(6) The Untimely Death Of A Legend
(8) Groomers and Radio Beacons
Hand signals,
This Is my view on hand signals, You may agree or disagree but please keep an open
mind, The snowmobile clubs and the Federation have implemented hand signals to
promote safety on the trail by alerting oncoming snowmobilers of other machines by the
use of hand signals, this is fine and dandy but think back to the last time that you saw an
oncoming sled giving you a signal and try and remember the attitude of the sled, Every
time that I see someone giving a signal the minute the hand comes off the handlebars the
sled swerves into my side of the trail or just plain swerves, being a small aircraft pilot I
remember the basic rules of removing your hand from the controls to use the radio and
they are Fly the plane first meaning that if you are in a maneuver that requires your full
attention and need to use the radio you always finish the maneuver and when the plane is
stable then you can use the radio, this rule should also apply to snowmobilers, Use hand
signals only when your sled is in complete control, riders feel that it is such an important
duty to give the signal that it takes precedence over controlling their sled and will give
the signal in the most uncompromising positions, In corners, while darting , or just going
fast and all but loose control of their sled for the purpose of a redundant signal.
It should be in the mind of all riders that if you see one sled that there are probably more
following behind and to expect that and be cautious, a hand signal is not needed for that,
also if the last guy in the pack gives you the fist saying that there are no more sleds and
unexpectedly someone else has caught up with their pack you are getting bad
information.
The next time that you see a sled giving you a signal take notice of the action of the
movement of the machine and you may feel the same way as myself.
I say lets scrap the hand signals and concentrate on riding in full control!
