Beginner Mountain Bike Skills CLinics
Class Equipment requirements- Bike, Helmet
Class Ability Requirements- Can ride a bike (or balance bike for 3-5 year old age group)
Fundamental Skills taught (adjusted by age group)
o Neutral and Ready Position
o Bike-Body Separation
o Group Riding Etiquette
o Braking
o Steering
o Shifting
o Cornering
o Climbing (seated, crouched, standing)
o Descending
o How to handle Speed
o Gear and Cadence
o Timing and Coordination
o Pressure Control
Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29 (More classes TBA)
All Classes held at the Momentum Bike Park in Joplin in partnership with Joplin Parks and Rec.
Saturday March 28
Adults 16+ - 9:45 AM- 11:45-- $50
Juniors (13-15 years old)- 1:30 PM- 3:00 PM -- $40
Youth (6-12 year old)- 4:00 PM-5:30 PM --- $40
Sunday March 29
Women Only (15+) 2:00-3:30 PM - $40
Youth 3-5 year old- 4:00-5:00 PM - $25
Can add on a T-shirt for $10- deadline March 22
Meet your coaches
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Coach- Jake Souder
Jake has 35+ years of experience riding bikes. He has taught several people how to ride a bike as well as spent the last year coaching 6th-12th graders on the local area NICA mountain biking team. Being on a bike is his happy place and he has taken a 300 mile ride from St. Louis to Kansas City just for fun. When not on a bike, he is often fixing them and has even taught DIY bike care classes sponsored by Bike Walk Joplin, where he is a board member.
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Coach- Ian Edwards
Ian has been biking since he was three years old. What started as just childhood fun, turned quickly into a passion for mountain biking. With over two years of racing experience, he has earned multiple expert wins, consistent podium finishes, and took second-place in expert for the Arkansas Enduro Series overall. For the past two years he has been a mentor for the younger riders on the Buffalo Development Team. He has enjoyed being able to share his experience and love for the sport with them. Off the trail, he does all of his own bike maintenance, as well as most of his families. He simply just loves being on a bike and pushing himself to get better every ride.
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Coach- Drew Sawkins
Drew has enjoyed multiple cycling disciplines most of his life. He has been a NICA athlete the last 2 years. He also has a side business of wrenching and cleaning bikes for the public. Drew has a passion to help others get on bikes and learn to ride and joy the sport he has grown up loving.
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Junior Coach -Wesley Sawkins
Helping coach the 3-5 year olds and the 6-12 year olds
Wesley loves jump lines and pump tracks. Learning new tricks and having fun on his bike. Wesley has been participating in cycling -road and mountain biking his whole life and has always enjoyed helping younger children enjoy their riding expereince.
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Junior Coach- Charlotte Sawkins
Helps coach 3-5 year olds
Charlotte just finished her first season of NICA (youth mtn bike team) racing and is the 6th grade girls Missouri State Champion! Winning 3 of the 4 races she competed in, but this was not her first year of riding! She has been riding most of her life and enjoys helping other try the sport.
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Logistics and Coach -Ruth Sawkins
Ruth got her first mountain bike at 16 years old in Colorado and then she and her brother rode on a mining road that was 7 miles uphill one way…. the trip down was a lot more fun! In college she got her degree in health and wellness and started personal training as well as coaching endurance sports. She has upgraded her mountain bike several times since that first bike but her love of riding and outdoors has just gotten stronger. Ruth’s main passion is working with beginners and helping others advance their skills.
NICA Level 3 Coach certified
First Aid and CPR certified
Safe Sport certified
ACSM Personal Trainer Certified
21 years coaching experience
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! As long as you can balance on the bike and pedal we can teach you the rest! A working bike and helmet are required
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We’ll be working on the same basic skills but at a lower level. Teaching them how to “hold their line” and overall just how to have fun on their bike and be safe
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All clinics are at Momentum Bike Park in Joplin and will have a mix of work in the open field, the single track trails, and some on the pump track, skills area and beginner jump lines. (we will not be learning jumps and drops in these classes)
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Yes! This is our pilot class to see what the need and interest is. We plan to have more clinics, summer camps and maybe a team!
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Yes! We are hoping to add more skills classes and jumps and drops learning opportunities