Spending a Summer in Whistler Biking
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 11:18 am

I took the Peak Leaders mountain bike instructors course in 2011. I was quite apprehensive about going on this course as I did not think my Downhill skills were up to scratch as I had only been riding downhill for around 6 months but had been riding cross country for about 3 years also I was doing the course with my brother who is a very experienced Downhill racer riding at the top level. When I arrived however and met Dahj, the Group Leader, Dom, our Coach/Guide and some of the other guides I was instantly reassured. Everyone was welcoming  and filled with enthusiasm, which totally rubbed off on the rest of the group. The accommodation was amazing, our own garage for the bikes with plenty of space, a huge living area and kitchen, a nice big hot tub also made it even better. The house was also situated plenty close enough to the lift so riding there each morning was no problem.  Having our own personal chef 4 days a week was also brilliant and the food was fantastic.

Onto the course itself. We started out with a few days of the guides accessing our skills and giving us pointers and helping us progress our own skills, I found this very useful as did other people on the course, I even think my brother learned a thing or two . After this we moved onto the course itself and began with a few days of CTC Trail Leader, we met Bob Campbell who had come over from the U.K in order to deliver this qualification. This gave us a few days out of the park and onto theLostLakeXCtrails. Bob focused on teaching us and accessing our leading ability one by one. The nights consisted of a little bit of light theory work and between this we all got in plenty of runs in at the park. After this it was back into the park and onto the IDP level 1 where met Mike Johnstone. The guy who was going to be teaching us and accessing us in the IDP level 1 and 2. Level 1 was all about guiding people down the trails in the park and what beginners need to be taught and how to keep people safe when riding in the park. We were split into groups and all took turns in leading for the assessment with Mike watching closely. These sessions went from 10am to 3pm each day, so after a day of learning there was still 5 hours to hit the park and get in plenty of runs. After the level 1 assessment we moved onto level 2 which was a fairly big step up and involved the teaching of jumps, drops, high speed corners and how to generally keep people safe when doing these activities. The progression in these skills made sense to everyone and Mike made everything clear and understandable so we all knew what we had to do to pass. The sessions again went from 10am to 3pm.

In-between all this learning and riding we had a week off for Crankworx, which was pretty awesome, watching the world’s best riders in every kind of mountain bike discipline also there was plenty of fun times on days off from trips down rivers in dingies with beers, to house parties and endless BBQs. Once Crankworkx was over it was onto more learning and eventually the assessments, a few days of practice for all and away we went. After a few days of assessments we were finished and I had passed IDP level 1 and 2 and was pretty chuffed. My riding had also come on leaps and bounds; every trail in the park was very ride able.

A few more days of riding after this and one awesome snow ride where we got to go a chairlift higher than the Garbo zone, which hailed epic views and some funny moments also a 5000+ft decent was pretty nice! Then it was onto the goodbyes and packing which led to I think everyone saying they can’t wait to come back.

Working Holiday Visas Canada 2012 Program
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:38 pm

The 2012 International Experience Canada Working Holiday Initiative is now open! 5,350 places have been released for UK participants and at the time of writing this, 5,276 places are available.

If you are planning on spending time in Canada this year and want to work whilst you are visiting Canada, you will need to apply for a working holiday visa. If you are planning to qualify as a ski instructor, a snowboard instructor, or a mountain bike instructor and then hope to stay on and work -this is for you. But if you are going on our Banff ski or snowboard instructor course, and just want to stay on as a holiday, then you don’t need to worry.

If you are joining us on our Mountain Biking Hiring Camp in Whistler or our ski instructor course in Banff, or our snowboard instructor course in Banff and are contemplating working- keep reading!

There are 2 routes to apply and gain your working holiday visa that you can consider. Either applying direct to the Government of Canada or via BUNAC. BUNAC will hold your hand through the paperwork process; however it is more expensive. Going through BUNAC will cost £254 plus the visa price of $150. If you go direct to the government of Canada it will cost you $150 only.

Here’s the link to BUNAC

Here’s the link to the Government of Canada

Good luck and just ask us for advice! Or comment below with your experience of applying for a visa.

Last Goodbyes
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:22 pm

What?! Man, five weeks can go fast when you’re having this much fun, and fun’s an understatement. Good times, lots of learning, good friends and plenty of memories to take away. Thanks to Mike for your incredible knowledge and coaching. Cheers to Dom for your great coaching and pretty amazing skills behind the camera lense too! (Check out the gallery for loads more photos). Shout out to Alan too for cooking up a storm!

Dahj

IDP wrapped up
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:59 pm

Well done to everyone, making it through the  IDP Level 2!

Jumps, drops and high speed cornering was the flavour of the last few days, practicing and eventually being assessed on teaching all these aspects. Jumps and drops may seem straight forward, but getting them done the right way as a demo can be a whole other story.  Breaking  them down and demoing/teaching these can be tricky to master, and it’s a challenge to get them dialed.

Nice work crew.

We were lucky enough to get a trip up into the high alpine of Whistler on one of the last days, and it was a truly epic trip. Out away from the busy town, plenty of snow, incredible views, and some great riding.

IDP here we come
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:34 am

Crankworx is done, and what a week it has been. Plenty of good times in the village, and great races to watch too. The crew even competed in a few events, including the Air DH and  The Enduro.

IDP exams are looming later on in the week,  and our drops/cornering/jumping coaching skills are going to get put to the test.

Crankworx and Heckler’s Rock
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:39 am

The biggest mountain bike festival in the world has arrived. A week and a half of the sickest bikers from around the globe.

The Canadian Open was the race of the day and there was no better place to watch than “Heckler’s Rock”. A couple of hundred people chanting and making noise, halfway down the course, right under the chairlift. Geoff’s chainless chainsaw managed to make some noise.

Celebrities??

Bears Bears Bears
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:15 am

The bears are everywhere! It’s an incredible and slightly surreal experience to be surrounded by bears here, and in the park they just aren’t phased by people or bikes at all, allowing us to observe them from a disturbingly close range! Big Furry Cows as Mike puts it

Definitely a favorite shot. Milan, a mother and a curious cub

Banks are fun!
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 6:11 am

Plenty of good times and amazing riding still going down. Our guiding /instructing skills are constantly progressing, along of course with our riding.

Just one of the many things I love about Whistler park is the incredible amount of beautiful banked corners all around the park. Here’s a few nice photos of Harry and Paul shredding some sweet ones.