Intermediate Off-Road Training

Flashy power slides, wheelies, jumping off things, climbing rock steps, and riding the notorious Black Bear Pass like nobody’s business—that’s more or less the image that comes to mind when I think of the words “intermediate” and “off-road training.”

- Egle Gerulaityte

And, that’s roughly what I expected to learn when I signed up for West 38 Moto’s intermediate class in Ouray, Colorado. Having done W38M’s beginner training course in May and ridden over 20,000 miles of varied terrain over the summer, I already felt fairly confident and competent taking my bike off road and pushing my own limits. However, beautiful visions of Dakar-style riding paired with Charley Boorman-like antics seemed too seductive to pass up, so after a brief chat with Dusty Wessels, the heart and soul of W38M, I was sold.

Your bike can. Can you?

Dusty is everything that a brilliant off-road coach needs to be: professional and talented with great people skills, a relaxed sense of humor, and a passion for motorcycles. But he also gets it. Not all people grow up riding dirt bikes or are natural-born motorcycle virtuosos, and not all riders excel at the same pace. In fact, Dusty says, “I learned to ride as an adult, so I love showing people that it doesn’t matter whether you start when you’re 8, 28, or 68, riding motorcycles off road is a skill that can be mastered regardless of your experience, age, or gender.”