Introduction to Ditch Riding for Beginners – Snowmobiling 101

** This video is intended for beginners and rusty riders. There are advanced techniques that can be used as an alternative for those things I discuss in this video. Please try to avoid discussing these advanced techniques in the comments, because I’m trying to give new riders a chance to learn. **


The snowmobile community is seeing a surge in new riders, and riders who left the sport a long time ago and have returned. This is great!

I see a huge opportunity for more experienced snowmobilers to welcome these new people into the sport, and allow them to learn why we enjoy it so much. That means teaching them things we’ve learned.

This video isn’t meant to catalog all of the answers, but rather give new or rusty snowmobilers a few tips to help them have more fun.

Always know the laws and rules before you ride. Sometimes, it’s legal to ride on the inside bank of a ditch closest to the road and sometimes it’s not. Is it legal to cross a road at an angle or to ride into opposing traffic after dark? It’s your responsibility to know those things.


A couple of things I mentioned in the video, but wasn’t able to demonstrate very well (if at all):

1 – I mentioned “parabolic turns” or wide sweeping turns – what you saw me do is turns that were much more gradual and subtle than what I was trying to explain. The slower you go, the more perpendicular you should be to the inclined banks of the ditch. Going faster – as I did – allows you to make less drastic turns. It’s all about gravity, and you’ll feel when you don’t need to make the big turns.

2 – The big drifts can be a lot of fun. Start small, especially when you’re by yourself. Always go straight up or down those drifts, or you’ll end up rolling off the sled.

3 – For about 50% of this video, I was sinking into softer snow than I expected. This was mainly because of grass holding air pockets underneath the snow. You can’t see me sink, because I powered out. If you listen closely, you can hear the engine rev up and in many cases watch the snowmobile slow down at the same time.

4 – I actually ran over a culvert at one point and didn’t realize it. Did you see it? When approaching a driveway, always try to steer wide of the lowest point in the ditch. If you’re not sure where that is, then steer toward the corners (I prefer the opposite corner from the road, because then I don’t have to worry about traffic).

5 – When you’re first learning, follow other people’s tracks. This doesn’t mean they’re going to pick the safest route. What it does mean is that their mistakes will be easier to spot and you’ll be able to avoid them. Don’t assume that because you see a track, then someone else knew the safest way (many times, they don’t).

One other thing: Save reverse for level ground. Trying to back up in a ditch is almost always futile, or at least counter productive. Learn to use power as a tool to get you out of tough spots and leave reverse for your driveway.

Have fun, be safe, be respectful and above all else:
MANAGE THE RISK.