So I guess I suck

[glmtnapex]

Firstly, what sled is your buddy riding? It's not a fair comparison to say he's a great rider if he's riding the latest and greatest sled and you're stuck on his 'hand-me-down' 2004 Rev. Unfortunately for your wallet, the newer the sled you ride, the easier it is to master the techniques you see in the 'Schooled' videos.

Secondly, Patience is the key, not only for you, but for whoever is instructing you. If your Instuctor gets bored or tired of helping you dig-out (and by the way, they should be teaching you HOW to dig-out as well as ride), then get a different Instructor or just try to learn on your own that day. Until you get the 'basics' down, a good Instructor will be a HUGE help in progressing your learning curve.

 

[jdw1]

What are you riding? Or did i miss that!

 

[shelbwyo]

Some people are just naturals thats the way it is. I say keep with it and when something goes wrong learn from it and try something new the next time your in that situation. As far as him getting impatient with you, that is part of the game. Maybe go with a couple of friends so they can help you get unstuck sometimes?

 

[turbolover]

2 times, WOW. If you are having fun that is all that matters.

I have been riding for 20 years and still try to get stuck every time I go out. I usually succeed in getting everyone stuck before the ride is over with.

I don't consider it a ride until everyone has been stuck at least once.
If you are getting stuck then you are doing something that is out of your abilities or learning to increase your abilities. IE GET OFF OF THE TRAIL!!!!!!!

Practice in a good flat area first. Try riding the sled on one ski or on edge for a certain distance. First one side then the other. Don't be afraid of the throttle! Give it hell and lay that thing over. Get the track spinning so you can get it to dig in. If it isn't moving snow it is going to want to lay back flat on top of the snow. You have to get it moving to dig into the snow and get on the plane you want. I'm not talking about getting lots of speed, get the track moving and digging into the snow then back off of the throttle to control your position.
In a good flat open area the worst thing that will happen is you get stuck or fall off. Big deal you get up and walk to your sled and start again.

Don't worry about railing on the sled yet. Learn some of the basics before working your way up to more and bigger obstacles.

Burandt and the other great riders still use these same basic techniques as beginners, they have just mastered them and can do it without thinking about it. They have gotten to the point that it is no longer thinking to ride. For them it is now muscle memory and thinking ahead of what your body is reacting to at the moment. That level of riding only comes with mastering the techniques and LOTS of hours on the snow.

Don't give up and don't judge yourself by how someone else is riding. Most of all just have fun.

 

[tek9tim]

Boyfriends are the worst teachers. Girlfriends are the worst students. Think about how the interaction went between the two of you out there. Of course, I don't rightly know, since I wasn't there, I have been there before many times trying to teach a girlfriend how to do one of my many hobbies. Think about it, if you had been some girl that he didn't really know, would he have acted the same way as he did toward you? How about you? Would you have let the fact that you were discouraged show to a stranger?

Now, I realize that you probably don't have any other options for riding partners, and that's cool. Try to be aware of the interaction dynamic between you and your boyfriend, and keep thinking about how you would act toward a stranger who was teaching you to ride.

Keep riding. That Rev chassis Doo is a good ride. Don't let that be a handicap in your mind. There is a lot of good advice in this thread. Confidence is key. You can do it, this sport needs more capable females.

 

[Himark]

X2 on the sled.

I rode with a GUY last week that was his second time sledding. He bought a ole 02 doo and he flat out sucked!!! I was so sick of him making mistakes even the dumb azz ones like parking up hill even after he was told. He was stuck SO many times my pals resorted to the........."you brought the dumb azz u get him out" It was the worst kind of bad it was like he had NO SKILLS at all. BTW, he is 5-10 240 and had the muscle.

Second day out his sled shoots craps and has to borrow my 07 685 RMK. It was like overnight he learned to ride. He was no expert but I bet we only had to pull him out a few times in a day.

With that said it was obvious a sled can HELP make the rider. Ride something that is EZ to work with.

 

[sukassledder]

Thanks everyone!!!

Wow, You all are great!!!!! Yeah, I definitely am loving it so far, just a little frustrated at times. I'm no quitter though, and I will definitely be learning how to dig myself out. I love the exercise, and it's totally worth it for that 10% of the time I do make the good turns and do most of it right. I did see a little progress already on our second trip out, so I'm just hoping to see more each time. I check the snow reports and forecasts more often than my email, I can't wait to go again!

Thanks again to everyone for the advice and encouragement. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[fuzz]

Thats what its all about, Having Fun. You shoud have tried it 44 years ago with the old "beaters" we had back then, HA. It sounds like your BF is doing his best to give you pointers and good for him to have the patience. It takes a lot of time and many rides to git it down pat but you will have many stucks in the mean time. At least you like it and are willing to learn. My wife and I have been riding together for 34 years and she loves to go. She is 67 and I am 79 so dont give up.

 

[allied1]

Sounds great! The one important thing to put on your to do list is getting avy gear and training. The more you learn, the harder you will push yourself and this will put you into tougher, more technical terrain. You NEED to have both.

 

[Wowmom]

Women vs men

As we all know men and women are different physically. We are just made that way. Women have smaller/shorter chest muscles and our back muscles are attached at different points than men, our pelvis and hips articulate in a different way than boys, center of gravity for a woman is lower -- so riding style for women has to be slightly different.

See if your guy will loosen the front of your sled up and adjust the track to a softer ride, this will help compensate for lower muscle mass and lower body weight. I have found that using the mountain bar to get the sled to lean aggressively makes up for my inability to 'muscle' the beast where I want it.... More finess and less muscle has worked wonders for my riding.

Don't give up any time soon, it takes a while to find your groove. Then all the boys will be chasing you trying to keep up!

 

[AZ800]

Tell your bf to back off or he ain't gettin any! That'll help with his patience!

First you don't have much time on a sled so don't expect to rail that thing right outta the gates.
2nd you said the snow sucked, hard snow prolly. This is the worst to learn pow turns in cuz you do have to give er and spin the track but hard snow means you hook up a lot better which makes it more difficult.
3rd your on a Doo Rev chassis. Prolly the most stable chassis and the hardest to hold and edge or find the balance point when laying it over.

Like others said you need some big meadows and good soft snow to learn the techniques. Even more help would be to ride something that tips over easier like a Cat M series, Poo IQ or Pro chassis.
With your current sled get it set up a little better if not done already. Narrow the ski stance as much as possible, lose the sway bar, soften up the front springs, loosen the limiter strap some to get less ski pressure.
Then don't be afraid to lay it all the way over when carving. To the point that the sled washes out and ends up on its side when you fall off. Also practice straight runs where you just slalom back and forth by counter steering and shifting your weight.

 

[swrev]

What are your measurements?Just kidding.

My wife is aroun 5' 2'' and 100lbs. She also rides an '04 Rev. Like others have mentioned, adjust the suspension and skid for a light front end. If you have some aggressive skis to try, put those on. Stock '04 are horrible. Running Powder Pros on the wifes. They are extremely responsive to counter steering. They allow you to use the sled's motor and weight to sidehill w/out having to use all of your muscle and weight. She can pull hers up on one ski pretty well. The other thing I've done to hers is a two wheel kit and broke the rods in the track. She hasn't ridden it since the track mod--new baby--but everyone else that has usually falls over the first time they ride it. It pulls over extremely easy. The aggressive skis and the track do make riding trails a little wild at times. You can't really relax and ride the sled, it just sort of rolls over. Extremely fun once you get used to it.

Other than that, just keep practicing and have fun.

 

[swrev]

Another thing, get some pink on your sled. Guys can't help but notice. If you get stuck, they all come to help get you out. Your boyfriend will not get frustrated from digging you out while you practice. Best mod to date on my wife's sled was the pink hood. It's a real back saver, haha.

 

[excav8ter]

Wow, You all are great!!!!! Yeah, I definitely am loving it so far, just a little frustrated at times. I'm no quitter though, and I will definitely be learning how to dig myself out. I love the exercise, and it's totally worth it for that 10% of the time I do make the good turns and do most of it right. I did see a little progress already on our second trip out, so I'm just hoping to see more each time. I check the snow reports and forecasts more often than my email, I can't wait to go again!

Thanks again to everyone for the advice and encouragement. I'll let you know how it goes.

Pretty soon your going to have to change your screen name to Gettinbettasledda....or something like that....

 

[Redsledhead]

As we say if your not getting stuck your not having fun. That said we all learned at our own pace. My wife and kids would follow me up and down the mountains to watch what I did and that helped them learn what to do. Take your time learning and remember it will all work out. Have fun and enjoy

 

[agalen]

If you wanted to progress rapidly you could also go to a clinic for a couple days. Nextlevel riding clinic in Alpine is awesome, Dan is super patient with everyone and a great instructor. It may be worth the $$$ so that you aren't as frustrated

http://www.nextlevelclinics.com/

 

[AZ800]

Another thing, get some pink on your sled. Guys can't help but notice. If you get stuck, they all come to help get you out. Your boyfriend will not get frustrated from digging you out while you practice. Best mod to date on my wife's sled was the pink hood. It's a real back saver, haha.

Dang, that's in the top 5 "Snowest best idea of the year." Haha
Wife's pretty protective of her ditch pickle in Cat green, but that is an awesome idea!

 

[polaris dude]

Another thing, get some pink on your sled. Guys can't help but notice. If you get stuck, they all come to help get you out. Your boyfriend will not get frustrated from digging you out while you practice. Best mod to date on my wife's sled was the pink hood. It's a real back saver, haha.

Genius! But really, I've been riding since I was 5 and quite frankly on my 09' it has taken me about 6 trips to finally get the hang of riding that sled.

 

[wildcard28]

I also ride a 04 skidoo Rev, with a 159 track and have been riding for a bunch of years but have been riding the Rev for 3yrs now and that sled in off camber slopes is dificult for me to get turned or carved back uphill this is probably the biggest complaint to this chassis my riding buddy has owned one for a quite a few years before he had to sell it other reasons and he is also an Awesome rider and told me when I bought mine that the down hill to uphill turnaround maneuver is the hardest to get used to on the Rev everything else was easy for him to adjust to, I find myself having the same trouble and was having this trouble for a year before he told me about this, I1`m getting used to it now especially after getting my sled set up better and the Mods I have done to it but the narrowed front end was the most noticeable. Course now with the New Tmotion rear skid that made an added big difference also.

My buddy now finaly got the sled he really always wanted and its a 97 summit tripple mod sled with tons of lightweith parts and over 190+hp and I have seen him outride about every New or New mod sled out there, machine makes a difference the a good rider on a machine he is used to can smoke a amatuer or novce rider on Any new sled. period!!

But the biggest adjustment was me as a rider I am like you no matter how much I get stuck or try try try I love it and go riding everychance I can get My riding buddy is was very patient with me when we started riding I have an Anxiety disorder and that calm patient feedback I got from him letting me know we have plenty of time and if your not getting stuck your not riding!! it absolutely true, I get stuck on purpose at time just to challenge myself to get myself unstuck by myself and am gearing up for it more and more. alot of times when i get stuck now my buddy is stuck a distance from me so no longer can or will I wait for someone to help get me unstuck, my next purchase is going to be a Powderjack.

Patients and practice practice and yes confidence with the throttle, the throttle is your Friend, you do have a good attitude about this sport so good luck and keep trying.

http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324220&page=2

Wildcard

 

[rmk2thetop]

Haha you remind me of my GF I have taken her out 3 times and she still sucks and I still have to drag her sled around all day but she gets better each time. One thing she likes to do is follow me through the trees I just find some easy ground and go slow and exaggerate each move for the different slopes we encounter and she mimics what I do. It is fun just watching her jump all over the sled behind me. I slowly take her into more technical stuff until she gets stuck or I dig a big hole for her to fall in haha I love messing with her, but she always has a good attitude. I would also say go with some of his friends because no one likes to waste a whole day baby sitting. I push her off on my friends and go riding until I feel guilty and then come back, good thing she is hot and funny. They still ask when she is going to come riding next lol.

All in all you are doing fine for your second time out, it takes lots of practice I can't tell you how many times my dad, grandpa and friends would pull me out when I was learning. My friends dad wouldn't even go with me when I was learning because he knew he would be getting me unstuck all day haha. But I have paid my dews since. Now I race in the RMSHA (snowmobile hill climb circuit) and they call me to go riding so I can dig them out, payback.

Riding is about physics and anticipation what side of the sled do I need to be on for that slope, how much throttle do I need to keep my momentum, never loose your momentum and look ahead like 30 ft min don't be looking at your skis you need to see what is coming at you next so you can be ready for it! Feather your throttle (move it in and out) don't just hold it down like a gas pedal you will eventually learn the throttle will help you with balance because you are trying to keep the sled on edge.

I could go on for ever on riding tips but you just got to get out there and ride. Its like riding a green horse you got to let it know who's boss and beat your skills into it. Don't let the horse ride you get aggressive!

Happy Boondocking and welcome to sledding!