We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Padu Merlotti a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Padu, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I came to dirt bikes embarrassingly late in life, well into my forties, when most people my age are settling comfortably into routines. My world was still the tech world: fast-paced, high-pressure, and increasingly draining. I needed an escape hatch, something that would force me out from behind the screen and remind me that adrenaline and joy still existed.

So I did what any rational, stress-fried engineer would do: I bought a brand-new Ducati Multistrada. A gleaming red spaceship of a motorcycle, capable on asphalt but clearly whispering “let’s get lost in the dirt.” I pictured myself camping off the bike, crossing desert valleys and mountain passes, chasing the kind of vast American landscapes you only see in postcards.

Reality arrived fast – and hit the ground even faster.

I had zero dirt experience, and the Multistrada was a heavy, unforgiving partner. Every ride off pavement turned into a comedy of slow-motion tip-overs and harmless but humbling crashes. After one too many sandy face-plants, I admitted I needed help. That’s when I discovered a small off-road school tucked away in San Diego. I signed up for a class… then another… and another.

And that’s where things changed.

There’s a magic in learning a skill that once felt impossible. A kind of electric joy that keeps you coming back. Every weekend on the training ground, I felt myself leveling up. The first time I glided through a sandy trail instead of sinking into it, I felt invincible. After three years of classes and a lot of sweat, the big Ducati and I finally found a rhythm.

One afternoon, during a casual conversation, the previous owner of SoCal Off-Road School mentioned he was moving out of the country and planned to sell the business. The words barely had time to settle in the air before I heard myself say, “I’ll buy it.”

And just like that, I went from student to owner.

The transition wasn’t romantic. Behind the scenes, running an off-road school meant learning accounting, marketing, scheduling, website disasters, and a dozen tiny crisis-management skills they definitely don’t teach in motorcycle class. But over time, things found their flow. The chaos became rewarding.

Today, SOS is one of the most meaningful chapters of my life. I get to watch kids beam the first time they ride a dirt bike on their own. I get to see adults – professionals, parents, retirees – break through fears and rediscover confidence they thought they’d lost forever.

There’s nothing like witnessing that spark. I recognize it, because it’s the same spark that changed everything for me.

Padu, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Paulo “Padu” Merlotti, and I’m the owner of SoCal Off-Road School (SOS) in San Diego. I arrived in the world of dirt bikes later in life, after spending decades working in technology and engineering. My day job was high-pressure and fast-paced, and I found myself craving something that got me outdoors, moving, and reconnecting with the physical world. That’s what first pushed me toward motorcycles — and eventually into the off-road community.

Like many new riders, I started with a big adventure bike and absolutely no dirt experience. I learned quickly (and sometimes painfully) how humbling off-road riding can be. What kept me coming back wasn’t just the thrill; it was the feeling of real progression — tackling something hard, gaining confidence, and breaking through personal limitations. When I discovered SoCal Off-Road School as a student, it changed everything for me. Over several years of training, I went from struggling in the sand to truly understanding how motorcycles behave off-road.

Eventually, when the previous owner decided to relocate and sell the company, I took a leap and bought SOS — not because I wanted a business, but because I knew firsthand what a difference this school makes for people.

Today, SOS offers professional off-road training for all ages and all skill levels, from kids getting on a dirt bike for the very first time to adults returning to riding after decades away, to adventure riders preparing for big expeditions or rallies. We teach:

– Foundational dirt bike and ADV skills
– Body position, clutch and throttle control, balance, and braking
– Sand, hills, technical terrain, and confidence management
– Private coaching, group classes, and premium guided tours (including Baja)

At its core, SOS solves one simple but important problem: most riders don’t know where to start. Off-road can feel intimidating. Many riders want to explore, camp, travel, or simply feel safer on their motorcycle, but they lack proper techniques or guidance. We give them a structured, safe, supportive environment to learn — and the results are often transformative.

What sets SOS apart is that we combine technical coaching with a deep respect for each rider’s personal journey. We’re not just teaching a skill; we’re helping people achieve something meaningful to them. For kids, it’s the spark of freedom on two wheels. For adults, it’s confidence, adventure, and the joy of mastering something outside their comfort zone. Our coaches — including Baja champions and seasoned instructors — approach every student with patience, clarity, and genuine enthusiasm.

My proudest moments are the breakthroughs: the rider who thought they’d never manage sand and suddenly floats through it; the parent who watches their child ride independently for the first time; the adventure rider who finishes a full Baja tour with us and says, “I never believed I could do that.”

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and about SOS, it’s this:
We’re here to empower riders.
Whether someone dreams of exploring the backcountry, improving their safety on the street, building confidence, or simply having unforgettable experiences on a motorcycle, we’re dedicated to helping them get there — with skill, safety, and a lot of joy along the way.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I was born and raised in Brazil, and from as early as I can remember, I was drawn to technology. While other kids were outside kicking a soccer ball, I was opening up clocks and computers to see how they worked. That curiosity eventually led me to study computer science and start a career in tech. But after a few years, I realized something painful: the fields I truly wanted to pursue — robotics, computer vision, and artificial intelligence — simply weren’t accessible in Brazil at the time.

Instead of giving up, I decided to look beyond the borders of the world I knew.

In my mid-twenties, I received a life-changing job offer in San Diego. The opportunity was everything I had been dreaming about, but the timing was chaotic. Within a single month, I sold everything I owned, married my girlfriend, and we uprooted our lives to move to the United States with nothing more than two suitcases each.

The early years were incredibly hard. We were young, broke, and thousands of miles from family. Every step was a stretch — financially, emotionally, and professionally. But instead of settling for stability, I pushed further: I enrolled in a master’s program in robotics, working full-time during the day and studying at night. That decision became my gateway into the fields I had once assumed were out of reach.

Two decades later, that leap of faith still shapes the life I’m proud of today. I’m a husband and a father of three amazing kids, still working in technology, still building, still learning. And when I look back, what stands out is not the difficulty — it’s the fact that resilience carried me through it all.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation in the off-road community was built on three things: authenticity, a genuine love for teaching, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right way.

I didn’t grow up on dirt bikes. I wasn’t a childhood prodigy or a lifelong racer. I entered this world late, struggled through the learning curve, dropped my bike a thousand times, and built skill the slow, honest way. That background makes me relatable to the exact people I now serve — adults who are intimidated by dirt, parents putting their kids on a bike for the first time, street riders venturing into adventure riding. They know I’ve been where they are, and that I understand exactly how it feels to be overwhelmed at the start.

Another part of my reputation comes from my coaching approach. I’ve spent decades in technology and high-performance environments, and I bring that same mindset to teaching: clear communication, patience, repeatable systems, and a deep respect for safety. Riders notice when a coach truly pays attention, adjusts to their pace, and celebrates their progress. Those small moments build trust — and trust spreads fast in this community.

Quality has been a huge pillar as well. From the instructors I bring in, to the equipment we use, to the design of our classes and tours, SOS is intentionally crafted to deliver a great experience. Whether we’re teaching a kid how to ride or taking a group to Baja, my goal is always the same: give people something memorable, safe, and transformative.

Lastly, the off-road community values passion — and that’s something I can’t fake. I absolutely love this world. I love the process of learning, the connection between rider and machine, the shared excitement when someone finally nails a skill that felt impossible. That passion shows, and I think people trust businesses that are driven by genuine enthusiasm rather than just revenue.

In the end, my reputation grew not because I tried to impress anyone, but because I focused on serving the community the way I wish I had been served when I was starting out: with honesty, humility, and real commitment to helping riders thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.socaloffroadschool.com
• Instagram: socaloffroadschool
• Facebook: socaloffroadschool
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/padumerloti/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocalOffroadSchool