Dirt Smart MTB

09/08/2026

Jump for show, corner for dough. 9 times outta 10, whenever I work with advanced riders, they want/need to work on their cornering.

And here’s the thing: almost every rider I work with and have worked with—and this includes numerous pro-level DH and enduro racers—were screwing up their comers before they even got there; everyone is so concerned what needs to happen IN the corner, but what happens BEFORE the corner is actually way more crucial.

Vision, position, and WEIGHT PLACEMENT are three HUGE components that need to be dialed before you even think about ‘leaning the bike not the body,’ ‘dropping the foot,’ ‘elbow up’, etc, etc…

We all already know we need to ‘look ahead’ and ‘find the exit of the corner’. But there’s way more to the vision component than that. We all know about ‘the attack position.’ Sure. But lots of nuances there that you’re probably not going to pick up off the inter-webs or from your riding buddies, and especially as this relates to the transition from deceleration/braking and into cornering position (and this will vary depending on the corner). And, WEIGHT PLACEMENT—both setting up for, initiating, and through out the corner (and if you think the answer is to get your weight the front wheel, you’re pretty much wrong—despite what you may see all over the internet).

Am I going to try to break down and explain correct cornering in this post? Absolutely not. Not possible. That’s why you need to hit me up at www.DirtSmartmtb.com and book yourself a coaching session.

*Intense Research has showed that if a person/rider can learn to rip corners consistently with speed and style their overall life-happiness level increases on the average of over 42%

07/26/2026

Having problems getting down those tight, loose, rocky janky, switchbacks? (And/or up?) Lots of things going on in those. And it’s all simple..but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Vision, line choice, position, weight placement, braking (and that means traction and momentum management—not just slowing down). Can you ride slow? Do a track stand? Do you have working knowledge of “ratchet pedaling?”

No? Then get on over to dirtsmartmtb.com and sign up for some skills coaching. Less group clinics these days, way more private sessions. Hit me up

Oh, and all the other stuff, too: cornering, drops, jumps, blah, blah, and actually knowing how to ride your bike safer and faster. Won’t find a better resource for improving your riding. Beginner to pro



Yeti Cycles Bell Helmets Zeal Optics LOAM Cycling Journal

10/22/2025

Winter Mtb Skills Clinics: Phoenix, Orange County, San Diego, maybe even dirty ol’ FLA!! All the usual pleasantly warm locations…

However, those won’t happen til ‘26. So in the meantime, hit me up for private coaching sessions if you’re in the Denver area. Still lotsa great weather.

Winter is a great time to work on your skills and come out dialed in for spring riding. Outta shape, chubby, pasty, and unskilled is a terrible way to live. But, a little ultra-nourished, needing a lil sun, dialed skillset ready to rip, kick ass and take names?! That’s what you’re shooting for! Do it!!! www.dirtsmartmtb.com

10/11/2025

Real speed is “Death by paper cuts.” “Don’t take the smooth lines fast. Take the fast lines smooth”

Yep. Both true. In this short little section of fairly easy trail you can easily find about 5 seconds of time by simply understanding proper trail vision, thus, line choice. During last week’s clinic we watched countless riders rip by—many were fairly decent riders and were attempting to get after it—and NOT ONE took the 3-4 good lines that were right within our sight on this maybe 200 yd section of trail.

There’s a lot to reading the trail properly. It’s way more than just “look ahead.” And then you have to be able to ride the lines you see safely, clean, smooth, and ultimately—fast. Obviously, a bunch to that.

The line that Brian is hitting in the pic sets the rider up WAAAAY better than the main line (the smooth line on Brian’s left) for the following left hand corner. Yet not one rider out of the 10-ish we saw took the good line. And it’s an easy one. Low hanging fruit. Easy couple bike lengths on your buddies. Two seconds in a race. Pretty much anyone can ride it. Including you.

But you gotta see it first!!

Every area of riding requires proper trail vision if you want to do it well. On net, we spend hours on vision throughout a two day clinic—on every section of trail, vision is the first thing you have to nail or you’ve already dug yourself a hole.

And the clinic is just the start—you’ll be working on, improving, refining this area of riding for the rest of your life. But you have to build that foundation CORRECTLY first. The other option? Build a crappy foundation with bad habits and poor technique and try to build off that. Hmmmmmm…

Winter DirtSmart MTB clinic schedule will post soon. Nice warm places. Hit me up for private coaching in the Denver area. www.dirtsmartmtb.com

09/21/2025

Still spots available in the DENVER DirtSmart Skills Clinic, Oct 4-5. Two days covering the whole spectrum of riding. “Advanced beginner” to pro skill levels welcome. Ebikes welcome. Small class size and smart locations means the clinic is catered to YOU and your needs as a rider.

Great news: the upcoming Denver clinic gives us great access to a local bike park. Let’s face it, if you can jump well, you’re you really glad you can; if you can’t, you wish you could. If you follow any of my stuff you know that I believe time, feel, and patience are the real keys to REALLY know how to competently jump. But the Denver clinic will get you pointed in the right direction.

Jumping well is really about knowing how to ride your bike: a complete foundation of skills. But more importantly—and especially when it comes to applying jumping skills on the trail or track—that foundation HAS to be there: trail vision and line choice; cornering well; drops; steep technical stuff; understand that braking isn’t just about grabbing a handful of brakes until you slow down enough, but also very much about speed control and momentum management—not even about slowing down—if you can’t manage your speed well, you better not try to go very fast (or try to grease jumps and gaps)…

You get the point: it’s about the whole package. Bike set-up, gear, training, injuries, race craft…and much more will all be included over the two days.

Whether you’re new to mtb and mainly want to be safer, know what you’re doing and why, gain confidence and get better; or you’re already a good rider but know there’re better ways to do things and/or looking to shave fractions of seconds by cleaning up your game, this clinic will be the best money you ever spend on your riding.

Always feel free to contact me with any questions.

www.dirtsmartmtb.com to sign-up and get your spot.

08/10/2025

Upcoming DirtSmart MTB skills clinics: Denver 9/6-7, Santa Fe 9/20/21

How’s the riding going this summer, kids? Race results not what you were hoping for? Still getting off and walking the parts you shouldn’t be? Crashing your brains out? Still getting dropped by your buddies? Or maybe it’s going ok, but you know there’re way better ways to do things; Safer, Smoother, Faster ways (and more fun!!) to get it done. Maybe you just need a refresher and touch up that skillset?

But do you want to go with one of those dime-a-dozen coaching organizations where some random kook with 4 yrs of riding experience and a few goofy certifications is gonna be your coach? Or do you go with a proven gig that’s been around since the beginning; works with beginners to pros; 20 years pro gravity racing experience; years of industry experience training, bike set-up, you name it…

You know the answer to that that one. Research it for yourself. You won’t find a better resource to up your skill level no matter what your goals are as a rider.

“Advanced beginner” and up skill levels welcome. Small class sizes mean the clinic is catered to YOU and your needs as a rider. Great locations that cater to all levels. Private coaching also available.

www.dirtsmartmtb.com to make the best investment you’ll ever make in your riding. DM with any questions.

03/01/2025

Phoenix 3/28-29, Santa Fe 4/26-27, Denver 5/24-25 clinics common’ up!!

Get your spot, kids!! Good chance these sell out.

Safer, smoother, faster. Make it happen!! Quality skills coaching is the best money you can spend on your riding. DirtSmart MTB is the place to spend that money!! Ha! But, seriously, been around forever, been riding with and coaching beginners to pros successfully forever. Small clinics and private coaching. Great locations. Pretty damn good pricing, too.

www.dirtsmartmtb.com got more info and to sign up. Always feel free to contact me with any questions.

11/02/2024

There’re are a few reason many top gravity racers and riders still ride aluminum rims.

One of them is this. This fairly inexpensive aluminum rim is obviously severely mangled and needs to be replaced. But is the tire flat? Did I have to walk home or Rich-Kid it out on the rim? Did this mishap ruin my race weekend, hundreds of bucks down the crapper cause I flatted? Nope. She’s holding air just fine!!

Of course it’s impossible to know exactly what would’ve happened had I been riding a carbon rim during this smasheroo, but I’d bet dollars to donuts that that because of the carbon construction and the inability of the material to bend to this extreme, either the rim would’ve been destroyed, the tire cut/damaged, or both. Because of said damage, this would’ve almost definitely resulted in a flat tire. Which, if you’re racing = giant bummer. Well, even if you’re not racing = Giant Bummer. As is, I simply have to replace this puppy with another pretty cheap Al hoop and I’m back in business. I didn’t smoke a $100 tire. I don’t have to pony up $$$ for crash replacement or wait 3 month for my Lifetime Warranty replacement rim to show up in the mail.

There are definitely places for carbon rims in the mtb game. If weight is a priority, carbon rims all day. My super light, little-bike wheelset? Carbon rims. Racing XC? Carbon rims. Have more dollars than sense and just like to bling out your ride? Of course you wouldn’t be seen on Al…

But if you’re gonna smash some trail on a bigger bike, getting to the finish line and/or the end of that killer ride matters, perhaps even ride quality (?…nuther can of worms), you have to put your money where it really counts…

Going through a couple/few Al rims and paying your local shop a couple bucks to swap it out will almost def be peanuts in time, $$$, and hassle compared to destroying and replacing a carbon hoop.

If you ride the good stuff and know you’re going to have some big impacts, Al just may be the way to go…still.

09/19/2024

Still spots open in the Santa Fe clinic, Sept 28-29. Two days, $600. Small clinic sizes means I cater that action to YOU and your needs as a rider. We cover all areas of riding in the clinics. “Advanced beginners” and up skill levels welcome.

Nice bike you got there. Wouldn’t it be cool if you actually knew how to ride it? www.dirtsmartmtb.com and snag your spot

05/17/2024

So you don’t think you need MTB Skills Coaching? Or maybe you’re on the fence? Or maybe you know you do?

This article that may set you straight: https://www.dirtsmartmtb.com/uncategorized/need-mtb-coaching/

www.dirtsmartmtb.com to sign up for a clinic. A few more spots available in the Denver clinic this weekend. MN and Colorado Springs coming up! More clinic and private session dates to post soon so stay tuned
https://www.dirtsmartmtb.com/uncategorized/need-mtb-coaching/

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