I spent a full day with Nadi Ardalan getting 1:1 private instruction on intermediate-level 4wd techniques in my Land Rover Defender. I was completely blown away by the quality of the instruction and the teacher himself. I’ve attended several other 4wd classes and trips in the past, and this one left them all in the dust. Nadi packed so much experience into a single day, and he customized the training to my level of ability and interests. He also took the time to learn the particular characteristics of my vehicle and tailor his spotting accordingly.
We started the day with an optional 1hr theory discussion, and then spent the bulk of the time tackling a good chunk of the “Behind the Rocks” trail near Moab – something I would never have attempted without an experienced and trusted instructor. Finally, we finished up with some playing in the dunes and a kinetic rope recovery - all without getting a scratch on me or my vehicle. Nadi was laser-focused, patient, calm, and inspired a lot of confidence in myself to tackle things outside my comfort zone so that I could advance as a driver. At no point did I feel rushed, or that we were on a clock - you can tell Nadi loves his work and wanted us to both get the most out of the day. I will certainly be back to get more training from Nadi, and can’t recommend his services highly enough.
We spent a full day in Moab with Nadi in August having been recommended to use his services by the great folks at Barlow Jeeps.
Nadi is a top drawer instructor and is able to communicate the concepts in ways that make intuitive sense. Both of us had experience with 4WD vehicles having grown up in Montana, but nothing prepared us for the terrain Nadi put us on. It definitely took us out of our comfort zone, but the way Nadi started us out easy and built up our skills throughout the day gave us the confidence to go up and down obstacles we would never have thought to try on our own. Nadi's instruction method of using radios allows the student a sense of ownership of conquering the trail.
We will be sending our friends Nadi's way as we were so impressed with the skills that we walked away with. In addition to the awesome instruction,
Nadi has a deep history of the Moab area which he gladly shared with us, making the trip all the more enjoyable. Nadi is without a doubt one of the top off road instructors in the nation - he came highly recommended and now we see why.
Nadi really knows off roading and more importantly he knows how to teach it. As he took me through the various obstacles he would clearly explain what to do and why. Then when you fail to perform correctly, he will patiently explain again as many times as it takes. I noted he was checking on what my vehicle was clearing and how it was doing in addition to my performance as we progressed.
As you might expect, he covered trail etiquette. I didn't expect the coverage of environmental concerns. On the trails he described incidents of both environmental damage and safety mishaps that drove the points home.
Most four wheelers spend a lot on modifications to their rigs. I think the knowledge that Nadi gives is worth far more in terms of capabilities than any modification. He is familiar with the various vehicles and can help you deal with shortcomings and take advantage of its' strengths. I would also trust his advice on which modifications are needed. I learned a lot more than expected about my vehicle.
It was such a great experience with personal challenges in beautiful scenery, It is obvious that Nadi loves what he does. The value in spending time with someone that is genuinely happy is hard to beat. I would recommend it even to people who don't intend to drive off road in the future. Rent a Jeep and try something new and interesting that is very thrilling at time.
Nadi is a phenomenal instructor.
I took my first ever trip to Moab (in fact my first 4 wheeling trip ever out west).
He made the experience both educational and fun. He really helped me learn car control, throttle and brake control, tire placement, how to keep the vehicle from getting damaged, how to keep the vehicle from getting in a bad situation ....I could go on and on. I would never have conquered the Difficult class trails without his help! I am already planning my trip for next year and am bringing along 2 other Jeep enthusiast family members. I've already told Nadi I will only go with him! I can't say enough. Loved his dog Pearl also!!!
Nadi recently took us out with another couple on our October Jeep vacation in Moab. He quickly assessed our various skill levels and explained thoroughly what we could expect on the trail. We learned a great deal from working with him about what our rigs could do and how to successfully complete the more challenging sections on a highly technical route. He also gave us a lot of information about the history and points of interest on Hell’s Revenge and the surrounding Moab terrain. The videos he took were an added perk - both for memories of the trip and so we could review the technical skills we learned. The day was the high point of our vacation.
Ron and I look forward to going out with Nadi next time we visit, which we are sure to do!"