M
mblanken881
Active member
oh, i don't know where that is
Took out a couple of newbies this weekend
- Thread starter Himark
- Start date
I’m in my mid 40s and I ride with a group out of cache valley Ut. called “The Gerri toll Gang” which includes a rider who is 94 years old. He’s still a pretty good rider and won’t shy away from a steep hill. He is Amazing. A few of the 70+riders are more aggressive than me. Great bunch of guys. Only difference is we need extended lunch time for naps.
I’m in my mid 40s and I ride with a group out of cache valley Ut. called “The Gerri toll Gang” which includes a rider who is 94 years old. He’s still a pretty good rider and won’t shy away from a steep hill. He is Amazing. A few of the 70+riders are more aggressive than me. Great bunch of guys. Only difference is we need extended lunch time for naps.
That is great. Met a 72 year old guy at Albany on Saturday who was taking his new AC Sno Pro out for the day with his wife, he also races motorcycles. Said he ran 11 enduros this year as far away as TX from his home of Western SD. I hope to being having that much fun when I'm his age!
Old is relative
Just proves the point that you don't quit riding because you get old but you get old because you quit riding!
Just proves the point that you don't quit riding because you get old but you get old because you quit riding!
i love taking new riders out to the mountains
to see there face when they see all the snow and the trees and all the climbing
then when you take them back home they sleep like no other just beat up and wore out
to see there face when they see all the snow and the trees and all the climbing
then when you take them back home they sleep like no other just beat up and wore out
Y
yardfarmer
Well-known member
Hats off to Dustino and Newbie for staying the course. After silver lake they were saying something about heading to the truck..., We had a great time couple wrecks, couple stucks and new friends!!!!
the guy that i enjoy riding with the most is a 73 yr old dude that just RIPS!!! i have so much repect for this guy, and hope to be half as good as he is! needless to say, i learn a lot from following him!
J
jph3
Member
good on ya himark!
I remember my first trip, I was scared ch!tless. when I asked what to do, the guys said "keep 'er pinned" and laughed.
when we headed up into the alpine, it was steep and narrow and I schmo'ed it a couple times on the off camber stuff and into the trees. they came and helped me out, and laughed.
when we got into the treeless alpine, I was immediately stuck in the deep snow on the flat ground. they came over and grabbed a ski, yelled at me "don't pin the throttle just ease it out!", but then "pin the throttle!" and laughed.
when I finally felt confident enough to try a climb, I got stuck and dug it in on the hill. one of them went up past me, threw me his shovel on the way back down and I dug myself out. got to the bottom of the hill all sweating and panting, sure that I was gonna have a heart attack and they laughed.
got back down to the trucks, loaded up and back to town. while having supper and drinks, they recounted my misery and laughed.
I hated those guys, but I love those guys. 
I remember my first trip, I was scared ch!tless. when I asked what to do, the guys said "keep 'er pinned" and laughed.
when we headed up into the alpine, it was steep and narrow and I schmo'ed it a couple times on the off camber stuff and into the trees. they came and helped me out, and laughed.
when we got into the treeless alpine, I was immediately stuck in the deep snow on the flat ground. they came over and grabbed a ski, yelled at me "don't pin the throttle just ease it out!", but then "pin the throttle!" and laughed.
when I finally felt confident enough to try a climb, I got stuck and dug it in on the hill. one of them went up past me, threw me his shovel on the way back down and I dug myself out. got to the bottom of the hill all sweating and panting, sure that I was gonna have a heart attack and they laughed.
got back down to the trucks, loaded up and back to town. while having supper and drinks, they recounted my misery and laughed.
I hated those guys, but I love those guys.
Yea I can remember mine to. Scared, excited, nervous, and hope I dont f@#$ up and make a fool out of my self any more than normal. Went up to Lookout Pass with my bro and his frinds, got stuck more times than I want to remember. After a couple coctails and laughs I figured that this is heaven. Bad part was when I told the wife Im hooked and I going to buy a slead. Now taking my girls out is what its all about.
Ok guys I have taken some newbies out the last two rides and they are both good kids but they don't want to listen about trail manners,they don't want to help us vets we we get in a pickle but expect us to help them when they get trenched in.I am at a loss as what to do with them.I always take new peeps up and have never had this kind of trouble teaching before.Any sugestions.
I
ItDoAble
Well-known member
Ok guys I have taken some newbies out the last two rides and they are both good kids but they don't want to listen about trail manners,they don't want to help us vets we we get in a pickle but expect us to help them when they get trenched in.I am at a loss as what to do with them.I always take new peeps up and have never had this kind of trouble teaching before.Any sugestions.
Have a non-threatening talk with them. We had a just past newbee rider that after a season we started to avoid, since he'd just sit there and watch us dig and pull. Someone in our group had a talk with him over drinks, and I guess he didn't realize what was going on. I think he was so used to us pulling him out as a newbee, when he got better it was just a bad habit. Also, newbees just plan get tired quicker as they're not 'one' with the sled, yet. The guy did change his behavior, and now is the first to jump in anytime someone is stuck.
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did you take them in the easy way, or the other way?
glad you guys had fun with himark, every ride with him is a learning experience. he is one of the best peeps on the mountain.
I can totally relate to being a newbie. For the past few years I've been riding with my dad and his friends (who are now my friends as well). They are some pretty expirenced riders and they have gotten me into some places I wouldn't get myself into, but with their help and guidance I've become a very competent rider, especially after keeping up with them on a '98 700 RMK 136"x2" when they are on newer M7s and M8s.
You've inspired me to get some of my friends out that have expressed interest in the sport, but don't ride. Thanks Himark!
You've inspired me to get some of my friends out that have expressed interest in the sport, but don't ride. Thanks Himark!
Last year was the first year for my wife and I in the mountains of Colorado. Before then, I had ridden maybe ten times "back east" in upstate New York, and she had never tried the sport. Earlier in the year I bought a couple of used tanks (05 & 03 MXZ's w/142") and we were bound to have a good time. First ever ride was up around Cottonwood Pass with two other couples who had their act together and offered to show us the ropes. As you can imagine it wasn't long before the first exercise in digging came along. When I got done with my introduction as to how to get a sled out, I was hot, sweaty, and near collapse. I figured it was a brute strength thing and I quickly learned that at those altitudes you take your time and proceed smartly! I am a retired Marine and must be beat a couple of times before things make sense... Long story short, we practiced the dig out another 10-15 times that day and nearing physical collapse and wanting someone to put a bullet in my head to put me out of my misery, we headed back to load up. I have a tilt trailer and believe me when I say I begged my experienced friend to put her on. I was absolutely drained. Now realize I am 53 and my wife is 50. Everything on our body hurt; my gosh, even our thumbs hurt from throttling! She looked at me on the way home and for the first time in her life she said, "honey, do you think we're to old for this!!!" We both laughed so hard it hurt. We decided at that point that we would hang in there for at least another ride or two and if the next few rides were as miserable, we would sell the sleds. Honest.
When we walked into the house we must have shown the wear and tear because the kids, without saying anything, began laughing uncontrollably, they could see we were beat bad. It was a race at that point to see who could get to the tub first for a hot soak, and the bottle of Motrin in the closet. All you could hear were moans and whimpers as we could hardly walk at this point.
The event was a true test of our will and what I will call a trial by fire. However, it was the kindness and the "patience" of our companions that to this day, made us stick with it for another try. They are responsible for what has become an almost weekly run from COS to the mountains to enjoy our machines. So much so I upgraded to a newer mountain sled in less then a year to enjoy the sport that we now can't do without. We found all we have to do is contact one of the local clubs and ask to ride along to explore new ground being honest about our evolving experience level and we always have offers to tag along. We have made some great friends and it all began with some folks willing to share the experience and be understanding about what the newbies endure the first fews times out and the challenges that everyone has to work through.
I am very glad to say that a friend and his wife are going to tag along in the near future and I can't wait to share what experience I have to date in order to take them into the mountains to enjoy the sport and to enjoy the thrill of Colorado snowmobiling and to share the incredible scenery, etc. One thing I will do for them that I wish others had done for me is that I will put a bottle of Motrin in my pack-up...!
HiMark, good on you for sharing. I'll buy you an adult beverage of your choice if we ever happen to meet... It's up to all of us to make sure our sport prospers and sharing is the best way. I just hope I continue to get that chance and I never forget the learning curve I went through with others who were patient enough to work me through it.
Semper Fi, safe riding.
Chaos
When we walked into the house we must have shown the wear and tear because the kids, without saying anything, began laughing uncontrollably, they could see we were beat bad. It was a race at that point to see who could get to the tub first for a hot soak, and the bottle of Motrin in the closet. All you could hear were moans and whimpers as we could hardly walk at this point.
The event was a true test of our will and what I will call a trial by fire. However, it was the kindness and the "patience" of our companions that to this day, made us stick with it for another try. They are responsible for what has become an almost weekly run from COS to the mountains to enjoy our machines. So much so I upgraded to a newer mountain sled in less then a year to enjoy the sport that we now can't do without. We found all we have to do is contact one of the local clubs and ask to ride along to explore new ground being honest about our evolving experience level and we always have offers to tag along. We have made some great friends and it all began with some folks willing to share the experience and be understanding about what the newbies endure the first fews times out and the challenges that everyone has to work through.
I am very glad to say that a friend and his wife are going to tag along in the near future and I can't wait to share what experience I have to date in order to take them into the mountains to enjoy the sport and to enjoy the thrill of Colorado snowmobiling and to share the incredible scenery, etc. One thing I will do for them that I wish others had done for me is that I will put a bottle of Motrin in my pack-up...!
HiMark, good on you for sharing. I'll buy you an adult beverage of your choice if we ever happen to meet... It's up to all of us to make sure our sport prospers and sharing is the best way. I just hope I continue to get that chance and I never forget the learning curve I went through with others who were patient enough to work me through it.
Semper Fi, safe riding.
Chaos
My late father in-law introduced me into riding around 1998, it was an incredible experience. After one trip I had my brother in-law come for a ride with his ZR580. Other friends took us to McBride and we've come along way since.My Dad came for 10yrs and my niece started when she was 12. We as a group push each other when needed, and also reign each other back when also needed. I need to get pulled back a bit, because I get a little high mark euphoria and become a little stupid. We've brought a few people along the way and will have a newbie this year in McBride and one other fellow new to Revy.
I hope that we can all educate the newbies about the "ethics" of the sport, clean up your damn garbage, take enough gas for yourself, help a fellow sledder in need, an prepare yourself for theft. Finally, get "smashed" in the bar, NOT ON THE HILL.
Be safe.
I hope that we can all educate the newbies about the "ethics" of the sport, clean up your damn garbage, take enough gas for yourself, help a fellow sledder in need, an prepare yourself for theft. Finally, get "smashed" in the bar, NOT ON THE HILL.
Be safe.
L
lewey
Member
i always stop to help people stuck, my crew or not. funny the looks people give when a stranger helps them out, definately not expecting it. we're all out there together and two people can do in two minutes what one will take an hour to do. also saves digging a huge *** hole that someones eventually gonna smoke later.
Awesome story Chaos!
I read that to my wife and she laughed alot...mostly because she feels that pain and remembers. Thanks for sharing!
I read that to my wife and she laughed alot...mostly because she feels that pain and remembers. Thanks for sharing!
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