YYCMTB Summer Camps | Family Fun Calgary

Are you getting ready for warm days and long evenings, with the kids out of school and extra free time to enjoy? Summer is the time for kids to pursue their passions, developing hobbies and building skills in ways that they might not have time for during the school year. If your kids want to become better mountain bikers, YYCMTB is offering summer camps and programs that focus on skills training. These camps offer an opportunity for your children to improve their athletic abilities through hard work and to feel a sense of accomplishment through overcoming adversity.

YYCMTB offers thoughtful and professional mountain bike programs put on by mature, experienced coaches with backgrounds in education and outdoor programming. Their goal is to promote progression and skilled riding, while having fun in a safe environment. They are passionate about the next generation of mountain bikers and want to help them establish the foundation for a lifetime of fun on the bike. The YYCMTB has programs for children ages 6 to 15 years, ranging in skill level from beginner to expert.

Young Riders | Ages 6 – 8 and 9 – 11

The Young Riders program is for kids ages 6 – 11 and can accommodate novice to experienced riders. Kids will be split into age-appropriate groups and skill levels. They will increase their overall fitness and stamina, make new friends and connections, and gain an appreciation for the outdoors and the many health and wellness benefits mountain biking can provide!

Children ages 6 – 8 will be introduced to the fundamentals of mountain biking in a fun and exciting environment, learning the effective operation of their controls, proper body position, and the basics of cornering. Coaches will use a blend of games, drills, and application of skills in single-track and dirt environments.

Prerequisites: Participants must know how to confidently ride a pedal bike with no training wheels and be capable of riding on dirt trails. The bike must have gears and front & rear hand brakes.

Kids ages 9 – 11 will also be introduced to the fundamentals of mountain biking in new and exciting environments and include the continuous development of these skills. While this group will be learning more advanced skills, the focus is still primarily on having fun!

Prerequisites: Participants must know how to confidently ride a pedal bike on basic dirt trails/single tracks. The bike must have gears, front and rear hand brakes, and dirt-specific tires. Disc brakes are recommended.

The Young Riders program runs Monday to Thursday on select weeks, with ages 6 – 8 riding from 9 am – 12 pm and ages 9 – 11 riding from 1 – 4 pm. Find specific dates here.

Youth Bootcamp | Ages 11 – 15

Youth Bootcamp has been curated around local and Calgary-based riding to highlight the fantastic trails close to home. This is combined with professional instruction from coaches with years of experience working with kids and youth.

This program was designed for strong intermediate and experienced riders who have already developed a good mountain biking skillset. The goal of this program is to reinforce those skills, improve their fitness, and have riders at the top of their game so they are ready to take on new challenges throughout the summer. Progression comes quickly when you have an early start!

Prerequisites: Participants are required to have a performance-oriented mountain bike with front suspension, hydraulic brakes and adequate gearing for climbing. Full-suspension bikes are recommended. Participants must have enough endurance to sustain moderate climbing and to be able to complete an 8-10 km loop in under 2 hours.

See the schedule here.

Youth Performance Program | Ages 12 – 15

The Youth Performance Program is similar to the Youth Bootcamp but slightly more advanced. It has been developed by highly-experienced mountain bike coaches with backgrounds in outdoor education and running youth mountain bike camps. The goal of this program is to create an environment where professional coaches can teach youth how to ride better, smoother, and faster. The aim is to develop each student’s ability to think about their own riding, build on their fundamental skills, and become lifelong mountain bikers. They will emphasize fun, smart decision-making, and teamwork as key components to help intermediate riders become more comfortable on technical trails, ride larger trail features, and develop their ability to tackle any type of terrain.

Prerequisites: Participants are required to have a performance-oriented mountain bike with front suspension, hydraulic brakes, and adequate gearing for climbing. Full-suspension bikes are recommended. Participants must have enough endurance to sustain moderate climbing and to be able to complete an 8-10km loop in under 2 hours.

See the schedule here.

For all camps and programs, participants will need close-toed shoes, a well-tuned bike and a helmet. Other protective equipment, like knee pads, elbow pads, and sunglasses are recommended, as well as warm lightweight layers, with a waterproof shell or jacket, sunscreen, and bug spray. Bring snacks and water and bikers will need a way to carry their own gear. Coaches will have tools and first aid supplies to deal with minor bike repairs & injuries.

Register soon to make the most of this summer and give your kids a fun and supportive environment to build skills and become the best mountain bikers they can be!