RIDERS IN THE SKY
MOUNTAIN BIKe SKILLS CLINICS
Our Riders in the Sky mountain bike skills clinics are led by professional, certified mountain bike coaches. Affordably priced for accessibility to the community, students will learn on-trail fundamentals while building confidence.
2024 clinics have concluded for the season. We’ll see you next year!
PROGRAM OFFERINGS
All clinics are offered for beginner to intermediate riders unless otherwise noted. Each clinic will split into groups based on ability and terrain preference. Beginners will dive into fundamentals before progressing at a manageable pace, while Intermediate groups will briefly review fundamentals, focusing the majority of the class on progression and building intermediate skills.
YOUTH (AGES 8-13)
Our Youth clinics are designed to teach courage and self-confidence through the basics of bike handling — braking, body positioning, and shifting — via fun drills and games.
Youth Progression Series (ages 8-13)
Our 3-day Progression Series for youth riders starts with the fundamentals and works towards basic and advanced skills through in-depth instruction and fun bike-related games. This program will have participants taking notice of progressing skills each day as we enjoy gaining confidence through team-building exercises and repetition.
women-inclusive (ages 14+)
Our women-inclusive clinics are all about camaraderie, progression, and fun. Our women instructors will focus on several specific skills followed by a guided ride where we put our new skills to practical use on the trail.
women-inclusive PROGRESSION SERIES (ages 14+)
Step up your riding game with our 3-day Progression Series. This program will group participants relative to skill level, developing our skills and confidence as our coaches set goals, critique, and provide feedback to create lasting progress in our riding.
OPEN Clinics (ages 14+)
Our Open clinics promote progression in riding, gaining confidence and new skills. Each clinic will focus on several specific skills followed by a guided ride where we will hone our skills on the trail.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
The following course descriptions are a general idea rather than a rigid agenda of the day’s lesson. Each course will be dynamic, flowing seamlessly with the progress and interests of the group.
MTB FUNdamentals
MTB Fundamentals focuses on foundational skills for all riders including speed control, body position, and line choice. This class encompasses all beginner to intermediate riders, focusing on the foundation of stability and balance to teach participants to ride confidently and competently.
All Things Cornering
Learn essential cornering techniques such as bike-body separation, berms, switchbacks, and maintaining control on the loose and variable Tahoe terrain. This class is designed for beginners and intermediate riders looking to improve their proper cornering technique.
Technical Riding and Maneuvers
Beginner to intermediate riders will learn or progress basic wheel lifts and bike control to prepare for more skilled trail maneuvers. This course will prepare participants for the variety of obstacles encountered on the technical Tahoe trails.
Intro to Air
This introductory course to jumps and drops for beginners and intermediates will begin with the basics of bike control, progressing to small jumps and drops based on the group's ability. This course has a prerequisite: must have attended at least one Sky Tavern clinic or have a strong dynamic body position and a solid understanding of technical features on blue flow trails.
Progression Series
Progression Series clinics are sold as a three-day package. Each group will work on skills and progress according to the skill level and interests of the group. An example of a possible structure is:
Day 1: FUNdamentals
Day 2: All Things Cornering
Day 3: Technical Riding and Maneuvers. Shuttle lap to the top!
STBP Clinic Head Coaches
Kira Deschaux
Kira was introduced to mountain biking in college while pursuing a degree in Outdoor Education. Realizing the sport had made a huge impact on her life, she knew she wanted to share the sport with others. While traveling in Australia in 2017, she took the PMBIA Level 1 Instructor course and began coaching youth throughout the country. When returning to the US she raced a few enduros, eventually landing work in the bike industry. Now a Level 2 instructor, she has instructed with Sweetlines in Washington, Northstar Bike Park, Dirt Series and Tahoe XC. Kira loves to teach and share her passion for the sport with others. She is excited about a new chapter at Sky Tavern and hopes to help grow the Riders in the Sky program to get more local riders on trails!
Kristen martin del campo
Kristen has over a decade of experience coaching mountain biking, holding a B.S. in Exercise Science. She moved to Tahoe after school, scraping her knees many times over as she learned to ride. Hoping to help others learn through better methods and fewer cuts and bruises, she began instructing at Northstar, then Tahoe XC and Dirt Series, becoming a certified Level 2 coach. She continues to race downhill and enduro in her free time, always wearing her kneepads.
Support sky tavern’S MOUNTAIN biking trails
Trails don’t build themselves. 100% of the costs of trail building at Sky Tavern are covered by fundraising. Donations from the community are the foundation of public trail access. With fundraising efforts, the construction of new trails can be put on the fast track. If you enjoy shredding Sky Tavern, please contribute to the next phases of trail development.