Kids Bike League

In the Kids Bike League we show children the appeal of mountain biking in a playful way. Year after year, children’s skills are trained and improved. Soon they will be able to accompany their parents on a bicycle tour.

MARMOT

What to expect

The “Groundhog” level is the first level of the Kids Bike League. Step by step you will learn in a playful way, through different exercises, to become familiar with your bike and master 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

The “Chamois” level is the second level of the Kids Bike League. As a chamois, you will learn to move over unstable terrain and face obstacles in order to improve your coordination and balance. Your 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

The “Ibex” level is the third level of the Kids Bike League. As an ibex, the king of the mountain, you will improve your skills on medium difficulty trails by taking your skills to a higher technical level. You will learn to master medium gradient passes, practice jumps and drops, and work on your balance. Eventually you will be able to accompany Mom and Dad on their biking trips.

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

The “Ibex Pro Trail” level is one of three “Pro” levels following the basic Kids Bike League levels. In this level you will become a trail ace by improving your riding technique. In addition, you will learn to perform jumps and ride on pumptrack. Trails and flow trails will become child’s play for you. Simply put: cross-country and enduro champions are where they belong here.

The “Ibex Pro Bikepark” level is one of three “Pro” levels following the basic Kids Bike League levels. In this level you will improve your bikepark skills by practicing jumps, drops and banked turns. The emphasis is on mastering the downhill. You will learn how to manage speed and acquire the skills needed to have fun in a bikepark with a good dose of confidence.

The “Ibex Pro Pumptrack” level is one of three “Pro” levels following the basic Kids Bike League levels. In this level you will learn to ride on a pumptrack safely. The program to improve your pumptrack skills includes moguls, figures and banked turns.

Who it’s for

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.

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?

Basic level courses are held on three consecutive mornings, with a duration of 1.5 hours each, 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 basic course starts at CHF 99. The final price will be shown to you at the time of registration.