2-day

core skills  1​

Women’s Mtb skills course

All courses taught by Gene Hamilton

FAQ

Is there a Core Skills 2 course and when will you offer it?

Yes, 2-Day Core Skills 2 courses will start in 2025.

Do I have to take Core Skills 1 before Core Skills 2 ?

Core Skills 2 is simply part 2 of the Core Skills series, it isn’t more advanced skills.

Having the foundation set from Core Skills 1 is necessary for learning and using the skills taught in Core Skills 2.

Why have you moved from offering 3-day courses to 2-day courses?

I understand that many people can’t use their vacation time or take Fridays off from their jobs for my signature 3-day course.

Do I have to take the Core Skills 1 course before I can sign up for the Core Skills 2 course?

Yes, you will be behind the other students. You may be familiar with some of the skills in my Core Skills 1 course but I have yet to coach a student who knew them and could do them at the level needed to ride at their personal best.

Remember, many of the best riders in the World have taken my Core skills 1 course multiple times.

It isn’t just knowledge of a skill it is being able to execute that skill perfectly on the most challenging trail you ride.

Gene Hamilton of BetterRide

Course Goals

Women's course photo

Layout Of The 2-Day Course

what They’re Saying

Client Testimonials

paula lee
paula lee
2024-03-30
Wish I had taken this course sooner! I would be exponentially better and more confident if I had! After 3 days, I came away with more much needed saddle time attempting drills and exercises I never would have tried on my own. Great confidence builder to try difference things while pushing limits safely/correctly. Looking forward to practicing the drills, hitting the trails and kicking it all up a notch! The clinic has made mountain biking so much more fun!
Lawrence Lindsey
Lawrence Lindsey
2024-03-27
absolutely the best MTB skills coaching or any coaching for that matter I’ve received. The voodoo mine trick alone is worth the price and revolutionary to my riding. The follow ups are also terrific, with great book, recommendations, that back up and prove the science of why we have to use implicit procedural mind to ride. finally doing the recommended drills to improve and reinforce vision, body position, and cornering have significantly improved my intro experience. It’s the best 800 bucks you’ll spend on mountain biking
Denise Larsen
Denise Larsen
2024-03-25
Great clinic. Gene explained the drills well and we practiced until we got it. We had a rainy clinic but he was able to find some cover to practice the drills. I learned so much and can now use the skills learned on the trails and will continue to practice them off trail too. He explained well, was kind and respectful to all. We were a mixed group of e-bikes and regular bikes and different skill levels, he made it all work so we all improved from where we were.
Sara Nakai
Sara Nakai
2024-02-25
I attended a clinic with Gene last year, and my riding has dramatically changed for the better. I had been a very timid rider, but Gene's reasonable approach to obstacles and detailed instruction supported my learning and growth in a way no other skills coach has. Sure he went over fundamentals and body positioning and weight distribution and to "look ahead!" But the most important thing he taught me was how to practice these skills on my own. Because that's where the growth really happens. He taught me the basics but then also motivated me to continue working on everything on my own. That's what a great teacher does! And I can still hear his raspy voice in my head as I'm cornering, climbing, and rounding switchbacks. Thank you, Gene!
Matt Warnke
Matt Warnke
2024-02-07
Thanks Gene! It's Matt from your Jan. Scottsdale class. I want to say thank again for an outstanding class and the follow up emails. In the week after your course I followed your instruction and practiced the drills 4 times a week for 30 min, watched the videos, read your articles and it has made a huge difference. In just a week of this I've seen improvement on rides, technical sections are easier, getting over obstacles using manuals is working well and my cornering is improving. Looking ahead and not down has made a huge difference especially in rock gardens and on corners. Being a former football coach I totally embrace the concept of working on fundamentals, practicing drills and putting in the time to get better. I can't wait to see where I'm at with 6 months of practice and beyond. You are an excellent instructor and coach! Thank you.
Jing Li
Jing Li
2024-01-29
No matter if you are new to MTB, or are experienced biker looking for breakthrough, Gene’s clinics are right for you! After attending Gene’s 3-day classes, I told my friends that now I learned everything I need to know to become a world champion! And the distance between me and them are tons of deliberate trainings - which you will get from Gene too! His classes really cover everything, your position, vision, balance, how to brake but not brake too much, cornering, switch back, drop, jump, wheelie… even how high your handle bar should be. And one of my biggest surprises was I even found the cure of my lower back pain!! I never thought that was because of biking, and Gene even has a solution for that! Literally ANYTHING you need to know to excel at biking, and more importantly, HAVE FUN!! I’m so grateful that I took his class after trying to bike for several months! The progress was incredible, soon after his class I sighed up for my first race! And in a couple months I’m attending another one! If you love MTB, and thought you couldn’t love it more, try Gene’s class and you’ll be surprised!!!!!
Steve Leoniak
Steve Leoniak
2024-01-15
This is an organized & well-developed course. I'd recommend it to anyone, whether you've been riding your whole life or just started, who is interested in developing concrete, learnable, and fundamentally correct skills to improve your mountain biking, training, and life. Better technique equals faster, safer, and more enjoyable riding.
David Adams (AdamsInWanderland)
David Adams (AdamsInWanderland)
2024-01-07
Being an older rider(62) I had a lot of old bad habits to overcome. Gene’s program did a fantastic job tweeking some of my MTB fundamentals. I feel so much more confident and capable in my riding. I ride in a lot of group rides and I use to always be pulling up the rear now I find myself in the middle of the pack! Gene helped to make me the rider I always wanted to be! Thanks Gene

BetterRide MTB Skills Courses have been designed to teach you how to ride

Faster

More Efficient

Balanced

In Control

Gene cornering on trail

Core Skills Learned in a 2-Day Core Skills 1  Women’s Course

Share a great mountain biking experience with other women!

BetterRide’s Women’s MTB Camp, Clinic and Skills Coaching covers the same core skills as the co-ed camps in a SUPPORTIVE, NON-JUDGEMENTAL atmosphere, plus he adds a little more of the mental side of mountain biking, especially as it comes to dealing with fear.

The Core Fundamental Skills of Mountain Bike Riding and Racing are NOT INTUITIVE.

Dynamic Body position, climbing, descending, pumping, contouring

Vision, how to look ahead correctly; everyone knows to do it, few actually do

Bike Set up for Optimal Riding and Control

Cornering Technique with Take Home Drills

How to Brake Effectively

How to Clear Large Obstacles

Pedal Wheelie

Riding Off-camber, wet roots, ruts and sand

Coaster Wheelie/Manual

Woman's course

Course Goals

The Women’s Core Skills 1 MTB Course will help you with both the MENTAL and PHYSICAL sides of mountain biking.

The goal is to help you reach your potential by teaching you the core skills of mountain biking along with the drills to master them.

Core Skills 1 will set the foundation for your riding. You must be exceptional at these skills to do any skill well. Those foundation skills are vision and body position; if you do either of those at less than 100% at any time, every skill will suffer.
 
Vision skills are much more than “look ahead.” I will teach you how to look at the trail and do vision drills to gain confidence in your vision. Understanding this and doing your vision drills will allow you to ride efficiently and faster, with more control and a greater sense of ease.
 
Body position is very dynamic. Mountain bike trails are rarely smooth and/or at a constant grade. I will teach you how to work with the trail and create the smoothest, most efficient ride.
 

Once you have a good understanding of vision and body position (and the drills to master those) I will teach you two different kinds of wheelies to get over obstacles.

Then we hit the trails to apply what we have learned. 

Female student cornering

Layout Of The Women’s 2-Day Core Skills 1 Course

Gene teaches drills for each skill so you can practiceafter the course and master these skills, ending the frustration of not riding to your potential

A Typical Core Skills 1 Course runs from: 9:45 am on Saturday until 4:00 pm on Sunday.

Each day starts with 3-4 hours of skills instruction and drills in a local park followed by 2-3 hours of on trail practicing and riding on trail.

FIRST, he'll teach you the goal of the skill and explain - HOW to do it so you understand the skill & WHAT it should feel like.

THEN, he demonstrates the skill, so you can see it done and know what it should look like.

NEXT, you'll practice the skill using drills in a safe learning environment (so you don't resort to old habits and/or survival instincts) while Gene encourages and assists you.

Once you have a good understanding of the skill and have done some practice, we apply the skill out on the trail.

Gene Hamilton

-2024-

Course Dates & Locations

Phone: 435 260 7696

Email: admin@betterride.net

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