"Depending again on who the client is, if I am teaching military special forces, police department, people that have to go into dangerous territory, I teach them the art of cross-country travel, reading the trail, and finding the hidden passes in the mountains so you can get around. When you work with ATV's, everybody is restricted to a designated trail system. So you have to teach people how to ride on a designated trail system, but if you work with a search or rescue group, they have authority to go off trail. So now you're in a position where you have to teach them how to find their way around the woods, in the mountains, and in unfamiliar country. There are no marked trails," Uhl says.
An advanced course in off highway vehicles, in this case, snowmobiling, teaches the student to respect nature and the machine.
"You will learn how to make intricate maneuvers, and how to do that with the least amount of impact on the ground, so that you don't destroy the earth. At the same time, you are trying to save someone's life. I teach my students to ride respectfully along with others, and also to respect the earth. We can recreate and have fun without destroying that which we ride upon, and all the other people out there," Uhl says.
In advanced classes for snowmobile riders, students learn how to use their judgment when making jumps.
"I had an opportunity to work where there were test riders at this ATV test facility. I tested the bikes. They had what they called their standard test jump, a platform, and they shot you higher and further each time. This enabled them to test the impact of the machine. Whether you're running on the front wheels or on the back wheels, all those kinds of things are what a person needs to think of. The average person doesn't think of these things. Jumps don't serve a really big purpose; it increases the danger level dramatically," Uhl says.
Whether you just decided to take a beginning course in snowmobile riding or whether you are at the advanced stage, Uhl urges that all riders of OHV's make safety their first priority.
Uhl says riding snowmobiles is not just about the jumps and cool tricks; it's about how much you can train yourself to do what you want with the machine. This comes with time and patience.
Another good tip: whenever you go out riding make sure you let someone know what you are up to. This is important in case an accident happens and you aren't able to reach anyone.
