Taking son for first trip to the mountains - Whats your RIDING INSTRUCTION advice?

[Jeff C]

Taking my 12 year old son to Idaho this February for his first time.......

So much of riding technique is just natural to me that I forget how to instruct a complete newb on how to have safe fun and not wreck yourself or your sled........

Here is what I have planned for him so far.........

Day one - this will be after a 17 hour straight drive and we get there in the morning, and I am generallyu tired and cranky.

1. Unload the sleds and go out into a flat field near the cabin.
2. Introduce counter-steering and weight transfer
3. Get him on the sled and have him practice while I go 200' back to the cabin and mix up a whiskey coke.
4. After he gets used to doing that, have him roll the sled on its side and practice figure eights, then top off my cocktail as he is doing that.....
5. Then find a small rolling hill and have him try and hold the line of the hill just by countersteering and leaning
6. Same as #5 but then using both feet on uphill running board
7. Same as #6 but then wrong foot forward
8. Then go inside and rest up for the next day of REAL riding when I will be digging his butt out a dozen times

Day 2 - steeper inclines

1. Find a small hill with no obstacles and practice turn outs
2.. Find a small hill that is sideways angled a bit to practice leaning and climbing
3. Find a small hill with some obstacles, stop at the bottom and have him explain his bail out procedure for that hill if he needed it.
4. Find a tree with low branches in a field and have him walk towards it until he drops into the tree well, so he knows to stay away from those suckers.
5. Take two ibuprofen and head back to the cabin and soak in the hot tub with a stiff drink in hand.....


That is as far as I have gotten with a general plan.......

Of course the safety stuff we will already have gone over that several times......

What else would you guys do with a kid who is a newb?

 

[turbolover]

I assume you are coming to IP so Take him up over the Two Top trail and maybe around the Black Canyon Loop.
Back down the Fish Creek Highway and Baker Draw are some other good areas to play. Nothing big just playing.

Those are some fairly easy rides with lots of play areas to get off and play in that he cant get into too much trouble.


Don't look at the trees, look where you wnat to go.
Throttle is your friend, pin it dang it.
Don't let him quit on the first try just because he got stuck on a hill.

Be prepared to dig him out alot, I mean ALOT LOT LOT.
Bring Ibuprofen for your back,
ride off a ways to cuss and swear at him. Then come back to help him.

and most of all PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE.

 

[SnowmoKid]

Well i am 14 yrs old and my first trip to the mountains was 2 years ago when i was 12 and i did fine. But it sure didnt take me two days to master climbing/when to turn out, sidehilling, ect. My grandparents have a cabin up in the blackhills that my dad and I ride out of and i prettymuch learned how to ride the backcountry by watching him and videos on youtube. but when i got stuck or made a mistake we kinda butted heads a little and after that i would feel nervouse because i didnt want to make a mistake. My point is just be patient with him, give him some tips and see if he can figure it out.

 

[turbolover]

Snomokid. I have a 14 year old son and he does a pretty good job of riding. He isn't ready for any video spotlights by any means but neither am I.

I Try not to get upset with him if he makes a mistake. Easy mistakes like not turning out in time and getting stuck or not giving it enough gas are definitely forgivable.

Blowing through an intersection and not looking to see where the others are at or just bombing down a trail with no idea where hes going and not seeing anyone are worthy of a butt chewing.

If he does make a mistake on a climb or sidehill explain to him how to do and then show him how to do it then make him do it.

And listen to him. If he says he isn't comfortable with something don't scare the crap out of him by making him do it.

 

[nathaniel11]

Like said before patience is the key! just as it is teaching any kid something. You dont want to get angry at him otherwise it might push him away from the sport! If he gets stuck show him and help him the first few times and then kinda let him do it himself.
Make it so he looks forward to going out and riding with you

 

[shelbwyo]

Practice! Make him ride from dusk till dawn while you are there so he can get some things figured out, tell him that the throttle is his friend. Bring some friends, would make it easier on your back

 

[treefinder]

anouther good thing to do is just have him follow you and do what ever you do if your on the right he is on the right and that also works with the throtle
my son said that is what he learned the most from

 

[nathaniel11]

anouther good thing to do is just have him follow you and do what ever you do if your on the right he is on the right and that also works with the throtle
my son said that is what he learned the most from

Thats a great idea! I forgot about that first time I went out I just followed my dad and mirrored what ever he did if it was in the flats learning countersteering or if it was learning how to climb and avoid trees

 

[polaris dude]

If he doesn't know trail etiquette then I would definitely teach him that too, you know always stay on the right, use your left hand to signal how many people behind you, and the one that is most important DON'T STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLIPPIN' TRAIL! drives me nuts seeing a whole group camped out on the trail

 

[Hardass]

Just take him out to have a good time just him and his dad. Do not go with a bunch of buddys and try to push him past his ability. JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH YOUR BOY soon enough he will be gone so enjoy it with out a lot of pressure let him set the pace.

 

[Blk88GT]

Keep us posted. My son is 12 in March and I'd like to take him out there too.

 

[allied1]

Hide a beacon and do a few searches. Breaks things up a little and is good practice. Also teach him proper ways to get unstuck. Snobunjie, shoveling, packing snow, rolling sled. He'll help you as much or more later in life with these skills. Take LOTS of mini breaks. A 5er and some water/power bar will keep him going a long time.

 

[907to406]

Hide a beacon and do a few searches. Breaks things up a little and is good practice. Also teach him proper ways to get unstuck. Snobunjie, shoveling, packing snow, rolling sled. He'll help you as much or more later in life with these skills. Take LOTS of mini breaks. A 5er and some water/power bar will keep him going a long time.

I was just going to say you how about some Avalanche education?? Get him started out right and that being safety for himself and riding partners. Can not stress enough how many people come out west to ride and have no clue as to whats going on in the backcountry with snow conditions. Other than that be patient, encourage him and keep it fun. You don't want to turn him off to the sport. Good luck, have fun and be safe.

 

[suitcase]

X2 on all. Make everything about the trip fun! So he goes away wanting more.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

do not yell at him, get mad, shout, cuss..or anything else close to it..ever...dont push him dont go with an agenda..just go out and ride..let him pick his own pace,both on learning and on playin...dont point out every mistake..that just makes them nervous and afraid to try..compounding the issue..instead..show up laughing, bury yourself..just to show him its ok ..first thing I taught both of mine...look out in front of you(and around you) at all times..dont stare at the frt bumper..by the time you see it..its too late to do anything about it..show him before you turn him loose..most of all..it cant be said enough..make it light and fun..and I would let him decide when he has had enough riding every day..most likely he will be very sore after the first day..give him a few aspirin as soon as you park the sled..I would also highly recommend some good safety gear..tekvest, shinpads..just because as a dad nothing is more scary then seeing your kid crash.....keep it light and fun and enjoy father-son time..nothing better in this world...

 

[tmk50]

My kids aren't that old yet - but I would think it would be similar to teaching a wife/girlfriend to ride.

1. Make sure they are warm.
2. See rule #1
3. Have a friend around to help out (pay them up front and afterwards with dinner/drinks)

We have a rule in our group that you never help your own spouse get unstuck. A couple of the guys have kids that are old enough to start riding and that same rule will somewhat apply for the kids as well.

It is important for the parents to have that bond with the kids and teach them, but it will not hurt to have a little help from others once in a while.

A very stupid woman once said "It takes a village...."

 

[christopher]

My kids aren't that old yet - but I would think it would be similar to teaching a wife/girlfriend to ride.

1. Make sure they are warm.
2. See rule #1
"

I have to young ones that ride with me.
Daughter is 10, son is 12.

DON'T LET THEM GET COLD!

The kids cool down faster than adults do as they don't have the body mass we do, and once cold, they don't get warm as fast.

Island park is an excellent place for kids, because the terrain is varied and there are HUNDREDS of miles of great groomed trails and VAST amounts of open space right off the trail to go and play in.

My kids LOVE the open rolling meadows.
Just enough hills/bumps to keep it fun, but not big enough to intimidate them.

 

[IDA rather b sledding]

Having raised 5 to sled I'd offer this. Understand that you will not get to ride exactly where or as much as you want. Young ones just can't last all day and they don't always enjoy what dad does. It will be fun, just a bit slower.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

You are gonna let him have a stiff drink while in the hot tub?? Wow, you are a nifty dad.

Be patient, don't cuss, yell or be a dick. If he has a bad experierence, he'll hate sledding.

 

[Kevin]

This article has some good general advice.
Powder Riding 101 By John Harris, P.E. Wasilla, Alaska
This thread has some great advice!