Body position is everything because balance is paramount. Many people argue about whether standing or sitting is advantageous while riding narrow, elevated obstacles, so here is the HOOTY spoon or fork secret. Do what you feel comfortable with! Try both ways as much as possible until you figure it out! I love sitting while riding skinnies but I stand long enough to get on and then sit down and pedal. This makes me feel as though my centre of gravity is lower. I must say though, when I am properly fuelled (mmmm food) I like to stand and pedal taking complete control from the top of the bike down, attacking the skinny, so really I can’t say I choose one over the other.

I have been to several clinics and riding seminars where coaches were teaching people to ride logs. I watched very closely and realized the main point the coaches wanted the students to get was to look at the end of the log. I believe in this theory (it’s proven), but it’s actually what the coaches don’t tell you that is critical.

When you look at the end of the skinny you must also look down 3-5 feet in front of you, watching both the very front of your wheel AND the end of the log. Use your focus to watch where you are going on the skinny but practice being SUPER aware of your peripheral, downward vision. On top of that do not lock your arms - keep them semi-straight and try not to be stiff on your bike - enjoy the ride!

Ups and Downs sometimes throw a bit of a loop into skinny riding. Because skinny riding is about getting to the end, all you have to realize is that if you have proper leg stroke (when going up) or brake modulation (coming down) the amount of traction you have is related to where your body weight is. I would also dare to say that you are not using your front brake enough for fear of washing the front wheel out. BAH! FOOOEEY! Use that front brake with light modulation. It is next to impossible to maintain proper body position while braking heavily from the rear so use your front brake as well. And remember; do not lock your arms.

I am always stoked to ride up a skinny. Most riders think that skinnies down are easier, but I like the challenge of climbing them. When I’m going up or riding a flat skinny I actually lightly brake (front only) so that I have something to push against to keep in check. Descending I try to modulate both brakes as evenly as possible, trusting the front more than the back.

So this is where I either get pats on the back or egg on my Hoots! The true secret to the skinny is your ability to focus! Period! When real skinnies were first introduced to The Shore I was naturally good at them and I fondly remember riding Pre Reaper. As I was crossing skinnies I was laughing and sooooo stoked that I was actually riding these heinous structures. Eventually I fell off, got hurt and began to hate the dreaded narrow lines! I quit riding them and everyone else continued to progress and, as the lines began elevate, they left me behind. I realized that I had to challenge them again so, I put my poker face on, and trusted my ability to do it…and I did!

The mental battle is an interesting one because sometimes I can school a skinny and I won’t be giddy like a schoolgirl, because I had already convinced myself I could do it. As trails like Reaper started to really get some altitude I realized that as long as I really focused on what I was riding it did not matter how high it was, in fact riding a skinny is really nothing more than riding a piece of trail; each have their own width and character. The difference in riding at elevation is that you have to build your confidence to be able to look up and say ‘I know I am going to ride that’ and visualize the end positively.