I feel ever so comfortable being average at a great many things.
I guess that is because I know I am good at one thing - catching snakes. Though it is a rather valueless skill it does make me feel at least a little accomplished.
Whenever someone is describing something technical I can't quite grasp or doing something that requires a greater level of dexterity than I can manage, I find resolve in the fact that I can handle the world's deadliest snakes far better than they probably could.
Nevertheless, I can't help but be a little envious and feel just a tad bit inadequate when I meet someone like Jason Bale.
You see, Jason can rebuild a WR250 from a basket case in just a few "Beer O' Clock" Wednesday night shed sessions.
He can plaster a dwelling, set down a slab and frame up a patio.
He is also an accomplished muso, having spent a good chunk of his life on the road making his mark in the gig scene.
If, by now, you are like me and feeling slightly inadequate then let me add some insult to injury - as well as doing all of the above Jason, his partner Emma and his best bud, Scotty, have now opened a rider training park!
Enduro Bikes W.A. started in 2020 providing rider training and guided tours for trail riders who were new to the scene and wanted to develop their skills on the bike and discover places to ride. For those of us who have been around the block a few times you would be as shocked as you would be surprised the number of people that buy dirt bikes but have no clue where you can and can't ride them.
In the formative years, training sessions were run out of the van and 'easy-up' on the Power Line track, out at Metro Road or up at Pinjar Ride Park. But the writing was on the wall (or on the Water Corp signs more appropriately) and EBWA knew that it would not be too long before the regulators put the kibosh on training in Public access areas.
The crew had to act to keep the dream alive and act they did! They are not sure if it was fate or just being in the right place at the right time, but Jason, Em and Scotty happened across the Bullsbrook property and things were forever changed for the better.
Located less than an hour from the CBD the property is perfectly located for a ride / training park, just back behind Bullsbrook on the way out to Chittering.
With 54 acres of serious topography the EBWA crew got started on cutting in flat pads for body / bike / balance training, slopes and gradients for clutch and brake control and obstacles just savage enough to bleed you into the Hard Enduro scene.
EBWA has only had access to the property for about six months, and in that time Jason has been recovering from a savage knee injury. But training sessions are well underway with at least four levels of training to choose from:
You can also hire bikes (Sherco and Beta two strokes and some less savage four strokes if you are that way inclined) and gear!! There are granite boulders to hop, logs to pop, creeks to cross and plenty of non-natural hazards to test your metal.
Jason has been on the dirt bikes for just over 12 years now, having started on mountain bikes and trials as a youngster. He now rides enduro, hard enduro and trials.
Like the rest of us it would be fair to say he was perhaps a little more passionate about bikes than he was about his trade and his passion comes in tank loads when he is teaching - read the Reviews!
The EBWA guys have dug deep (literally and figuratively) to provide both new and experienced riders somewhere different to hone their skills in a relaxed and safe environment.
And it is one where you can put your feet up after an epic day on the bike to enjoy a brew with the kangaroos, quendas and other creatures that share the incredible landscape out Chittering way.
Find them on the web, Fartbook or Istablegram to book your spot.
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