With a wealth of experience gained from Desert Rose Racing and literally thousands of miles off road, the Desert Rose Riding Academy is all about sharing that knowledge with you. So without further ado, meet the team who is here to help support your riding adventures.
Founded in 2009 by Patsy Quick, The Academy is here for anyone who wants to travel overland by motorcycle, explore the unknown, take part in their first enduro, take to the trails and green lanes, join a tour, explore the TET, sign on for a hare and hounds event or take part in a rally. So whether you are a new rider, a born again biker, retired racer or green lane newbie The Academy can help you on your next adventure.
Patsy is probably still the best known female off-road motorcycle rider in the UK. During more than 30 years of riding, she has completed major overland expeditions, been British Women’s Enduro Champion, European Women’s Champion and competed in many international rallies, including 4 Dakars. Her “can do” and “never give up” attitude is a true inspiration. Patsy featured in the Channel 4 Series, Escape in 2017, hosted by Ant Middleton.
She is passionate about helping people learn and improve, her reward is seeing their enjoyment as they do so. Patsy established the Academy with the goal of providing the best quality training, in a friendly and non-pressurised environment, to take people as far as they want to go, be that competent green-laning or the Dakar Rally.
Gary has been in the motorcycle scene for nearly 5 decades!
Over his career Gary has seen action in 20 years of road racing and 3 years in the British Enduro Championship, he has coached riders at all levels on UK and European track days and coached 100s of riders in off road motorcycle riding.
For many years Gary was the training manager for Riders for Health, a charity providing motorcycles, training and support for health workers in some of Africa’s hardest to reach communities.
Gary has been in demand on the big screen as well, part of the stunt team for films including Man from Uncle, standing in for the lead actor in a breath taking motorcycle chase and Welcome to the Punch with James McEvoy.
Now through Desert Rose’s partnership with Two Wheels for Life he is regularly back in Africa, training health workers so they can deliver vital health care to remote communities.
Paul got his first taste of dirt bikes back in the mid 1970s! He really is that old! Inspired by Dave Taylor “The Wheelie King” he loves talking about motorbikes, looking at motorbikes and riding motorbikes.
He has ridden extensively in the UK, across Europe and Africa. Off road riding has included trails in the UK, Southern Ireland and Portugal, as well as harsher terrain in the deserts of Morocco, the hills and plateau of Zambia and the mountains of Lesotho, including the infamous Jockstrap Pass.
A former Blood Bike volunteer, he has advanced rider qualifications with IAM and ROSPA and is a member of the TRF.
Zippy has been part of Dsert Rose since the begining. His first rally was the Optic 2000 which he entered with no previous experience of any sort of enduro. His sense of navigation and natural confidence of riding off road, lead him to the finish. Over the next few years, he was heavily involved in the enduro scene and competed in two prestigious I.S.D.E events. He was Patsy’s riding partner on the Dakar for three years and like Patsy in 2006, reached his goal by getting to the finishing line.
In 2013 Zippy accompanied comedian Ross Noble on the arduous Roof of Africa hard enduro race in Lesotho.
Holly has been a key part of the Desert Rose Group for some years now. During the week she is busy supporting JD at Desert Rose DirtTech. This might be organising maintenance workshops, managing stock levels, sending out invoices or booking in customers for servicing. Then at the weekend, if she’s not throwing herself down a mountain bike course or battling through an enduro race she will be helping out on one of our courses.
Harry joined the Desert Rose at the tender age of 18 in 2015 following completion of a motorcycle mechanics course.
Not only a talented rider, but a natural teacher, coach and instructor, able to adapt his style to riders of different abilities and levels of experience. Harry seems to be able to help riders of all abilities get more from their riding.
Having the experience of supporting international rallies alongside Desert Rose Racing, he has become a real asset to the Academy.
Throughout his time at Desert Rose, Harry has continued racing and reached his short term goal of completing the extreme enduro race ‘Red Bull Romaniacs’ in 2020, completed the Qatar Baja in 2021 and Valleys Xtreme enduro in early 2022.
James launched the Desert Rose eBike Xperience with Patsy in 2023.
He started riding off road motorcycles at the tender age of 5!
He started competing in motocross at the age of 12 and progressed through the ranks to expert level.
In 2013, in his early thirties he moved across to enduro, competing in the British championships, Red Bull Romainiacs and Hixpania.
His passion for all things off road comes across in his coaching and training style.
Check out some of our 5 star reviews from the adventure alumni.
Huge thanks to you and Harry. We thought the venue, the setup, the day and most importantly, our instructors were absolutely flawless. Coaching and tuition were some of the best I’ve ever had in any form. There was not one negative about the day from anybody. You will definitely be seeing us again, hopefully in the not too distant future.
Yesterday saw myself Lawrence ‘Lol’ Pater, attend Desert Rose Adventure Riding Academy. This was quite possibly the most fun on two wheels I have had in living memory. We were welcomed at the site at 0830hrs by Paul and Harry, the Instructors. We met our fellow students, drank coffee, got kitted out, they supply absolutely everything kit wise, talked bikes a bit then were introduced to our steed for the day. We received superb instruction and the guys catered for all our varying levels of experience (or lack of experience) without pushing too hard but allowing us to explore our own limits in safety.
We had the BEST time yesterday and can’t wait to come back for another go! Thank you so much for the day, I also learned a lot and it’s helped get my confidence back after the crash I had in January. Patsy, it was inspirational to get coaching from you and I definitely need to master the sliding off the side of the bike to put a foot down!
My level one course at Desert Rose was a real turning point in my off road riding. It made me think about my technique and instilled in me the basics that I now rely on every time I get on the bike.
Hi Paul and others,
Thank you for the pictures but mostly I wanted to thank you for a truly brilliant day on Saturday. From the friendly and patient instruction, to the beautiful location to the great bikes and other riders, I simply can’t fault the day.
Having been sick with nerves before we started to ending up being full of pride at what I managed to do and full of excitement at the idea of getting off road again, it really was fantastic. I can’t thank you enough.
Once the aching muscles settle down I’ll be looking to book another day to practice some of the skills!
Hey Paul and Harry
I wanted to say a huge thanks for today. It really blew my mind.
The sessions were really well structured and there are clear things that I can work on moving forward.
I’d really like to come back in a couple of months and repeat Stage 1. Just to remind me of what was learned today (which was a lot).
It was a really good fun day. And your facility is amazing.
Just a few lines to say thank you so much for the brilliant instruction at our recent training day, what a fantastic time we had! Being complete novices at off roading apart from a brief experience at this year’s ABR Festival, your patience, attention to detail and depth of technical knowledge was outstanding and our riding ability had improved dramatically by the end of the day.
Fab day, I ache all over. The course was run professionally, with clear direction & instruction. Not at one point did I feel any frustration from either of you, just encouragement but also empathy & care for those fall offs! I’m hoping to transfer some of the learnt skills & confidence to road riding. I wouldn’t change a thing. (apart from my own fear!)
Given that I’m fast approaching 60, I really didn’t think I had it in me. I can’t recommend the Desert Rose Adventure Riding Academy enough, and looking forward to getting out there now with less cursing and more smiles !! I will be back of course for my next instalment of “You CAN teach an old dog new tricks”
My time on two wheels with the Desert Rose Adventure Riding Academy was absolutely fantastic. Harry made our day fun, engaging and really informative, explaining everything really well and he was happy to field the questions I had as a new rider. I was paired up with an approachable bike that ran faultlessly and all the safety equipment I needed, which combined with such a stunning location, really helped make the day one to remember.
With only 8 slots per session, spaces are getting filled fast! Get booked in with our online booking system, click for available courses.
Adventure Riding Academy Limited T/A Desert Rose Riding Academy
Registered office address: 30-34 North Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, England, BN2 71D
Registered Company in England and Wales.Registered Company number: 07175026
Response time: 24 hours
(Please note, we only run private and group events on weekdays)
01323 831606
info@adventureridingacademy.com