Kids Bike League
Take part in the Kids Bike League, the summer programme offered by the Swiss Ski Schools! In the Kids Bike League, experienced mountain bike guides will introduce you to the exciting sport of mountain biking in a fun way. They will help you develop and improve your skills year by year. You will soon be able to accompany your parents on their mountain bike trips.
MARMOT
What to expect
Marmot level is the first level of the Kids Bike League. Step by step, you will be taught a range of fun exercises to help familiarise yourself with your bike and how to control it. Your bike will become your best friend!
Who it’s for
You’ll be 3 to 4 years old.
Prerequisite
You must be able to ride a bike or balance bike on flat ground without falling.
Skills developed
✓ Getting on and off the bike
✓ Driving and braking
✓ Overcoming small obstacles
✓ Curving
CHAMOIX
What to expect
Chamois level is the second level of the Kids Bike League. Like a chamois, you’ll learn to negotiate unstable terrain and obstacles to improve your coordination and balance. Your mountain bike will become your best friend!
Who it’s for
You’ll be 5 to 7 years old.
Prerequisite
You must know how to ride a bike.
Skills developed
✓ Overcoming several obstacles
✓ Pedaling while standing (out-of-saddle position)
✓ Riding one-handed
✓ Driving, shifting gears, and braking
✓ Overcoming humps and simple hollows
✓ Lifting the front wheel over a small obstacle
IBEX
What to expect
Ibex level is the third level of the Kids Bike League levels. Like an ibex, king of the mountain, you’ll improve your skills on moderately difficult trails and take your technical skills to the next level. You’ll learn to master medium slopes, practice jumps and drops and work on your balance so that you can then accompany your parents on their mountain bike rides.
Who it’s for
You’ll be 8 to 12 years old.
Prerequisite
You must have the technical knowledge to master easy trails and have experience in riding over obstacles.
Skills developed
✓ Tackling curves (steering and leaning the bike)
✓ Tackling curves with a bank
✓ Raising the front wheel over an obstacle
✓ Raising the rear wheel
✓ Mastering medium gradient passages
✓ Performing jumps (drops)
✓ Traversing trails of medium difficulty
IBEX PRO
Have you already completed the Kids Bike League, have experience on the trails or in the bike park, and are at least ten years old? Then our PRO levels are for you:
What to expect
Ibex Pro Trail level is one of three Pro levels that come after the basic Kids Bike League levels. In this level you’ll become the ace of the trails by improving your riding technique. You will also learn how to do jumps and ride a pump track. Trails and flow trails will become child’s play for you. In short, this is just the right level for cross-country and trail bike hotshots!
Ibex Pro Bike Park level is one of three Pro levels that come after the Kids Bike League basic levels. In this level you’ll improve your bike park skills by practicing jumps, drops and banked turns. The emphasis is on controlled downhill riding. You’ll learn to manage your speed and acquire the necessary skills to have fun in a bike park with the right amount of safety.
Ibex Pro Pump Track level is one of three Pro levels that come after the Kids Bike League basic levels. In this level you’ll learn to ride a pump track safely. Bumps, tricks and banked turns are all on the programme to improve your pump track skills.
Who it’s for
You must be at least 10 years old.
You must be at least 10 years old.
You must be at least 10 years old.
Prerequisite
You must have very good technical knowledge of riding on medium difficulty trails or have reached Ibex level.
You must have very good technical knowledge of riding on medium difficulty trails or have reached Ibex level.
You must have very good technical knowledge of riding on medium difficulty trails or have reached Ibex level.
Skills developed
✓ Tackling sharp turns
✓ Mastering passages with roots and stones
✓ Performing a drop
✓ Jumping
✓ Performing a “bunny hop”
✓ Performing a “wheelie”
✓ Performing a “stoppie”
✓ Mastering a pumptrack
✓ Traversing a trail in a controlled and safe manner
✓ Tackle banked curves
✓ “Pumping” (loading and unloading)
✓ Performing a “bunny hop”
✓ Jumps on table
✓ Performing drops
✓ Performing creative jump variations
✓ Performing a “manual”
✓ Running steeps in the bikepark smoothly and safely
✓ Tackling curves with a bank
✓ “Pumping” (loading/unloading)
✓ Tackling a hump
✓ Performing a “manual”
✓ Performing a “bunny hop”
✓ Jumping
✓ Performing a “run” in the pumptrack without pedaling
Information
Where?
The courses for the three basic levels, Marmot, Chamois and Ibex, are held in Gordola near the Adventure Park, while for the Ibex Pro levels the location is indicated at the time of registration and detailed information about the meeting point will be delivered before the course begins.
When?
Normally every Tuesday and Thursday morning, when you register you can choose the date and time.
How long does it last?
Courses last 1.5 hours for basic levels, while for Ibex Pro levels it varies depending on the activity.
Equipment?
You will need to have your bike, helmet, a water bottle with water, and appropriate clothing based on the weather. And if there is a lot of sun, don’t forget the sunscreen!
Cost?
The cost of a Kids Bike League group lesson starts at CHF 38. The final price will be shown to you at the time of registration.