Getting out of your own HEAD with SAHEN

This week Dan meets up with Sahen Skinner to talk about the mental blocks of snowmobiling and explains how getting out of your head can improve your riding.
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[@Rudevette]

I love this video! The stacking little wins really sunk in. That’s kind of what I’ve been doing. Every winter the fundamentals add up and I accomplish something new. My big problem is me telling myself that I cannot do something. My group of friends always encourages me while pushing me a little beyond my comfort zone and that has resulted in a lot of gains for me. I still wish I had started mountain riding before the age of 40.😂

[@NextLevelRidingClinics]

Yeah man glad to hear it!! Wishing you started the sport a while ago is a super common situation for a lot of my clients. Remember that as we get older….our preseason prep gets even more essential to what our winter will look like. Stay training throughout your year so when the snow comes you are feeling ready and will reap the rewards of being physically prepared 👊 Thanks for watching ✅

[@nitrofreak67]

I'm 55 and I'd say age is definitely a factor, however I lost 70 lbs 235 to my ideal weight of 165. Feeling amazing! Like I'm 40 again lol, seriously better than that. Ketogenic is amazing to say the least. Have an awesome winter ❄️

[@HankMarducas]

This was really well said. I have a solid 10 years riding but listen to these guys and continue to learn. So much wisdom from these two.

[@natekrez]

Talking through the riding in real time! Love it!

[@07Crossfire500]

Loving this collab 🤘🏻

[@duragg]

This is the best sledding video. I’ve watched it many times. The “decision making” section with “Confidence and Tools” is so valuable. As an Alpine resident it’s awesome to have Irina and Dan right here in town.

[@davespargo5944]

A few weeks back, my brother in law had one of those moments of "It's in my head". He was on a Doo, 850x165, and I was on my Poo 800x155. We had done a drop down of a couple benches for about a total of 350 feet. That bottom one was a tad extra steep-deep-about 100 feet of pull-and trenched up a bit. I made it the first pull up, but the BIL lost it about half way up and turned out and rolled into a tree. Got him upright and back down for another try. Nope Strike 2. She was chewed up at that point really bad. I rode back down to him to find an alternate route. Nope. To tight on trees, and lots of nasty drainages. I told him, we need to make it happen going out the same way we came in. Took me 4 shots to make that pull this time, but in doing so, I was able to smooth out the bad trenches and get a pack on it. I got my sled back up to the next bench and had to walk down and ride his sled up. (He got the walk of shame). but the whole time, i was working on keeping things light hearted, no panick, telling him "You know the machine can do it", and discussing how to approach the line-anticipate the pull-look ahead- throttle control. He pulled the rest of the lines after that without issue (all about the same angle, but in the relm of 30 to 60 foot pulls). But that "In Your Head" stuff, it's real. We had some pics, and I was running my tracker app so I was able to send him on home a couple days later with a "Study Guide" and an opportunity to rehash the day in his mind and make some mental corrections.

[@jonnyw.2333]

I get confused a lot of when to use the brake and when not to. Is there any way you could make a sort of indicator for us to see whenever you use the brake? Great video btw.

[@NextLevelRidingClinics]

That would be a great idea!! Remember that using the brake can be as essential as using the throttle. I want the sled to move…and move quickly as I make decisions through various situations… the brake comes in at anytime the sled feels like it’s pulling me out of position. I rarely let the sled coast anywhere, I use the brake so I feel in total control. Thanks for watching and I’ll think on some type of brake indicator 🤔

[@elijames932]

THANK YOU. First ride was Jan. 14, 2023. Truly do wish I would’ve watched this video beforehand.. Newbie, buuuut…. Better then I was on Jan. 13th. January 15th… Let’s get at it.

[@marshalltaylor5502]

Excellent video Dan and Sahen!!! Super insightful and informative as always super cool you guys did a Collab.

[@ericbunkers8147]

Thanks again Dan and everyone. All you guys are chucked-full of info, thank you for sharing.

[@Steve-holm]

Good afternoon! Thank you Dan, I’ll watch after work 😊

[@stacksofdiamonds1240]

Great advice for a learning sledder! You should do a video on carving basics!

[@oldboysntoys]

Excellent as always. Thanks guys.👍

[@DigAHoleFillAHole]

Good muscle memory is important to keep you out of trouble when fatigued

[@hannahfarr8093]

Is there a way to show metrics of throttle, tech and brake during sidehilling? Trying to figure out when to grab the brake during the side hill.

[@hannahfarr8093]

Tach not tech.

[@skisledshred1277]

I've thought about the brake a lot, as I think it's one of the keys to progressing into more technical terrain. The brake is used instinctively at any moment you feel yourself getting out of position. There is no formula for this, but the brake is an incredibly useful tool to help you make body position adjustments on the fly. Watch the pros as they side hill or climb through the trees, they're tapping brake to make these little adjustments while maintaining momentum. The more technical terrain you ride, the more you tend to use the brake instinctively because you need to make constant adjustments to maintain a precise line. If your sidehilling across open terrain you may not need to use the brake as much because your line doesnt need to be as precise, and thus your body doesnt find itself out of position or out of control as often.

[@nathanputratz1341]

Well said on the feeling! I know when I starter my pilots license my instructor said you need to be ahead of the airplane and you need to feel how the plane is flying so you can make your radio calls and write down information from ATC.

[@clintkeele1415]

Another awesome video Dan. I hope everything is going ok with Irina’s family and they are safe. One thing I’m always trying to explain is how to use momentum instead of to much throttle. Maybe you could explain that in one of your fundamental videos. Thanks Dan.

[@darlaundiks3788]

Yea I agree. Momentum is good but I've started slowing down my speed and what a difference.

[@johnhorsfall4032]

Thank you

[@flyincoyote3810]

Great video

[@cookwhite13]

Awesome information!

[@swoop-it4621]

Great video!!

[@TankM12]

So helpful, Thanks Dan

[@steveboisvert]

great video, thank you

[@darlaundiks3788]

You make it looks so easy. You mentioned not Bing parallel with the running board. Did you mean not looking sideways. And is the kahos a hard sled to ride. I have one and am considering selling cause I'm fighting steady. Wish u did Canada tours. 🇨🇦 I'd be all over that.

[@NextLevelRidingClinics]

Howdy, When you sidehill wrong foot forward, it’s important to keep your foot that’s on the running board at about a 30-40 degree angle meaning your toe of your boot towards the tunnel & your heel riding on the outside of the running board, not parallel to the tunnel. It gives you better balance and will help resist turning your hips into the sled. Trust me it works!!

[@319Productions]

Awesome video guys!

[@mestmbr]

Great insight gentlemen!!! I've got the "no thinking" part pat. Now I just need to work on my breathing 😂

[@paxtonbangerter689]

thanks for the advice

[@netjamo]

you would show more how to back off or get through tight terrain

[@mikegatherall3774]

Stucks kill your energy ….learning how to avoid energy sapping stucks is key …I find that they tend to occur for me when looping back round checking on other group members …videos on lowest energy unstuck techniques in different situations is most helpful ….always be ready to learn better / easier techniques

[@aaronhicks5808]

Awesome video!!! 👍🏻

[@robgoffroad]

I'm like that -- one good stuck and I'm done. I remember a ride where I had a bad stuck in the first half hour, and I was so worn out after that (even with help) that for the rest of the day I was just "following" everybody else and not really doing anything on my own or having fun.

[@Go0se418]

Question for you guy's about the SLP Hot Air Elimination Kits? Why don't you guy's run the vent's? Only reason why im asking is because I have just installed the stage 2 kit on my 21. Watching videos of others that has the kit doesn't really look like anybody is running the vent's. Any insight would be awesome!

[@KilometersRides]

Awesome video! Looking for fellow snowmobilers. I make videos of sledding in the mountains of northern BC you should check them out!

[@jiggyquinn5635]

Very well done. It didn't feel like a scripted lecture. It wasn't a political speech where you didn't actually reveal any useful information. Can't thank you enough 🙂

[@xmahou]

you should link sams channel

[@jeffbrown8974]

Would not go with that guiding service just because of how loud his snowmobile is