A couple pieces of advice that I have used all those years of riding is, it may sound corny, ride like noone is watching. The more you have fun the more you will improve. When I started riding around 9 or 10, all we did was crash and had a blast doing. I never really cared what the others thought, i just rode without a care.
Another bit of advice - if you know you can do it, do it. Don't listen to some one who says you can't. A group of went out riding. There were about 10 quads and one bike (me). We had been messing around in an area that had jumps hills, loops, etc. There was one hill that went straight down and was loose dirt, shale. I stopped at the top contemplating on whether to give it a go or not. Then one guy came up and said "you'll never get back out of there. You can't climb that cuz it is loose dirt". Well, all you have have to say to me is "you never" or "you can't"!!! So down the hill I go. By the time I had gotten to the bottom to turn around, everyone was there to watch me. Talk about pressure!!! I had just met most of these guys and I did not want them to think a girl can't ride. As usual my bike didn't let me down. I caming flying off the top of that hill (just like the guys always say - balls to the wall!!!) and never missed a beat. Always believe you can do it!! Man, I got an adrenline rush reliving that!!!
Most important - HAVE FUN!!!!
Carrie