How not to treat your Viper

[natedawgedog]

Yeah, I,ve been riding across lakes and rivers for about 15 years, its a rush. Excellent traction on water. A few years back, I launched off a 10' river bank in the UP, landed about half way out in the river and rode over the opposite river bank (showing off). Slush like this picture is the worst.

yep no doubt, the slush in the picture piles up inside your tunnel and locks your track up. its a necessity to learn how to ride on open water in my country, the best riding we have is out behind 60 miles of lakes systems. scary to do it when your life depends on getting across but fun as hell when its spring and the ponds have opened up!

 

[NOS-PRO]

Yes, agree with most..... sometimes you may come up on a hazard like this and best thing to do is:

Stay steady on the throttle maintaining a speed of 30 or faster.
Lean back so skis will have less force to ride on top of water and make it smoother when hitting the ice edge after the water.
Maintain the straightest line possible.
Don't panic....watch your surroundings, pick a good spot to cross.

Long time ago is when my friend showed me how to cross water. We called it "washing the suspensions"
He was very good at it and thought "hey this is pretty cool!"
A year after my friend showed me how to ride across water, him and Olav Aaen were riding the river close to me and my friends ski caught the edge of ice after the water. Results were not good....shocked that he wasn't killed. Stock Yamaha skis are not wide enough (IMHO) for long periods of water crossing unless going really fast. Not saying everyone will be a pro if you put on a wide set of skis either. Just sayin..... These things are made for trail and they will sink, become a permanent fixture of the lake bottom if deep enough. Just be carefull!

 

[freelance]

there is vid somewhere that a nytro skips water for 7 min. goes past a boat and races it. i just cant find it now.

This video is a skidoo from up here in my area. They did this on purpose. Why....I dunno.........just to say it can be done I guess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAUgka1LrBc

 

[Soldier'spapa]

I had a tough time negotiating this creek crossing... Also occured in the UP first weekend of the season.







Thank God a friendly hunter was willing to let me use his "High Lift jack and come along!

 

[cannondale27]

Those like that are what we found on power line from Gwinn to muni. Got to commit and get front end up. Scary for sure. Many don't make it.

 

[Soldier'spapa]

Those like that are what we found on power line from Gwinn to muni. Got to commit and get front end up. Scary for sure. Many don't make it.

I think you are right. I went in too slowly and hit the throttle too late. Thankfully the only damage was to my pride...

 

[34pontiac]

I always liked this one...
Big"ol heavy Apex initially pulling skis out of the water. Lol
http://youtu.be/je_WagC0gzk

 

[wavemaster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM_-Ur7Pato

Damn Jump