Riding Clinic's--Are they worth the money?

[BigT]

Over the past couple years there seems to be more and more riding clinics popping up. I've checked in to a couple of them. In general, they seem to be fairly expensive. I am certain that the riding skills of the "instructors" of the ones I have checked out are to notch but dang--I figure the cost of a two day riding clinic is about what it would cost me to travel 300-400 miles and stay in a motel for 5 or 6 nights on a sled trip.
By the way, just to clarify, I am not bashing these pro riders for putting on clinics and wanting to make some bucks doing so....
I'm looking to here from some that have been to clinics and what their experiences are. Are they worth the money? Did your skills improve enough to justify the expense? Money well spent--why or why not?
Let me know your thoughts--

BigT

 

[Jorli]

This is something that you have to try to see if you find value in it, being on the side of offering these services, please consider this; our cost of renting a snowmobile and receiving guided instruction is about 2/3 the price/day (1/3 if you bring your own sled) of getting 3 runs with a heliskiing operation. http://www.whistlerheliskiing.com/packages/

Both are high-end services, however with snowmobile riding clinics, you're not only investing in a great experience, you are also investing in yourself. All the turbos, and special parts are unlikely to make you a better rider, however identifying your weaknesses and working to correct them will. If you are inspired by what you see in videos, learning from people that have that experience and can communicate the dynamics of proper technique will help to get you there far quicker than figuring it out on own. Thats is the purpose of education in general is it not?

I've gotten a tremendous amount of value riding with other pros, the more knowledge you get, the better you become. There is also tremendous value in learning how to conduct yourself in the backcountry- identifying dangers and all the other tricks of the trade.

I think the bottom line is that if you spend the money on a clinic, it will likely enable you to enjoy riding on your home turf a whole lot more, unless of course you come to SnowRide Adventures in Whistler, then you probably won't want to leave.

 

[pylon]

This is something that you have to try to see if you find value in it, being on the side of offering these services, please consider this; our cost of renting a snowmobile and receiving guided instruction is about 2/3 the price/day (1/3 if you bring your own sled) of getting 3 runs with a heliskiing operation. http://www.whistlerheliskiing.com/packages/

Both are high-end services, however with snowmobile riding clinics, you're not only investing in a great experience, you are also investing in yourself. All the turbos, and special parts are unlikely to make you a better rider, however identifying on your weaknesses and working to correct them will. If you are inspired by what you see in videos, learning from people that have that experience and can communicate the dynamics of proper technique will help to get you there far quicker than figuring it out on own. Thats is the purpose of education in general is it not?

I've gotten a tremendous amount of value riding with other pros, the more knowledge you get, the better you become. There is also tremendous value in learning how to conduct yourself in the backcountry- identifying dangers and all the other tricks of the trade.

I think the bottom line is that if you spend the money on a clinic, it will likely enable you to enjoy riding on your home turf a whole lot more, unless of course you come to SnowRide Adventures in Whistler, then you probably won't want to leave.

Good points !

I get to ride with over 100 different riders a year, every one from pros to 1st timers . You can learn some thing from them all i think .

Pick a clinic that is good for you though . like if you wanna jump find a jumper teaching a clinic .

That being said i ride with a group who took a clinic about technical riding who said it was a waste of time . they are very good riders and weren't pushed at all during the few days they were out riding . And i think that's the best way to learn any thing , being pushed a little out side of your comfort zone .

 

[Matte Murder]

Myself, my son(18 now) and my nephew(20) are heading in to our 3rd season of riding. The first year we bought sleds we fumbled around trying to figure it out. Spent quite a bit of our time riding in some pretty limited areas and not really learning much. We rode a few times with some friends and they taught us some basics, how to get un-stuck etc. In April of that year we all went to a 3 day Dan Adams Next Level clinic. Learned a ton in just 3 days. Really opened our eyes to what was possible. Also, Dan put the fear of God into us about avalanches and that has stuck with us ever since. We practice with our beacons, check the avy report before we ride etc. It really stuck with my boys and it can be tough to get safety through to teenagers. We also had a lot of fun. We practiced what we learned when we got back. Riding got a lot more fun. We rode a ton the second year and did another clinic with Dan and have practiced what we learned then too. Most people we ride with are surprised we ride as well as we do for as short a time as we do. Dan is a natural teacher and has broken sledding down into teachable skills. We are going to try and do 2 clinics with him this year. So yes, I have found them very worth while. Starting this late in life I don't have a lot of time to waste. I recommend Dan Adams clinics to anyone who asks, well worth the time and money invested. Dan's helpers and instructors are all great riders who just love the sport and seem to enjoy helping students learn more and get better. And they never bitch about helping me get un stuck either.

 

[volcano buster]

I signed up for an Amber Holt class to be held this winter. I have heard good things about her courses and thought I would try it. My wife and two daughters ride and I thought this would be a good way to learn from the female perspective on what works so I can transfer that to my family. I am 6'6" and 235# so I can impose strength and leverage on the sled where my wife and daughters need technique which I hope to pass on after the class. I would send the wife, but we felt this was a better option.

As for the price, I will have travel expenses and 3 days of riding for not too much more than just the trip to ride. I don't expect them to do the clinic for free.

 

[Matte Murder]

volcano I would HIGHLY recommend you take the wife. I havent taken an Amber Holt class but if she is a good ''teacher" your wife will learn a lot more first hand than having you try and reconstruct the class for her. Learning something well enough to do it is way more likely than learning something well enough to teach it. We teach a lot of women to shoot and they pick it up really well. I haven't seen a man teach his wife to shoot well even once.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I signed up for an Amber Holt class to be held this winter. I have heard good things about her courses and thought I would try it. My wife and two daughters ride and I thought this would be a good way to learn from the female perspective on what works so I can transfer that to my family. I am 6'6" and 235# so I can impose strength and leverage on the sled where my wife and daughters need technique which I hope to pass on after the class. I would send the wife, but we felt this was a better option.

As for the price, I will have travel expenses and 3 days of riding for not too much more than just the trip to ride. I don't expect them to do the clinic for free.

I would make it a family vacation...might just make all them ladies want to go even more often..I am lucky..I ride with many of the top guys in our state as well as many beginners..so I get pushed constantly. Given the oportunity..I think if you go into it with an open mind, prepared to learn...it will make you a much better rider..but you need to leave the ego at home and open your mind to what is being taught...

 

[BigT]

Thanks for all the replies. From what I gather, most seem to think it is well worth the money. Good to know!
I have been considering a clinic to hopefully take me to the next level. I can get around OK but am a long ways from a "good" rider.
No one else in my family rides (my boy did but he is married and in the military now) so I have been trying to decide if the cost is worth the gain. It would be easier to drop the coin if it were my families sport. Because it is just mine--its hard to justify.
That said, I still might give it a try.
Thanks again for the replies--
Matte Mudder--I see you posting in Washington's page often, are you local?

BigT

 

[MPIS]

I took my two sons (age 14 and 15) to an Amber Holt clinic last winter. We couldn't of had worse snow (low level and icy) but I thought Amber and the class was great! My boys learned a lot, it's easier having someone like Amber teach them because they don't always listen to Dad. Amber taught most of the techniques I had read about but it was nice to get to work on it out on the mountain. Her class will definately wear you out, there is no "hiding" in the back row with her, she works with every single person one on one. I like to practice what she taught when I'm out riding now, I thought it was worth the money.

 

[bholmlate]

I took a two day private riding clinic last year from Amber Holt up in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

</st1:City>Island Park <st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></ST1. I would second MPIS on the conditions However I was planning on taking another one from her before I even finished the first one. Although they can be expensive when you include travel expense, I looked at it as an investment for having more fun riding down the line. I have also heard from people in our local club that Dan Adams Next Level Riding Clinic is also very good. I would highly recommend her clinic for both men and women. I would also 2<SUP>nd</SUP> what MATTE said about taking the wife. The clinic was very relaxed non intimidating clinic and she moves along at a pace you set for yourself. Once she sees that you are comfortable with one technique she moves on to the next one. She shows you how to properly execute the technique then she has you go through drills watching and giving you feedback on how you are doing. And yes they do wear you out.
She is a natural teacher able to give you the right amount of encouragement along with constructive criticism when you are doing something wrong. In any clinic, the feedback that you gain from an experienced eye while they watch you ride is priceless in my book. <O</O

 

[Matte Murder]

One bit of advice I would offer to anyone going to a clinic is take a few months before the class and get in the best shape you can. The drills can be really taxing and if you can only do a couple you won't get all there is too gain from the class. I think if you asked Dan what was the biggest limiting factor in someones class experience it would be their condition or lack of it. My boys and I train up for it like it's a championship event. He teaches you the most efficient way to ride but it still takes power and endurance.