Testimonials

"Terrific to say the least.  Great instruction that progressed logically and was  explained & demonstrated.   Lots of practice and coaching time.    Loved the camaraderie of an all female class - it was sure a breath of fresh air !  Thanks a million Shal... everything was great and I learned so much. - Lynn B

"Thank you for your energy, for your example and guidance. It was above and beyond what I had hoped for." - Molly

I signed up for a group ADV weekend and, having joined skill-building clinics in other types of two-wheeled sports I was concerned that there being a spread in levels of ability and classes of bike among six participants might result in me leaving the course undoubtedly better off, but mildly aware that I didn’t quite get pushed as far beyond my comfort zone as I’d hoped.

My fears were unfounded. After a phone conversation with Shal in which I tried very hard to convey I wasn’t being cocky, I expected to be put in my place, but I did have this worry about investing in a multi day group lesson. She heard me and assured me that with that information she felt confident she could provide skill building for a wide range of abilities and see if I could exceed my comfort zone successfully.

I needn’t have worried. There was plenty for me to learn from the ground up, and Shal always made certain that all of us could build on variations of the skills she was teaching us by adding difficulty. Comfort zone exceeded! In fact, I dropped my new bike for the first time, got over the nervousness about that, and proceeded to drop it many more times subsequently. Comfort zone expanded! Dropping bike? No problem!

Shal is deeply patient, and is a tirelessly diligent teacher. Even when we were resting in between exercises and chatting during “business hours” she would always bring the conversation back to talking about what we were learning which was, almost surprisingly, as effective as the actual doing of each exercise. I got a real sense of the value of learning on the ground, watching, participating by helping, and forming a team dynamic in the true spirit of ADV riding, all while riding MY ride. It was marvelous. Not a moment get wasted, every hour was time well spent in good company with the group, and especially with Shal.

I have an excellent sense now of all I don’t know, and a thirst for more. I will never take on Dakar, but I might make it in one piece through South America…??

I can’t recommend Shalmarie’s courses enough, and I cannot wait to cross paths with her again.

Molly S. - May 2022

“Shal truly gave me the essential foundation to help build upon my skill level!” - Jo

“I am a new street rider who has only been riding actively for 2 years and with less than 5000 miles under my belt (with no previous dirt bike riding experience). But adventure riding really appealed to me as a sport as I love hiking, camping, and being outdoors. To enter the sport, I was advised to take an Adventure Riding class. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a class with none other than Ms. Shalmarie Wilson.

As someone who was not confident on an adventure bike (i.e. it’s too tall, it’s too big), Ms. Shalmarie really gave me the tools to be confident and have command of my adventure bike. She was super patient teaching such a newbie like me the basics of both street and adventure riding and how they can be different. She was always very positive about any mistakes I made and helped me learn from them in a constructive manner. I also loved how she could break down technical skills in a manner that I could understand. Any question I threw at her, she had a clear and logical answer. And if it was something she was unfamiliar with, she did not hesitate to state that this was not her expertise (as opposed to some instructors that pretend they know everything). 

She truly gave me the essential foundation to help build upon my skill level! The time and money I spent training with Ms. Shalmarie is the best investment I made in making me a safe rider entering a new sport. 

I loved our session so much that my husband and I are planning to a next level class with her soon and be ‘repeat’ customers of hers. Just because someone is a great rider doesn’t mean they’re also a great instructor. She definitely is both!” - Jo Ann A. - May 2022

"Thank you so much for a wonderful, rewarding, challenging and fun weekend of training! You are such a patient and kind coach, so generous with your wealth of knowledge and experience! I definitely want to do more training with you and do one of the tours.” - Nancy F. - May 2022

“Having taken a lot of street oriented training I’ve been looking for an ADV based class to begin the off-road journey.” - Dana

“When I found Shal’s course, I didn’t hesitate. The helpful and encouraging culture that surrounds her training is apparent from her web site. When training day came, I was immediately struck by Shal’s personable style and her clarity. The accuracy of the information and her credibility as a rider, coach and person is easy to see. The pace of the course left room for some down-time if needed (the sun and terrain were challenging at times). We learned the fundamentals balancing the motorcycle, both on and off the bike, using body weight and position to steer. The concept of keeping the bike in balance was a thread that ran through each exercise. I learned a lot and enjoyed the camaraderie of the other students. Shal even sent a recap so I can practice these skills on my own. This course set the table well for hopefully, many safe miles on and off road.”

I’m looking forward to level two! - Dana W. - May 2021

Immersion training! So glad I did it!

“As a 60-year-old off-road noobie, I knew I needed to invest in good training. I’ve ridden street bikes on and off for 40 years, but this is something new. My goal was to be able to ride off-road trails up mountain passes, enjoy the journey and the views, and do it safely. I discussed my goals with Shal and scheduled her two-day Level I and II drills training, followed by two days of one-on-one “immersion training.” It is intended to apply those drills on off-road trails. I could not have asked for a better training experience! For my immersion, Shal selected portions of the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR), plus some adjoining routes that challenged my riding skills while meeting my personal goals. The first day, we rode over 150 miles, crossed six passes, and still took time to take photos, take in a meal, and talk to locals along the way. On the second day, we traveled over 90 miles, crossed one pass, and then took pavement back to Buena Vista (our starting point). We rode through a variety of surfaces, corners, and inclines. There were also some water crossings which added adventure! Taking immersion training following Level I and II training was a perfect option for me. The lessons of the first two days were immediately applied and easily recognizable, not only reinforcing the training but giving me confidence in my riding and my motorcycle. Shal is a personable and persistent trainer, stopping regularly along the ride to discuss what we’d just ridden through and what was coming up and how to best handle it. She also made sure I was hydrated and rested at stops. It was hard work to do all four days in a row, but I found it well worth the effort. Immersion training also allowed me to make those rides with an experienced rider the entire way. If you are new to adventure riding and want the training to strengthen your skills, Shal’s Level I and II training is an excellent choice. But if you want to build substantially upon that training in a short period of time, consider taking Shal’s immersion training. And I’d further recommend taking it in conjunction with Level I and II training if you can. You’ll be glad you did. Shal’s training met and exceeded my expectations. And I’m confident I can safely pursue my personal riding goals. Thanks Shal!”

Jonathan - June, 2021

Event - Touratech Dirt Daze, 2021

“I wanted to relay a very heartfelt thanks for all of your efforts this past week. There were several challenges to move through, not the least of which were travel plans and weather. Your dedication to your students over the course of the week shined through and provided a significant positive impact upon their skills and experience throughout the event. Being new to the training scene, I was very impressed with the D.A.R.T. course structure and curriculum. Your training style/approach really brought it to life with the attendees as well!”

Victoria - September, 2021

Event - Touratech Dirt Daze 2021

"Thank you again for the training, it's absolutely changing the way I ride! Moving away from panic momentum to calm choices!!" - Erin