How to Zig zag Up a Tricky Hill Climb on Your Dirt Bike
One of the biggest challenges in dirt biking and enduro riding is tackling steep hill climbs. Sometimes, no matter how hard or fast you ride, you just can’t quite make it to the top. The rear wheel starts spinning, you lose momentum, and you’re left stuck three-quarters of the way up.
So, what do you do? Instead of turning around and riding all the way back down, there’s a smarter option: zig zagging up the hill.
This technique turns an impossible climb into a manageable one — and with a bit of practice, it can save you time, energy, and frustration.
What Is Zig zagging?
Zig zagging means changing your bike’s direction to ride diagonally across the hill instead of straight up. By doing this, you reduce the steepness of the climb, essentially turning it into a sidehill. This allows your bike to maintain traction and gives you a better chance of reaching the top.
Step 1: Changing the Bike’s Direction
When you stall out on a steep climb, the first step is to change the angle of your bike.
If the hill is very steep, get off the bike.
Stand on the inside of the bike (not the outside).
Use your hip to support the bike while you carefully wheelie it into the angle you want.
Use the clutch and a little throttle to “pop” the front wheel — this makes pivoting the bike much easier.
👉 Common mistake: standing on the outside of the bike. This gives you less control and makes it harder to pivot smoothly.
Step 2: Control the Power
Once you’re angled across the hill, throttle control becomes crucial.
Use gentle, smooth revs to keep traction.
Avoid giving the bike too much throttle, which can cause the rear wheel to spin out.
Always place the rear tire where there’s solid traction — avoid loose rocks or slippery surfaces whenever possible.
Step 3: Weight Distribution
On a sidehill, balance is everything. Here’s what to focus on:
Put weight on the outside foot peg — this presses the rear tire into the hill and improves grip.
Lean the bike away from the hill, not into it. This may feel counterintuitive, but it allows more of the rear tire to bite into the dirt, reducing slippage.
Step 4: Perfecting Tire Placement
Before you commit to the climb, check your tire position. Sometimes you’ll need to:
Roll the bike backward slightly.
Kick away loose rocks.
Spin the rear tire to clear uneven ground.
Good tire placement can make the difference between slipping back down and powering across the hill.
Step 5: When All Else Fails — Push!
If you’ve tried everything — throttle control, zig zagging, and pivoting — and the hill is just too steep or slippery, don’t be afraid to get off the bike and push.
With your body weight and a little throttle and clutch control, that extra shove may get you to a section with better traction, where you can remount and ride to the top.
Final Thoughts
The zig zag hill climb technique is a must-know skill for any dirt bike rider tackling steep or loose terrain. By controlling your direction, throttle, body position, and weight distribution, you can turn a failed climb into a successful one — without wasting time riding back down.
Next time you’re stuck three-quarters of the way up a hill, remember: don’t quit, zig zag.
