Ride like a PRO?

[mountainhorse]

I don't know if my situation is kinda what your talking about or not but thought I would throw it out there to see what your guys thoughts are. My wife and I have been primarily trail riders and so has are group. The whole trail thing is kinda boring to me and id like to start riding offtrail/take some trips west. And knowing the odds of me doing this without trying to include my wife are pretty low I thought we could take a clinic to start off on the right foot. I'm alittle hesitant though being that our backcountry skills are pretty much zero are we going to be holding the group up, will my wife feel overwhelmed and rushed trying to keep up? I think she would enjoy off trail riding once she got the hang of it but she can get frustrated easy sometimes and I don't want her first experience to be bad. Sorry for the long ramble, maybe off topic. Thoughts or opinions welcome.


Nick

Nick,

That is the beauty of a true "clinic" experience...
The class is built around YOU... the goal is to take you from where you are ...even if that is ground-zero.. and working on skill sets that will get you to a level that you are more comfortable with.

I have been on two clinics with Dan Adams and loved every minute of it... we had mixed levels of riders in the group.. but Dan structures it so that all get the most out of the experience.

I have heard great things about Ambers clinics, and she puts a lot of effort and care into what she does... I've not been out on one of her clinics, but hope to someday soon.

Practice Practice.... but get some help if you need it or want to advance at a faster rate.

You will both be better and enjoy your backcountry experience... Who knows... after the clinic...she might just blow you off the mountain with her new skillz!!

 

[SlednecksBrown]

Some rides are about the adventure and some are geared more toward working on different skills and improving your riding. Before I take my groups out I have a safety meeting and discuss avalanche awareness and safety. I have over 30 hours of professional avalanche training and I am taking an additional 7 day professional course in December. I share my knowledge with all of my guests. Once in the field the first thing I do is show everyone how to do a proper and fast beacon search. Once I feel comfortable that everyone now is able to recover a beacon quickly we head out into the backcountry. I also have avalanche gear including beacons, shovels, probes and Snowpulse bags available.

Once in the backcountry, we start our skills training which can range from tight technical boondocking, sidehilling, jumping, climbing, turnouts, safety, and anything else my riders would like to focus on. Each day with me is tailored to suite the needs of my riders. I focus on helping my guests improve on any skill they wish...all while exploring the best terrain I have ever ridden.

My guests have ranged from complete newbies to very good riders. I feel like I have something to share with everyone as I am lucky enough to ride 100-150 days a year and have extensive professional level avalanche training. I want my guests to leave with great memories of their trip of a lifetime and as better, safer riders.

I know Dan has a similar philosophy on avalanche safety awareness and skills training. Some companies are more about the adventure, some are more about the skills workshops and some are set up for all of the above. I like all of the above.

I have teamed up with Yamaha this year and will be running 2 day riding clinics around BC and in the Northwest US. My RidewithChrisBrown adventures are based out of Whistler where my guests will stay and eat with us in our beautiful lodge.

I love to ride and love to have fun on sleds. If you want to ride one of the best and largest sled zones on the planet then come on up. Please check out my website if you are interested. We will have the 2 day mobile riding clinic details and schedule up soon. http://www.ridewithchrisbrown.com

Sorry if this sounds like an ad...I just want everyone to know what to expect. Pretty much an all around wicked time riding some amazing terrain.


Please have a fun and SAFE winter everyone. If you can't make it to my lodge or one of my camps please take an avalanche safety course in your area. I want everyone to be aware of avalanche risks and to know how to perform quick and safe searches if the time comes. You could save your life and/or someone elses.

Cheers everyone,

Chris

www.ridewithchrisbrown.com

 

[powderpilot]

It sounds to me like there are a ton of options out there if someone wants to take a riding clinic. Sounds like it's becomnig a competitive industry for the instructors! Kudos on the instruction about avalanche safety too, backcountry awareness probably should be taught long before technical riding skills!!!

If you have the money to spend, and don't have the opportunity to ride with some of these amazing athletes, I would say go for it. You only stand to gain by improving your skills, which will make you love the sport even more. If not, then ride with the best riders you can and try to follow. You'll be forced to improve.


The whole thing about needing a clinic to ride like a pro? Not offensive to me. I would imagine most of the instructors are are self taught, they didn't have clinics to teach them to ride, and they're pros right?

 

[shmuckaluck]

Hey guys,
Some people are always a victim. Why do they have to say those things to hurt my feelings,

 

[corpeleven]

O.K I have seen these ads for awhile now and IMO they are inconsiderate to less aggressive riders. Is this what snowmobiling has come to? I don't intend to have any names of mags. that use these advertisments or who is doing the advertising, not a concern. This is what is, This is the quote that caught my eye, (Let Blank help you look, Ride and Feel like a Pro) Why are they using this approach for some of these riding clinics to get you to come spend money to have (said person) give you tips? It comes across to some that you have to go to these clinics to be able to ride this way. IMO instead of making it seem, that you may ride like a "tard", if you have not gone to a clinic, or don't enroll in one, and if you want to ride like a movie star you need to enroll in my clinic. I would think there would be a better approach to getting people to come to these clinics, If a person thinks they need help from someone to improve there riding. Other than, come with me I can make you ride like a pro, ( IMO saying you can't if you don't ride a clinic).
I am in no way saying that these riders putting on clinics are not top of the line riders, but one should not forget that we all started some where and had to learn. Surely there could be a better approach to customers than, more or less a put down.

Honestly, I'm not even sure what you are angry about? People run these business' to teach other people how to ride sleds better. You can choose to spend your money with them, or you can choose not to. Seems pretty simple. In my opinion, instead of buying that new lightweight can or reeds or turbo, I would suggest taking some classes or clinics, because it will likely be the best money you can spend to make your snowmobiling experience more "fun".

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I think he directed the question more toward saying, there are plenty of people out there that ride like a pro and don't need a clinic to prove it. More of a statement than a complaint. Kinda what I picked up from the whole thread.

I thought the same thing a while back when someone post a video of a very good rider and stated it as "shredding the mountains like very few can" (or something close to that). My first thought was, are there really very few that can ride like that??? seems like a bold statement. Because it looked exactly like my kind of riding, so either its a false statement or I am one of a few?? right.
Do you get what I am saying. I could be wrong but thats the drift I got.

 

[suitcase]

Corpeleven I have those thoughts as wyo says as well, But also felt strongly along these lines more so!

I have no use or need to use these clinics. I am looking at it from a person that might be thinking about attending one. I believe that the less aggresive rider is a little shy when looking at these ads. Maybe a better tool to promote said clinic, to the less aggresive rider. Don't get me wrong Im sure these clinic holders are very instructive to the people that attend, and becomes a very usefull tool to those who do attend.

--------------------------------------------------------------
92 post to see a little of my point.

92 coupe I don't know if my situation is kinda what your talking about or not but thought I would throw it out there to see what your guys thoughts are. My wife and I have been primarily trail riders and so has are group. The whole trail thing is kinda boring to me and id like to start riding offtrail/take some trips west. And knowing the odds of me doing this without trying to include my wife are pretty low I thought we could take a clinic to start off on the right foot. I'm alittle hesitant though being that our backcountry skills are pretty much zero are we going to be holding the group up, will my wife feel overwhelmed and rushed trying to keep up? I think she would enjoy off trail riding once she got the hang of it but she can get frustrated easy sometimes and I don't want her first experience to be bad. Sorry for the long ramble, maybe off topic. Thoughts or opinions welcome.

 

[phatty]

So i got married this year, to a girl from malibu california. Her experience with snowmobiling is 2 trips i took her on in June this summer. She is excited to ride this winter.

I have a few options which include enrolling her in a couple of clinics. My plan is to start her with Amber at backcountry basics. Amber is a great instructor and very patient. My wife will learn alot from her!

The choice to get her into a clinic seemed like the best option. Its a class environment where people can be taught the correct way. If i were to try and teach her, i think at some point she will feel like she is holding me up and a bit of a disappointment to me, which is not at all what I want.

I plan on attending these clinics with her, and to be honest, I am pretty excited to attend. Its an opportunity for me to let go of my pride and learn. Because after all you will only benefit as much as you are open to learning. If you think you already know it all then you wont learn a thing. I plan on documenting the whole experience via video.

 

[MTdream]

old Proverb... As Iron Sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another...

If you ride with the same buddies and your all at the same level, you will never make significant improvements...

went up north a few years ago, rode with some of the Canuck boys and girls in Revy, was shocked at the difference it made in my skill when I came back...

the things I was nervous about were nothing, the things I feared were mildly concerning...

it is the same thing in life, and the same things we all try and teach our kids...you will be like those you hang around with....

 

[Richey]

So i got married this year, to a girl from malibu california. Her experience with snowmobiling is 2 trips i took her on in June this summer. She is excited to ride this winter.

I have a few options which include enrolling her in a couple of clinics. My plan was to start her with Amber at backcountry basics, unfortunately for us (not so much for Amber) is that Amber's clinics are pretty much booked up till march. So I think we are going to try and sneak in with one of Dan Adams clinics in early december.

The choice to get her into a clinic seemed like the best option. Its a class environment where people can be taught the correct way. If i were to try and teach her, i think at some point she will feel like she is holding me up and a bit of a disappointment to me, which is not at all what I want.

I plan on attending these clinics with her, and to be honest, I am pretty excited to attend. Its an opportunity for me to let go of my pride and learn. Because after all you will only benefit as much as you are open to learning. If you think you already know it all then you wont learn a thing. I plan on documenting the whole experience via video.

Let us know how this goes for you. I have been thinking about enrolling my wife and I in one of these classes as well. I like the idea of taking a class from Amber since she is a women and I'm sure has a lot better tips for my wife then I could ever give her.

 

[Ske-Bum]

what do all elite athletes have in common?


10,000 hours of training in their discipline


You want to ride like a pro....ride at least 20 hours a week for 8 years.

Exactly, time in the saddle. Now I bet a lot of people would settle for expert, but where is that magic number of hours fall?

 

[phatty]

Let us know how this goes for you. I have been thinking about enrolling my wife and I in one of these classes as well. I like the idea of taking a class from Amber since she is a women and I'm sure has a lot better tips for my wife then I could ever give her.

I talked with amber tonight and i was mis informed, she does have some room left for clinics! Give her a buzz and get signed up today!

 

[Matte Murder]

That is great that she is so busy. She is definitely providing a service that people want. I took at the ride with Chris Brown site. Looks like fun. If anything to learn fun places to ride. Nothing like local knowledge. And the great lodge, food, turbo sleds and riding instruction.