Day 1:
When we get there we see Shane with his card table at sign up and I am instantly pumped up to meet the guy. He is an off-road legend and one hell of a good teacher. So 8:30 rolls around Shane rounds us all up and goes over ground rules for the school. For the first part of the school, Shane set up a small woods loop where we are instructed to warm up. Us pupils all give it a go and get started on riding and the warm up. We then all gather around after Shane tells us to come on down and get ready for Intro to Riding 101. Now I am not going to go into every single detail and process of the course, if you want that spend the coin and see for yourself.
Shane started us on the basics, brake, clutch, throttle, body position and from there he just built on everything. He was like an architect the way the school was structured. Each drill, each lesson built on prior lessons. He took time to answer any and all questions. He helped give instruction to individuals when he saw fit. Most importantly Shane taught the fundamentals and how important they are during the morning session. Turns out late in the morning I didn’t follow advice so well and wadded it up pretty good during a higher speed drill. I dusted myself off took some advice from Shane and it was back at the drills before lunch. After lunch we started back at the loop, using the skills we learned to apply it to the trail. Shane hit on my favorite in the afternoon, corners. I say favorite, because that is what I needed to work on the most. Shane was railing the ruts and really gave helpful advice and instruction on cornering. After hitting about a million corners, it was a day.
Day 2:
With everyone back in the saddle it was practicing the basics again to start. Shane then showed us the art of stoppies. After practicing those for a good while it was on to wheelies. Seeing Shane ride a slow wheelie was a sight to see. He pretty much made it seem effortless. From wheelies, no casualties by the way, it was on to 180’s. After seeing Shane do one, you say no freaking way I can do this. But after a few minutes of trying and sticking to his basics, everyone was doing them. Then everyone was clearing logs using this technique. From then it was onto hills with Shane ripping up and down them. Then he starts doing off camber hills zigzagging up the hills doing 180’s to change directions. Some mind blowing stuff and he is making it look easy. Once we were all done with hills it was time to wrap things up as the class was almost at an end.
Shane took us out on the trail and explained lines, showed us what to do then he went out and was on the gas showing us how a former ISDE champ rides. He saw things that nobody else did. He took creative lines, tripled jumps and was just ripping it up. But while he was doing this, he was using the same exact techniques that he showed us in the class. For the last part of the class we hit a steep hill with no run up. Shane made it up easy and the rest of the class had at it. With that the class wrapped up, Shane bid his farewell and class was adjourned.[SinglePic not found]
I give this class two thumbs up; Shane does an awesome job of presenting the basics and building on them. He answers all the questions thoroughly, is patient and gives precise pointed instruction. He is an awesome guy and a great teacher. Guys spend lots of money on things to make the bike go fast. Spend the money on the guy who makes the bike go fast; YOU. This class and these drills will make you a better rider. Do yourself a favor; sign up while you still can!
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dirtwise, honcho, review, shane watts
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charkie
