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iRide @ St John Brebeuf

Returning for their 5th season, with an expanded instructor team, iRide’s after-school program with St. John Brebeuf featured new riders, new locations, and new opportunities.

iRide Instructor, Martin, and his two assistant instructors used the iRide curriculum to choose one skill and game per session, followed by a group ride on local trails in the Fraser Valley area. The 4-week program is offered on Mondays each spring and autumn and includes longer 2-3 hour sessions that help accommodate the travel time to the trails. As it is a high-school program, the instructors focus on iRide level 4 and 5 skills, like rolling over a drop, descending, and line choice.

“This autumn, we worked on proper body balance during a jump. We focused on how to shift the centre of gravity over the bike to ensure a smooth landing.  This also helped the riders learn to use terrain awareness and line choice to navigate bumpy terrain in general.

The abundant precipitation added to the treacherous conditions, challenging riders body posture and line choice. We tried to choose the dry days to ride, but with the amount of precipitation, it was virtually impossible to ride only on dry terrain.

Despite the circumstances, the participants rose to the occasion and mastered the challenge very skilfully. By working on selecting the best approach speed, the riders found rythym and flow despite wet roots, or rocks on the trails. As a result, we learned to use proper technique and stay safe on the mountain.”

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