You can learn a lot in a parking lot
Mecca for ATV off-roading provides newcomers with perfect training atmosphere
HUNGRY VALLEY, CALIF. — Upon entrance into Hungry Valley, there are dirt trails as far as the eye can see.
Between the rolling hills and changes in elevations, the muffled hum and buzz of motorized off-road vehicles is just the tip of the iceberg of what I’d call paradise.
According to the California State Parks website (ohv.parks.ca.gov), Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area is the second largest unit of California State Park’s OffHighway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. You’ll find it about an hour and a bit north of Los Angeles in the Tejon Pass, along the Interstate 5 corridor. It could be a longer drive if you’re stuck in traffic.
This mecca for motorized off-road vehicles provides riders with 19,000 acres and more than 208 kilometres of scenic trails for motorcycle, allterrain vehicles (ATVs), dune buggies and 4x4s.
While I would have loved to hop on a dirt bike and play until the sun went down, I was there for one reason: To learn how to properly play with ATVs.
I’ve been on quads a few times, but the desire to take a fundamentals course was strong. The ATV Safety Institute in the United States offers such training in various parts of the country. The skills learned south of the border are directly transferable to Canada. And you don’t even need to declare the priceless knowledge acquired on your customs form.
There are a couple ways of going about taking the course. If you purchase an ATV in the U.S., along with your new machinery, you receive the training free of charge. If you simply want to take the course to learn the skills, that’s entirely possible, too.
The ATVsafety.org website has a free e-course, and you can call the toll-free number at the bottom of the home page — 1-800-887-2887 — which will direct you to the nearest location where the hands-on program is offered. Cost is $55 for kids and $155 for adults.
Before even showing up in dirt riding gear, completing the free
For the three to four hours of the basic skills course, I learned quite a few things that were new to me.
e-course is highly recommended. That way, when you show up, you’re familiar with the various acronyms and terminology that will be used.
While it may seem like dangling the cheese in front of the mouse, the initial training takes place on one of the vast parking lots of the State Park. Cones are set up to help guide the various turning and braking exercises.
And depending on the type of ATV you have — mine was a Honda TRX 250 — you will have either an automatic or a manual gearbox, meaning if it’s the latter, you’ll have to get used to shifting as well.
Safety is the forefront principle of the course. Yes, it’s learning the ins and outs of the machine, but just because it has four wheels doesn’t mean it can’t flip.
Furthermore, it’s imperative that you adhere to the manufacturer’s warning label about the age of riders. Kids as young as six years old can take the course, provided they have an ATV that is size-appropriate.
If you don’t have your own, and would just like to take the course to see how you like it, various locations offer ATV rentals.
For the three to four hours of the basic skills course, I learned quite a few things that were new to me.
I guess that’s the point! So the training is invaluable.
Those thinking it’s effortless to just sit on the quad — push and pull the handlebars and push on the throttle without being that physically involved — are wrong. It is a physically demanding activity, demanding enough that my arms were sore after a couple of hours, even in a parking lot.
But a parking lot is a great place to start. There’s a lot of runoff room in case you miss a turn or a shift.
Chances are you won’t bump into your classmates and there’s a trained instructor who demonstrates all the activities beforehand. The coach will also help you along in case you have questions or concerns.
It’s the best place to start to develop good habits and it’s right from the get-go.
You also get a chance to get a feel for the machine and find out more about its capabilities.
When we went out on the trails at the end of the day — which is probably the best part! — using proper body form and position learned in the parking lot helped stabilize the ATV when descending or ascending hills or making tight turns.
If you’re interested in ATVs and want to get a good foundation and you just happen to find yourself south of the border, check out ATVsafety.org.
Not only will you start developing good habits, you’ll get a good workout and the knowledge to help keep yourself and other riders safe on the trails.