First things first

The subject of off-road driving skills has been the basis of numerous books and endless debates the world over.

Everyone has an opinion – some more valid than others. I don’t believe it’s possible to train off-road driving skills from the pages of a magazine alone. As with any practical skill, only experience creates ‘unconscious competence’. For this reason, a hands-on training course through a professional service provider is a highly recommended foundation for the extended journey of becoming a competent off-road driver. That said, it is possible to learn and apply certain basic theoretical concepts which, when combined with experience, will assist in improving your skill. Great off-road ability is a combination of a variety of learned proficiencies.

The first is to understand your vehicle, and the various technological systems onboard. Often, understanding which systems and functions should be ‘off’ is as relevant as deciding what should be ‘on’!

These systems interact with the terrain on which you find yourself. The concepts of reading terrain, choosing the correct line, and using a guide are all important. Bear in mind that when weather interacts with the landscape, terrain essentially changes. So, a dune that may have been easy to drive in the early morning when the sand is cool, moist, and compact, becomes a challenge at midday when it is hot, dry, and loose. A camber with relatively good grip that would have been possible to traverse with comparative ease in dry conditions becomes treacherous when slick with moisture from dew or rain.

Lastly, fundamental scientific principles such as those of gravity, physics, and motion also come into play.