Nick Fahringer Shares Racing Tips on Mud Holes

This article was originally featured in the September 2017 print edition of Dirt Rider

Dirt Rider attended the wet and muddy Cajun Classic Enduro back in April where we watched the top riders in the country take a variety of lines through a particular nasty mud hole. Some went straight through it, with varied success, while others opted for the safer, but still gnarly, line around it.

We checked in with Nick Fahringer, who is one of the better “mudders” on the circuit, and asked him to explain why and how he chose to go around this particular hole.

According to Nick, the keys to successfully negotiating a nasty mud hazard are momentum, smart lines, smooth throttle application to avoid fishtailing or burying the rear in the soft stuff, and to always remember not to stick your toe into the unknown.

“I’ve just exited a turn and I don’t have much speed or traction, so I need a smooth, high line to safely skim around this quicksand. If I had the drive and a little more run at it, a light front end and some momentum would power me through the main rut. But that’s not the case, so a smarter and safer line is in order.