“Broden, you awake?”
“Yeah.”
“Me too. Let’s go get dressed.”
The voices were a barely contained whisper that echoed through the silent, dark house. Both Landon and Broden had something to be excited about: they were riding their ’03 Polaris 340 Edges for the first time on their own.
Their father Dax, president of Team 7220, a snowmobile club out of Laramie, Wyoming, had also been waiting for this day for a long time. Part of Team 7220’s mission is to get young riders excited about snowmobiling.
“Having kids ride ensures the future of the sport,” said Dax. “Plus, all the good riders you see, the professionals, most of them started when they were young.”
Getting young riders interested in snowmobiling shouldn’t be difficult, especially if they’ve been exposed to the sport before. Most kids are drawn to the outdoors and the need to go fast—Landon and Broden are, but they have also been riding as passengers since they were two and four. However, long before they were plopped onto their own sleds, there were things they needed to learn. The first of these lessons was throttle control.
Learning throttle control
We all know how fun it is to fly down the trail or through an open field with the sled wide open, but it’s not always safe. There are corners that have to be negotiated and other riders that have to be watched for. The terrain can dip and change without warning, and it’s important for riders to know how to navigate the land.
While the boys were still riding with us, we made it a point to let them “drive” the sleds. In a controlled manner, they were allowed to push the throttle and take us down the trail. We told them when to slow down and when they could go fast. We also showed them how to lean and steer. With our coaching and guidance, they learned the basics of riding.
But having the basics down doesn’t mean they are ready to ride. It’s one thing for kids to listen to instructions and obey commands, but it’s completely different once they are on the sled by themselves. They don’t have anyone telling them what to do. They believe they have everything figured out, that they can do whatever they want. They’ll test those limits, see how far they can go before being stopped, either by an adult or the terrain. But this type of lesson is just as important as being right there with the kid. It gives them the chance to rely on themselves and figure out exactly what they have to do to ride.
Landon and Broden were thrilled to be on their sleds by themselves. No doubt they thought they could finally ride the way they wanted to ride, which meant going as fast as they wanted to go without anyone telling them to slow down. And they did. Thankfully, their Polaris model's top speed is only around 50 miles per hour, but that is still fast for a child riding through trees or around other people.
The boys were fearless. They flew down the meadows and navigated through the trees. Broden got overconfident and pushed the throttle in as far as he could. The sled responded with a rush of speed and grazed a pine tree, throwing Broden off his momentum and stranding the sled in the snow.
Landon, meanwhile, was taking full advantage of climbing the hills in the area. He had been up and down several times, following the older riders and having a great time conquering the incline. Like his brother, he became overconfident in his abilities. He let go of the throttle and attempted to turn out of the hill before reaching the top. The sled tipped onto its side, throwing Landon into the snow, then proceeded to roll over him. Another Team 7220 rider was close enough to pull him out from under his sled, but the incident left him shaken. Tears flowed freely and fear shook his body. Landon had no desire to get back on his sled.
Learning from experience
Kids can be fearless, but they can also be incredibly fragile when something scares them. Broden was told that he needed to slow down when riding through the trees, otherwise he could hit one and hurt himself or get killed. He was told that if he wanted to go fast, he needed to do it out in the open where he couldn’t run into things. Since he wanted to stay in the trees, he slowed down.
Landon’s wreck left him feeling slightly defeated and a little sore. Accidents happen. Even professional riders wreck, and that’s important to let kids know. Because of this reality, it’s imperative kids wear the proper equipment. Landon and Broden don’t get on their sleds without helmets, chest protectors and proper boots, along with the necessary layers to keep them warm.
After an upsetting accident, getting a child back on the sled may be challenging, but it’s important not to push too hard. If they lose their confidence while riding, it’s a good idea to build it back up. To do that, you must recognize that what happened was frightening, but then talk them through ways to avoid crashing in the future and help them gain their confidence back. That’s how Dax got Landon back on his sled.
“It is a blast to see young kids get excited the first time they hop on a sled and take control of it,” said Dax. “Being the only one who is controlling the snowmobile teaches them responsibility for their actions on and off the mountain.
“They also get to experience new terrain that they wouldn’t be able to experience in the summer. They are able to get out in the fresh air and be in nature with nothing but their thoughts. It is very freeing for a child to experience that. It is also very fulfilling for me as a parent to watch them grow up and be comfortable in nature.”
Teaching kids to ride and enjoy snowmobiling is essential in making sure the sport endures. The first lesson any child—or any rider for that matter—needs to learn is throttle control. While it seems simple and a no-brainer for us, kids don’t always understand how important this really is. They are often focused on going fast. Getting them out there, having patience, showing them what to do, and having them make mistakes is the best way for them to learn. With time and practice, they’ll become seasoned riders.
