BetterRide Mountain Bike School and Downhill Mountain Bike Coaching and Camps

Emails and reviews from Downhill Coaching Session Riders/Racers

“Wow, after years of racing professionally in the US and on the World Cup you really
improved my understanding of cornering. I am cornering faster and with more confidence”.
– Chris Van Dine, Cannondale Cut factory team, after just one 6 hour session in Feb. 07

“I now know just what I need to do to go to the World’s in 4x and downhill” Mitch Ropelato,
2009 Pro 4x and Jr. Cat 1 Downhill National Champion in a conversation with is dad
after his BetterRide camp in January 2009

Hi Gene,

“Greetings, oh future World’s Masters Champion,

Hope this finds you well,
Just wanted to pass along a little something. Matt raced the Ranchstyle DS this last weekend. He was just railing the turns. Jumping was pretty good as well) Where a lot of people were brake-checking in and sliding a little, he was just setting his edge, loading up and looking all the way through the turns. He had to work all the way up from the bottom of the bracket (fell on his qualifier, a little too much adrenaline pumping). He went through 3 rounds won the big final, closest differential was a little over 2 seconds. I asked him about the turns, and his response was: “It’s all Gene drills”.

Just wanted to send our thanks, your  instruction is really starting to bring it all together for him.

Cheers,
Scott”    May 2010

Hey Gene,
I just wanted to thank you again for the camp. Ive been doing drills 4-5 times a week and wow its amazing how much it helps. Never have a felt this confident in all situations. Its completely changed my riding and im lovin every second of it.
My friend used to race world cups before he got old and started a family, i can now drop him on the trail, its mind blowing for me cause it doesnt even feel like it, it all just feels so natural.
My first race is coming up in a couple weeks so i can let you know how it turns out.

I hope things are doing good for you, thanks again!

– Danny  March 30, 2010

Hi Gene,
I have to thank you again for everything that you did for me. In a matter of three days your
clinic had a profound effect on my riding! And I assure you that I am going to practice my
drills as I have no intention of loosing any of what you have taught me.  I am so eager for
the race at Bootleg on the 23rd of this month. I have never in the 5 times that I have ridden
Bootleg been so relaxed and not fearing for my life and yes I think I know exactly why.   You
will definitely see me at another clinic this season as I want to keep learning as much as I
can and practice makes a Better Rider (no more by the seat of my pants stuff).
– Chris Shelley Jan. 2004

“I’ve worked on and off with Gene my entire career. In fact, it was partly on his urging, ten
years ago, that I commit to racing pro full-time and quit my silly “real job” thing.  After Gene
started coaching, he helped me at some of the Nationals. Together we worked on going
over lines, race strategy, and especially my mental game. Gene’s got unbelievable energy
and enthusiasm for the sport of mountain biking, unmatched by anyone I know.  As a pro
rider himself he understands racing and training in this sport, which is very rare.  Many
riders don’t understand the importance of having a coach like Gene. But when they do, they
will finally be able to reach their potential. This is the edge to get them out of their plateau
and go much faster…”
— Marla Streb, Luna Chix, 2002 National Champion

We have just gotten back from an awesome trip of downhill riding in Boulder City, Nevada.
As a team, we had been talking about heading out there to do a skills camp with Gene
Hamilton (www.betterride.net) for quite some time: over the New Year we got the chance to
do just that. We arranged to meet up with Gene in Boulder on the 29th for a one-on-one,
three-day, Go-Ride team coaching session… boy were we in for a surprise. In the past,
when we had talked about doing this camp, we had no idea what to expect. It was a “Gene is
a very smart guy and a damn good rider, but most of us already beat him at every race…
what does he know that we don’t?” type thing.  And to tell the truth, he knows a lot that we
don’t. The guy is genius; in just that one camp he completely revised all of our racing skills.
From pumping to cornering, vision to breathing, course inspection to eating right… he didn’t
miss a beat. Never have we learned so many applicable techniques to mountain biking than
riding with Gene for that one three-day span. We here at Go-Ride would like to give Gene a
big thank you; you don’t know how much you have helped us. From the Go-Ride team,
copied from the Go-Ride.com Website

“Gene! Me and Craner talk about your coaching all the time. I am riding so much faster
since the camp. I am so much more confident and I can’t believe how fast I am cornering,
thanks man. I love how you have broken it down to science. From course inspection to the
mental game to how to practice at a race you have all the details figured out. I am so
excited right now! I am going to hit as many World Cups as I can in 2009 and between
what you taught me and my F1 Jedi I am going to tear it up. Lets get together for some
training in Bootleg this winter.

– Chris Canfield, Canfield Brothers Bikes, World Cup Racer

“Thanks Gene, I learned more in this camp than in my entire career so far.”
– Andrew Pierce US Team member 2006, Go-ride factory team

“Hey Gene,

I have been riding Mountain Bikes for over 25 years, started racing Downhill 3 years ago,
and thought I was doing well with 12 Podiums in 19 races to date, BUT, after spending just
3-Days with you and the crew at Northstar for that DH Camp, I learned more about how to
actual ride with more control, more skill, and more SPEED than all that riding and racing
COMBINED !! By the end of your Camp I was doing, not pretending to do things on a bike I
did not even think were possible !

– Your Program ROCKS !!!!”  Tom Judy, August 2009

Gene, You kick ass man!

I have never had someone from this sport make such a profound impact on the way I ride
my bike.  I have for years considered myself an expert rider who was still developing his
skills.  I have received degrees in higher education and mechanics.  Although I posses all
this I was falling short of a mark and expectation of myself. It lead to disappointment and
frustration in me and my performance while racing. You have given me the mental edge,
philosophy, and a new start in my world of biking. I have shed my unease and
disappointment of a riding plateau for a new vigor in my thought process.  I now have the
tools to progress steadily for the rest of my life, I will do there is no try.  I now look toward
the horizon with open eyes, my head up, a smile on my face knowing that my counter
pressure will lead me to victory.

Gene, Thanks for giving me a Better Ride.
– Santiago Garcia III   July 2008

Just an update from the Utah/Idaho crew: It turned out to be a great season for all. Randy
improved to get the 2nd overall in the Utah State Series DH (40+ sport). Clint finished a
close third, after missing a race, and with his new V10 he should be smoking next year.
Rolf keeps getting faster and faster and just got back from Worlds in France where he
finished 4th in his group. As for me, I finished 2nd overall in the Utah DH series (30-39
expert) which was a great feeling of accomplishment. I have improved mentally and
physically, allowing my times to increase by more than 30 seconds. We are talking about
another clinic this winter to keep us tough and prepared for next season. Thanks again for
all your help Gene, your guidance has made a real difference for all of us. Hope to see
you soon.
– Tony Sams on October, 2007

“We all owe a great thanks. Several times during the weekend Chris and Mary mentioned
how much the clnic helped them. I personally gained so much from it.
It was tough sitting down and visualizing that course twice a day for a week, but it paid off.
I really hope that you will become an integral part of CU cycling in the future. You were a
key factor to us all wearing a bars and stars jersey this weekend, thanks again!”
— Lisa Myklak, 2006 US Open Champion, 2002 Collegiate National Downhill
Champion