For you racers (Waters, Rainville, et.al.), go to http://www.arcticinsider.com and click on the video "an ouch moment from the I-500".

John (JRC) thats what happened to your 295/s at Hatton. ED

Hi Guy,

I watched that video last night about 10 times. I've performed many spectactular over the bars stunts during my years racing snocross, but "hope" to not repeat one of them on my Liquifire. That hurts way more than it looks to most of the time.

Did you see the 900cc tripple Jim Dimmerman is putting together a few post below that? He is building it for the Vintage Challenge no less! I guess he really, really wants to be first accross the lakes. My little 340 Dator doesn't stand much of a chance against that monster...

-Rainville

Joe: yes I seen his tripple "vintage" Tiger. I visit that site often....good stuff. If you go back a ways there is video of Roger Skime running last years I-500....you probably have seen it.

Edit/PS: I went over the bars on a 80LF back in the day, upper legs hit bars really hard before going the rest of the way over sled, very painful to walk for several days after. Lesson in riding within my ability!!

Guys. Now let us take a moment to appreciate the &%#) kicking years past racers took banging ditches with sleds with suspentions un-like what we have today. I would love to try that, but do to having vertibrae issues, I,m out of that game. Just ride for fun. I commend the athletes of yester-year racing.....Rob.

Thanks Guy,

I hope to NOT try that stunt. Definitely wise to ride cautiously, especially the first time through the course, as it is all unfamiliar terrain to you. After that, trail changes from whooped out ditches and washboards become the hard read.

Thanks,

Kenny

Why can't I open the video?

Look at it this way.....they were to slow and should have cleared the wash! JRC

I'm guessing you found us!!! Way to go pal.

DA

Good to see you here Jon, that made my day!

Thanks....will try to contribute in a meaningfull way....appreciate Matts help! In regard to the wash, there are many such traps each day as Don has warned, must be swift, alert and smart to navigate without incident. JRC

Jon: Great to have you back....We have missed you!

Joe and other east riders,

For those of us that ride ditches in the prairie states and provinces every winter, that video is somewhat of a common occurrence on unmarked trails. Remember your sitting low on the sled and low in the bottom of the ditch and have no vision of what is on the other side of that approach. Culvert openings are marked with sliver or white steel posts around here. They are usually placed in the center of the approach just off to the side and above the opening. Sometimes standing a second will give you better look on what is on the other side and the landing. If I remember right, one ETD member was very good at stand-up riding, long before Blair Morgan. As was mentioned before, when you see a crowd (parked cars when cold) or cameras out on an approach, that is a definite sign!

Hope this helps a little for you guys traveling from the east for the Red Lake. In my opinion, setting up one or two practice jumps and keep working them will help the feeling of being comfortable in the air and landings. Just different split second adjustments are required on every blind approach and practice in unfamiliar areas will help with that.

kb

Keith is dead on. Another practice tip would be to paint your goggles black. Just kidding!!!!!!!!! But you would at least get the "surprise" element down pat.

DA