Specialist Mountain Biking Courses At Base Camp

Expertise and Experience

Choosing an adventure sports course with Base Camp is a life-changing decision. Whichever course you select, when you book with us, you have the guarantee that you’ll be taking part in one of the best instructor training programmes available.

With highly qualified, specialist instructors enlisted on every course, you’ll receive the ultimate training experience. You’ll notice a dramatic improvement in your style, performance and technique, and be in the ideal position to gain your internationally recognised qualification.

Versatility

Including everything from teaching and technical skills, to exploring the areas finest trails and even racing – your course offers a full and varied programme that’s designed to increase your skill base to the maximum.

Small Group Sizes

You’ll train in a small group, giving you extensive opportunities for one on one sessions with your instructor. Watching your progress on video and taking part in individual formal feedback discussions with your instructor will help you to track your progress and identify areas for you to focus on.

Industry Leading Partners

To deliver the best mountain bike camps/biking experience possible, Basecamp have partnered up with Whistler-based mountain biking coaching and instructor training specialists ZEPtechniques, who are the current industry leaders for mtb instructor training in North America and have been teaching mountain biking and training the coaches for other industry leading camps for years - rest assured they are the best in the business.

Best Trails and Guides

Training in the ideal mountain terrain of Whistler and its surrounding valleys, you’ll develop an understanding of riding a bike in a controlled and confident manner; enabling you to progress rapidly to master high-end skills such as railing berms, drops, ladders and jumps. In the best mountain bike environment in the world, with the best coaches... a mountain bikers dream!

The Extras

And while the training aspect of your course is crucial, we’re also about having a lot of fun too – both during and after training. Enjoy taking part in our exciting trips and activities, then recharge your batteries in your clean, comfortable and cozy accommodation, and once your energy’s back – venture out into Whistler for some serious partying!  

So in a few words...

• DAILY COACHING FROM THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS

• BECOME A TRULY COMPETENT, WELL-ROUNDED RIDER WITH  COACHING IN BOTH XC AND DH ENVIRONMENTS

• PERSONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT

• LEARN FROM PRO-COACHES HOW TO BE A COACH YOURSELF (Instructor Course only)

• PROFESSIONAL MOUNTIAN BIKE INSTRUCTOR (PMBI) LEVEL 1 EXAMS  (Instructor Course only)

• PERSONAL FEEDBACK VIDEO ANALYSIS

• BIKE PARK SEASON PASS: Ride the park everyday after your coaching – it’s open ‘till 8pm!

• MECHANICS CLASSES

• XC, FREERIDE & DOWNHILL

• GREAT, LOCAL ACCOMODATION

• IN RESORT REP

• ZEPTECHNIQUES RIDING TECHNIQUE MANUALS

• WELCOME PACK WITH PRO-BIKING GOODIES

• WELCOME PARTY!

Base Camp Instructor and Performance Camps – The Details

Rider Improvement Camps 

Length: 2 & 4 Weeks

Start Dates: July & August

Location: Whistler, Canada

• Transform your riding, skills and confidence to the next level.

• Experience and master both X-Country and Downhill disciplines to become a truly competent, well-rounded rider.

• Discover for yourself why whistler is considered the best mountain biking resort in the world.

The Course

These 4-week skill development camps include all disciplines of mountain biking (cross-country XC, downhill DH, freeride FR) providing the Whistler mountain bike experience of a lifetime, whilst ensuring the progression of your skills and confidence.

Each discipline serves to help the other – a truly competent rider is one who can do it all, regardless of what or where they’re riding; this course will help make you become that rider!

Riders will be coached and guided 5 days per week, gain one-to-one tuition, video analysis & feedback and will each receive a ZEPtechniques Riding Techniques Manual; including all the theory, skills and exercises coached to you on the trails, thus maximizing the learning process.

This camp is 100% practical based, riding five days/week and includes extra evening seminars such as Mechanic Classes and Riding Analysis & Feedback Video Sessions.

Useful Information: In Whistler and the surrounding area there are endless possibilities for extreme sports, from bungee jumping through quad biking to windsurfing. There will be lots of possibilities for trips such as heli-biking and biking road trips to Mount Washington and Kamloops. We have an exclusive deal with local bike shops for bike and body armour rental, although you are welcome to take out your own bikes.

Pre-requisites: Riders must be of an “intermediate” standard, therefore comfortable riding at speed on rough terrain and off small drops no larger than 2 feet high. Please see the Riding Standards section at the bottom of this page.

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Instructor Level 1 Courses

PMBI Qualification

Start Dates: July & August

Location: Whistler, Canada

• Transform your riding, skills and confidence to the next level.

• Experience and master both X-Country and Downhill disciplines to become a truly competent, well-rounded rider.

•  Learn how to safely and effectively teach and guide beginner to intermediate mountain bikers – in any discipline!

• Take the PMBI Level I course

•  Optional, additional courses include the PMBI Level II and the Whistler Bike Park Instructor Development Program Courses - Discover for yourself why whistler is considered the best mountain biking resort in the world.

The Course

The 4-week Instructor Training Camps include two weeks Rider Improvement Coaching in both Whistler Valley XC/FR trails and Whistler Bike Park and a third week Instructor Training; preparing riders for the Level 1 PMBI course by covering and practicing the relevant material on Teaching and Guiding Theory.

The final week then involves the riders further preparing for and finally taking the 3-day instructor training course itself. Each Camper will receive the PMBI Instructor Training Manual and Riding Technique Manuals; including all the theory, skills and exercises coached to you on the trails, thus maximizing the learning process.

This camp is also 100% practical based – riding five days/week with some evening seminars included to cover certain topics such as Teaching Theory, Guiding Protocols, Mechanic Classes and Riding Analysis & Feedback Video Sessions.

Useful Information: In Whistler and the surrounding area there are endless possibilities for extreme sports, from bungee jumping through quad biking to windsurfing. There will be lots of possibilities for trips such as heli-biking and biking road trips to Mount Washington and Kamloops. We have an exclusive deal with local bike shops for bike and body armour rental, although you are welcome to take out your own bikes.

Pre-requisites: Riders must be of an “intermediate” standard, therefore comfortable riding at speed on rough terrain and off small drops no larger than 2 feet. Two years occasional or at least twelve months regular riding experience in mountain biking.  Please see the Riding Standards section below.

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Riding Standards – Am I Good Enough?

Generally speaking, if you’re able to ride off-road, singletrack trails with some degree of confidence and flow, then our camps are for you!

Whistler can have the image of an “extreme” hardcore place to bike, but whilst it does have some crazy riding it also has some of the most progressive trails, anywhere in the world.

There are a huge variety of trails in both the Whistler Valley and Bike Park for any rider of any ability level. That said, to get the most out of the camps, our guidelines for each camp are as follows:

RIDER IMPROVEMENT CAMPS: Novice to Advanced – as a minimum, riders should have at least one years experience of regular Mountain Biking off-road, be comfortable riding singletrack trails, descending and riding off small drops up to one feet high.

INSTRUCTOR TRAINING CAMPS: Intermediate to Advanced - riders should be comfortable riding at speed on rough terrain, downhill and off small drops no larger than 2 feet. Two years of regular riding experience in mountain biking as a minimum.

Please email if you have any questions or concerned about your own riding abilities or suitability for a certain camp.