Family Mountain Bike Skills Program - Intermediate Course

The Family Mountain Bike Skills Program – Intermediate Course is a two-week program designed for families who already have some mountain biking experience and are looking to develop their skills and confidence on more challenging terrain.

The program is suitable for adults and children who are comfortable riding green mountain bike trails and have developed the basic skills needed to control their bikes on beginner-level terrain. The course will introduce participants to more advanced mountain biking techniques, with a particular focus on pressure control and how riders can use their body and bike to manage changes in terrain.

Participants will be divided into two groups, with a dedicated adult group and children's group, allowing coaching and activities to be appropriately tailored to the needs, abilities and experience of each group.

Across the two sessions, participants will develop a better understanding of how to actively manage pressure through the bike when riding jumps and technical terrain. The aim is to help riders become more confident, controlled and adaptable as they progress towards more challenging trails.

Program Details

Location: Gap Creek Mountain Bike Trails

Dates & Times: Saturday 31^st October & Saturday 7^th November 3:00pm-5:00pm

Suitable for: Adults and children who have previous mountain biking experience and are comfortable riding beginner (green) to intermediate (blue) mountain bike trails.

Session 1 – Pressure Control for Jumps

The first session will focus on developing an understanding of pressure control and how riders can use their body position and bike movement to confidently navigate jumps and changes in terrain.

Participants will learn and practise:

• Absorbing the bike to manage pressure when riding over jumps and rollers

• Pressing into the bike to generate pressure and get some air time

• Developing greater control and confidence when riding over features

The session will focus on helping riders understand how their movements affect the bike and how they can actively use pressure to improve control, stability and confidence when riding jumps and undulating terrain.

Participants will be coached progressively, with activities adjusted to suit individual experience and confidence levels. The adult group and children’s group will combine towards the end of the session for a family ride.

Session 2 – Pressure Control for Technical Terrain

The second session will build on the pressure control skills developed in Session 1, with a focus on applying these skills to technical and more challenging trail terrain.

Participants will learn and practise:

• Using pressure control to manage changes in terrain

• Adjusting pressure and body position to suit different trail features

• Managing speed and momentum through technical terrain

Participants will have the opportunity to apply these skills on the Gap Creek trails, developing their ability to adapt their riding technique to changing terrain and trail features.

The session will focus on helping riders become more dynamic and confident on their bikes, allowing them to approach technical sections with greater control and a clearer understanding of how to manage their body and bike. The adult group and children’s group will combine towards the end of the session for a family ride.

Program Outcomes

By the end of the two-week program, participants will have developed a stronger understanding of pressure control and how it can be used to improve their riding.

Participants will be better equipped to:

• Understand and apply pressure control principles

• Use their body and bike to actively manage terrain

• Approach and ride jumps with greater confidence and control

• Improve traction and control on technical surfaces

• Adapt their riding technique to different trail features

• Manage speed and momentum through more challenging terrain

• Develop greater confidence riding intermediate-level trails

Most importantly, the program aims to help families continue progressing together in mountain biking, providing both adults and children with the skills and confidence to take on more challenging trails and features.