24 SNOWEST JANUARY 2017
BY ASHLEY CHAFFIN
(ED—We got to spend a day rid-
ing with Ski-Doo athlete Ashley Chaffin
last spring in the mountains of western
Wyoming. She knows her way around a
snowmobile and is a great rider. So we
asked her to share her tips and ideas for
other female riders who want to do more
riding off-trail in the backcountry. You
can follow Chaffin on her Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/ashley.a.chaffin.)
DON'T BE WORRIED ABOUT
HOW YOU LOOK TO OTHERS
Never be afraid to try new things
and push yourself. It's the only way you
will accomplish your goals and get bet-
ter. Don't be embarrassed about look-
ing silly or getting stuck. You have to
remember that your friends have been
in the same position as you.
SET UP YOUR SLED FOR
YOUR RIDING STYLE
I can't stress enough how important
this is. For females you will definitely
need a shorter riser and shorter brake
lever that is easy to reach. You need to
feel comfortable on the sled and be able
to have one finger in position to easily
be able to tap the brake. I recommend a
2- to 4-inch riser depending on height.
Get in a good aggressive position while
you're standing center on the sled.
You want to have your knees and arms
slightly bent.
ALWAYS LOOK AHEAD
This is something that I defi-
nitely had to work on while riding in
Wyoming where there are a lot of trees.
I would catch myself looking at my ski
tips and get stuck in the trees with no
good way out. Stay focused and look
ahead to where you want to go. Your
body will adjust to what your mind is
Chaffin Shares Her Riding Tips
MY VIEW
