Unfamiliar Riding Partners

[turbolover]

I am just trying to find out some info.
I like to go to a new location that I haven't ridden before at least once every year. I am not an expert rider but can hold my own and get where I want to go usually.

I have ridden with several people that I have met on snowest or other places that the first time I have met them in person was loading or unloading sleds. Sometimes it is a necessity of work schedule or them being from out of town and even me wanting to try a new area.

I would like to know how many people would be willing to show a fellow sledder around. Whether it is a rider from your area or someone from out of town. Would you take a rider along as just someone that needs a riding partner, a person unfamiliar with the area or even someone just getting into the sport.

Let me hear your opinions.



Tell me your reasons why would be willing to do this or your reservations of why not.

 

[Scott]

I cam imagine there are a lot of reasons for and against meeting up with someone new. In no particular order:

Cons:
Don't know what type of riding you prefer.
Don't know your riding ability.
Don't know your avalanche knowledge.
Don't want my riding area over exposed to new riders.
Timing isn't right, due to other commitments.

Pros:
Meeting new people.
Making new friends.
New riders need someone familiar with that area.
The chance to tow out someone new instead your buddy that always breaks down.
It's snowmobiling, you get to ride.
They'll take you in their home riding area someday.

What else?
There can be so many more reasons for either list.
The cons can easily be remedied... The Pros almost always outweigh the cons.


I met one of the best sledhead mechanics I've ever known (turbotater) on the side of the highway in Challis, ID as a result of a chance PM suggested by F-bomb.
Sunridge Sledhead and I have a great AX MURDERER story about the first time we met. LMFAO.
Some of the people I trust my life with more than anyone else in the world are the guys I've met right here on this forum after taking a chance meeting them.

Great thread topic.

 

[slash]

I will take somone new out any chanch I get ,I may not be where or riding the way I wanted but Im riding

 

[modsledr]

As long as there is at least one other person along that I know and trust, then it would be no problem inviting someone new along...as long as you've had some avalanche training and hopefully some first aid knowledge...we like to ride deep into the backcountry, so the people we ride with we are trusting with our lives if sh!t hits the fan.

 

[Arctic Thunder]

I don't have any problems riding with someone new.

Of course a couple phone calls would be required to figure out what we are working with. Like others said. Skill level, sleds, etc. Then I would plan the trip according to their style and experiance.

As for riding areas. Honestly I would keep the "Premium" spots out of the picture on the first ride. Those spots are hard to find and unless they are "Close" riding buddies they kind of stay hard to find.

Don't expect a home run on the first date if you know what I mean.


I have been on the other side of this coin a couple times also. I have contacted several guys north of the border here on SW and have found some good friends and riding buddies. But I am sure they didn't take us to the Honey Holes on the first trip. But they sure made the rides awesome.

Thunder

 

[backcountryislife]

I take new people out all the time. I find my riding style doesn't mesh with most folks, so most of the local guys I don't ride with often. I love showing new guys around, but not gonna show them any special stashes right off the bat.

I find that about 1 out of 10 people I really enjoy riding with, or they have our same riding style, and it's always fun finding that next person who we know we'll have fun with next time we've got a chance to ride with them!

Plus it's fun taking someone out, scaring them a tad, showing them around... good times!

 

[Dogmeat]

I would say that 1/2 the people I ride with on a regular basis are people I've met on this site.

%90 of the people I've met and ridden with I probably still ride with at least a couple times a year ..

But, you do always sort of have the conflicting personality thing going on. It's just a simple fact of life.

Not everyone rides the same way you do, not everyone does the same thing, etc.

It's good to meet new people, and the simple truth of the matter is you never know till you try.

Sometimes you meet douche bags, its just kind of all part of the deal.

 

[backcountryislife]

Sometimes you meet douche bags, its just kind of all part of the deal.

yeah... every now & then you run into someone like dogmeant...


You riding this weekend dog??????

 

[TurboT]

I enjoy taking new people to show them how great the sport is but will only do it if I have @ least one other experienced rider in the group. This year my friends and I have taken 4 new-to-the-sport people on rides. I think it is very important to make sure they have fun though and not push them too hard or it will leave a bad taste in their mouth! Plus, having another experienced rider in the group helps on the back by the end of the day

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I enjoy taking new people to show them how great the sport is but will only do it if I have @ least one other experienced rider in the group. This year my friends and I have taken 4 new-to-the-sport people on rides. I think it is very important to make sure they have fun though and not push them too hard or it will leave a bad taste in their mouth! Plus, having another experienced rider in the group helps on the back by the end of the day

So you wanna ride. You can't be to far away.

I am all for it, but I don't ride without becons, I go where is safe or not at all. Many times I go up by myself and hook up with the first riders I find and sometimes jump from one group to another, so where I am the tag along its not my option to control the ride, sometimes I do sometimes I ride where they want its still riding. Everyone I have met has been a good experience. Most of the time when I get stuck theres not much option for help so the help isn't a must but I always make sure someone is watching or could bail me out or I don't go. more or less if its safe, go for it. I've even been out with heavy drinkers, not the best idea IMO but usually a good time and I take it pretty easy, and at least they have one sober person to make sure everything is taken care of. As for the sweet spots, if they can follow me to them they earned it, some disagree but riders that can ride or challenge me are the ones I want coming back. I have worked on random sleds for people and even pulled a few out, they where thankful and I was glad to help. Good times, ride safe.

 

[ACMtnCat]

I have met some really cool people while riding or in the parking lot. Met a few on Snowest that have been some of the nicest and coolest people I know!

Being snooty and full of yourselves thinking "we ride where that person can't" is OK a few times every now and again, but you miss out sometimes by hiding in the those spots. I have taken some of "those people" to some of my secret stashes and had a blast with them! And it's fun hanging with locals in their spots and having them show you around when your out by yourself somewhere. The BEST rides can be made by meeting someone new somewhere new! That's what makes snowmobiling fun year after year for me. It gets boring being able to go super gnarly places all the time.

I love being out in the backcounrty and seeing "THE DUDE" and his girlfriend that ride the old sleds that we see from time to time or that one guy from up north that rides the turbo dragon that rides like he's on crack! We all get big smiles on our faces and give each other high fives or the wave and it's great! I love it!

It's like a box of trix, you never know what your going to get inside. Be smart and ride where you are not putting some newbie in deaths way and have fun!

 

[christopher]

Without a doubt, some of the best times this last season have been on rides with people I met here on SnoWest who I never saw before we were unloading our sleds.

Taking our new riders is fun, its very cool to see the excitement in their faces as they get to participate in this sport for the first time!

 

[TurboT]

So you wanna ride. You can't be to far away.

I am all for it, but I don't ride without becons, I go where is safe or not at all. Many times I go up by myself and hook up with the first riders I find and sometimes jump from one group to another, so where I am the tag along its not my option to control the ride, sometimes I do sometimes I ride where they want its still riding. Everyone I have met has been a good experience. Most of the time when I get stuck theres not much option for help so the help isn't a must but I always make sure someone is watching or could bail me out or I don't go. more or less if its safe, go for it. I've even been out with heavy drinkers, not the best idea IMO but usually a good time and I take it pretty easy, and at least they have one sober person to make sure everything is taken care of. As for the sweet spots, if they can follow me to them they earned it, some disagree but riders that can ride or challenge me are the ones I want coming back. I have worked on random sleds for people and even pulled a few out, they where thankful and I was glad to help. Good times, ride safe.

I reside in Laramie now so usually ride the Snowies most of the year. Grew up riding Cooke and TOTW but only ride there around Christmas time. Miss the good old days of riding into Cooke and West Yellowstone. It is a complete zoo in the Snowies on the weekends!!! If you ever come down to ride the Snowies look us up-Team 7220! We only ride with beacons, etc. also

 

[christopher]

I suppose if our goal is to keep this sport alive and healthy, then we need to make a concerted effort to keep bringing people into the sport, and making it easier for them to find good riding partners who can teach them the skills and techniques they need to make it fun and safe.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

yeah every once in a while we take out the newbies like Christopher but usually its just to let my buddy's 10 year old know he's not the worst rider in the group. (JK) This year the kid is really starting to get the hang of things, just needs a little more led in his arse..

 

[firecatguy]

I have met alot great people sledding!!!last year was the exception.......had a guy from another website i talked with few times, he has no one to ride with so he asked if he could meet us out west in dec to ride with us.....I said sure then told my friends I had let a guy join us.....well we drove out to Jackson to meet local friends!! this said guy showed up 2 days after we got there.......short story------my friends where pissed at me the guy was stuck all day long, he even got stuck in the pk\lot in foot of fresh behind his truck then fell over before we got to the trail........I got alot bad looks from my friends.......this has effected the openness of our group big time.....

 

[smokindave]

Most of the people that I have ever rode with are people that I have met here on Snowest.

I only know a couple of people that sled and trying too hook up with them can be a hassle,we all have lives that are WAY to busy and making plans is tough.

In all the sled trips that I have gone on with people met on site there is only one group that I hooked up with that I wouldn't sled with again,they abandonded me when I got stuck at the top of a nasty climb. other than that,all the others that I have met are now friends.

I use the forum more for finding riding buddies than anything else,a section in each of the riding areas for people looking too hook up with would be an asset to the forums for all.

 

[turbolover]

ok so this is kinda what I am seeing others want and info I would want to know myself.
PMs back and forth can be used for more information but this is info that could things started.

What else would you like to see?

Example 1
I am going riding (DATE & TIME) in the Big Hole Mountains East of Rexburg.
My sled 2011 PRO-RMK 163
Boondocking and some hillclimbing. Nothing extreme.
Beginners and new riders are welcome.
need ride / Split fuel costs
Require beacon, probe and shovel (I don't ride without em..PERIOD)
(I will admit I need to update my avy course skills.been a few.class next year)


Example 2
Rheas Peak / Mt Jefferson** Advanced riders recommended
(Insert date)
My ride 2011 Pro RMK 163
Hillclimbing/boondocking
Enclosed 4 place trailer / split fuel costs
Beacon, probe & Shovel NOT AN OPTION.


Example 3
I WANT TO RIDE!!!!!! Eastern Idaho (DATE HERE)
PRO RMK 163
tell me where I can meet you.


(I do not try to take chances with avalanches but after having to dig another rider out of one it isn't an option in my opinion to have operational avy gear) I wear it on a field ride with my kids.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I would never invite an unknown on a trip, maybe for a day locally. Usually on this forum you can get an idea pretty quick of someones ability just by there wording and questions.

 

[ippielb]

I'm glad to hear that most people would take someone new out on a trip. I'm looking to take a trip out west, but i would definitely show anyone around my area. Here we got no avalanche's so i don't need to be worried about their skill, first time, or professional. Everyone around here needs to have a good time in the valley's.