ERC youths team up with Borders College for MTB coaching
5 March 2022
ERC youth mountain-bikers will soon be benefiting from the 3-way partnership we have formed with Borders College* in Galashiels, and Dirtschool in Glentress.
Photo: © Martin Blyth
College students are studying mountain-biking as part of an academic programme. They require riders with whom to hone their coaching skills. These students will be coaching some of ERC’s youth riders to a level that Go-Ride coaches could only dream of. Thjs will allow our riders to work with top inspiring mountain bikers. The sessions will be carried out under the supervision of our leaders who will be aiming to pick up some useful coaching tips too. At the end of their studies, the students will receive an SCQF level 6 in mountain biking. This looks like a triple win.
Three students will be working with us, and they will each coach 6 riders over 6 weeks. Coaching will take place on Corstorphine Hill, and at Glentress in the Borders, from mid-March until the end of April.
The above photo shows Sam with some of our riders during a resent pilot session in Glentress.
Meet the students
Aaron is 20 years old and usually resides in the Sierra Nevada, Spain. He’s been riding since 7 and has recently been interested in riding enduro. He should be able to relate to our young riders, who at around 12 appear to have started late!
Roman is a final year student from near Malaga, who is also keen on Enduro and bike-packing. He speaks highly of the amazing trails in Innerleithen despite his exotic home terrain. Roman wants to pass on his knowledge so we hope ERC youngsters will soak up his experience.
Sam has been riding for six years, and competes in Downhill and Enduro events. He likes flow trails with Innerleithen Golfie being his local favourite, for further afield, he’d chose Morzine.
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*Borders Academy of Sport Excellence (BASE) supports talented performers. They develop their individual skills and performance alongside their academic studies. The SCQF level 6 course has some common elements with other level 6 Sport & Fitness courses, e.g. football and rugby. Students up to 3 days per week in college taking classes and performing strength & conditioning in a gym. There follows 2 days with expert MTB tuition. (Sounds more enticing than spending 5 days a week in a musty lecture theatre - Ed)