Just an update:
Following the advice I was given here I booked a 1 to 1 session with Nathan from bikeskills.
I honestly think it’s the best investment I’ve done in anything related to bikes.
If I had been told I was going to do the things I ended up doing I might have not booked the session because of fear. I still can’t believe I did all those jumps, drops, steeps sections etc … TBH in real terms I didn’t do anything spectacular, but to me, it felt like it.
Everything was ridden with the Scalpel, bottomed the suspension a few times, and once in the steep section I realised I hadn’t lowered the dropper once I got to the bottom, so that gives you an idea of the kind of skills you are coached to.
Most important is that I now know what to practise, and how to do it properly, not that I’m getting it right every time, but at least I know what my errors are and how to fix it.
Once all this info has settled in, I’m back up there for sure.