COURSE CONTEXT & LIMITATIONS

The Level 2 course is designed to train PMBI instructors to teach and guide mountain biking:

• to intermediate to advanced riders
• on green, blue and single black diamond (red in Europe), single track terrain
• in a “front to mid country” environment, no more than 2hrs away from emergency medical care
• during private or group lessons, ranging from 2 to 6hrs
• for an established mountain bike school, club or coaching service
• for their own business

Course Duration: Four days + pre-course reading and worksheet (2-3hrs), totalling 32 hrs, including assessment.

DESCRIPTION

The PMBI Level 2 course focuses on teaching and guiding strong-intermediate to advanced riders. Skill development is typically much safer and easier when students learn techniques in terrain appropriate for their ability level. Candidates will learn how to further consolidate intermediate skills in their students, while introducing more advanced skills at higher speeds, mostly on green and blue terrain.

A strong focus is given to further analyzing the Six Skills of riding during the course, to ensure a deeper understanding of the physics, skills and biomechanics involved in riding at the advanced ability level. In addition, advanced teaching skills are also presented on the Level 2 course that require a consolidation of the Level 1 Teaching Material. Typically, at least a season of full time teaching is required between the two courses for a successful result.

This four day course is practical-based, spending each day riding and teaching on the trails, gaining valuable insight and feedback from the PMBI Course Conductor. Additional PMBI Workshops covering topics such as suspension set-up, skill development models, goal setting and performance factors, take place at the start or end of each day, to further build your knowledge and skill set during the course.

Split into halves, one side of the course looks at teaching the fundamental “Six Skills”, through skill-based lessons. The other side looks at teaching advanced maneuvers.

LEVEL 2 AIR VS. LEVEL 2 TRAIL

The Level 2 course is essentially the same course, regardless of whether it’s the “Air” or “Trail” Level 2. The Skill-Based Teaching part of the course remains the same, as well as the Teaching Theory, Workshops, Course Materials and Assessment Criteria. The only difference is during the maneuver portion of the course.

The “AIR” Level 2 maneuver module trains instructors how to introduce intermediate riders to jumps and drops.

The “TRAIL” Level 2 maneuver module trains instructors how to introduce intermediate riders to drops and technical maneuvers, such as wheelies, manuals, or bunnyhops.

Instructors can therefore choose which course will best suit their teaching requirements, based on where they live, teach and ride. Teaching advanced maneuvers, inherently comes with more risk and complexity. By offering two “types” of Level 2 course, PMBI can ensure the necessary depth and detail is given to each specific maneuver focus, to ensure the safest, most effective teaching practices possible.

WHY TAKE THIS COURSE?

• Develop your teaching: gain more advanced tools to help analyze students, plan and execute truly fun, effective lessons at an advanced level of riding and teaching. Learn how to guide and teach high end riders so they can jump better, ride faster, explore harder terrain, stay safer and continue to push their skills.
• Improve your riding skills: learn to rail all types of corners, glide through technical, rough terrain, charge the steeps, float over jumps and tackle larger drop-offs consistently, efficiently, and safely. Learn how to “drive” the bike, create power and performance in your riding.
• Learn Coaching skills: advanced instructors often end up coaching... this course teaches you the difference between the two, and builds on your foundation as an experienced instructor to begin to learn how to coach.
• Become more skilled, versatile and adaptable as a rider and instructor.
• Have fun: it’s 4 days of riding bikes, learning and getting stoked!
• Become your own coach: Through a greater knowledge of riding skills and learning theory, your increased understanding of the sport will help you analyze your own riding and enable you to teach yourself!
• Become Certified as The Best: Gain the industries most professional, in depth and toughest mtb instructor certification, the PMBI Level 2 Certification Course.

As a qualitative alpine education provider, we provide examinations, but we also provide the training so you can get that certification. We genuinely want all our students to succeed and passing the Level 2 is not guaranteed, especially if you have never received any formal training for your teaching or riding skills! We STRONGLY encourage you to prepare yourself with the appropriate training before the exam.

There are instances when you may not need to take the preparation training - if you feel confident but are unsure of where you are at, then email us and we will give you our honest and professional advice as to your chances of passing.