Grading System Details
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alshamsi_m
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Hello Everyone
Almost4x4 off-road training program is one of the most interesting programs in the country. Let us start with the main objective of our training “We want to train you to be independent off-roaders” which means that you should be able to survive most terrains and you can utilize these skills anywhere in the world!!
We shouldn’t remove from the equation that what we do is a dangerous hobby, so we are doing it with maximum safety and precaution.
Also, we would like to draw your attention that we don’t do our training by the number of times or the duration that you have been going to the desert. It is a skill - either you have it or you need more time and practice to master it.
Herewith a detailed explanation of the ALMOST4X4 training system, and what you can expect during your journey with us:
Club Member
As mentioned in Member’s Grading System it is a person who is a member of our family but hasn’t attended our Club Member drive or has not fulfilled the tools requirement to have the first star in our club.
We have some family and special events that a Club Member can join, but to join our regular drives, it is mandatory that you have been promoted to Newbie.
Newbie
It means that you have decided to take the next step to start real off-roading, so you should expect the following:
• Regular, convoy style drives with Almost4x4. This is our regular drives, usually happening over the weekends, where one of our Marshals will guide a convoy into a desert area within the UAE. These drives are around 3 hours of sand driving, where you will develop your off-roading skills.
• Eggs in basket: a game where the marshals will take you to a relatively small area and let you drive around by yourself so you can find out how much you have learnt from the last 10 drives you did with us. You will need to follow your GPS and choose the safest route to several way points.
• Rescue the marshal: Training day where you are going to get theoretical training about rescuing and also practical rescue training with your buddy under marshals’ supervision.
• Catch me if you can: Just another drive like any newbie drive but it is going to be at a faster pace and the marshals will observe how you handle the situation when you are put under pressure.
As we mentioned above, if you finished 10 drives or more you are NOT going to be upgraded to intermediate automatically. You just need to continue the training where the marshals are going to train you on:
• Straight cresting
• Driving arches & intro to Side Sloping aka Safari style driving
• Speeding with low pressure tires up to 80-100 km/h in flat areas
• Side cresting from side to flat
• Fast and accurate radio communication and response
Once the marshals think that you are ready, they will invite you to the intermediate exam. During the exam, the marshals will monitor and rate your drive style, and your upgrade to intermediate is solely based on the discretion of the marshals.
Intermediate
It seems that what we gave you is not enough for your off-roading enthusiasm and you are looking for more, so you should expect the following:
• Rescue training: After completing 3 intermediate drives, the marshals are going to allow you to join newbie drives for training and practice rescue under their supervision”.
• Solo: after completing a minimum of 8 intermediate drives, the marshals will take you to a relatively large area and let you drive around by yourself so you can find out how much you have learnt.
• All lead: after completing a minimum of 10 intermediate drives, the marshals are going to allow you to lead a convoy in a familiar area as a start to get the feeling of choosing the correct lines of the dunes to lead the convoy safely.
• Night solo: after completing a minimum of 10 intermediate drives, the marshals will take you to a relatively medium area and let you drive around by yourself in the DARK so you can find out how much you have learnt.
• High level drives in intermediate: Marshals can add any constraints they feel are necessary for your safety.
As we mentioned above, when you finish 10 drives or more you are NOT going to be upgraded to advance automatically. You just need to continue the training where the marshals are going to train you on:
• Full side cresting
• Side Sloping
• Speeding with low pressure tires up to 100-140 km/h in flat areas
• Rescue other off-roaders in moderate scenarios
• Faster and accurate radio communication and response
• Navigational skills with proper GPS device or apps
Once the marshals think that you are ready, they will invite you to the advance exam where they will test your skills during a longer, endurance type drive.
Advance
Now things are getting serious, you are definitely into this hobby and you are looking forward to be a Fully-fledged Off-Roader. You should expect the following:
• Rescue training: The marshals are going to allow you to start doing rescue in all scenarios unless the marshal thinks he/she should be involved.
• Solo: The marshals will take you to a relatively large area and let you drive around by yourself so you can practice rescuing the intermediates.
• All lead: The marshals are going to allow you to start leading the convoy in an unfamiliar area to get the feeling of choosing the right lines of the dunes to lead the convoy safely.
• Night solo: The marshals will take you to a relatively medium area and let you drive around by yourself in the DARK so you can practice rescuing the intermediates.
Once you get the third star, that doesn’t mean that you have mastered it all. You just need to continue the training where the marshals are going to train you on:
• Full side crest on large dunes
• Side switching in large or technical areas
• Driving in any type of weather
• Speeding with low pressure tires up to 120-170 km/h in flat areas
• Rescue other off-roaders in dangerous scenarios
• Full Navigational skills with proper GPS device or apps
Important Note:
There is a WRONG perception that if you become an advance driver, the next step is to become a MARSHAL. Please have in mind that once you have completed at least 6 months with our training as advance driver, you should have the FULL off-roading skill set, like a marshal. But this does not guarantee an upgrade to Marshal, as there are other factors that the club committee take into consideration to upgrade people to level 4 and 5. So don’t take it personal and remember that you joined us to be a Full-fledged Off-Roader and we are committed to that promise.
We wish you all the best in your off-road journey with ALMOST4X4 and welcome you into our family where you will learn valuable skills, and make friends for life.
Club Management
Related Topic : Members' Grading System
Almost4x4 off-road training program is one of the most interesting programs in the country. Let us start with the main objective of our training “We want to train you to be independent off-roaders” which means that you should be able to survive most terrains and you can utilize these skills anywhere in the world!!
We shouldn’t remove from the equation that what we do is a dangerous hobby, so we are doing it with maximum safety and precaution.
Also, we would like to draw your attention that we don’t do our training by the number of times or the duration that you have been going to the desert. It is a skill - either you have it or you need more time and practice to master it.
Herewith a detailed explanation of the ALMOST4X4 training system, and what you can expect during your journey with us:
Club Member
As mentioned in Member’s Grading System it is a person who is a member of our family but hasn’t attended our Club Member drive or has not fulfilled the tools requirement to have the first star in our club.
We have some family and special events that a Club Member can join, but to join our regular drives, it is mandatory that you have been promoted to Newbie.
Newbie
It means that you have decided to take the next step to start real off-roading, so you should expect the following:
• Regular, convoy style drives with Almost4x4. This is our regular drives, usually happening over the weekends, where one of our Marshals will guide a convoy into a desert area within the UAE. These drives are around 3 hours of sand driving, where you will develop your off-roading skills.
• Eggs in basket: a game where the marshals will take you to a relatively small area and let you drive around by yourself so you can find out how much you have learnt from the last 10 drives you did with us. You will need to follow your GPS and choose the safest route to several way points.
• Rescue the marshal: Training day where you are going to get theoretical training about rescuing and also practical rescue training with your buddy under marshals’ supervision.
• Catch me if you can: Just another drive like any newbie drive but it is going to be at a faster pace and the marshals will observe how you handle the situation when you are put under pressure.
As we mentioned above, if you finished 10 drives or more you are NOT going to be upgraded to intermediate automatically. You just need to continue the training where the marshals are going to train you on:
• Straight cresting
• Driving arches & intro to Side Sloping aka Safari style driving
• Speeding with low pressure tires up to 80-100 km/h in flat areas
• Side cresting from side to flat
• Fast and accurate radio communication and response
Once the marshals think that you are ready, they will invite you to the intermediate exam. During the exam, the marshals will monitor and rate your drive style, and your upgrade to intermediate is solely based on the discretion of the marshals.
Intermediate
It seems that what we gave you is not enough for your off-roading enthusiasm and you are looking for more, so you should expect the following:
• Rescue training: After completing 3 intermediate drives, the marshals are going to allow you to join newbie drives for training and practice rescue under their supervision”.
• Solo: after completing a minimum of 8 intermediate drives, the marshals will take you to a relatively large area and let you drive around by yourself so you can find out how much you have learnt.
• All lead: after completing a minimum of 10 intermediate drives, the marshals are going to allow you to lead a convoy in a familiar area as a start to get the feeling of choosing the correct lines of the dunes to lead the convoy safely.
• Night solo: after completing a minimum of 10 intermediate drives, the marshals will take you to a relatively medium area and let you drive around by yourself in the DARK so you can find out how much you have learnt.
• High level drives in intermediate: Marshals can add any constraints they feel are necessary for your safety.
As we mentioned above, when you finish 10 drives or more you are NOT going to be upgraded to advance automatically. You just need to continue the training where the marshals are going to train you on:
• Full side cresting
• Side Sloping
• Speeding with low pressure tires up to 100-140 km/h in flat areas
• Rescue other off-roaders in moderate scenarios
• Faster and accurate radio communication and response
• Navigational skills with proper GPS device or apps
Once the marshals think that you are ready, they will invite you to the advance exam where they will test your skills during a longer, endurance type drive.
Advance
Now things are getting serious, you are definitely into this hobby and you are looking forward to be a Fully-fledged Off-Roader. You should expect the following:
• Rescue training: The marshals are going to allow you to start doing rescue in all scenarios unless the marshal thinks he/she should be involved.
• Solo: The marshals will take you to a relatively large area and let you drive around by yourself so you can practice rescuing the intermediates.
• All lead: The marshals are going to allow you to start leading the convoy in an unfamiliar area to get the feeling of choosing the right lines of the dunes to lead the convoy safely.
• Night solo: The marshals will take you to a relatively medium area and let you drive around by yourself in the DARK so you can practice rescuing the intermediates.
Once you get the third star, that doesn’t mean that you have mastered it all. You just need to continue the training where the marshals are going to train you on:
• Full side crest on large dunes
• Side switching in large or technical areas
• Driving in any type of weather
• Speeding with low pressure tires up to 120-170 km/h in flat areas
• Rescue other off-roaders in dangerous scenarios
• Full Navigational skills with proper GPS device or apps
Important Note:
There is a WRONG perception that if you become an advance driver, the next step is to become a MARSHAL. Please have in mind that once you have completed at least 6 months with our training as advance driver, you should have the FULL off-roading skill set, like a marshal. But this does not guarantee an upgrade to Marshal, as there are other factors that the club committee take into consideration to upgrade people to level 4 and 5. So don’t take it personal and remember that you joined us to be a Full-fledged Off-Roader and we are committed to that promise.
We wish you all the best in your off-road journey with ALMOST4X4 and welcome you into our family where you will learn valuable skills, and make friends for life.
Club Management
Related Topic : Members' Grading System
Adventurous League of Mountains, Oceans and Sand Thrills
