I was thrilled to learn about DBST after riding off road for 10 years without feeling I had a fundamental approach or technique. My 11 year old son and I took the Level 2 class with Jason, and we had a blast. The curriculum specifically addressed exactly what we both needed to smooth out our riding to improve endurance, speed and fun. It felt like every exercise unlocked another mystery, and we both can't wait for opportunities to practice these concepts and come back again.
-Ben A. 46 / Bellevue, WA
Thanks to the guys from DirtFirst for bringing their amazing training to the Tourtech Rally. The course was perfectly balanced between verbal instruction and drills to instill great riding skills for us adventure riders on bigger bikes. When I went on my first major ride the next day, I could still hear Whitney and Jason's instructions and encouragement in my head for an awesome and safe ride. Check it out!
-Garth B. 53 / Vancouver, B.C.
The class I took was very worthwhile. Jason was the instructor and he is an excellent communicator and listener. I received some valuable techniques and he was able to troubleshoot some problems I was having with my riding.
-Paul M. 61 / Olympia WA
Thank you Lisa and Jason.
I learned a ton and have lot’s to work on. It was a worthwhile class and your teaching skills are great, especially the “Carlton Dance”.
Thank for a great weekend.
Matt
-Matthew W. /
I've been riding daily on the street for years, so I was honestly pretty surprised how much I learned, and how much I still need to learn, from the level 2 dirt class.
There was a lot of great information packed into the day, all of which is focused on being a more proficient and safer rider. In between the drills there's time to practice on the trail and apply what you just learned.
This class wore me out and left me exhausted, and was worth every penny! If you're on the fence, sign up and I'm confident you won't regret it.
-Keith T. 47 / Redmond, WA
Such an awesome experience! The structure of the program is set up so well you can see your progress throughout the class and practice those skills that you feel are lacking. The hands on training provided by the instructors is wonderful: they are extremely patient, very knowledgeable, and eager to help you become the better rider we all want to be. I very much recommend any of the classes provided for your skill level!
-Stephanie W. 27 / Marysville
I have known Whitney and Jason for some time and have ridden and trained with both. They are both amazing dirt riders and are out riding and participating in many events within the community. They are also wonderful rider coaches and are patient, knowledgeable and have the ability to help you greatly improve your riding skills.
I highly recommend, no matter what level of skills you posses, to get with them to build your skill level and become even a better rider both on and off road. They don't teach "on-road" curriculum but I honestly feel that off-road training will hugely benefit you on the street. In fact, I think it is beneficial for new riders to get some off-road training before they venture out on the street. Hope to see you out on the trails.
-Tracy J. 41 / Mercer Is.
Our 10 year old Grandson took this class yesterday and we are still talking about the amazing experience. He did not want to stop at the end of the day and will not stop talking about getting on his bike to practice (like the "guys" told him he should do). He went from being very tentative to now knowing how to control his bike, brake, shift, get safely off a hill and on and on. We will be signing him up for more classes. The best way to describe what these guys offered is my favorite 3 P's: Pride, Perseverance, and Patience!
-Jayden R. 10 / Monroe, WA
Our 5 year old daughter Bryn took the beginner class with Jason. I can't thank him enough for his patience and excellent teaching skills. She's now hooked and has her own PW50 and can't wait to take another class.
Troy
-Troy H. 49 / Edmonds
I've been riding street for over 35 years. In a cross country trip a couple years ago I ran into a couple young men in a small Utah town riding the TAT... After talking with them I had a new bucket list item. But then I knew I'd need to learn some new skills and chance my riding style significantly.
I started with the intermediate class and it was freaking AWESOME!! I learned so much and gained a crazy amount of confidence. Not only with the dirt bike but also with skills that carried over to street riding. I will be going back a few more times over the next couple years ago when I head out on my big adventure in 2020 I can do it with confidence.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
-Jennifer P. 52 / Castle Rock
My 13-yr old daughter and a friend signed up for the 2-day camp in July. Jason is an amazing teacher, he is very knowledgeable and a great coach. My daughter said riding a dirt bike is much harder than she thought it would be but Jason made learning fun. He is direct in his approach without being intimidating and is very patient. I would highly recommend Jason and his school to anyone! Well worth the investment in time and money.
-Mike M. 55 / Bellevue
I recently took the Level 2 class. Jason was our instructor for the day and he was great. He was patient, communicated the lessons very well and made sure everyone was taken care of. His enthusiasm for teaching is obvious. I liked the structure of the day - the lesson, demonstration and practice of what we learned was very helpful. The techniques he taught us were the solid basics I was looking for. And small adjustments made all the difference. I would highly recommend taking this class before you get out and ride. You will enjoy it much more!
-Ashlie M. 50 / Bellevue, WA
I've ridden street bikes most of my life and picked up a few dirt bikes a few years ago. My kids and I have had a great time on them, but without any formal instruction, always felt we didn't have the foundation for the skills needed to ride the trails we wanted to explore. My son and I took the Intermediate class and, now, things make a lot more sense. Wish we could have had these foundational techniques in place before we formed some bad riding practices, but it's never too late. Now we have solid methods we can practice and work on. Looking forward to the advanced class at some point in the future.
Jason and Whitney are excellent instructors: genuine, enthusiastic, and skilled. There was a range of experience and personalities in our class and I enjoyed watching how they adapted to everyone's needs. Everyone seemed to learn, enjoy the day, and express gratitude and a desire to return once it was over.
Most people didn't bring their own bikes and I heard several say they wanted to learn on something they weren't afraid to bang up. We brought our own bikes. My opinion is I want to learn and be trained on the bike I'm riding. That option worked out great for me, and if you have your own dirt or dual sport, I'd suggest you consider taking the training on your own machine. Email Jason and Whitney. Based on your experience, they can give you a recommendation on which option might work best for you.
-Warren H. 47 / Snohomish County
I attended the Dirt First course at the 2017 Touratech Rally using their bike.
Unfortunately I didn't get to practice the techniques right away. I thought I may have wasted the course but I have recently done some dirt rides where the training kicked in and WOW.
My Dirt riding with my 2015 F800GS has improved dramatically. It's like I have a whole new set of tools to draw on when riding. The enjoyment level has gone up twofold.
Thank guys!
-Michael F. 65 / Joseph, Oregon
I've been a street rider for 15 years and got my first dual sport a few years back. I've done a little off road riding, but frankly I'm terrified of it. My husband thought this would help me gain some skills that would boost my confidence and make it more enjoyable. He decided he could probably learn a thing or two as well, so we took the level 2 class together.
First of all, wow! it's hard work! I learned so much from this class though! I think it was definitely a little harder since I've been a street rider for so long; there are a lot of things that are quite opposite between the two riding methods. To be honest, I was beside myself with anxiety; how many times am I going to drop my bike, how many people are going to be waiting for me, how frustrated are people going to be with my lack of skill, etc. But our instructor (the owner, Jason) was absolutely fantastic and so incredibly patient with me. There was no judgement from anyone and it seemed like everyone in our group was learning and having fun too. Even in our group of 8, which they considered large, everyone got some real personal attention and coaching. By the end of the day I was able to ride and actually maneuver in sand, which is something I've never been able to do - skill or confidence-wise. And my husband, who has done some pretty extreme off road riding learned a lot as well. The principles behind the teaching methods here are pretty spot on and I'm definitely excited to ride more now! I also believe it would be worth taking the class again to really master some of the skills learned here. I would recommend this operation to pretty much anyone interested in off road riding - there are 3 levels of skill courses, so there's something for everyone and you'd be amazed at how even just a little coaching can improve your riding. Thank you Jason!
-Lara D. 40 / Portland, OR
The class was awesome! I come from a background of street bikes (Harley's and sport bikes) with a little off-road experience. How the class broke down the individual skills and then applied them during the trail rides was perfect for reinforcement. Whitney was a great instructor and I'm definitely signing up for more. Thank you DBST!
-Krit
-Krit M. 41 / Lynnwood
