Being a beginning snowmobiler (I wish I had the opportunity before) and having an iron pig called Mach Z, I noticed that my upper arms get exhausted after 20 miles or something (should probably add that I got stuck with it also, which didn't really improve the power I had in my arms)..I probably should've bought a sled that weighs less to start out with, but this was a deal that I couldn't say no to.

So, anyone got any tips on how to excercise/work out for this? It would be nice if my arms would be in a better shape before the season starts again..
All suggestions are welcome, of course!

Thanks!

Moved to ChitChat

You could work on your lats, bench press, triceps, and curls. There are several ways to work on each group. Another thing that will make a big difference is to work yoru abs. So many people have terrible abs, and it really leads to injury. Good abs will eliminate back pain (so you don't have to shell out for a kidney belt, which IMO are useless on a sled) and strong abdominals will also increase upper body stamina and core strength. Which basically means you won't flop around on the seat and will have better control of the sled for longer.

Let me know if you want more info, as I have a basic starter program we use for our College football team. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif *It will help you get started. It is very basic, and does not involve heavy weight. It is based on percentages of your capabilities, so it is a very custom program, with weights being unique for every individual.

push-ups and sit-ups have to be the easiest and can be done anywhere. i'm not doubting rocketman but if you want to get right at it for cheap then graduate to equipment.

12 ounce curls have been part of my regiment for many years now..and it shows http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ....good advice above,important to get ready way before you want to start to ride..like with any sport, can't just jump into it. The day of your ride you also want to do some warm-up, stretching exercises to loosen your muscles.

Ride ATV's in the off season, keeps your throttle thumb in shape too.

If you want to do your arms alone here are some exercises
you can do.But i agree with rocketman that you should do
all the muscle groups in the body.I myself work out 4-5 times a week and have been doing so for several years.It comes in handy as i'm hardly ever sore after a weekend of hard riding
and i hardly even sweat while pulling a stuck sled out.
4 sets of straight bar curls at 10-15 reps
4 sets of preacher curls at 10-15 reps
3 sets of alternate dumbbell curls at 15 reps
3 sets of reverse staright bar curls at 10 reps
for triceps
4 sets of tricep push downs at 10-15 reps
4 sets of tricep dips(weight placed on lap if desired) for 20 reps
The tricep is actually a larger muscle than the bicep so i found it doesn't need as many exercises.Don't go nuts at the beginning either.Pm me if you need any tips or advice as well.
I'm sure rocket knows his way around a weight room well and will have lots of advice too http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

The easiest thing is to do exercises that work many muscles simultaneously--I've found the best to be pull-ups and push-ups. *These both work your abs, too, so you don't have to do sit-ups. *You should, though, 'cause the extra always helps.
Since riding involves more muscular endurance than strength, do exercises like this where you are lifting your body rather than lifting freeweights. *It's more effective.
If you have a problem with motivation, make it easy to do your ecercises. *If you get into the habit of doing a little every day, you will have great results. *It doesn't take much!
I suggest hanging a pull-up bar in your garage, or in a doorway right inside you house if you don't have a garage. *Every day when you get home from work before you take off your shoes do as many pull-ups as you can straight through. *Then rest a few seconds and do a couple more. *It's that easy.
Do something similar with push-ups. *For example, do a set right before you sit down for dinner. *Do another before you brush your teeth before bed. *Do a third right before you climb into bed.
Initially you'll be sore and need to take a day or two off each time. *Never skip more than two days. *Work through some of the soreness.
After the third week you will have little or no soreness anymore (because you are getting in shape&#33http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif and you will be able to exercise every day.

Thats easy you just have to................uh nevermind, just keep riding somthing all year round if possible. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Carefull jwheeler, we dont want to know all your secrets.
I would start off with push ups and situps just like mr. universe I mean mr yarek says, then graduate to the weights. Make sure to stretch before and after exercising. Then do the 12oz curls.

Aha, it was moved http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
And all this time I was wondering why my post got deleted!
Anyway, thanks a lot for all the tips ppl! I found a new good exercise: help friends that are moving by carrying their 100 boxes filled with books! http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

100 posts huh?.....hmm..get a 40 pound mouse lol

who posted that joke on how to stay in shape, like 3 months ago, it was all exagerated stuff, some one must remeber it ?

Polish your sled all summer and ride with people who are stronger than you http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Thats what I doo http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">who posted that joke on how to stay in shape, like 3 months ago, it was all exagerated stuff, some one must remeber it ?
[/b][/quote]

You mean the one with dig a 6&#39; hole, lower a 400 pound barrel in it and get it out 10 times a day to practice upper body strenght so when you get stuck. There was also, give large sums of money to stangers so you won&#39;t hesitate to put some money on your sled comming winter time...

Yeah thats the one ! *i hope some one still has it somewhere...

Polishing my sled I indeed doo all summer http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
In a couple of days I&#39;ll even have a YELLOW &#39;77 Volvo 240 to polish as well =)

Found a new excercise today also, mowing the lawn after the grass has been growing like 15 cm in less than a week.. I have one of those things that I have to push myself (and it doesn&#39;t have the most manly engine ever either.....) It took me 3 hours to get thru the 1300 square meters that I have! http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

We use a ridem lawn mower as we have a few acres of grass to cut. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I saw a cool toy in some magazine here, or actually 2. First was a lawnmower that you just put on, and show it where to go, and it will do everything by itself. It finds obstacles and mowes around it and stuff. You can just leave it alone and it will do your lawn! I think the price was around 6000 USD or something http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Then they had a similar thingy, but then a vacuum cleaner! It was small and could come even in the narrowest spots, and also did everything by itself. Those things even remember where they have been and where not.. The price was unfortunately quite similar to the lawnmower http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

They sound like great toys but the price? That is like 9000 CAD http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif *OUCH

Buy cows, they cut grass for free and give milk, you can eat them at the end of the season too *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

what does a cow cost? http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif * AC i am laughing so hard, normaly i dont but you caught me off guard, man that was good and true i might add. Try trolling with two rods in holders of course, a beer in the lap and the sun setting off in the distance, that should do it (ha ha )

Make the sled work for you, dont work for the sled.

Persison skis cut down on the strength it takes to turn. *And improve the handling big time. *It worth every penny to put them on the Mach.

Get a 1inch track to help you not get stuck. *

Also get yourself a Johnson 15 outboard motor. *Mine needed to be pulled over about 34 times to start when it was cold and 6 when it was warm. * Now i can fling the mach out of a ditch like nothing. *

And there you go.

http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif * * *To be a little more serious, i have found quading is the best, especially in fall (oct.- nov) just before the season helps alot. And i mean standing up left and right, hills and holes type of quading were you work up a sweat, not the sit down for three hours on a flat road type. Also mountain biking

Try applying rubbing compound, polishing compound and then wax to a 25&#39; boat.

Thats what I did last weekend, and my arms look like Popeye&#39;s.

But riding the quad, is much more fun.

FishHog