PASSIVE VERSUS DELIBERATE
When it comes to generating control on a trail, riders generally fall into two categories. Passive and deliberate. A passive rider will look like they are riding on top of the bike. They’ll typically have quite a tall stance, and do a good job of taking the sting out of the trail by absorbing larger features. They pull for control. To them this will feel like the trail is always hitting them with obstacles and that they have to take the impact out of. This actually works to a certain extent and will allow riders to progress to really quite difficult trails.
A deliberate rider looks like they are riding in the bike, not on top of it. They have a fluidity to their technique that looks like they just float down the trail with ease. They can generate grip wherever they want and never look like they are trying too hard. This is because they are closer to their bike and able to use their body weight to generate grip in the places they can trust. They push for control. They are using a deliberate drive of their body weight to anchor themselves to the trail, not backing away from all the scary bits.