How Good Do You Think You Are?
To help you figure out what the riding is like, we’ve adapted the following system from the Whistler Bike Park to help you assess your skills. This isn’t a comprehensive set of criteria, as an expert XC rider may never get any air, but it gives you a starting point to help choose the best trails for your holiday. Think of it in terms of your skill AND fitness. They both count….
Level I
Limited off-road experience. Comfortable riding dirt roads, flat and level trails.
Level II
Comfortable with off-road singletrack. Tend to keep the wheels on the ground. Small airs, up to a foot or two, are fun, but only if you know the jump. Able to ride short steep sections on a good day. A typical ride is 2 or 3 hours.
Level III
Aggressive on singletrack. Into taking moderate air (3-6 feet, or a meter or two). Steep and rough sections are challenging but rideable. You’ll ride all day, just not every day.
Level IV
Bring on the big airs. Big exposure, steep lines, and high speeds are what you’re looking for. You don’t have a real job, as it gets in the way of riding.
Level V
Where’s the sponsorship cheque?
Most of our clients are II’s, and many are III’s. If you’re in the Level I category, maybe start with a single day adventure and see how you like it. Fitness and attitude can take you up a level. Riding out here for a week will definitely take you up a level. Usually clients discover that they are better riders than they thought.
