Two new teenage riders what to do ?

[afrank3594]

This year I have two new riders that I get to take with me and show them the ropes. My girlfriend two kids are finely are going to go with us. The boy is 14 and the girl is 12. Any hints other than keep them warm and don't get them in over there heads. As soon as we get some snow on the pass for road ridding Ill take them out one at a time so they can get one on one attention for the first time ( and it makes it easy for me to keep an eye on just one kid) .
Anyone use a throttle stop? I was thinking of using a section of rubber hose under the throttle and hold it on with a wire tie.

 

[sledhead699]

the throttle stop sounds like a good idia Good luck wit that

 

[onlyrotax]

Throttle stop works, I just cut a piece of styrofoam and taped it behind the throttle for my grandson. Started out thick and shaved it down until I got the speed I wanted.

 

[907rev800]

i would just port and pipe there sleds and let them rip. why hold them back from there true potential?

 

[afrank3594]

Why I dont let them go crazy- two words INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE but you do have a point a piped and ported Phazer would be dead half way off the trailer or leave parts on the trail so fast it wouldn't be an issue of them running into anything it would be an issue of me towing them back to the trailer having them sit in the truck all day as we ride , them running the battery down as they listen to the radio , me having to get a jump , them *****ing about it, me haveing to listen to them ***** , me leaving them on the side of the pass someplace , fighting with there mom , me leaving her on the side of the freeway.
Im thinking that a throttle stop and warm cloths is the way to go.

 

[Ollie]

If they are riding a phazer I wouldn't worry about a throttle block.
It doesn't have that much power to begin with and they may need that power for turning or climbing, or to just pin it for short blasts.

Just take em out and take it easy. They will get used to it pretty fast. A phazer is a good sled to start on.

 

[cobbycat]

I have 2 kids, one 7, one 15. Patience and don't scare them off of sledding. take it at their pace. it will suprise you how fast they advance! my 15 year old daughter is one of my favorite riding buddies now. she rids a 700 powder special (no throttle stops)and rides my m1000 often as well.

 

[BlueBYu]

I have 2 kids, one 7, one 15. Patience and don't scare them off of sledding. take it at their pace. it will suprise you how fast they advance! my 15 year old daughter is one of my favorite riding buddies now. she rids a 700 powder special (no throttle stops)and rides my m1000 often as well.

Every kid is different, them not being yours its hard to say "you'll know what's best for them" unless you have spent a lot of time with them. For my 13 year old I let him ride my M7 153 MOD. It turned out that he wasn't riding it hard enough to cool it down so he normally will ride my stock M1000 when we go out. The cool thing about sleds is anyone can ride them....it's completely up to the person as to how fast they want to go! Take them to a nice "open" area the first time to let them feel comfortable and to see how they react. I think you'll find you guys will be off trail in no time!

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

^^^^^^what he said, plus patience, more patience and then a little more for good measure,, and take them out togeather,show them both the basic control and manuever functions at home then load up take them somewhere wide open and flat without a lot of others around and let them follow you..first thing they will do is rear end you or each other ..they always follow too close..its ok.. that is how they learn..best training tool I have found..collet helmet communicators...for the whole family..allows you to tell them what to do , talk them thru rough areas, let them know when other sleds are passing on the trail, as well as congradulate them and praise them every time they do something good....also quality gear as well as helmet, tekvest,boots, gloves....and when they get into mountain riding, beacons,shovels probes and training...good luck...

 

[NWGooser]

Keep them warm, keep them safe and keep them smiling. Fight the temptation to growl when you spend most of your day digging them out. I think it is important to laugh with them (not at them) when they get stuck or whatever. My 15 yr old daughter is my favorite riding partner. I like to let her lead and set the pace. That way I can keep an eye on her and know that I'm not pushing too hard.
I have spent many hours digging her out. It always made me a little proud though when she was trying something just a little tougher.

Remember, if they're not stuck, they're not riding. Don't under estimate the value of hot pots. It's great family time when you stop for a warm snack and talk about what you've been through.

 

[sdobbs20]

the first time i ever got to ride by myself it was on a 600rmk. all my dad told me to do was stay on my side of the trail, don't crash, and try to keep up.

it's worked so far...


in all seriousness though, youv'e got to be patient. there were times when i would get stuck 5 times in an hour and my dad would have to help dig me out and i could tell he was getting tired and upset about it. and with how he treated it and handled the situation just kind of made me want to leave and go home.

you'll learn soon enough that kids learn much quicker than most adults do. it will be fun to watch them progress.

 

[afrank3594]

Thanks for the input. I was blessed with one of those dads that would spend the entire day smiling, laughing and watching his three boys learn the ropes. He never got mad, yelled or made us feel bad about not knowing something. I guess I learned my patience from him and I get to pass it on.
Im just excited to share someting that I enjoy so much.

 

[donbrown]

Why I dont let them go crazy- two words INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE but you do have a point a piped and ported Phazer would be dead half way off the trailer or leave parts on the trail so fast it wouldn't be an issue of them running into anything it would be an issue of me towing them back to the trailer having them sit in the truck all day as we ride , them running the battery down as they listen to the radio , me having to get a jump , them *****ing about it, me haveing to listen to them ***** , me leaving them on the side of the pass someplace , fighting with there mom , me leaving her on the side of the freeway.
Im thinking that a throttle stop and warm cloths is the way to go.

You know your children better than us.

Do what gets the CHILDREN AND YOU COMFORTABLE.

Maybe a tether so when they fall off or get off the seld turns off.

On the last day of riding last year I put my 5 year old daughter on a 120 with her older sisters looking on. She was instructed several times what to do and played for hours on Mom and Dad's sled pretending to ride.

Pointed her 180 degrees away from us , our gear and the trailer.
Gave her a hug , pat on the back and said go for it.

She was so nervous she hit the throttle did a 180. Hooked my new REIMA jacket on one ski and my new MX helmet on the other ski ... proceeded downhill till she rolled it and crashed into the trailer. All the time Dad yelling squeeze the brake , let go the throttle. She was going a few miles an hour but the faster I tried to catch her the deeper each step went.

I wish I had it on tape !!! The only thing damaged off course was my new scratched up and missing vent cover helmet and torn jacket.

I ended it with a hug and a kiss and said good job princess but next time pick up Daddy's gear with your hands and not with the skis.

And yes my parenting style has caused a bald spot on my head.

 

[Ultra]

Definently a tether, do not go without one!
Family day is just that, we go as fast as the entire family goes or should I say doesn't go.

 

[sled*dunk]

My son is now 15. I am amazed how quickly he learned. He was lucky that he had a dad, some great club members, and an uncle to teach him so many things I can't even list them all. First, he wouldn't be riding at all if he wasn't responsible and didn't listen. He was also taught how dig himself out (not that you don't need help) and now he helps dig everyone else out. At first he wasn't quite big enough but he still helped and learned. He learned the hard way if you climb certain hills and get stuck you are on your own. He got himself out.
He is taught safety at every opportunity just in case he gets separated etc. He wears a beacon and I make him take an avalanche class every year (he is a teenager afterall who loves to hill climb). He carries his own radio, food, clothing and survival items of course. His dad teaches him how to maintain his sled and fix problems etc.

 

[afrank3594]

After waiting for two hours for the pass to open, unloading in the rain and ridding to the top of the pass in the rain we all made it back in one piece and everyone had a good time. The boy got stuck in a ditch with in the first two miles, after that he learned his lesson and got himself out of most stucks. The little girl was a trooper and plugged away with wet fogged goggles . I think it was the worst day Ive been out in 3 years. By the time we got to McDonalds everyone was ready to go again . I did a lot of pats on the back and checking if everyone was OK .

I learned a coulpe of lessons no hair in the seal of the goggles , extra gloves , some snacks and I should have taken my little stove for a warm drink at the top.


I just dont want my normal ridding budies to get the idea that Im going to help them and keep swapping goggles . I think we are going up again when the rain stops.

 

[BCDan]

It was your attitude that made a nasty weather day into a great sledding day! Kids don't understand bad weather or good weather, to them, it's just weather! It's the adult spin we put on it that makes it bad or good.

Way to go, you now have some lifetime riding partners! It is so important to make that first experience positive, regardless of the weather or conditions. Sounds like a really fun time to me too!

 

[snojunkee]

family friendly sport

man, that's great,gettin' the kids out with you is one of the most rewarding experiences for a familymy daughter started out on a 340 yamaha,later i found a nice indy 500 for her.she loves to go riding.we always keep it safe, and the more friends the merrier.always helps to take plenty of snax,hot chocolate,and dry clothes.when she was 12 she took the snowmobile safety class offered here in washington,good idea for anyone.sometimes we just take the kids to the lake bed, where it's nice and open, build a fire,sit there and watch the kids rip around.anyway you look at it time spent with your kids are GOOD TIMES.have patience and keep 'em safe!!!

 

[Hambone24]

throttle stop? never! respecting the machine and knowing its abilities is part of being a pure rider i think. its all part of the learning process.
14? why they waitin so long to start riding. my buddies and i were up in the mountains on our own sleds when we could barely touch the running boards.
but that aside, i think the one on one attention is a great idea. then its just a matter of getting the time in on the machine. Them being close to the same age should be a good thing because they will push each other to become better riders. I know with my buddies we are always trying to one up each other and that makes us better.

 

[Hambone24]

aww the yamaha 340...great memories. those things have got to be one of the most reliable sleds out there. great learning sled