3 Tips On How To Cross Slippery Creeks With Jordan Ashburn

Learn to ride in extreme terrain with a professional

This article was originally published in the October 2017 issue of Dirt Rider.

Slippery creeks are always tricky, especially if there is fast-running water, because if you look down at your front wheel, the running water can throw off your perspective. You need to look up ahead so you don’t lose your balance.

Tip 1Shan Moore

This creek trail is slightly uphill with large, solid rock formations. I’m looking for little cracks and crevices in the rock formations to use to keep my wheels from sliding around. There are a lot of small, 4- to 6-inch ledges in the rock that create little drop-offs along the creek, and you want to make sure you always hit those straight on so your wheels don’t deflect to one side or the other. Even though the creek is relatively straight, I’m sort of weaving back and forth so I can hit those little waterfalls head on.

Tip 2Shan Moore

For slippery creeks, you want to keep good momentum and a steady throttle. I keep a finger on the clutch at all times, and I’m lugging the bike just above an idle to keep the rear wheel from spinning. Keep your body centered—that way if the rear wheel starts to spin, you can move your weight back and regain traction.

Tip 3Shan Moore

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