To the beginning duner, making the transition over a ridge (or razorback) can be quite nerve-wracking...As a matter of fact, the transition is what frightens the beginning duners the most...Heck, when your at the bottom of a dune looking up and seeing what looks like a long razorblad stretched atop of the sand, and nothing but blue sky above that, it can be very intimidating...However, once you master the ridge transition, you will find that it is the best and easiest way to ride the dunes.

Most beginning riders to the dunes (and this even counts for expert riders who ride dunes for the first time) take too steep of an angle before they make the transition, and this can make for a very uncomfortable ride. What usually ends up happening is that the person gets scared and shuts off just before he or she reaches the ridge. Then, the person usually puts there foot down on the downslope, and "ZOOP", The bike stalls and rolls, sending bike and rider on a trip down to the bottom. If the bike stalls at the top, lean into the hill using your body english to keep the bike or quad from tipping over. And if you don't make the it to the top, stay on the gas to keep your wheels spinning and turn down the hill. And when riding a quad, you should never need to put your foot down, so keep them on the pegs.

Scenerio #2. The rider takes too steep of an angle and doesn't ease up on the gas when they reach the top. The result is that he or she ends up launching over the other side at an angle. This makes for hard, awkward landings because the rider caught too much air and lands on one or two wheels, resulting in ugly whiplash and pain (this is what usually keeps beginning duners back at camp when the group heads for another ride). And when this happens, you can very easily have a date with a witch eye, and she isn't very friendly on that first date.



Don't be affraid of that ridge (razor), and attempt to get up on it. Slap's gonna show you how, because it is the best way to see everything and have a comfortable dune ride.

What you want to do is to take less of an angle when you head up to the ridge. Now what this will require is good momentum. Keep your speed up, and try to approach the ridge this way:

Although it will look intimidating, go for it. Once you reach the ridge, you have a less chance of hitting or landing in a witch eye, because you will be following the ridge. You may dig in a bit on quads, but stay on the gas, you will motor right on through. You will then have a good view to your left and right, and you will notice that even though witch eyes are close, you are skimming right past them on most if not all occasions. Because, if you look at a ridge, it is consistent, and that is what you want to ride on or stay very close to. This also allows you to pick different lines when you are on top because things open up for you when you are there. Look at it as if you were attempting to straddle the ridge. Once you get over the fear, your duning days will be much more fun. Now if your momentum isn't fast enough to carry the ridge, don't sweat it, just go around the bowl or hill to the bottom and try it again.

It is very important for beginning duners to understand that when they are following, DO NOT get out of line when making a ridge (razor) transition. Try as hard as you can to stay in the tracks of the leader or the people in front of you. You never know how close a witch eye is untill you pass your first one and it is mere inches from your left or right. So, stay in line as best you can. It is always good to follow an experienced duner. A good leader will most likely show you a good line through the dunes that can be fun and enjoyable.

Mother Glamis changes all the time, so PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL OUT THERE . Even the best leader or duner can have serious troubles when Mother becomes choppy and witchy.

So, keep your feet on the pegs, your momentum up, and ride them ridges (razors). Before you know it, you will be ripping bowls and singin a tune...

You must have followed me the other day Slappy. Did you see me rolling down the face of that Dune? And the group following me too? Great tips for sure Slappy. Post it on the Newbies forum for sure. Thanks for the tips. Peace

And when the leader points to something it doesn't mean...

"This is the HOT line!"



Ahahahahhahah

Vor

Great tips Slappy, works for buggies too. This is a photo I posted over on the ASA board a few months back to illustrate the point after getting pissed off trying to follow someone who refuses to follow a "smooth" line.

That's him in the photo demonstrating what can happen unexpetedly if you take the "non-smooth line"

Nice shot jhitesma...yep, dat one sure can hurt, especially if you happen to to see da eye of da witch just as you land :shock: ...Hey, Slap didn't know you had arranged for Mr. Red Tail to take dat shot :wink: ...Hot damn he shoots a slapptacious telemcphoto lens.

If you know what's on the other side then yes - driving/riding like that is fun! But when you're in new territory taking that kind of a line can end up up in a witches eye faster then anything else I've tried

BTW Slapp, Mr. Red is pretty handy with the camera I've found but for that one I just perched myself a little further up on the ridge where it joined another dune running perpendicular. Just a great spot to get a Red's eye view of the ridge that James was having fun jumping.

keep the tips a coming...

~A

Ill give ya a tip.. trasfer all your med records to Brawley before attending a riding session!! :shock: :shock: :black:

make sure your cooler is fully packed in case of an emergency..

When leaving the bike at a high rate of speed make sure that you start to do the fred Flinstone run in mid air. That way you have a better chance of trying to catch yourself upon landing making you look even funnier and giving us a better picture/video moment.

...and dont be like Bukithed rollin down the face of the dune

For those of you asking" what is a witch-eye(witch-hole)? Look at next dune back in the photo...it's that dark spot. At high noon their not dark and hard to see sometimes, this looks like a small one but can have some bite to it! If your going to hit one...you can try to gas it to pull a wheelie , jump off or hit the breaks.

ME...I like to gas it ! ,jump off ,then hit the breaks.

Me like to steer clear of da witch...

I Love Smooth Lines