To ride a snowmobile perfectly you have to follow these simple basic rules:
- Know your sled and gear
- Get a snowmobile license
- Know and obey the laws
- Watch the surrounding areas
- Learn how to operate the sled properly
- Know your limits
If you are a beginner and want to learn how to ride a snowmobile, this post is for you. We at PowerSportsGuide have compiled the basics of sledding under one roof!
How Do You Ride a Snowmobile?
Get to Know Your Sled and Gear
If you are a beginner snowmobiler, it’s essential to know your sled and gear.
Best practice is to first read your sled’s manual. It contains a ton of useful info about its controls, features, and maintenance. You will be amazed at how many questions you will get answered by reading the manual!
You can also find a lot of useful safety info on the stickers as well. There are plenty of them everywhere on your sled! They are there for good reason, so carefully read them before your first ride.
If you want to learn more, you can also read about how snowmobiles work here.
Finally, don’t forget to warm your sled up before you hit the throttle! You can avoid a lot of damage by taking this simple step.
Get a License
To pick up the basics of snowmobiling, it’s a good idea to first get a snowmobile license.
By taking this safety course, you can increase your understanding of basic operations as well as safety. Moreover, taking this course is mandatory in most states for people below a certain age!
However, it’s always wise to get the license, even if your state doesn’t require it.
It’s not only a great starting point for any beginner snowmobiler, but insurance companies also offer discounts if you have a license.
Know and Obey the Laws and Regulations
To stay safe and legal, you have to know and obey all snowmobile laws and regulations. At first glance, the variety can be confusing!
Besides federal and state laws, there are many county and town-specific laws and regulations that must be obeyed. Moreover, trails usually have their own rules!
Snowmobiling may seem over-regulated, but the laws are made for everyone’s safety. Best practice is to check the local laws every time before hitting the trail!
It’s also very important to respect private properties. It’s a common problem that sledders leave the trails and ride on private properties, causing a lot of headaches for landowners.
To avoid these issues, it’s recommended that you stay on the trails. If you want to leave the trail at all cost, always make sure that you can do it legally.
Watch out for Others
If you are riding on the trail, it’s essential to pay attention to your surroundings and other riders.
If you ride in a group, you should also avoid riding side-by-side. Best practice is to keep to the right as much as possible and ride single file at a safe distance.
If the following distance is too short, it can lead to accidents on the trails. And it’s never fun to crash into one of your riding buddies!
You may want to know the hand signals and how to use them to communicate with other sledders.
You should not only check the signals with other riders but your whole surroundings. Always obey the signals, as they are there for the right reason.
Watching the ground in front of the sled is a typical beginner mistake. Best practice is to look ahead and constantly plan your route.
Learn How to Control Your Snowmobile
Now let’s drill into the details and see how to control a snowmobile!
Many beginner snowmobile riders think that sledding only means hammering the throttle and moving the handlebar. But they are wrong!
Simply put, to ride a snowmobile perfectly you have to control your speed at all times, while steering the sled properly, and shifting your weight continuously. Moreover, all of these actions must be consistent with each other!
When it comes to throttle control on snowmobiles, the general rule is you always have to apply some throttle to maneuver the sled. It may surprise many beginners, but the spinning track helps you keep control of the sled.
On the other hand, you have to control your speed at all times. Reckless driving and too much speed is the leading cause of snowmobile accidents.
Always keep one or more fingers on the brake and be prepared to use it if necessary.
Besides proper steering and throttle control, you have to continuously “play” with your weight. This means you have to lean into the turns and shift your weight forward or backward as the terrain changes.
Here are some basic tips on how to ride a snowmobile in different situations:
When you ride uphill
- Ride in a kneeling position. It helps you to lean uphill and shift your weight forward.
- Always maintain a steady speed (you will need to increase the throttle).
- Never stop until you reach the top. If you stop on the slope, it can be difficult to start again. In the worst-case scenario, you can even burn the belt on the sled.
When you ride downhill
- Always use a sitting position. Sit as far back as possible on the saddle.
- Look ahead, plan your route, and stay focused.
- Control your speed at all times, as losing control can lead to dangerous situations.
- Never release the throttle, as it also helps you to maintain a lower speed and control the sled.
- Avoid sudden braking, as it can cause your sled to slide on the slope. Instead, pump the brake continuously to keep your speed low.
When you traverse a hill
- Always ride in a kneeling position. Your uphill leg should stand on the footrest while kneeling with your downhill leg on the seat.
- Try to move your weight to the uphill side of the sled and lean uphill.
- Traversing on hard-packed snow can be difficult as your sled may slide on it. Try to find another route covered with fresh snow.
Know Your Limits
Whether you are an advanced or a beginner snowmobile rider, one of the most important things is to always be aware of your limits.
If you are a complete beginner, it’s recommended that you start practicing on the trails, even if you are more interested in off-trail riding.
This is because riding on the trails is a great way to pick up the basics of snowmobiling. It’s always much easier and safer compared to operating the sled in deep powder!
Once you get some riding experience and confidence, you can consider discovering the backcountry.
To keeping safety in mind, riding at night or with passengers is also not recommended for beginner snowmobile riders. Carrying a passenger changes the center of gravity and controllability of the sled.
On the other hand, riding in a group is also a safe way to learn the basics of sledding. That’s why you may want to ride with others especially on your first trips!
If you haven’t any buddies to ride with, you should consider learning from professionals. Although the online courses are very useful, they can only teach you the basics of how to ride a snowmobile.
If you feel you need some real-life experience, you can take part in a snowmobile riding course. Sledding is quite an expensive sport, so why would you try to save on your safety?
Is it Hard to Snowmobile?
As you can see, snowmobiling is not hard at all. Just make sure to get to know your sled, learn the basics, and obey the local rules and regulations. While riding on trails is the easiest way to enjoy snowmobiling, off-trail rides require much more skill and muscle work. So, if you are considering riding in powder, be prepared for a lot of practice and some hard moments as well!
Beyond the continuous bodywork in powder, the biggest concern is always getting stuck in deep snow. Even if there are techniques on how to get your sled unstuck, beware that it’s not an easy task!
Conclusion – How Do You Start Snowmobiling?
You can start snowmobiling safely and easily if you follow these simple steps:
- Know your sled and gear (read the manual carefully!)
- Get a snowmobile license, and a training course is also recommended.
- Learn and obey the local rules and regulations.
- Watch out for other riders and your surroundings.
- Learn how to properly operate the sled (including steering, throttle control, and shifting body weight).
- Know your limits and always control your speed.
- Never ride alone!
If you are a complete beginner, best practice is to learn from more advanced riders. If it’s possible, try to find some experienced sledders to ride with.
Your other options could be training courses, or guided snowmobile tours.
All of these are great ways to learn how to ride a snowmobile safely and securely!
References:
https://dsgouterwear.com/blog/beginner-snowmobiling-10-thing-i-wish-i-knew/
https://www.loftypeaks.com/blog/snowmobile-tips-for-beginners/
https://www.snowmobile-ed.com/ia/handbook/operating_techniques_smb.htm
