Taking son for first trip to the mountains - Whats your RIDING INSTRUCTION advice?
- Thread starter Jeff C
- Start date
S
SXViper
Well-known member
My approach with my son is to forget about myself and how great those places I typically go to in these snow conditions would be. The focus is purely to make sure he stays warm and is having fun! There is no greater feeling than listening to them talk about how much fun they had all the way home. One of the true joys of being a parent is seeing your children enjoy life. Then at the same time prolonging the sport we enjoy so much.
Avalanche education has already started, and repeated many times. I have been going out west each year since 1989 and use/practice with my gear. My son has been practicing as well. Got that covered.......
I am looking for RIDING INSTRUCTION TIPS or things you would do with your won son/daughter up on the hills...
You are gonna let him have a stiff drink while in the hot tub?? Wow, you are a nifty dad.
Be patient, don't cuss, yell or be a dick. If he has a bad experierence, he'll hate sledding.
Stiff drink? Did I say that? If I did, that was a misprint of some sort.....
He will be having a Sprite, that is about as stiff of a drink as he will get...... Me on the other hand.......
He has been riding since he was 5 years old. the kid is obsessed with snowmobiling. He talks about it in the heat of the summer.
There is absolutely no way this kid could ever hate snowmobiling, it is just not possible..... I get your point though
He is a pretty good little rider actually........ He just has not been out in deep powder or climbed even a moderate hill .....
Parking
Just a couple parking tips. 1. Depending on the situation he may need to loop back and park on his own tracks or park in someone elses tracks. 2. Park headed down hill or at least at a downward angle if able.
Practice maintaining momentum at lower speeds to avoids stucks and maintain maneuverability in tight situations.
Just a couple parking tips. 1. Depending on the situation he may need to loop back and park on his own tracks or park in someone elses tracks. 2. Park headed down hill or at least at a downward angle if able.
Practice maintaining momentum at lower speeds to avoids stucks and maintain maneuverability in tight situations.
V
volcano buster
Well-known member
1. keep track of your group on the trail. Don't go through an intersection until the sled behind you knows which way you went.
2. if you lost your group. stop and stay put on the trail. They will come back and find you.
3. if riding banks, playing on the side of the road, keep your riding order and don't pinch off the guy/gal that is up on the bank, they need a run out
4. don't tailgate, no reason to rear end another sled
5. make sure they drink fluid. they may not realize how much water they are going through and it can put the damper on a good ride.
6. find some small drifts to play in/on so they can see how the snow behaves when it is compressed on one side and deep and fluffy on the other
7. give them a map of the area so they can keep track of where they are. Trains them to start seeing landmarks, intersections, drainages so they are more likely to know how to get back
8. have enough belts/parts so you don't have to cut your trip short or make a special purchase to keep riding. Kind of a buzz kill to a kid when they see a new belt on the counter to replace the one they just munched.
9. ask them what they think they are good at, then start working on the things that they aren't so good at. A well rounded rider is having more fun with less pucker times.
2. if you lost your group. stop and stay put on the trail. They will come back and find you.
3. if riding banks, playing on the side of the road, keep your riding order and don't pinch off the guy/gal that is up on the bank, they need a run out
4. don't tailgate, no reason to rear end another sled
5. make sure they drink fluid. they may not realize how much water they are going through and it can put the damper on a good ride.
6. find some small drifts to play in/on so they can see how the snow behaves when it is compressed on one side and deep and fluffy on the other
7. give them a map of the area so they can keep track of where they are. Trains them to start seeing landmarks, intersections, drainages so they are more likely to know how to get back
8. have enough belts/parts so you don't have to cut your trip short or make a special purchase to keep riding. Kind of a buzz kill to a kid when they see a new belt on the counter to replace the one they just munched.
9. ask them what they think they are good at, then start working on the things that they aren't so good at. A well rounded rider is having more fun with less pucker times.
J
JSun
Well-known member
I'm SURE he won't hear any yelling, shouting, cussing etc on the trip.... Not with our crew!!!! The guys in our crew are waaaaaay to laid back and easy going......
Joe
S
suitcase
Well-known member
I had to do this with my son, as he follows you, and you stop to wait for him, let him know that you don't mind waiting for him. So he does not feel that he is holding you up. also, when he gets stuck let him know that it is all part of the game, and that you don't mind helping him get unstuck. Even go as far as letting him see you get stuck, and if possible have him help you. Having them know it happens to everyone is important, and it is all part of the learning curve in snowmobiling.
Fun fun fun!!!!
Fun fun fun!!!!
I let my 13yo daughter drive solo for the first time last weekend.
1. She's a GIRL. Not in a sexist way, but MOST of the "girl" stereotypes apply; she's timid, very concerned with not doing well/disappointing Dad, stuff like that.
2. She's a pretty darned good kart driver (race kart, not amusement park stuff). She's actually gotten pretty fast; this season was a breakthrough year for her - she used to look like a little girl driving a gocart, this year, she got fed up with being slow and stuck her foot in it, and all of a sudden, she's going fast. Won the local region; still has a lot to learn, but she beat all the boys in her class. She knows throttles now, and it helped.
Your list (OP) seems pretty optimistic; unless your boy rips on a dirtbike or quad or something, I think that countersteering and all that are going to go RIGHT over his head at first; might only take a couple of days, but IMHO, get him comfortable just making it go first. My kid rode back and forth a couple of times, then got off. 10 minutes later, "can I ride one again?" Sure, started it, she rides around a little more. Took another break. Sure enough, ~15min later, "again?" She went from SUPER tentative, stopping a lot to turn or switch sides, to a good chunk more confident, swapping sides without stopping, got a little explore-y, went over here and over there and checked stuff out and had FUN.
And y'know what? I think she had fun because I was NOT really watching her. I was messing with clutches, checking in, waving as she went by, but she got to go figure it out on her own at first - not long enough to develop bad habits, but she "gets" the sled now.
Like everyone else said, make sure he has fun, is warm, keep it mellow, it'll be awesome. We're packing up tomorrow night for our first weekend of sledding together, and I'm stoked. Pretty cool.
.02c, and let me tell you, my old 700 flat _rips_ with a 78# rider. Yeah, she could not resist, got the longest run she could and put it to the bar.
Yay
.
1. She's a GIRL. Not in a sexist way, but MOST of the "girl" stereotypes apply; she's timid, very concerned with not doing well/disappointing Dad, stuff like that.
2. She's a pretty darned good kart driver (race kart, not amusement park stuff). She's actually gotten pretty fast; this season was a breakthrough year for her - she used to look like a little girl driving a gocart, this year, she got fed up with being slow and stuck her foot in it, and all of a sudden, she's going fast. Won the local region; still has a lot to learn, but she beat all the boys in her class. She knows throttles now, and it helped.
Your list (OP) seems pretty optimistic; unless your boy rips on a dirtbike or quad or something, I think that countersteering and all that are going to go RIGHT over his head at first; might only take a couple of days, but IMHO, get him comfortable just making it go first. My kid rode back and forth a couple of times, then got off. 10 minutes later, "can I ride one again?" Sure, started it, she rides around a little more. Took another break. Sure enough, ~15min later, "again?" She went from SUPER tentative, stopping a lot to turn or switch sides, to a good chunk more confident, swapping sides without stopping, got a little explore-y, went over here and over there and checked stuff out and had FUN.
And y'know what? I think she had fun because I was NOT really watching her. I was messing with clutches, checking in, waving as she went by, but she got to go figure it out on her own at first - not long enough to develop bad habits, but she "gets" the sled now.
Like everyone else said, make sure he has fun, is warm, keep it mellow, it'll be awesome. We're packing up tomorrow night for our first weekend of sledding together, and I'm stoked. Pretty cool.
.02c, and let me tell you, my old 700 flat _rips_ with a 78# rider. Yeah, she could not resist, got the longest run she could and put it to the bar.
Yay
.
I think the major points have been covered. I started one boy out west a couple of years ago and will start another this winter. I have them start out on an older smaller sled so they don't get in over their head has quick. With their smaller size it is amazing how many places they can follow w/o getting stuck.
Make sure he knows to say put and let the group find him if he gets separated from the group.
Have fun...
Make sure he knows to say put and let the group find him if he gets separated from the group.
Have fun...
S
smv sledhead
Member
I'm lucky in that I have "small" hills a mile from the house. I have had a ball going out for a couple hours after school or whenever for some sleducation with junior. Last June I took him on his first real ride, and half teasing told him, "keep up or you can't come anymore". He took me seriously. He would just follow the track and be there every time. We were in a sizeable group, which consisted of grandpa, dad, uncle, and the cousins. It was tough to stress safety that day. They all want to show they can do what he big kids can do. He ended up being on the bad end of a t-bone. Broke his hood, bumped him a bit, scared the hell out of him, and his dad. Nothing like coming over a hill and seeing your kid laying by the side of his munched sled. Lucky it wasn't ugly. I think it was the best thing that could have happened though. He reminds me of myself, and my first major crash. It's bound to happen to most of us, at some time or another, and its a good learning experience. I only pray to God that its not bad when it does happen. Long and short of it: BE SAFE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE SPORT. Btw: my son is 9 years old now, looking forward to another winter, and the password on his ipod is CatM5
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahhahahahahahahahaahahahahahahhahahaahahahahahahahahahahaahahah,,,,,,(cough,,,,,,,,,,,,,,cough), Bwahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahhaah
Yea, about as laid back as a firing squad........
I like that,,,,,,,,,,,,,, sleducation. Has a certain ring to it.......
Sounds good in a sentence: "Hey Joe, your dad will need more sleducation this year so he does not swear so much around my son this year in I.P"
A
aebsledder
Well-known member
try this
This is how my dad taught my brother and I to ski and I have applied this technique to many endeavors. After my dad basically just threw us onto and off of the chairlift he said:
"Okay, just remember. If you're not falling you're not trying. See you guys at lunch."
Probably a little harsh, but it seems to work.
This is how my dad taught my brother and I to ski and I have applied this technique to many endeavors. After my dad basically just threw us onto and off of the chairlift he said:
"Okay, just remember. If you're not falling you're not trying. See you guys at lunch."
Probably a little harsh, but it seems to work.
I told him, if ya get scared, just let off the gas.
Dont worry about getting stuck.
Dont worry about getting stuck.
Thanks for posting
I haven't ridden a sled since I was a kid. I bought my brother in law's Apex when he bought a new one. There's lots of good information here which my 40 yr old body will try and absorb. That article which someone posted is great!
My name is Robby and I'm in S. Jordan, UT. Nice to meet everyone.
I haven't ridden a sled since I was a kid. I bought my brother in law's Apex when he bought a new one. There's lots of good information here which my 40 yr old body will try and absorb. That article which someone posted is great!
My name is Robby and I'm in S. Jordan, UT. Nice to meet everyone.
1. keep it fun!
2. he gets stuck? - keep it fun. Be cool so he learns this is "no big deal" and you have been stuck many times yourself. FYI - a snowmobile jack makes getting unstuck kind of fun for kid and very easy.
3. carry extra gloves to exchange them to keep hands warm and dry.
4. carry those warmer packs you can stick in gloves if needed.
5. frequent breaks if needed and carry all the typical stuff (water, get a SPOT so periodically during a day you can let his mom know he is alright )
6. eat at Meadow Creek for lunch! Or like we do build a large bonfire ( and have a 1-2 hour lunch ) at a tree line with dead wood and cook hot dogs over it. We carry all the stuff to have a regular picnic around a bonfire and the kids always talk about that later. We pack it in and if everyone carry's a few things works great.
7. This year we are going to have several families/kids ride to a nice sleding hill and have sleds and snow shoes with us, build a big bonfire, and have a sledding / snowshoe / snowmobile outing. Keep it fun! Kids remember this and adds fun to snowmobiling for those who are kind of lukewarm to it.
2. he gets stuck? - keep it fun. Be cool so he learns this is "no big deal" and you have been stuck many times yourself. FYI - a snowmobile jack makes getting unstuck kind of fun for kid and very easy.
3. carry extra gloves to exchange them to keep hands warm and dry.
4. carry those warmer packs you can stick in gloves if needed.
5. frequent breaks if needed and carry all the typical stuff (water, get a SPOT so periodically during a day you can let his mom know he is alright
)6. eat at Meadow Creek for lunch! Or like we do build a large bonfire ( and have a 1-2 hour lunch ) at a tree line with dead wood and cook hot dogs over it. We carry all the stuff to have a regular picnic around a bonfire and the kids always talk about that later. We pack it in and if everyone carry's a few things works great.
7. This year we are going to have several families/kids ride to a nice sleding hill and have sleds and snow shoes with us, build a big bonfire, and have a sledding / snowshoe / snowmobile outing. Keep it fun! Kids remember this and adds fun to snowmobiling for those who are kind of lukewarm to it.
1. keep it fun!
2. he gets stuck? - keep it fun. Be cool so he learns this is "no big deal" and you have been stuck many times yourself. FYI - a snowmobile jack makes getting unstuck kind of fun for kid and very easy.
3. carry extra gloves to exchange them to keep hands warm and dry.
4. carry those warmer packs you can stick in gloves if needed.
5. frequent breaks if needed and carry all the typical stuff (water, get a SPOT so periodically during a day you can let his mom know he is alright
6. eat at Meadow Creek for lunch! Or like we do build a large bonfire ( and have a 1-2 hour lunch ) at a tree line with dead wood and cook hot dogs over it. We carry all the stuff to have a regular picnic around a bonfire and the kids always talk about that later. We pack it in and if everyone carry's a few things works great.
7. This year we are going to have several families/kids ride to a nice sleding hill and have sleds and snow shoes with us, build a big bonfire, and have a sledding / snowshoe / snowmobile outing. Keep it fun! Kids remember this and adds fun to snowmobiling for those who are kind of lukewarm to it.
I like #6 alot, sort of forgot about that one. We had a lunch over a campfire several years ago and had alot of fun just getting the wood. It was funny to see guys in our group bringing in all sorts of logs and branches on their sleds, some with wood strapped to their sleds, others towing 30' logs......
Built a huge fire, roasted hot dogs, and stood around laughing and telling stories. By the time we left the fire had melted down the snow almost 3' below the top of the snow....
He would love that, I plan on doing this one.........
Thanks!
If this stupid a** weather pattern keeps up might not have to worry about him getting stuck much!!!
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