Riding Clinics / Thoughts, Experiances ???

[longtrack156]

I have always been the old guy.In the last 10 years sledding style has changed a lot. I am having a lot of trouble trying to learn some of the new techniques on my own, the young guys don't seem to be too interested in taking out an old guy. The guys I do go out with have a lot less experience than I do. The clinics are a long way away from here.
And to quote Bagger,
"I'm a little older than you, and hate to break this to you, but it doesn't get better!!"

 

[powderpilot]

The difference in physical exhertion for me has a lot more to do with getting stuck than riding. If I have better balance, flexibility, agility, and stamina, I don't get stuck as much to begin with.

I do cardio, yoga, stretching, and some weights.

This is a great topic. It's really interesting to hear how the instructors and courses differ.

I would probably be most interested in taking a course from someone on the same sled/chassis as myself. There's a huge difference in foot position, balance point, and steering from sled to sled. JMO

 

[FatDogX]

I would agree, all the input has been great guys!!!! It's awesome to hear about specific experiences with different clinics and instructors / guides and the differences between each of them.

You can read riding clinic websites and form an idea of what to expect but when you hear directly from guys who have attended, that information is invaluable! Thanks again to everyone!!!

O, and keep it coming!!

 

[Bagger]

Spot on Rob, I wish someone had taught me how to RIDE RIGHT years ago. I sure would have spent less money, and I could probably actually get out of bed and walk in the morning!

I believe that is the best thing that I took away from Amber's classes. How to PROPERLY ride the way I WANTED TO. There were no heroics, there wasn't any force. We actually started with avy intro, but then spent a fair amount of time moving about/on and with the sleds and they wern't even running. I learned stuff about my sled that it had NEVER OCCURED to me to think about . . . then we spent a fair amount of time out in the flat, learning techniques to move/control the sled in more efficient ways to get it to do what we wanted with less effort and strain.
And when something came up that I couldn't do because of bad knees or a twisted shoulder it was "Ok, then step here, and focus on this and a little more throttle at this point instead and watch how the sled still comes up". I have learned more in the 6 days that I've worked with Amber than I have in the 6 years I've been riding and just following my buddies around and watching them.
She really is a gifted instructor, and makes it FUN. And keeps you engaged. Last year there were 4 in our Group. Another guy that could ride circles around me, me a moderate rider, my Wife who is really coming around, and one other gal that was pretty timid. We all worked together on basic skills, but Amber had us all working our butt's off and challenged each and everyone of us without letting anyone get bored or be overwhelmed.
Then after we started applying skills in actual terrain, it was amazing how everyone progressed, everyone pitched in together and bonded and we had a great, fun, ride and came back to the lodge every night worn out and happy with the day.
I know I'm riding way better after this last lesson. I CAN SEE THAT MY WIFE IS .
I look at it this way. Lessons from Amber are cheaper than a new fasterlighternarrowerbadder sled that I still don't know how to ride well. Horsepower only makes up for so much.
On a different thread about riders on different brands in the same group someone said that they liked it when no one else in their group was riding the same sled they were cause they could blame the sled!!! Ain't that just like us?
Spend a fortune on sleds/equipment/mods and not on a clinic that is fun and makes us safer and better riders.
I would plainly say that Amber's Back Country Basics is the best mod I've ever made. And it's to me! Not this years sled, so it's a mod that will go with me FOREVER.
That, is a sweet, sweet deal.

Ride on, Bag

 

[TIM]

ridecats

yes it was a great ride. I was just trying to say burandts is more of a ride, not a clinic. And yes chris can pretty much teach anyone something.

tim

 

[FatDogX]

So anyone looking at booking one for this year????

 

[beamslayer]

Backcountry basic by Amber was possible the best thing I did for the love of this sport.I orignally got the class for my better half for her 50th birthday so she would feel more confident.Some of my ridding buddies were coming down at the same time to McCall and we were going riding low and behold work got in the way and I was stuck with out anyone to ride with.I opted to take the class.I actually thanked my budds for not showing up.I can not say enough good stuff about Amber.She is awesome .
The next time we went riding at home some of are friend we commenting on how well we were riding not that we were riding bad before but now with more confidents.
It also taught us to be more understanding with my riding partner. I can not stress it enough to take the class with your spouse you will not be disappointed. Knowledge is king .
My cheeks were as sore as my legs from laughing all the time.And the bonus is the nice people you meet Amber,bagger and Diane Thanks for letting me join in.

 

[Bagger]

Backcountry basic by Amber was possible the best thing I did for the love of this sport.I orignally got the class for my better half for her 50th birthday so she would feel more confident.Some of my ridding buddies were coming down at the same time to McCall and we were going riding low and behold work got in the way and I was stuck with out anyone to ride with.I opted to take the class.I actually thanked my budds for not showing up.I can not say enough good stuff about Amber.She is awesome .
The next time we went riding at home some of are friend we commenting on how well we were riding not that we were riding bad before but now with more confidents.
It also taught us to be more understanding with my riding partner. I can not stress it enough to take the class with your spouse you will not be disappointed. Knowledge is king .
My cheeks were as sore as my legs from laughing all the time.And the bonus is the nice people you meet Amber,bagger and Diane Thanks for letting me join in.

BS, well said! We can't wait to get back together this year and ride some more! Now that you have your Assault, I won't have to tackle you to get you off my Pro!

COME ON SNOW!!!!!

Bag

 

[NextLevelRidingClinics]

Thanks for all the kind words! I have been working really hard to make Next Level Riding Clinics the best experience on snow. My schedule for this season is online and I hope to see all of you back here in Alpine! Also, stay tuned to the website for more information on the NXT LVL Tour. We might be in a town near you this season!!!

 

[beamslayer]

Hey how do I get a job with one of you guys or girls I want to ride all winter?
Don't you need a older more out of shape person on your team you could start a geezer class.
Yes Bagger now I have my own. don,t ride one unless you what to buy one.

How many of the clinics travel I know Amber and Bret do and it sounds like Dan is starting to does Chris ever come out of Colorado?
How many riders does it take to get one of them to your area?
I have been trying to talk are local club in to it I think it would be great boost to the club.

 

[F-Bomb]

Chris did a "clinic" with 7 Devil's Lodge on their private property above Hells Canyon this past season. Sweet setup there~! Don't know if there are other events like this one on tap...sounds like he is super busy with his venture.

I can put on a fairly impressive chilli-bomb drinking "clinic" at Lardo's after a day at McCall if you and Bagger want some! There might also be some value in what you see go that day to answer some of your tech questions on your PRO that I've seen you posting. It's so much better to be shown than told!

 

[Bagger]

Hey how do I get a job with one of you guys or girls I want to ride all winter?
Don't you need a older more out of shape person on your team you could start a geezer class.
Don't sweat it BS, round is a shape!


Yes Bagger now I have my own. don,t ride one unless you what to buy one.

Haha, there is truth in that !

How many of the clinics travel I know Amber and Bret do and it sounds like Dan is starting to does Chris ever come out of Colorado?
How many riders does it take to get one of them to your area?
I have been trying to talk are local club in to it I think it would be great boost to the club.

Chris did a "clinic" with 7 Devil's Lodge on their private property above Hells Canyon this past season. Sweet setup there~! Don't know if there are other events like this one on tap...sounds like he is super busy with his venture.

I can put on a fairly impressive chilli-bomb drinking "clinic" at Lardo's after a day at McCall if you and Bagger want some! There might also be some value in what you see go that day to answer some of your tech questions on your PRO that I've seen you posting. It's so much better to be shown than told!

BS and I are young innocent folks that wouldn't know what your talking about ?!?!

Nice offer there !

Bag

 

[beamslayer]

F-bomb thanks for the invite. I just might have to take you up on that it would be nice to compare.I can not answer for Bagger but It would be a honor to do some riding with you if that is possible.
Please elaborate on what is a chill-bomb?drinking . I will bring some of my apple-pie for desert you won't need a fork for this kind of pie.
I do not want hijack this topic about clinics, but if you have to hang around Bagger you may need a clinic it cost me over $8000 the last time.

 

[M8Chris]

So anyone looking at booking one for this year????

If I were going go do a clinic it'd be next level with dan Adams!

 

[tudizzle]

If I were going go do a clinic it'd be next level with dan Adams!

X2

Seems like the most well put together operation..focused on educating the mountain rider on all aspects of the sport.

I think the surprise Avy is brilliant and an extremely valuable lesson for anyone.

 

[←snow∞motion→]

I plan on doing the clinic at with Dan Adams (probably not until next year though) but I would also like to take Amber's clinic with my wife.

I had always planned this, aside from all the great reviews, because I thought my wife might agree to it easier, being taught by a gal might be easier for her.

 

[beamslayer]

Amber does a advanced clinic also so maybe you can do both. A couple of days with the wife and than a couple of days of advance mnt riding for yourself.
Nothing against Dan I hear he does a great job also.

 

[PowderProject]

Hey guys I have some great news to share! I am starting Big Mountain Sled Camp at Togwotee Mountain Lodge. I will be staffed with top of their game instructors and 2012 Ski Doo Summit sleds!

The camp will teach you everything you need to know, from the time you unload your sled, to the time you load up to head back home.
I will be giving a crash course in Avalanche Safety and will work heavily on beacon retrieval. I will also teach the art of tree riding, sidehilling, downhill descents, hill climbs, deep powder execution, jumping, cornice drops and whatever else folks would like to work on. This is a freeriding camp to help each and every rider to rise to the top of their game. It is all about having a good time and that is just what we will do!

I feel that Togwotee has some of the best snow in the lower 48 and with such and immense riding area we are bound to have an incredible time. Togwotee is a all inclusive lodge with its own gas station, mechanic, bar, restaurant, and huge hot tub! It has activities for the entire family. Dog Sled rides, cross country skiing, backcountry skiing and snowboarding, and just sitting by the fire place playing board games.

So stay tuned you snowmobiling fiends. I am working on this as we speak and I hope to have everything ready to roll by the Intermountain Snow Show in Salt Lake City. I am really excited about this and can't wait to hit the snow this year! Sounds like another La nina year! Bring on some bottomless pow!

See you in the pow... Rob Hoff

 

[BackCountryBasics]

First off...THANK YOU! To those of you have who have complimented my program with such kind comments it is humbling and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of your passion!

Second, congratulations to Dan Adams and Irina to all your success to date as an industry colleague, I can appreciate the level of dedication you have upheld towards providing formal closed course style instruction as the industry opens to this format. It only makes the industry stronger each of us giving our part. Also, Bret Rasussen (& Tony Jenkins) and Chris Burandt (& Sahen Skinner) the new Schooled video was educational and VERY entertaining as always!

Whether it is formal ‘closed course’ instructional format like that Dan & I offer, to ‘adventurous guided/training tours’ like Bret and Chris offer, to Mike Duffy (one of the top Avalanche Awareness instructors http://www.avalanche1.com ). It all is BETTERING the industry and provides diverse options for every type of rider to better themselves. Having training options and instructor options provides the correct approachable environment in which the STUDENT is most COMFORTABLE and therefore will GAIN the most from. I feel privileged to be part of the industries change right now with the diverse professionalism to be offered right now.

I have 15 year background in professional instruction to a "master trainer" level (train the trainer). My FORTE is as an INSTRUCTOR, my TALENT is BACKCOUNTRY RIDING, and my PASSION is SHARING KNOWLEDGE to OTHERS. This is why I run a snowmobiling school.

I instruct all abilities from "never evers" to "advanced" in skill. My instructional format allows instruction to be delivered to all skill level abilities during the same course time from families and friends on vacation to government sectors. Realistically most of my clients I train are in 80 percentile of riders out there from novice to intermediate level and they leave with an advanced and detailed understanding of technical skills and safe habits.

Backcountry Basics and Avalanche 1 (Mike Duffy) have teamed up to offer combo clinics this year. These are two and a half day Avalanche 1 and Basic Technical Riding clinics geared toward the Level I/II rider. This way knowledge is equally delivered by the professional’s focus of topic. Mike has a 16 year background as an avalanche instructor. I am very much looking forward to working with him so that we can provide an exceptional instructional combo package.

http://www.backcountrybasics.com/9-2-11_backcountry_basics_final_002.htm

Backcountry Basics was established in 2008 and now is fully endorsed and supported by Arctic Cat Inc., 45 other AMAZING companies, and repeat clients since 2008…THANK YOU TO ALL!

Arctic Cat has provided Backcountry Basics a fleet of 2012 PROCLIMB"S that are incorporated into our curriculum and are INCLUDED in the CLINIC RATES at our training center located in Island Park, Idaho.

http://www.snowest.com/snowmobile-news/display.cfm?ID=3043

If an individual is unable to travel to our Island Park Training Center and would like to take instruction please contact your local Arctic Cat Dealer and they can arrange to hold instruction at their dealership location. I will be touring Arctic Cat dealers from the West Coast to the Eastern Coast of Canada this year (and possibly beyond). So make sure your dealer gets their dates secured with me on this list as space is becoming limited.

Here is our website:

http://www.backcountrybasics.com

Thank you everyone and have a great & safe season,
Amber Holt

Photos provided by: Heidi Henke http://www.rawlifephotography.com

 

[ryanan]

Lets bring this great thread back from the dead.
Who has rode what clinics/rides?
What riding level would you consider yourself?
What are the pros, cons, things you noticed?
Riding/teaching style?

Couple newer ones out there now:
Sick day adventures with Rob Hoff
Mountain Skilz with Matt Entz
CKMP in BC with Cark Kuster

Lets hear it guys and gals, I would love to try one this year and want to get the best one suited for myself.
Thank
Tony