Hi Guys!

I was wondering, how many of you have taken the rider course offered through the ATV Safety Institute? What did you think about it?

 

Fortunately, an outstanding instructor taught my ATV Safety Institute Rider Course, making me a safer and more skillful rider.

Our class received classroom instruction, viewed demonstrations, and practiced and tried out the techniques taught with the helpful critique, advice, and encouragement of our instructor.

The course provided the right fundamentals (e.g., hillclimbing (ascending and descending), off-camber hill traversing, trail riding, obstacle avoidance (swerving), obstacle crossing (log-jumping), panic stops, control adjustment, weather considerations, navigation, safety equipment, applicable laws, etc., etc.) for developing skills and individual styles later on. I believe any rider at any level with any amount of experience would profit from attending a GOOD ATV Safety Institute course.

Tree Farmer

 

Hey Tree Farmer! You sound like you know alot about this course! Did you really enjoy it THAT much and think it was THAT great? Or could it be that you are an Instructor? I appreciate your input!!! Looking for others opinions also.

4whler

 

Last fall, my boyfriend signed both of us up for the ATV Rider Safety Course out here in California. At that point, I had been riding for a few months. I'm not sure if he knows it or not, but the course taught me a lot in terms of technical skills as well as non-technical information. I'm very grateful to him for taking the time to complete the course with me.

Up until the course, I rode in no specific manner. Now, I know the proper way to position my body when I turn. As a matter of fact, I found myself using the proper technique just this past weekend when we went riding. I wasn't aware I was even doing it, it's just part of my style now.

I would highly recommend the ATV Rider Safety course for anyone that rides. Whether you've been on a quad for 30 minutes in the showroom or 30 years, I truly think that everyone can benefit from the course.

We were fortunate enough to get a very nice instructor. He knew his stuff. He was good at measuring each individual's capabilities and limitations, and then he pushed everyone to their skill limit. I would recommend that children take the course with their parents also (while kids are normally not allowed, our instructor said that he sometimes made exceptions). At the very least, parents, go over the material with your children upon completion of the course.



[This message has been edited by Myst- (edited 08-19-1999).]

 

Do you, or Tree Farmer, remember what your Instructors names were? What kind of place was the class given in? Vacant lot, field, pasture, or where? How long did the class take? Did you have to wear helmets and other gear?

 

To enroll in the ASI RiderCourse call (800) 887-2887. They can tell you when the next Course will be held in your area. They will also be able to answer any questions you have. Unless procedures have changed and I have not been made aware of it, if you purchased a new ATV since April, 1988 you and all members of your immediate family who meet the manufacturer's minimum age recommendation for the ATV purchased will be able to take the Course free of charge. In most cases "loaner" ATV's are available if you only own one ATV and more than one family member wants to take the Course. Plus you may be eligible to recieve a cash incentive from your manufacturer for completing the Course. (Only one cash incentive per ATV allowed) Prior to April, 1998 this incentive was $50.00. Now the amount varies with the manufacturer - some are offering more and Honda has another incentive they are offering. It is my understanding the pre-1998 ATV incentives are still in effect. All of the major manufacturers except for Polaris are parties to the ATV Safety Institute. If you purchased a Polaris or a used ATV you can still take the Course for a small fee. Again, calling the toll-free number can get you any answers to any questions. ASI is in the process of building a Web Site at this time. As soon as it is complete I will post it. Hope this helps.

Mark Vinson

[This message has been edited by Mark Vinson (edited 08-19-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Mark Vinson (edited 08-19-1999).]

 

Since you asked, 4Whler, no, I'm no instructor.

I took the ATV Safety Institute ATV Rider course at Sykesville, MD, on instructor Buck Warfield's farm, with grassy meadows, hillsides, and woodland trails for training, demonstrations, and practical exercises.

Buck is a former Maryland State Trooper and now owns the Blackwater-winning Kawasaki Tecate, an impressive machine he demonstrated after our graduation.

Finally, yes: he's THAT good; as good as I said he was!

Tree Farmer

 

Thanks for the info Mark! I already have all of that information but I'm sure there may be others who will benefit from it. I am an Instructor and was just hoping folks would be willing to share their experiences with the Rider Course. I wasn't going to post that I was an Insturctor before now because I thought it might make a difference in what people would say about the class. I found this forum only yesterday and was just testing the water.

 

Tree Farmer,

I'm glad you enjoyed the Rider Course! And yes, you're right! Buck IS that good!! I met him back in May at a work shop I attended in Alpharetta, Georgia. I was able to hear all about his farm, and I'm sure it's every bit as wonderful as it sounds.

 

Dear 4Whler, I know you! I looked at your profile and figured it out. Just let me say this, if instructor's come any better than you, then they are out of this world! My wife and I took the course with you in june, and let me tell you, we were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it more than I can say. I thought I knew it all when it came to riding atv's, but boy! Was I wrong! I appreciate your awesome teaching abilities. My wife left feeling so much more confident. Thank you for teaching and sharing a wealth of information. And thank you for pushing my wife and encouraging her to become the great rider she is today. You, my friend, are tops in our book! And with everyone else that we personally know who took your class.~ Jim, in Gadsden