5 go mad from Cambridgeshire

The guys made their way down the A10 from Cambridge and on meeting we chatted over their aspirations for the session. I ran them through the skills check and made some set up checks and that really made a difference to their control. We moved to the drops and in no time at all they were airborne. their new looking and body positioning along with their mental skills made a real difference.

Pat's Scott Ransom frame snapped during this, much to everyone's surprise as shown in the video. soon it was time to move onto the skills trail to work on linking sections on singletrack together. Pumping , rock gardens, steps, jumps and drops were linked to flat, bermed, off camber and switchback turns. each rider was riding more controlled and faster than ever before. After a few complete runs it was time to move onto jumping tabletops and gaps. I used a 6ft tabletop for this and I controlled their speed which allowed them to focus on their body, looking and foot positioning and soon they all landed on the transition.

some even chose to ride the 6ft gap jump side too. After a while I moved us onto the pump and jump trail where I showed why the skill set applied to pumping, jumping and manualing. Using the first 3 sections on the trail the riders chose whether to pump, jump or manual the sections to gain speed to jump the 9ft tabletop at the end.

The signs of mental fatigue really began to show 5 hrs into the session so we called time so I gave them a riding demonstration of the same skill set I teach in use in my own riding on the high woodwork of Herts.
Great session!

Rob's one to one skills session

Rob came up for the session from Portsmouth and on meeting we chatted over a cup of www.hasbean.co.uk coffee about his aspirations for the session. The skills check showed footwork and looking faults but also uncovered a great technique that was already natural. I made some set up changes to enhance the corrected skills and we moved onto the drop technique where I taught the mental skill set also.



The effect on Rob was immediate, he began landing perfectly straight away and before long we moved onto the skills trail. I showed why the skill set applies to pumping and we used that energy to link the following berm and flat corner together. I added a rock garden, and 2 further corners into the mix and Rob linked them smoothly and controlled but also very fast compared to his pre Jedi session! I moved down the trail and added a fly out jump, which took Rob by surprise as it was easy to get into the air now and he linked in the following corner and stepped exit too.
I worked hard on line choice when rolling down steep stuff into corners and before long it was time to ride the entire trail end to end. The difference was stunning in Rob's riding as he linked each section by the correct pedal and braking areas. He flowed down the trail so smoothly that it was a joy to watch.
After a while I moved onto the pump and jump trail to develop his pumping further and work on his trail connection to enable him to jump the 3rd section. Here is where the session ended as the mental drain of the session took its toll and I ended the session to a riding demonstration of pumping, jumping and manualling sections all along the trail.
Great session, high5!

Richard and Simon's 2 to 1 session

Richard and Simon came down from Milton Keynes on a hot sunny day for their session. I Ran them through my skills check and found looking and body position faults. I made changes to their bike set ups and set to work.
We began with drops and I worked on the mental skills as well as applying the physical and they both were landing perfectly from the word go.

We moved onto the skills trail and I worked on their cornering and pumping the trail. Flat, bermed, off camber and switchback turns were linked by the correct braking areas to fly out jumps, steps, rock gardens and drops. I worked on line choice and body positioning in corners and gaining speed through grip and before long they were riding the entire trail end to end. Each run was faster than ever before and smooth and controlled and any errors were self identified by them too as they now knew why it felt wrong.
For our final technique we moved to the 6ft tabletop and after a demonstration they both rode it with Richard clearing it first with ease. The session ended and I look forward to seeing them both again for their next session.
High5!

Joel's one to one session

After having to delay our session earlier in the year due to snow, today we got underway under blue skies and 20 degree temperatures. Joel hasn't been riding too long and was a skateboarder when he was younger, something I can use as I coached him. I found body and looking faults during the skills check and I made the set up changes required to assist the changes I make.
As ever, I began with the drop technique and I went through the mental skills questions that I give each rider to ask themselves when looking at anything new.

Joel rode them all easily and even tried out my bike through out the session as he wants a full suss to replace his old hardtail.
We moved onto the skills trail and I began working on the isolated sections and then why the skills link sections together. Pumping to gain speed from the trail, flat bermed, switchback and off camber turns were linked to fly out jumps, drops, steps and rock gardens.


We worked our way down the trail methodically and had regular breaks to hydrate in the heat of the day. Joel was riding smoother and faster than ever. I worked hard on line choice when linking drops into corners and also braking technique too. Joel was beginning to tire as it came time to ride the entire trail end to end and after a few runs Joel himself called an end to the session as he was mentally tired. We shared a cold beer in the afternoon sunshine and celebrated the end of a great session.
high5!

March Public Jump and Drops Course

Six riders came to the Herts skills area as arranged and I ran them through part of my skills check that relates to jumps and drops and i made some set up changes too. We worked with the mental and physical aspects of the drop technique first and they applied their new skill sets to this.


After a while I showed them basic cornering so we could link drops into corners too so it was more realistic. All riders were really improving as they felt more in control now.

We moved onto the fly out jump to work on the first phase of the jump technique before moving onto a 6ft tabletop and gap jump and the riders applied their mental skills to decide whether to ride the gap jump rather than peer pressure or balls!


I then moved onto the pump and jump trail and worked on pumping sections of the trail to generate speed and jumping a 9ft tabletop along the way and later they rode the entire trail end to end utilizing all the elements of the session .

It was good to see them all enjoying themselves whilst they learned in the hot sunshine of the day. A cold beer and a riding demonstration from myself ended a very cool session indeed.,
High5!

A gift for Gavin

Gavin's wife bought him a one to one session as a gift voucher for xmas and today was the day he was looking forward to.
The skills check showed me what was missing from his skill set and I made some set up changes too to help me enhance the new skills I began to install.
We began with drops and Gavin applied his mental and physical skills to land easier and smoother than ever before. Gavin's new body positioning and looking enhancements really paid dividends. I began to show why the same skill set could be used to style it too once in the air.
We moved to the skills trail and began working on linking the 14 sections on the trail together. Flat, bermed, off camber and switchback turns were linked to rock gardens, fly out jumps, drops, steps and pump bumps.

I worked hard on line choice too when linking drops into corners, which was something Gavin always felt out of control with and before long he was riding the entire trail end to end and using the correct braking areas too. Any errors were self diagnosed as he moved through to unconscious action.


After a few runs of the trail I decided to show Gavin why the skills set applied to jumping tabletops and gaps. The ease of it all really blew him away as he sailed over the 6ft tabletop.

Gavin then used his mental skill set to decide to ride the 6ft gap jump too and the same result occurred, landing perfectly on the transition. The heat of the day really drained Gavin and I was feeling the heat too as we called an end to a great session.
High5 Gav!

The Northern Cakeriders

Tony, Simon and Ben turned up as arranged and I gave them an outline of the skill sets I teach. I began with my skills check and found looking and body position faults, so I made the necessary set up changes and off we went to apply it to the drops. The effect was immediate as they all rode the drops landing perfectly. I was even able to show why the skill set allowed Tony to style it in the air too.
We moved to the skills trail and began with advanced pumping and linked that to the following berm and flat corner.


Soon I added a rock garden and 2 more corners into the mix and the lads really began to fly. A fly out jump was next ridden and linked to a corner with a step on the exit and then I worked hard on linking the drop technique and cornering techniques together and the associated line choice.


It wasn't long before they began riding the entire trail and linking the 14 sections contained within it together, using the correct braking areas. Any errors were self identified and corrected now as they began to move through into unconscious action.
Each run was faster than the previous and their enhanced control improved confidence no end.
The last technique of our session was jumping tabletops and using a 6ft wide one I showed why the physical and mental skills applied here also.

I worked hard with Ben and Simon on their body position here too and soon all three were flying over the tabletop and Si and Tony even rode the 6ft gap jump side too!


The heat of the day and the mental aspect of the coaching began to take its toll and the session came to a close with a riding demonstration by myself of the same skill set in use on the woodwork of herts.
Great session guys, High5!

From Son to Father

Having already coached Tom and Owen, they wanted their dad to have a session too so they bought the session as a gift. On meeting we shared a coffee as always and I chatted about the outline for the session. The skills check revealed the areas that required work and After a couple of set up changes I set to work.
To Paul's surprise, we began with applying the mental and physical skill sets to the drop technique and straight away he began landing perfectly and the ease of it all took him by surprise.


We moved onto the skills trail and I showed why the skill set applies to pumping the trail and how to use the gained energy rather than the riders to connect to the trail. We used the gained energy to ride the following berm and flat corner, I later added a rock garden and two more berms. Soon, Paul was riding six sections fluidly and faster than ever and I added in a fly out jump and corner with a step on the exit. The fly out jump really took him by surprise as it was for him, the easiest technique of the day as he sailed into the air.
I worked hard on linking drops into corners and the required line choice before it was time to ride the entire trail end to end. each run was fast and controlled and as confidence and commitment grew he began to really fly along but the heat of the day had wore him out and our session came to a close in the spring sunshine.
Awesome session!

Meeting new, old friends.

Mark, Sam and laura came to me as arranged for our 3 to 1 session. As always, I ran them through my skills check and discovered the missing skills in their riding. I made the set up changes necessary and also showed them why. We then went off to the drop sections to apply both the physical and mental skill sets that I teach.


I demonstrated the correct body positioning, looking and foot position required and they soon began landing perfectly and easier than they had imagined it ever would be. Laura deliberately got both wheels into the air for the 1st time and Sam and Mark joined in too. Mark used his mental skills well to eventually ride the largest one too!
From there I demonstrated pumping and braking areas and we linked the gained speed into the following bermed and flat corners. I did a body position correction exercise and we moved back to the skills trail and the effect was dramatic as they all began to ride faster but comfortably and already could self assess any errors. I added a rock garden and 2 more corners that were tighter than the previous ones but their new skills allowed them to manage them with ease. I showed why the skills set could be applied to jumping up fly out slopes and linked that to a corner with a step on the exit. In a few runs they were airborne and Laura laughed when she first got into the air. I moved to the end of the trail to work on more complex cornering techniques and the effect of line choice and braking when linking drops into corners.
Finally it came time to ride the entire trail end to end and each run, even though there were errors present was faster than the previous one and any errors were self corrected as they moved through conscious reaction and into unconscious action. They began to visibly tire and Sam and Laura called an end to the session as they were shot mentally. Mark could have carried on but was happy to call it an end and we all had a beer or coffee to celebrate the end of a great session and to begin our new friendship.
High5!

Matt makes the journey from Chesire

Matt came to me from Cheshire after having previously been coached by a company in Cannock. On meeting we shared a coffee and chatted about his background and aspirations.
I began with the skills check and found he needed work in looking and body position in all areas and after a set up tweak I set to work.
We began with the drop technique and straight away Matt applied both his physical and mental skill sets to ride them all easily and I was even able to show why the skill set enabled him to style it in the air a bit too.


We moved onto the skills trail and I worked hard on his pumping and cornering to begin with. We then linked flat bermed, off camber and switchback turns into steps, rock gardens,fly outs and drops. Each section was linked to the next using the correct braking areas.

I worked on linking drops into corners and before long, Matt was riding the trail end to end. Each run was smoother and faster than before and the smile on his face was great to see as he easily controlled the speed of the trail.

I moved us onto the 6ft tabletop to show why the same skills applied there too and to his amazement, he sailed over the jump with ease and even rode the 6ft gap jump side too!

To end the session I moved us onto the pump and jump trail and I taught Matt to manual over tabletops, pump and jump.
Thanks for being part of a great session Matt
High5!