Snowmobile Basics: Riding Your Snowmobile

Basic Riding Techniques

• Riding Uphill: Lean forward on the machine, preferably in a kneeling position. Apply enough speed to reach the top and don’t stop until you arrive at the crest; otherwise, you might get stuck.
• Riding Downhill: The greatest hazard is loss of control. Stay in the sitting position and pump the brake to stop the machine. Keep the clutch engaged.
• Traversing a Hill: This can be difficult on hard-packed snow. Use the kneeling position. Put pressure on the uphill side of the track by leaning into the hill.
• Turning: Lean into turns to gain more control while turning. Placing more body weight forward and into the turn puts more load on the inside ski and keeps it down on the snow, giving it a better bite.
• Stopping: Pull over to the extreme right. Get off on the right side. Don’t stop on a curve or hill.
• Crossing a Road: Select a crossing point that offers good visibility in both directions. Before crossing, come to a complete stop on the shoulder of the road. Look both ways and yield to any traffic on the road. Drive forward slowly because your snowmobile may be difficult to maneuver on pavement. Drive straight across, not at an angle, to minimize the distance you need to travel.