The Journey To Becoming Guides

The lessons, challenges and unexpected discoveries from our OGA Level 2 Guide training

One moment you're laughing and sharing bike stories with people you’ve just met.

The next, you're kneeling alongside them on a rocky trail, assessing a casualty, coordinating a response and trying to remember everything you've learned while an assessor watches from the sidelines.

That was the reality of the Overland Guide Association (OGA) Level 2 Guide training.

Over four intense days, we were challenged in ways that went far beyond riding motorcycles. We learned about first aid, incident management, ride planning, leadership and group care. We were tested, assessed and occasionally pushed outside our comfort zones.

But perhaps the biggest lesson was a reminder of what guiding is really about: what happens when people are supported to tackle challenges together.

Guiding Principles

The OGA is an association of professional overland guides that promotes high standards of safety, professionalism and guiding practice. Its training is tailored specifically to motorcycle adventure guiding, covering the additional skills needed to lead groups safely in a wide range of environments.

Whether operating where emergency services are close at hand or in some of the world's most remote locations, the OGA trains guides to provide essential care, manage incidents and make sound decisions when it matters most. It also develops the leadership and guiding skills needed to support clients throughout their journey.

For riders, that certification means reassurance that the people leading their adventure are committed to doing things professionally, responsibly and safely.

Beyond the Classroom

This wasn’t just a classroom course – we were taken out onto the rocky trails of the Peak District for assessment of our skills in realistic scenarios. We encountered ‘riders’ who had fallen off their bikes and suffered catastrophic bleeds, punctured lungs or broken bones. There were also individuals who were playing out the state of confusion caused by hypothermia or showing signs of anaphylactic shock from an allergic reaction.

When leading rides, we managed situations with lost riders and broken-down bikes, navigated route adjustments for closed trails, and dealt with riders who were struggling with the terrain or behaving in ways that could risk the group’s safety.

Discussions about managing uncertainty brought to life the complex decisions that may have to be made. How can you keep a group and casualty safe while planning an extraction from a remote area in adverse conditions? What can you do to support riders with differing skills and confidence levels so that everyone stays safe and enjoys their experience?

The pressure of assessment and performing under observation, putting our new learning into practice and working through the scenarios challenged us to step outside our comfort zones. When you’re out in the wind with hikers looking on and the smell of leaking petrol in the air, it’s easy to forget that the injured person is a manikin and the distressed rider is just role playing.  

People Power

In this challenging environment, the people around us became very important.

The OGA trainers created an environment where we could learn, weaving in encouragement, humour and memorable moments. Everyone was supported – at moments of doubt, they were there to listen, talk things through and help us find the right path.

One thing that stood out was how carefully the trainers ensured everyone could participate fully. As someone with hearing loss, I never felt left behind or excluded from discussions. Small adjustments made a big difference and meant I could focus on learning rather than worrying about missing information. And it felt amazing to be so included.

The definition of a guide is "to direct in a course or show the way to be followed."

During those four days, we experienced exactly what that means in practice. The trainers didn't simply teach skills; they created an environment in which people could learn, grow and succeed. It was a powerful example of good leadership.

With the atmosphere of support, understanding, encouragement and facilitation, the group flourished. We worked together to get to grips with the questions, deepen our understanding, find solutions, help each other through the tough moments and celebrate our triumphs. There was an openness and generosity within the group that is difficult to describe. As someone put it, "There's such a lot of love here." And they were right.

When people are supported tackle challenges together, confidence grows, skills develop and groups become teams.  

Good Guiding Matters

The course reinforced that guiding is about creating an environment where others can succeed.

That starts long before a wheel turns. Planning, preparation and organisation lay the foundations, creating the conditions in which people have the best chance of being successful.

On the trails, this means reading the group and the individuals within it, adapting the pace, leading in the way that will be most useful and actively managing the risks. Enabling people to develop confidence helps them to achieve things they didn’t think they could do.

Many riders arrive feeling uncertain. Some are new to adventure bikes, some haven’t ridden off-road for years, some worry about their capability and others worry about keeping up. The lessons from the course reinforce ATA’s commitment to helping riders build confidence safely and enjoyably.

We came away with new skills, knowledge and a qualification we’re proud of. But perhaps the biggest takeaway was the experience of what we so often witness on our own rides: when people are supported, encouraged and given the chance to challenge themselves safely, remarkable things happen.

Confidence grows, skills improve, strangers become teammates. And the memories along the way last much longer than the challenge itself.