Our top 10 are the absolute essential basics to starting MTB riding. If you can remember them, we hope that they will be helpful in getting you confident and more skilled on the trail.

1. Look 10 metres ahead and think 2-3 moves ahead. Always be aware of what's ahead of you and what you have to tackle next.

2. Commit to a track or line. This means that you need to be doing step 1 and working out the line you will ride. Hesitation hurts. It's when things typically go wrong for you!

3. Look at where you want to go, not where you don't want to go. If you look at what you don't want to hit, you will surely hit it. Instead, look where you want to go. And this goes for following another rider ahead. Don't watch them or their wheel! Look ahead of them or if you can't, then look 1-2 metres in front of you.

4. Shift to an easier gear when you hit sand, water or mud and transfer some weight to the rear wheel by leaning back a little. Keep off the brakes to keep traction, keep a relaxed grip on the handlebars and just spin through.

5. Move your weight around and off the saddle as you ride through different terrains. Ascending means sliding forward on the saddle and descending means moving off the back of the saddle. Being dynamic on the saddle, you allow the bike to handle obstacles much easier.

6. Keep a firm hold on the handlebars with your thumb under the bar. Note, firm NOT death grip! By choking, or holding your handlebars too tightly, the bike can't move under you properly and your upper body will be tense and tire you faster. Too loose a hold, and you'll end up hitting something nasty.

7. Use both brakes to stop. Depending on the terrain, you typically want to use both brakes fairly equally and you can increase rear wheel traction by moving your weight backward off the seat. Downhill, move your weight further back and feather the front break more. Do not lock up your front wheel downhill, A over T's hurt!

8. Slightly bend your elbows and knees, and loosen you shoulders slightly. Your elbows and knees are your body's shock absorbers, use them!

9. Spin on the ascents. Choose an easier front gear before you hit that hill and spin your way up. Much more effective unless the hill is short and you've legs like a sprinter!

10. Always wear a helmet! Duh!