How To Advice for Riding Point on Snowmobile Tours…
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Related: How To Ride Like A Pro
My top snowmobiling tips for riding point on snowmobile tours or snowmobile vacations come from many years of experience. Maybe I’m getting paranoid. Do I tempt fate each winter as I ride over 10,000 kilometres on tour for snowmobile magazines? I’m always riding point for our crew and wondering what will happen next…
Over many years of snowmobiling, my concern is well founded. On two occasions as the lead sled, I’ve come within a hands breadth of smucking into a moose. Both times, a large wall of churning brown hide suddenly filled my visor without warning. And both times, before I had any chance to react, the beast was gone in a white out of snow dust, leaving behind only tracks on the trail and in my shorts.
I’ve crested a hill to find a deer standing where my skis were supposed to go next, and I’ve actually grazed one that glanced off the side of my sled to disappear back into the bush. I’ve even splattered a partridge all over my windscreen and visor. Yuck!
Fortunately, most of my many wildlife encounters have been far more benign, with me catching only a glimpse of a fast retreating behind disappearing off the trail. But who’s to say that there’s not an ungulate somewhere with my name on it? Unfriendly dogs are bad enough.
Top Snowmobiling Tips for Riding Point – Day time Groomers
Daytime groomers can also be scary. I never know when there’ll be one just around the next corner or over an upcoming hill. Usually, I spot them far enough ahead to get out of their way and signal those behind me. But my ski tips have kissed the blade of an oncoming machine and I’ve had to dump my sled into trailside powder a couple of times.
Top Snowmobiling Tips for Riding Point – Oncoming Riders
Then there’s oncoming riders. I just never know when someone will suddenly materialize ahead. Other than my heart jumping into my throat when that happens, it’s no problem if both riders are staying to the right, as is usually the case.
But when the oncomers are taking their half of the trail from the middle, it can be pretty hairy. And when an oncoming rider signals more coming, but no one’s in sight, I just know that the rest of his group will be riding hard to catch up, so be careful!
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Finally, the one riding point should always Ride Your Side to set the example for the rest of your group. Sticking to the right side of the trail also gives you a better chance of avoiding oncoming sleds taking their half of the trail from the middle!
The tips and advice in this blog are the opinions of the author, may not work in every situation and are intended only for the convenience and interest of the reader, who has the personal responsibility to confirm the validity, accuracy and relevancy of this information prior to putting it to their own use.