2010 "Dream Camp" ATV Motocross Training With the Pros
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The Natalie's are the stark opposite. They aren't shy and have no problem speaking up so that their voice is heard. John may not carry the top spot in the nationals this year but what he does bring is over two decades of hardcore racing experience and the riders were all very eager to meet the "Ironman". This years camp also had a good showing of female riders who flocked to Michelle Natalie who promptly showed them how to get more from their riding.

The Natalies, John & Michelle have a go-for-it attitude when it comes to training & hammered it home when it came time to give instruction on how to improve & get more from their riding time

The training and instruction were hitting these riders like a freight train. In some cases the instructors were questioning whether some were absorbing it but in the end they were, even if they couldn't replicate what their trainer wanted, the skills will be worked on and remembered. Over the course of the four days, riders who couldn't could, and the ones who could were now doing things they had never tried. On one track scrubbing was the order of the day and practicing starts on another. At times the riders themselves would offer up an area they felt needed worked on and the trainers were happy to oblige.

Dustin Wimmer & Jason Dunkelberger (right) were happy to test out the diving board & water slide at BPG after a hot day of training!

All work and no play makes for no fun at all, and at Dream Camp there is plenty to break things up. Group challenges for awards and bragging rights were mixed into the schedule and sometimes it did not even involve an ATV! Breezewood has a huge swimming pond that would serve as a beach side lunch location and the location of a challenge to see who could push their trainers across the pond and back in a paddle boat.

The pond also features a diving board and huge waterslide that allowed everyone to cool off and relax and was a big hit with the riders. Dunk and Wimmer never missed a chance to hit the water and many riders were thrilled to be just hanging out with the Pro's.

Seminars on servicing your quad were held, along with a very popular night in the shop with John, Jason and Dustin. Questions and answers along with some serious advice was given about everything from training and racing to suspension set up. At all times the positive attitude of these trainers would shine and one could easily tell its wasn't just their riding skill that had them leading the ranks of atv racing.

The camp was serving more then just the riding needs of those in attendance, it was showing that presenting yourself in a positive way goes along way in all aspects of life and that being successful doesn't always mean having to win at all costs. There was even a session on weightlifting along with an outline on nutrition that sent some of us diving for cover as the training was as diverse as it was educational.

John Natalie would oversee some of the holeshot practices & would trail riders around the course to see where they needed improvement - the final day, lap times were taken & everyone improved upon their original times on day one - some by over 20 seconds!

The final day of the camp wouldn't be easy. Tired hands and sore muscles would have to wait as the final training session of the camp was in full swing. As the last jump was cleared, many felt things were over but that wasn't the case! Timed laps to see improvements were yet to be run as the riders geared up for their chance to see how much they had improved. Most everyone had indeed marked improvements and the stopwatch doesn't lie. Several youth riders culled more then 20 seconds off their day one time and one women's rider was able to shave almost 30 seconds from her best time! That's some pretty serious improvement in anyone's book!

Now a group setting isn't the absolute best way to be trained but it is one of the most affordable ways to get training from the top riders in the country. All those that I spoke to had learned something they felt they could use and all agreed that they had a ton of techniques to work on when they got back home. For many, the experience of the entire camp was well worth it and the memories made will last a lifetime. Getting to ride with the Pro's was the highlight for others, especially the younger riders on hand.

John Natalie jokes & tells stories on the final day of Dream Camp 2010