Tired of digging out!!

[Viper_Kid_57]

anybody have some tips on riding these old steeds in the powder? seems like i get stuck because the front pushes a lot of snow...
On the plus side im getting good at getting unstuck!
sled is 2002 viper with hartman 136 and skid relocation with 1.22 ice attack xt track

 

[02YamiSxViper]

Lean back and don't stop... Haha. Mechanically you can do, better skiis, longer track and skid, bigger paddle and weight reduction. These were trail sleds, the mountain is a 144 I believe.

 

[Viper_Kid_57]

haha i think thats my biggest problem, i start looking at where to go next and stop... what usually shortly follows is a big old "F**K"

 

[low slung]

These sleds came from era(1990s-early 2000s)when most snowmobiles were shaped like a bathtub with trailing arms(or a-arms in cats case).A lot of surface area to push.The only real solution would be really wide skis(mountain skis off any Yamaha)and the widest skid plate you can get.

 

[Agpetro]

I just long tracked my viper to a 144x1.25 before this winter season. Very big difference in the deep snow. Floats really good but need to get wider skis for the front. I have the big skid plate on mine and I keep the speed up which helps stay up. I only got the sled stunk once in the last five years and of course it was this year being long tracked lol.. Not fun digging it out of a drift that is up to my neck. Hit the drift way to slow. Also having more power I think helps out a lot. I'm running triple pipes on my sled. Only down side is getting the " viper bog ".

 

[chris700readhead]

I have using project sx skis on my sx you wouldn't believe what skis will do for you there 7.5" wide I've only been stuck twice with them.

 

[Viper_Kid_57]

i was thinking about C&A razors.. still ride mostly trail but want a good off trail sled too

 

[A couple of bucks]

Some wider skis will help immensely. Put USI Triple threat X2s on the kids SX6. Floats like dream. Handles we'll on the trails too.
http://www.usi-skis.com/index.php?p...n=com_virtuemart&Itemid=85&vmcchk=1&Itemid=85

http://m.ebay.com/itm/161000248979?nav=SEARCH

 

[Ding]

Yes wider skis is critical. The Yamaha Mtn Skis are very good. Stay on your feet (don't put even your knee on the seat) you need to move your weight around front to back and side to side reacting to what the sled is doing and where you are going next. There is a happy medium for throttle, don't just pin it when in deep. Find the sweet spot which is different depending upon the situation. You can also help the track climb on top by working the sled side to side. In other words don't just let the track sit on the same plane or it will go steadily down. Only stop pointed downhill (at least slightly). Plan ahead far enough so you can concentrate on the immediate terrain better. Incidentally year after year I seem to forget most of this and have to relearn it over and over again. It does come back quickly, but summer is far too long to keep my limited skills sharp.

Also, watch any boondocking video that shows Bret Rasmussen or Chris Burandt. There are many many very good riders out there, but these 2 have the sled control concept mastered. Mortal men can't do what they do, but we can sure learn things by watching them.

Oh, and did I mention don't fail to see and avoid little insignificant trees that grow suddenly just as you make contact and become big enough to knock you clean off your sled. That rarely turns out very well, or so I've heard . . .

Another thing I have learned is to accept and even enjoy (to a point) being stuck. If you aren't getting stuck, you aren't trying hard enough.

 

[Viper_Kid_57]

yes ive started to enjoy that.. especially since ive gotten better at getting unstuck!! usually when i get stuck its preceeded by doing something really cool, cool to me at least... i just gotta keep working on it! and put some skis on once i get some more money!