Don't be THAT guy - 10 common mountain rider mistakes 

As a Maine guy that doesn’t have the money to travel or snow/terrain of out West, could you do a video on some flat ground techniques that we can practice for when we eventually get to ride the mountains? Love the videos, Dan!

Went up for a first ride of the season and I was the only one who brought a shovel.... I was not the main user of the shovel that day either.

Awesome video Dan! You're crushing it with great content for the sledding community in general! Keep it up!

All 10 are on point! Great job. I like how you touched on complacency for all of these too. I know I’ve had a few conversations with peers about not being prepared and being okay with it cause nothing had happened for a while.

Thanks so helpful to be prepared and know what a mountain rider needs. Thanks for the great content!

Thank you so much for all the content and informational videos! I've learned a lot in a very short time with there help!

I’m new to snowmobiling this year. I have learned so much from your videos. Thanks for helping me not be that guy. I prefer learning from other peoples mistakes.

i'm in the southeastern manitoba flats..and i do enjoy these informative vid's ......great job Dan!! should've had this education in high school back in '80.. loving it!

Great stuff Dan, thanks for sharing.

Top notch content, as always. 'Hope to attend your clinics next season.

I was that guy yesterday, broke my back axel and had no extra on the trip, so I had to walk back and get some parts and walk back to snowmobile and fix it 😄 Luckily I got a little lift from other riders 😂 Love the videos Dan, keep em coming.

as always a great video from Dan! keep it up

Another great video, thank you! Couple video ideas: 1 - throttle control and usage during jumps - before launch/during launch/while in the air/ and during landing. 2 - any good ideas tips for getting down steep hardback slopes safely. Thanks again!

Great video Dan! Everyone has been and will probably be “that guy” again! Using a check list could be a great way to avoid being “that guy” wether you make your own or use a field book it’s a great way to avoid the mistakes!

Straight 🔥🔥🔥 Great video. Love all the pointers you gave. One of the biggest take-aways from this is that the goal is to be an asset to your riding group, not a liability.

Just want to say thanks all your help is really appreciated

I've never been on a snowmobile, but I still watch these videos. I'm a dual-sport rider and would like to try this sport out some day. I only go to Wyoming / Idaho in Summer. That needs to change!

Great video !! Great advice seen lots guys not prepare and ruined someone’s day

thanks for the help, i am going to get to go to the mountains for the first time this spring!

Pretty neat. The information you share is really valuable to me, personally, in part because I’m new to sleds. I’ve never even heard of a tether. But the idea of having a communication plan hit home as I see a lot of folks in the winter backcountry (skiing) that don’t take communication seriously. They make bird noises and calls, but no serious effort to talk clearly at a distance, ie, radios. Thanks for hitting on it. Hope more people are getting the idea.

Your the man , thank you so much for the very important and possibly life saving information . Cheers m8

Thx dan....always helpful

Great video. You have some amazing training skills I can see.

Love that video! Totally been that gal and havet had my tether on- rolled my sled, and spend next hour looking for my key in the snow...lesson learned!

Great video! I can't count how many times I've encountered 'That Guy' I've gotten razzed for being over prepared over the years. Right up until 'That Guy' needs a helping hand. This applies to nearly every outdoor adventure, hiking, riding Sx's, boating, camping, whatever. It seems to be more evident today or I'm just getting old, which I am. I don't mind helping people but there have been times I thought this would be a great time for a lesson, but I just think it and help the idiot anyway. Once again, Good Stuff!!

Thanks for all your videos I just started snowmobiling this year and have no clue what I’m doing lol!

No matter how much you prepare, everyone always ends up being "that guy" for some reason. So don't beat yourself up about it when it happens.

With my brother, first ride after he got a tether installed (I was "an idiot" for not following suit!). Innocent small highmark, HE WASNT WEARING IT, rolled and jammed the throttle down. Watched the track shred itself apart at full clip upside down and ended up bending the tunnel on failure. Total loss. WEAR THE TETHER. I got one for the next weekend, and WORE it.

Dan, great videos, thanks. An idea for future video might be a few techniques on older sleds. See a lot of comments about how people are getting in to the sport but feel they can not enjoy becuase they are not on a new sled. Maybe an old retro ride on an 97 RMK?

Excellent. This is practical truth abt riding in the back country ! Yes, yes, yes

6:26, im totally with you. "pure sign of weakness" 😅😅 agreed

I am new and have experienced some of these issues. Roosted for example, my buddy NEVER wearing his tether, myself not having everything I need in my pack. Thanks a lot, this was very informative.

Do you think you could give tips on where to ride this year? The snow is hard to chase this year, if you could that would be greats and thanks so the great vid!

Always down to lend a guy some oil if needed, for the other things nice when everyone is safe and prepared as possible. Hope for the best! plan for the worst. Secondary drive belt for the polaris belt drive guys as well is a good one to have . Primary spring is a great one also!!! Great video as usual!!

I've been riding hilly areas for awhile but not the mountains that I live close to and I plan on going this year still. The only thing holding me back is a tether for my axys, so what tether do you recommend? Thank you and keep up the informational videos!

Worst rookie mistake, follow the best guy in your group through the trees and try to navigate 5 ft trenches LoL

Hey Dan! Thank you for your content! Amazing job! Could you please make a video about sled recovery out of the mountains? What equipment do you use and what technics. Thanks again!

Sorry for comment number two, but I have been that guy on several of these, forgot Xtra belt, forgot to charge radio, etc. Love getting new riders in to sport, my number one pet peeve is not working on getting your self out of a stuck. Hahaha, love the pull rope section.

I had a problem with a guy I rode with just taking off and not looking back when he was leading us around the area the rest of us had never riden the area. While we had radios he would end up a half mile plus away on the trail or over another ridge. Dunno if you covered that issue in a video, it should definitely be a #1

As usual, great vid Dan. I'm still mindboggled that you need a primaryspring! Have never need one riding other brands (10yr backconytry riding) but now 3 seasons of polaris it's part of my toolkit. Fingers crossed never broke one yet 😁

Right on 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Great information I'd like to add to Two of your points... 1. The releasing of the pull start doesn't ONLY damage the body/graphics. Releasing the handle at full pull Also GREATLY increases the wear on both the recoil and pull chords which In turn greatly REDUCES the life of your Recoil and Pull Chords. You're basically slamming your Recoil spring against the end of it's stop AND greatly increasing friction and fray of pull chords as it's binding against itself on its rapid return. 2. Also would like to stress importance of the tether. NEVER think that the tether isn't necessary. Long story short...When I was 15yrs old, My uncle told me to try out his new Artic Cat, I was about to attach the tether and he said don't worry about that you're only going across the field and back. Well at the other end of the field when I released the throttle, it was frozen open. I hit the kill switch also frozen. With no time left I had to jump off before I went off the ravine at the other end of the field. His sled hit a tree in the ravine half way up. The tether would have saved his sled.

Hi Dan, on #10 of "don't be that guy" , you have some type of GPS tracker. I would like to get one. What brand/ type is the one that you're holding? Thanks for all the great videos!!

Let’s talk about belts, plugs and tools. These sleds are at a premium price which you do receive a lot for that but these new sleds come with a shock tool and a small piece of webbing that’s it. It’s like buying a new truck without a jack and spare tire right? Why doesn’t Polaris provide them with the sled?

I always get shit from my riding buddies having to much extra shit but over the years I or someone in the group needed damn near everything I pack

I just drive a 2012 ski-doo renegade 600 h.o e-tec and omg what a nice sled to drive realy stable and easy to drive and the power is amazing

Number 11 take the time to let your motor get to proper temperature prior to taking off

Question on Tethers: Not gonna be backcountry shredding on my 04 Pantera, but is adding a tether a lot of work for someone with limited mechanical knowhow? I'm asking here because some days I don't wanna read 2009 forums for hours. TIA

I've seen it happen in Wyoming where a guy in our group had his sticker with him but not on the sled and they almost gave him a ticket. They said they have been having issues with people buying them and not putting them on sleds and giving to buddies when they go out. So not having the sticker on the sled is the same as not buying one. That's what the officer that stopped our group told us 2 years ago.

Great video! But you didn’t mention what that device is for your number 10

Such a great video! I made like 3 of my friends watch this, because they were being “that guy.” Lol

"Don't be that guy" #11.....don't just blow past people who are stopped on the trail. Even if things appear good, stop quickly and ensure they're OK.

hay Dan I was just wondering if it would be easier to get a carving position for when you get stuck like on #7 so just wondering if that would be easier for me

What's the model of the GPS tracker at the end? Thanks!

Ugh that pull rope slap sent chills up my spine I hate that !

9:49 being that pull cord guy…😁

What's that orange tool on your chest Dan? It's orange & it's on your chest so it must be common enough & easily lost enough to be easy-access but also be orange. Not for sparkplugs right? I ride Polaris

New Oxbow radio?

What app do you use for the avalanche forecast?

I’m very curious on why letting go of the pull chord is a big deal? I’ve just never heard/thought of it haha

What brand and model of radios do you use? Thanks

What's the orange device on his harness?

@9:50 youuu! let the pull start go!

New oxbow radio??

What kind of radio do you use?

#7, holy cow, man. Some rookies are just the worst for waiting for a vet to pull up and yank em out. I actually prefer getting myself unstuck, people just pull up with bad ideas and make things worse 🤣.

Lol I live in Alaska we do not have a trail sticker. We can ride wherever we want other then anchorage or eagle river.

Your letting go of the pull start handle needs to be a two parter! Also the guy that just rips the cord out without it engaging the starter cup

I live in thane Wyoming and trying to fix my sled lol

Great vid Dan, stupid question but when ur not riding what do you clip your tether to under your bars?

Love #5 👍 …I’m the guy who loves and lives for snowmobiling and I love taking people out that have never had the chance to experience snowmobiling.. But I hate!!! When they drop the the starter cord 😂😂😂😂😂 Why do people do ?? Lol

Are you carrying a Sat phone? Often ride by myself on mountain with radio / Cel /GPS but not a Sat phone. Wife monitors radio at home and we check in.

9:20 a Pro-RMK in that position is not stuck. You probably just have to pin the throttle and wiggle side to side to get unstuck. 😋 And if you are stuck in that position "trenching" just stomp down the snow infront of the sledge and stand beside it, blip the throttle and it gonna jump up on the snow. 👍🏻 Love my Pro-RMK. 😍

What is that device in # 10 ??

What is the sos thing you have

What GPS or satellite phone device do you recommend? I’d appreciate a direction to go looking. Thanks man.

I need to stop letting go of the starter chord.

What are you running for comms, and do you run them through your helmet?

Lol Dan, Shawn is always “that guy”. Get some snow out there

9:51.. did you let go of that handle?? :D

I ride Skidoo, my sleds have just come with a tether since 1980. LOL. I just assumed they all did - Polaris doesn't ship with a tether?

I wanna add know when your tired, things get dangerous when you want more but your body is toast

You slapped the pull core! 🤦🏻‍♂️

9:50, did you start and let go of the pull start? :P

I think a good exercise to start digging and get unstuck is to go out there alone. You get some panic/anxius feelings but when you get the sled unstuck, its a really good feeling.

Don't be the guy that is more concerned about his day of riding rather than rider safety. Was in a group of 4 and we were having radio problems, one guy says "we going to sit on the trail all day and screw with radios?" Well I guess if 5 minutes worth of a group members time isn't worth their safety, find someone else to ride with. Turned a good day into a bad day.

Don´t be that guy riding a sled with loud aftermarket cans that annoy everyone around you ;-) This should be No:1 on the list

??? People do this??? I grew up riding in Valdez AK. Always keep tools and parts and all gear set right. Don't sit around when you get stuck lol I ride alone in the mountains here in AK all the time and I don't have and never had someone to help me get unstuck. Always check for avalanches in a area your going to ride. Only 2 thing I don't have on my sleds is the GPS tracking stuff that I will never have and never have gotten a tether, I have been riding for 30 years never needed one.

Im always gonna let go of my pull cord way back. deal with it

In the intro of the tree riding vid you were that guy and pulled the cord and let it slam back in 🤭

11# the guy that gets stuck and holds it wide open, blowing belts ripping lugs and throwing rocks threw the cooler.

Don't be the guy that doesn't help pay for fuel and travel costs for the guy that's hauling your stuff!

I know who you were talking about. Every person and group has that one person who has a wind tunnel between their eyes. It's not fun covering for that guy.

I use a dog tracker so my parents can see me, easy to just put in the bag. mostly because if something happens they know where I am

Rope over pet peeve. Pulling on the rope hard without Pawls engaged. Way worse than just letting go of rope full pull.

I have a twenty year old sled, same with my gear and truck, satellite phone?? 😂

Better to be an asset than a liability

I love the variation in your videos! Never gets boring on your channel :D! Don't miss out - P r o m o s m !

Wow. Okay. So i will stop drop the pullie 1 m from host👍

Hike up your skirts. No stink pot machines. Hike, skin or nordic ski!