A question I get nearly every week is, “Wait, you use the ____ trail system; I can ride those trails fine! What could you teach me? I want advanced skills!”
I understand that. You can ride blue and green trails fine but struggle with black and double-black trails. You want to learn how to ride trails that are more challenging than the ones you currently ride.
Have you ever thought that it might be a lack of competence in a core, basic skill (or three) that is holding you back?
All the great coaches I have studied say that when they see an athlete struggle, they know it’s time to bring that athlete back to the basics.
I use 100% basic, core skills to ride a double black trail, no advanced skills. I’m simply very good at
- vision,
- body position,
- brake control,
- balance,
- switchbacks, and
- cornering.
Those are the only skills necessary to ride a double black trail.
I know, understand, and can consistently do those skills nearly perfectly in any situation.
Here I am riding the Portal Trail in Moab UT. I’m not doing anything fancy. I’m simply executing the basic core skills with competence.
Remember: Just because I call them the basics doesn’t mean they are easy!
“I want to learn to jump” is another thing interested riders tell me. Jumping isn’t hard if you have mastered vision and body position.
If you are struggling to jump, you need to focus on your foundation: body position and vision, not jumping!
If you can ride a black trail in balance while looking 4-6 seconds ahead the entire time, you have the skills necessary to jump. If your body position is not balanced and neutral and/or you are looking less than 4 seconds in front of you, all the “jump lessons” in the world will not make you better or safer at jumping.
One of the few drawbacks to living in Moab is that we don’t have any jump trails. We do have a dirt jump park, but I don’t like dirt jumps as they tend to be tight and steep, nothing like a good MTB jump trail.
I almost never get to practice my “jumping skills.” When I get to Whistler bike park, it has often been a year or two since I have hit a jump trail.
Here is a video of me following a student of mine named Ryan Rodriguez on Dirt Merchant in Whistler. Notice that I’m not as stylish nor get quite as high as Ryan off these huge jumps, but I am jumping them at 53 years old.
I am simply riding in control, in balance, in a neutral position, and using my vision to the best of my ability.
In short, double black trails and jumping are not hard to do when you have mastered the basics. Again, just because I call them the basics doesn’t mean they are easy!
The foundation of your skill set, vision, and body position is extremely hard to master. Like a solid foundation for your house, those basic skills must be well developed to ride at your best.
I would love to teach you those core skills! I’ve spent the last 24 years helping advanced beginners to World Champion racers learn, understand, and master the fundamentals. I’m looking forward to teaching you the same.
Then, with practice after my course (using the drills I teach you), you can easily become as good a rider as me, or much better, like many of my students!
Please share this article with anyone you think may benefit and feel free to call or e-mail with any questions.
Cheers
Gene
I relaxed, saw the line I wanted to take, found my balance and went through the section very controlled – it was great!
Comments