Week 2, September 16th - Fall Trail Kids 2024
The second week of Fall Trail Kids kicked off with a bang! On Monday, the coaches dove right into lessons, focusing on what is one of the most essential on-bike skills: body position.
They began by introducing the three key body positions for riding: climbing, flats, and descending. Starting with these fundamentals gave the Trail Kids a solid foundation for general terrain, and as they rode, the coaches helped them adapt these core positions to different on-trail situations.
The groups wasted no time heading to their favorite trails for practice. All American, with its consistent grade reversals and predictable terrain, was a popular choice. But it was only the beginning of the day’s adventure. Coaches soon led their groups to trails like Oeste Vista and Leopard's Loop to continue honing their skills.
The progress was noticeable throughout the day. As the Trail Kids grew more confident in their positioning, trail speeds increased, and more obstacles were conquered than just an hour earlier! It’s always impressive to see how quickly the students at Bike School Bentonville catch on.
Building on the momentum from Monday, the coaches continued to emphasize the basics, like body positioning, on Tuesday. But they also introduced new lessons, including front wheel lifts, flat turns, and tackling technical trail features.
I overheard that Coach Joel and Jillian were taking their group through the river to Wonderland, so I decided to tag along. The river crossing was a refreshing break in the heat, but soon everyone was back to business, practicing their climbing skills on the technical features of Sally’s as they made their way up to the Wonderland Trail.
After a quick stop at the top of the hill to practice front wheel lifts around the Wonderland trailer, the group turned their attention to descending. Area 51 and Upper Mad Hatter provided perfect conditions for practicing body positioning on technical downhills.
After leaving that group, I crossed back over the river and hurried to the 6-Pack jumps along All American. There, I caught some groups practicing their jumps and cheering each other on from the Greenway. As always, a thrilling way to wrap up the second week of Fall Trail Kids. The energy from last week is sure to carry into the next as we continue learning new skills and exploring more trails!
Happy Trails,
Sebastian Wallach
BSB Media
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