first wreck

My in-laws are visiting for the weekend, and they made sure to bring down a few dirtbikes.

We went riding this morning with Jared and Katelyn.
It was...exciting.
When you dirtbike, you crash.
Alot.  Which is fine, it just happens.

But my first three crashes of the day were the worst I have ever had.
(I've crashed lots before, but I've never had a crash that actually hurt)
When you crash alot, you get nervous and tense
which usually causes
more crashes.

My fourth crash was the big whammy, my initiation into dirtbiking.
My first real wreck.
Let me tell you about it.

We were going down a hill, short but steep. I'd say a little over 45*.
Which is fine and dandy.  I take hills like that (up and down) all the time!
No problem.
Except
I was tense and
at the bottom, there was about a 10 inch 'cliff.'

Here's what should have happened:
I lean back as I go down the hill (counterbalance),
I carefully apply the rear brake and pop the cliff
Lose control of the rear for a second but maintain the handle bars
Then continue down the trail.
No big deal.

Here's what actually happened:
I got popped by a rock further up the hill, so I was leaning foreward.
I popped off the cliff and my rear wheel didn't come down because I was leaning foreward.
I panicked and grabbed the clutch and all the brakes (including the front wheel).
I flew over the front left handlebar
performing, according to my father-in-law, a 'flying W'
before I hit the ground.

Here's what I remember:
The ground coming strait at my face and Tyler yelling.

Then I sort of had a panic attack.

I am so grateful I had a helmet on  or things could have been alot worse!
As it is, I banged up my knee pretty bad, but nothing permanent.

After that I couldn't get back on the bike right away,
so Katelyn hopped on the bike and I took the quad.
Good for her, since she had her own first big wreck about 2 months ago.
Her's was worse, because she was on the road.
She came out with a torn up ankle and road rash all down one side.

Before we headed back home,
I did do a little cruising on the bike.
I guess I'm crazy enough to keep doing this!
-Mrs. Smith