I agree - lots of great advice here!

I ride where there are roots, roots on roots, roots with roots....and have learned one really great lesson: You want to ride in one of two places - either close to the tree, or in off-camber sections, ride as far down the root as you can. That way, if you slide, you basically slide back onto the trail.

This is year 2 of mountain biking, after many years of saying "ARE THEY NUTS??" Now, I LOVE singletrack and it doesn't hurt that I have access to some of the best singletrack anywhere, right out of my back door. Just keep plugging along - as hubby says, you never know how fast you can go or how technical you can do till you fall down.....