Like someone told me a short time ago, welcome to the dark side! The very first and most important thing you have to remember, is once you go big hills, you wont want to ride flat anymore.
I am neither a pro nor new, have learned tons in the last 6 years riding big, and strive to learn more every time I go.
1-HAVE ALL THE SAFETY GEAR- BEACON, PROBE, SHOVEL, BACKPACK WITH SMALL ESSENTIALS, WATER, SOME FOOD, MATCHES, RESCUE BLANKET IS NICE, GPS, CELL PHONE.
2- ROOKIES NEVER EVER RIDE ALONE IN THE MOUNTAINS, hook up with guys that know the area.
When you are trailing up to the cabin, before the summit, dont be an #*$&@. Ride safe, dont race, remember you are sharing a tight trail with other apes (Nothing personal Grapeape) that are out to prove something. Save the fun for the summit.
Make sure, that you sign in, sign out at the cabin. EVERY cabin in BC that I have been to, and I am sure its the same at all mountain riding areas have them, has a clock and a book, so members know everyone got off the mountain safely.
Be very aware that avalanches occur in the mountains, many die every year. I strongly reccomend an avalanche awareness course.
Once you get to the summit, and into the play zones, up top, its all as scary as you want to be. Check with locals about differing areas, they will know the dangerous and the easy routes. Dropping down into areas can be a very bad idea, if you see one set of tracks going down a steep drop, its likely that you may be walking out, or helicoptering, like the last guy that went where he shouldnt have.
I have ridden with guys that are simply amazing, can climb everything, and shoot up through trees without hesitation, no matter how steep. I have also ridden with people that were scared to death on the trail to the cabin. Dont get too wound up, just again, be aware of the dangers.
If you are thinking of taking a pull at a hill, watch where the other guys are going, make sure you try to stay out of the coffins dug by others. Climbing a hill, with a sled wound out, and hitting a 5' deep hole on a 30 degree slope can throw you off the sled, at the very least, more likely to break stuff if you have speed. A lot of climbs have a huge dip at the bottom, a huge run up to the hill can be disasterous, take a look before you velcro the throttle.
Watch other guys, there are a lot of ways to carve hills, many will switch from one side to the other, keeping one side of the track in the air to keep the snow cleared out, others will velcro their asses to the seat and hold WOT until they either clear the hill, or trench down to the running boards and die on the hill. I always like to hit a few little climbs before going to the big stuff, climb until you feel track speed and momentum slowing, then get on the high side and turn out, back down the hill. On a 2 stroke, I always tried to stay on the left side of the sled, turn out right to keep the exhaust out of the snow. I also like to hop from one side to the other, and rarely sit on the seat while climbing. If you hit something seated, your back gets the hell beat out of it, if standing your legs are the shock absorbers. If you make it to the BC mountains, you may find snow that will blow your mind, 4' of fresh every day on Boulder, Revelstoke. I like playing in the meadows and trees as much as climbing, spinning cookies on the rx1 is a blast. You will find that counter steering; lean left, handlebars hard right to turn left in deep snow is a a real hoot. Sometimes, when you are climbing, and feel you are going to lose speed and get stuck, try burping the throttle or letting off the gas, less spin may get you back on top, at least until you can turn out and go down hill.
I am going in a week or 2, want to meet me in Revelstoke? hehe
