Tips for Newbs...

[*Clutch*]

Don't eat any yellow snow on the side of the trail. I can't stress this enough.

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[drewvr51]

Originally Posted by WoodDB

good stuff... I've been praying for snow since I've been walking and spent most of my life involved in some sort of snow sport, mainly snowboarding on Mt.Hood... The advice of carrying essentials; maps, gps, compass, etc, has saved my arse a handful of times... Recently, I followed a job to WI and have been in severe altitude withdrawal ever since, hence the sled....

Found out first hand this weekend how easy it is to get turned around on lakes at night (gps saved me) and how many asshats like to rip blind corners and hills but otherwise it was a great 100 mi trip.

One question about speed... Other than the fact that I love it and tend to get over confident a little too quickly, I also don't want to paint a tree with my fluids... I know guys rip on the lakes and long straight sections of the corridor trails but whats the general consensus regarding high speed runs? When do you do it and more importantly when do you refrain?

Just don't get caught in MN.

[Pooks]

stay to the right. this can't be stressed enough.

ride mid-week if you can, traffic on the trails is much lighter, and thus safer

when you take a break at a trail-side establishment, throw some money in the grooming fund jar

[slep64]

Originally Posted by WoodDB

One question about speed... Other than the fact that I love it and tend to get over confident a little too quickly, I also don't want to paint a tree with my fluids... I know guys rip on the lakes and long straight sections of the corridor trails but whats the general consensus regarding high speed runs? When do you do it and more importantly when do you refrain?

i like to know the area before i do any high speed runs. if you are going to do it on a lake, make sure you know where you are going. you do not want to come up to an unexpected ice heave or something similar. i know a few people get hurt hitting heaves going way too fast

[polarisfornow]

Originally Posted by slep64

i like to know the area before i do any high speed runs. if you are going to do it on a lake, make sure you know where you are going. you do not want to come up to an unexpected ice heave or something similar. i know a few people get hurt hitting heaves going way too fast

Just wanted to expand on the ice heaves in case you're not sure what they are. Whenever someone pins the throttle from a stop you get a snow buildup between the track and the snow flap. That can sometimes leave a mound of snow that will eventually freeze into a solid lump. These heaves can literally be anywhere. Back in my trail days if I was gonna do a high speed run I would run the route at moderate speed first to scout it out and then run the high speed run in the same direction that i ran the moderate speed run at. Sometimes the trail or lake can be very different in one direction than it is in the other.


Oh and buy a spot beacon. They are about $90 and if you are ever lost or hurt or whatever they will save your life. I've seen people say that they are kinda expensive but all you need to do is ask your wife if your life is worth $90. If she says no you need a new wife.

[kuips]

I believe the "ice heaves" slep64 is referring to is on lakes when it's below freezing and ice is being made, it expands and has no where to go and it creates a heave. they come out of nowhere when going 100mph+


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[polarisfornow]

Originally Posted by kuips

I believe the "ice heaves" slep64 is referring to is on lakes when it's below freezing and ice is being made, it expands and has no where to go and it creates a heave. they come out of nowhere when going 100mph+


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Ah yes... That's a possibility as well.

[can-amsledder]

Ice heave.

[yamahayzf]

yes he was talking about pressure cracks and ice heaves on the lakes.I hit one before and previously new it was there,just not the exact spot and it was hard to see until it was right in front of you with no time to stop.luckily this was just a nice big hump with a nice face like a good jump.so I hit it head on a 75 at night and my sled took it without any prob. and landed smooth.scared me a bit though.then a friend clipped the edge of it with just one ski doing like 90+ during the day and that just through him off the sled and they both rolled for many ft. sled landed upright and coasted so no damage.If you hit a wall of ice or something bad that can kill or injure you.I just squeeze the throttle and hope for the best no practice runs on every trail that would take to much time and gas.

[Beachums]

Never, ever, never blast down a railroad grade (long straight trail)that you haven't already RECENTLY been down before. I learned my lesson, forgot it, then learned it again. My last lesson involved hitting a 4' bump at about 70 mph. I had no time to slow down....just get my ass off the seat. The outcome was alright but it could have gone much worse if I didn't hit that thing square on.