Ep11 - Perfection Of The Downhill U-Turn

In this episode of Back To Skool™ Bret teaches how to perfect the downhill u-turn in five simple steps: Step one: Get the snowmobile on edge. Step two: Start the u-turn. Step three: Look uphill and choose route. Step four: Anticipate speed needed and when to transfer body positions. Step five: Stay focused on the destination and drive there. Back to Skool is a snowmobile-rider education series hosted by professional instructor Bret Rasmussen. Learn how to ride a snowmobile better, from beginners to experts. To find out more about Bret and Ride Rasmussen Style Schools and book a guided instructional clinic, click here: Like these videos and want to see more? Subscribe here! http://www.youtube.com/c/RideRasmusse... Proudly sponsored by: Ski-Doo | http://www.ski-doo.com Fox | https://www.ridefox.com/subhome.php?m... Boondockers | http://www.boondockers.com Backcountry Access | http://www.backcountryaccess.com Renton Coil Spring | http://www.rentoncoilspring.com ArticFX | http://www.articfx.com Skinz Protective Gear | http://www.skinsprotectivegear.com Produced by: Jon Cracroft | http://www.joncracroft.com Hey folks, I’m your host Bret Rasmussen, and you’re watching Back To Skool! Your guide to riding backcountry terrain, Rasmussen Style! This is Episode 11, and we’re teaching how to perfect the downhill u-turn. We’ll get started in just a moment, but first...“I want to thank Ski-Doo as the title sponsor of Back To Skool. Without the support of our generous sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to provide these videos to you, free-of-charge!” Alright, it’s time to get skooled! Learning the downhill u-turn is a critical skill set needed to navigate backcountry terrain. It allows us to get low enough on the slope to investigate route choice, and still safely turn back up slope, when needed. These are the five steps to the downhill u-turn: First, we need to get the snowmobile onto it’s edge. You can do this by using the techniques we’ve previously taught in videos: 3 through 7. In review, you will need to be moving down slope, in position 3, we call this wrong foot forward. Now, countersteer until the sled tips on its edge with help from the force of gravity, or with the help of the throttle and some human power, if needed. Then, catch the snowmobile at its balance point. You’ll do this using steering and with the assistance of your free leg. Now you can either stop to evaluate the terrain, or go ahead and continue through the turn. The second step, is starting the turn. While on edge, start the turn by applying throttle to gain forward momentum, and lean the sled into the turn. You will be steering into the turn at this point, but not so much that it forces the sled down from it’s edge. You will want to be gaining speed moving forward. Third: Look at your destination. Now that you’re in the turn, you’ll want to look upslope to where you’re going. This will help balance your body and aid in the anticipation of when to come out of the turn. The Fourth step is: anticipating body position transfer: You’ll want to anticipate when to transfer body position as you begin to roll out of the u-turn and head upslope. The goal here is to know when you will need to transfer to the neutral position to successfully come out of the turn. If you are too early, you won’t be facing upslope enough, and you will end up traversing the slope instead of climbing it. If you are too late, you will go into a full circle and end up at the bottom of the turn again, or possibly worse, getting stuck pointed uphill. The last step is to keep your eyes on your destination. As you head out of the turn, look up hill and focus on where you want to go. This will naturally align your body and help you steer in the correct direction. If you have enough momentum coming out of the turn, you will have the control needed to choose your uphill route. If the snow is too deep, or if you didn’t gain enough momentum coming out of the turn, simply turn back downslope, and try again. This time, use your old track as extra runway, to gain traction and speed, this will help you gain the momentum needed to get upslope. Exercise: Now that you understand the five steps of the downhill u-turn it’s time to get out and practice. We suggest starting on a low angle, low consequence slope. As you gain confidence, work your way into harder terrain. And of course, always be conscious about the avalanche danger and other riders below you.