Snowmobile: Organizing and Leading Groups
Organizing a group ride takes careful planning and leadership.
- Riders must adjust their speed and the distance between machines to accommodate the lowest level of riding experience, physical ability, and machine performance.
- Make sure novice riders have adequate training.
- Allow time for all riders to discuss the trip and become familiar with the route.
- Factor in time for rest stops and unplanned delays.
- Plan for breakdowns, dangerous trail conditions, bad weather, and injuries.
- Groups larger than 10 or 12 should split into smaller groups, each with a group leader and a trail sweep. Group sweeps report to group leaders. Group leaders, in turn, report to the trail leader.
- Never leave anyone behind. Forcing riders to catch up increases accident risk.
Crossing Ice in Groups
- Avoid crossing frozen bodies of water whenever you can.
- Never cross ice in single file. If the group leader falls through, single-file riders may not be able to respond quickly enough to keep from following the leader through the ice.
