I have no background in riding dirt bikes in my youth, but because I found myself living in Fairbanks, AK for many years, I did get some experience. I certainly think the pictures Trikepilot posted (surprising name for a rider with substantial off-road skills) show terrain above my skill level. But if you ride in dirt, or as Spousal Unit and I did, many miles of dirt and gravel roads, you will pick-up skills. The most important thing to learn in my book is to know your limits, and while you need to push your limits in order to develop, you should not get in way over your head. Keep your speed reasonable but know that some aggressive use of the throttle is needed to save your arse in some situations. I am proof that a guy with modest off-pavement skills can have a bunch of fun and ride just about every dirt road in AK and the Yukon without going down. And Spousal Unit has riden every one of the roads with me and had less than a year in the saddle when we went to Deadhorse.