Riding Your Snowmobile

Planning a Group Ride

Organizing a group ride takes careful planning and leadership.

• Riders must adjust their speed and the distance between machines to accommodate the lowest level of riding experience, physical ability, and machine performance.
• Less experienced riders, or those with less reliable machines, should never ride last.
• The least experienced riders should ride immediately behind the leader.
• Make sure novice riders have adequate training.
• Allow time for all riders to discuss the trip and become familiar with the route.
• Factor in time for rest stops and unplanned delays.
• Plan for breakdowns, dangerous trail conditions, bad weather, and injuries.

Group Ride Spacing

• Proper spacing is determined by speed, reaction time, distance, and the need to maintain visual contact.
• As a rule of thumb, calculate spacing distances using a reaction time of two seconds. As the snowmobile in front of you passes an object, count one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two. If you pass that same object in less than three seconds, you should allow more space.

Crossing Ice in Groups

• Avoid crossing frozen bodies of water whenever you can.
• Never cross ice in single file. If the group leader falls through, single-file riders may not be able to respond quickly enough to keep from following the leader through the ice.
• Learn the safe techniques of ice riding in Maneuvering on Different Terrains.

Organizing and Leading Groups

• The most knowledgeable and experienced rider takes the lead. Trail leaders:
  • Guide the direction, pace, and length of the ride.
  • Alert the group to changing conditions and warn of potential hazards.
  • Avoid unnecessary risk by placing safety first.
  • Do not allow reckless behavior such as “horseplay” or passing within the group.
• The last position of a group, called a “trail sweep,” is critical in maintaining proper spacing and leadership on the trail. This rider should be as experienced and knowledgeable as the trail leader.
• Groups larger than 10 or 12 should split into smaller groups, each with a group leader and a trail sweep. Group sweeps report to group leaders. Group leaders, in turn, report to the trail leader.
• Never leave anyone behind. Forcing riders to catch up increases accident risk.

Group Communication

• Group riding requires good communication and visual contact.
• Visual communication requires proper spacing.
• To keep the group together, the trail leader should slow down or wait on the opposite side of a crossing when a stop is required. After crossing, the leader stops or slows the group to ensure that everyone knows the correct route.
• Two-way headsets installed in helmets are useful for voice communication and are an effective way for the trail leader and the sweep to communicate.