WOMEN’S DOWNHILL CLINICS
BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT
Are you a beginner or intermediate rider who has always wanted to try lift-access downhill riding? Are there a few skills you have always wanted to master, but never felt comfortable attempting on your own? Now is your chance to accomplish your goals, have fun, and build biking skills that will transfer to all aspects of mountain biking.
Sunday, 8/14 Beginner Downhill Clinic 11 am – 5 pm $130
Intermediate Downhill Clinic 11 am – 5 pm $130
***Registration is limited to 6 riders per clinic***
Register online here:
Beginner Clinic
Six hour clinic includes instruction, lift ticket and lunch! Build skills and progress your riding ability at the base of the mountain with drills that will help build your confidence and make you more comfortable on the bike. We will take the skills we learned and put them to use as we ride down “Whole Lotta Love”, the green trail that starts at the top of Beech Mountain, 5506 feet up! This trail offers skills practice on loose terrain, rocks, off camber trail, drops and rollers. Your instructor will progress you based on the assessment of the group. This is a great opportunity to try out downhill for thefirst time, regain confidence or just have fun with your friends!
Here are a few skills that everyone can look forward to learning:
- Bike/body separation
- Downhill Body Position
- Braking Skills
- Line Selection
- Cornering
- Pumping
- Front Wheel Lifts
- Navigate Off Camber Terrain
Prerequisite requirements:
- Rider should be comfortable in a standing position on the bike (out of the saddle)
- Rider should have previous mountain biking experience
- Full suspension bike is required (front and rear shocks)
- Full-face helmet is required
- Elbow pads, knee pads and gloves are strongly suggested
- Flat pedals and stiff-soled shoes are strongly suggested
Intermediate Clinic
Six hour clinic includes instruction, lift ticket and lunch! We will work on refining key skills that will be integral to riding more technical terrain by honing these techniques in at the top of the lift. We will put these skills to use and warm-up on “Whole Lotta Love,” taking the opportunity to practice key skills like drops, pumping, and line selection as we move down the mountain. We will then progress to more technical terrain on “Heartbreaker”, “Ramble On”, and “Misty Mountain Hop”, picking each section apart, analyzing lines and sessioning to build confidence on each feature! If you have ridden downhill before, but you would like an opportunity to refine your skills or possibly try your hand at racing, this clinic is for you!
Here are a few skills that everyone can look forward to learning:
- Bike/body separation
- Downhill Body Position
- Braking to Go Fast
- Line Selection
- Cornering
- Pumping
- Jumping
- How to Ride Drop-offs
- Navigate Steep Terrain
- Rocks, Roots, and Obstacles, Oh My!
Prerequisite requirements:
- Rider should have previous experience riding downhill (lift or shuttle access mountain biking) or long, technical descents
- Rider should be comfortable standing and moving over the bike
- Rider should be able to lift their front wheel off the ground using the two techniques: manual front wheel lift or basic front wheel lift (we will go over these techniques at the beginning of the clinic)
- Rider should be prepared to conquer steep, technical trail features
- Downhill or long-travel bike required (at least 160 mm of front and rear suspension)
- Full-face helmet is required
- Elbow pads, knee pads and gloves are strongly suggested
- Flat pedals and stiff-soled shoes are strongly suggested
COACHES:
CAROLINE WASHAM is a professional downhill, slalom and enduro racer and the owner of Spoked, LLC. She has been coaching across the country for the past three years and is a PMBIA certified coach.
CHRISTINA FAUST is a Cat 1 downhill racer who has been racing and riding at Beech Mountain for years. She is a PMBIA certified coach and founder of the Southern Gravity Sisterhood group!
Register online here:
