob throttle as i call it

 

[backcountryislife]

There are some situations where the reverse trick is useful, and if done right I don't see the harm... you take a couple days life off a belt... oh well.

Really though, if you work on turning like some said, you'll have more control & the ability to change course so you're safer on the downhill anyhow.

Only time I use reverse now is if it's such stiff snow that I don't want to sidehill on the downhill & I know it's gonna be sketcky coming down.

 

[IRC]

agreed like i said learned to ride without a lefty throttle as without reverse so never even crossed my mind to use it like that may be a good tool i know one time or two i coulda used it but not gonna rely on that as a crutch rather a tool if needed we get alot of hard setup snow where i ride and ive seen others sleds wrote off when this would have saved their sled if they used it right

 

[xrated]

Learn to TURN....it works downhill even!

What is this TURN you speak of?

 

[Dam Dave]

guess it might be a good tool to have in your toolbox, just not a one tool fits all thing

 

[ndmeathead]

There are some situations where the reverse trick is useful, and if done right I don't see the harm... you take a couple days life off a belt... oh well.

Really though, if you work on turning like some said, you'll have more control & the ability to change course so you're safer on the downhill anyhow.

Only time I use reverse now is if it's such stiff snow that I don't want to sidehill on the downhill & I know it's gonna be sketcky coming down.

exactly the reason i even posted the question. wouldn't want to make this a habit for controlling decent. set up snow on a pretty sketchy climb our lead guy got darted off in the trees by a trench and another used the reverse technique to go 1/4 down the hill and help out a buddy. snow was very setup on that climb and sidehilling down would've been tough for that guy who's been riding longer then i've been alive.

 

[roughrider99]

Have you done it with the mechanical reverse that the rx1 had or was that on the RT ?

it takes a little finesse but i use my mechanical reverse going down steep chutes when laying the sled on one side and digging the ski in doesn;t cut it.