So you’ve decided to ditch the tarmac? That’s awesome news, but how to choose an off-road riding school that will really boost your gravel, sand and mud skills?
Quality Over Quantity
It may be tempting to go to a cheaper school and have more lessons for the price of one at a high-end training facility, but it all depends on the instructor. One session with an expert, skilled coach can be worth ten mediocre lessons with a less experienced trainer, so when you’re researching schools, always check what qualifications the instructors have. How much experience do they have? How long have they been coaching people to ride off-road? What’s their background? Make sure you choose an instructor that is an expert in their field.
Philosophy
There are different reasons why people want to ride their motorcycles off-road: some do it for fun, some for competition, and some just want to explore the roads less ridden. It’s important that you choose a school that has similar values and principles as you do: if you prefer to savor traveling on back country roads, a racing school probably won’t be a good fit. If you’re learning to ride off-road as an adult, choose an instructor who will be sympathetic and offer you simple and effective techniques to maser the dirt. If you’re dreaming of Baja 1000, find a coach that has a racing background.
Preparation
As you plan your off-road riding lessons, make sure you’re ready: have your bike serviced, or do a quick maintenance check yourself. If you plan to rent a motorcycle at the school, call and see what makes and models are available, and book one that will be the best fit for you. Ask the school about gear and helmet requirements, and make sure you wear some sturdy motocross boots.
Apply the Skills
The best way to learn new skills is by practicing, so see if you can book a training weekend or an off-road riding lesson followed by a two or three-day tour. Applying the skills you’ve just learned in the real-world scenarios, guided by an experienced coach, is the best thing you can do to improve your riding!
what’s your criteria when choosing an off-road school? Let us know in the comments below!