Sessions
Description
Trail Kids Mountain Bike Programs are part of the Loppet Foundation’s Trail Kids year-round programming. Trail Kids offers six-week mountain bike programs for novice to advanced riders. Participants ages 7-13 will explore single-track trails while gaining skills they can use for a lifetime! The focus of the mountain bike program is to have fun, meet new friends, and build confidence riding the single track trails.
Riders of all abilities are welcome to try out mountain biking during this offering. While it is preferred that folks who have no experience mountain biking on singletrack trails take one of our Beginner Mountain Bike Clinics before participating in the six-week evening sessions, we will accommodate new riders in this offering.
What can your child expect at a Trail Kids Mountain Bike Program? Watch the Trail Kids Mountain Bike News Video to learn more.
Ages/Ability: Ages 7-13, beginner to advanced abilities welcome (we split into different coaching groups based on ability, fitness, age, and friend request – friends who are of different riding abilities may not be placed together). We do not have programs for kids 6 years of age and under, so please do not register them until they turn seven years old.
Equipment Needed: Participants will need their own mountain bike, helmet, and water bottle carrier to participate. We do not provide rental bikes for our six week sessions. Bikes need to have front and back wheel brakes on the handle bars (no peddle brakes or kickstands allowed). Tires must have tread and be wide enough to ride safely on mountain bike trails. For more on mountain bike equipment, view the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide.
Registration Guide: Ability Levels
Registration based on ability: All Trail Kids who attend the program must be able to ride their bikes safely on paved paths. When registering your child make sure to indicate their ability level as described in the Mountain Bike Ability Registration Guide.
During practice sessions, participants will be coached by trained Loppet coaches on a variety of mountain bike skills so they can become safe and confident riders. Fundamental Skills include:
- Ready/neutral position for descending hills
- Side/Side bike body separation
- Pedaling/shifting efficiently
- Controlling speed and braking safely
- Cornering confidently
- Handling obstacles and rocky terrain
- Riding with vision
- Ratcheting
Participants will be assessed throughout the sessions on different bike skills. For a full description of our mountain bike skill level progression, view the Trail Kids MTB Skill Level Guide.
FAQs
For answers to many common questions, please read our Registration FAQ document.
Program Website
Additional program information can be found at https://www.loppet.org/programs/tk/mtbclincs/.
Place
Minneapolis, MN US 55422
Program Contact Info
If you have any questions about this program, click the button below.
