Ducati Monster Forum

Yesterday Jake and Andy did their first day of Zalusky Advanced Riding School. I was lucky enough to have them in my class for the day. You guys rode super smooth! I hope you are now hooked and want to keep coming back!  [beer]

http://advancedridingschool.net/ (http://advancedridingschool.net/)

(http://i49.tinypic.com/b8s10w.jpg)

(http://i46.tinypic.com/4fvaed.jpg)


more pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/xcomm/sets/72157624096415591/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/xcomm/sets/72157624096415591/)

I had an amazing time yesterday. I can't recomend the school enough. I'll be signing up for another one this week. Can't wait to get out there again.

Thanks again for the awesome time yesterday Gabe, you're a fantastic teacher.

Very cool pics as well  [thumbsup]

+1 to all the above.  What an awesome time.  It's amazing what a day with a track and a few good teachers can do for your riding skill.

If anyone else hasn't gone yet... you are missing out, and you really should sign up.

Now that you guys are rockin ZARS riders, did you get the newsletter in your e-mail?  ;)

Guys/gals, I want to take a moment and paste in a review that was written by one of our students recently. It answers some of the questions that I received at our Italian Night yesterday. I'm pasting below......




It's a simple and universal concept; we all want to get more for our money. My experience with ZARS has always been just that and last Sunday was no exception.

I had this conversation with instructor Kyle during lunch. I'm sure the ZARS website does a good job of demonstrating the value received for the price of admission regardless of which program is registered for, but I am amazed at what is provided and available! The intent here is to share my perspective for anyone considering registering for a future event.

In my case I registered for "Beginner 2" and the ratio of instructors to students varied from 2:1 to at the most 4:1 for this event. This made the feedback and instruction extremely relevant to personal goals and progress. The "rate" of instruction is just as important as the content because the subject matter is vast and critical to riding improvement. I found the introduction of topics, order of concepts, and concentration on specific skills to be ideal. Since it was my first time back on the range for this year, Beginner 2 was a great place to pick up where I left off. By the end of the day I was smoother and more confident than where I left off last year by far.

What really stands out is that all of the instructors including Kyle, Jim, Tony, Nate and of course Nick are flexible, knowledgeable, and willing to listen as well as teach. It is clear the interest to progress student's riding ability directly relates to their own goals of becoming better racers/riders. Despite the one or two "students" that show up at these events to be faster than someone/anyone else, the general tone as established by Jessica and the crew is obviously geared to improving your riding regardless of current skill level. The program is clearly designed to do just that.

Add in the excellent lunch (with ice cream in the afternoon), extras like the suspension clinic, introduction to the advanced school, the willingness and availability of expert instructors, and sheer number of sessions/laps included and you realize you are getting way more for your money than may be apparent when registering. I chose to sit one session out in the afternoon and still felt like I got a ton of good laps in!

I had an excellent day, learned a lot, improved my riding, and really enjoyed myself (doing these events are a primary way for me to de-stress from my job so they need to count)!

Thanks to the ZARS crew and all the other folks there to learn for an awesome day!

Couldn't agree more. 

I'll be signing up for the June 20th class as well, if anybody else is interested you should definitely sign up (cough,MO,cough)

It seriously is a great time.

I did not get an email  :-\

For a couple sessions at the end of the day I strapped a video camera to the frame of my Monster.  I've edited them into a YouTube video.

Ducati Monster @ ZARS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRzEHThW4L4#lq-lq2-hq-vhq-hd)

See if you can spot Jake... he's the guy I can't keep up with. :)

Loved ZARS, and I'll try and sign up for some more sessions.  I *might* be able to make the 20th.

That video is great Andy! What a cool spot to mount that camera. I bet it looks even better before YouTube compressed it. 

Nice song choice too.

Send me your e-mail address and I'll get it to you. Did you get on the e-mail list?

it's jakeketchmark@hotmail.com

I gave them my email address on Sunday on the form they had us fill out.

Just signed up for the 20th. Can't wait  [moto]

I got a ZARS newsletter on April 28th and another email on May 20th... has there been another newsletter?

yes [bacon]

Hey, I just signed up for the June 25th class!
Anyone else going to be there?

I'm gonna try, I gotta get out of a work function 1st.  If you see a loud yamaha tard with 410 on the front stop and introduce yourself.  Friday night ZARS rules, the best way to start a weekend imo [bacon]

I'm thinking about signing up for the 25th as a "first timer"

I'll have to clear it with the wife first though.

maybe I'll pop my ZARS cherry

do it, it's fun [bacon]

hey, I was there on my red M620 and I didn't get a welcome from anyone!   :'(


I think I parked next to a few of you guys, and borrowed your blue tape.

I'm thinking of going back on 7AUG.

Hi Kim, Andy (filter) and I were parked next to you. I thought I mentioned this site to you....

Glad you found us though  :)

hey Andy!   I've been on this site for about a year now.


honestly, I just have felt very welcomed.  I've run into a few people
here at Dulono's and got the cold shoulder! 

Well that sucks. Most of us are pretty good people (except Mo, stay clear of him). You should come to the notte next month and hang out with the good crowd :)

5 July?  I just might make that now!   thanks, I appreciate it.

and I'm always looking to ride!   

Hey Kim.   Nice meeting you, and thanks again for the use of the canopy... Not sure my stuff would have made it thru the rain torrent without it!

Had another awesome day at ZARS yesterday.  [bow_down] Couldn't have asked for nicer weather.

I was able to get both knees down yesterday for the first time  ;D Hopefully they get some pictures up soon.

Once again, if you haven't done this yet, DO IT! best time ever.
 

 

What were kneeling for?

Oh snap! :o

I was praying to Allah.


 

Ahahaha ... One at a time  [bow_down]

Mo, answer your pm.  ;)

dang I can never see those  [drool]

An update: I went to the ZARS on Friday, June 25th as a first timer.  The short story is...this is a fantastic opportunity for everyone in the area.  If you haven't done it yet, you should.

FUN, FUN, FUN! [moto]

The course is tight and technical and really well suited to our Monsters.  The bike's torque makes for a good time.

I am planning on attending again; looking at July 24th!

I'll be there friday if anyone cares say "hi"

Did you end up making last Friday? 
I looked for you there briefly, but I was a bit overwhelmed by the whole experience.   [moto]
I was the only one on a Monster (or Ducati).

I'll be there too on Friday...and the 10th (trackday, BIR!!), and the 24th, and the 30th.  [moto]  See ya there!

I'll be signing up for the 24th shortly as well  [thumbsup]. Can't wait!

I did not, wish I could have.  I had a work function that involved free beer and couldn't get out of it/resist it [bacon]

I signed up for the 24th! [moto]

who's going in August?

I'm doing ridingcourse on 17 July.

Signed up for the 24th!

Got my friend Evan to sign up as well.

Working on my Uncle in Law too....he used to race at Brainerd about 15 years ago and has showed some interest  [thumbsup]

I am signed up for the 30th.  Now I just hope Gabe isn't my teacher.   [moto]

I'll b there on the 24th but I'll be racing the weekend of the 30th so no zars 4 me [bacon]

hopefully I'll be crossing the pond on the 24th, I'm thinking the 7th.

Had another great time on Saturday  [thumbsup] 

Here's a vid I found   :D

I1-B2 ZARS session 1 at DCTC on 7-24-2010 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDnZqxq5eI#normal)

I had an excellent time as well.   [thumbsup]

I can't wait for the next time! [moto]

It was good to meet you, minnesotamonster, fasterblkduc and atomic410! [beer]

Pleasure meeting you as well! I'll be seeing a lot of you guys and gals now...everyone gets hooked!

I hate missing a track day...  :'(