Progression Programs
After-School Programs
The Stowe Mountain Bike Academy strives to be at the forefront of youth mountain biking. Our Progression programs are at the heart of this initiative and are designed to inspire the next generation of cyclist. SMBA programs focus on developing well-rounded riders who thoughtfully engage in the cycling community and respect the trails and the outdoors in general. Every program is designed with the idea that at the end of the season our riders have become stronger more skillful riders while having fun.
In short, SMBA Progression Programs are a fun series of small group, highly customized, instructed rides setup to help your rider have a lifetime of adventure on their bike!
IF YOU’RE NEW TO SMBA, PLEASE FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, @STOWE_MTN_BIKE_ACADEMY
After-School & Summer Progression Schedule: 2024
Spring After-School Program Registration Opens 2/1/24!
Spring
After-School & Saturday Mornings
5/6-6/7 (5 Weeks)
3:30-5:30pm (5:45 Hucksters & Older)
Rain Makeup 6/10-6/14 weather permitting
Session long enrollment - 1+ days per week
Summer
Weekday Mornings
6/24-8/23 (9 Weeks)
9am-12pm (Tuesday-Thursdays)
Daily enrollment through 5-Lesson & 10-Lesson Packs
Fall
After-School & Saturday Mornings
9/3-10/19 (6 Weeks)
3:30-5:30 (5:45 Hucksters & Older)
Rain Makeup 10/21-10/25 weather permitting
Session long enrollment - 1+ days per week
Build your program! SMBA’s After-school progression programs enroll as one-day sessions! Customize your schedule. Register for one day per week or add multiple days to your rider’s schedule! Full details in the Schedule/Register Tab.
SMBA’s progression-based mountain bike programs are for riders ages 5 to 18, and have a rider to coach ratio of 3, 4, or 5 to 1 (based on age), participants' build skill and fitness quickly! If you want your rider to learn to mountain bike regardless of experience, this is the program for them. We work with riders first exploring trail riding to riders with dreams of going pro and everyone in between.
Fun with Fundamentals
Fun with Fundamentals
The Fun with Fundamentals (FWF) program will work with riders that are new to mountain biking. The goal of this group is to build fundamental mountain bike skills for the new rider so they can jump into our progression-based programs as their skills grow. This would be a great program for a rider new to mountain biking or anyone looking to build their confidence before heading to the trails.
This group will start with correct bike setup and positioning for each rider. The group will begin with balance and standing with level pedals, braking, shifting, and bike/body stance. A variety of fun drills and games will reinforce these new skills so they can easily be applied once we move to the trails.
Rippers
Rippers
The Rippers group will progress their balance and maneuverability on the bike through drills and games in a grass field environment with use of ramps, logs, jumps, and other features. These skills will then be taken to the trails to ride a combination of doubletrack and singletrack.
Learning the fundamentals to good bike handling skills will create a solid foundation for safe and fun trail riding. Ripper riders make the biggest leap in their riding from gravel or beginner single track to longer riders, bigger climbs and will face more trail variety. Ripper coaches will spend as much time developing a rider's emotional resiliency and positive mindset towards new challenges as they will developing your rider’s on-bike skills.
Shredders
Shredders
The Singletrack Shredders in this group will learn and improve on existing skills to smoothly ride over all variety of natural features, lean into corners, weight the bike properly on the trail, and flow like water! Riders can expect to ride primarily singletrack trails and cover 5-7 miles over two hours.
Practices start with bike games, new skill introduction on safe teaching terrain, and rider check ins. Shredders will take the lesson's highlighted skill to the trail and session the feature, ride it, receive on-trail feedback, and have an opportunity to retry and apply.
Hucksters
Hucksters
Riders in the Hucksters category should be comfortable riding any type of mountain bike trail from root-gnarled singletrack to fast flow trails and be able to complete a 10 mile mountain bike ride within two hours. Through practicing skills before hitting the trails and working with SMBA’s certified coaches, riders will progress to being able to ride challenging trails with newfound confidence and consistency.
Skills addressed in this group will include: high speed cornering, advanced climbing techniques, roll downs, drops, bunnyhops, jumps, and carrying speed through bumpy terrain.
Freeride
Freeride
The Freeride group is for riders looking to take their shredding skills to the highest level, but not necessarily focus on the world of racing. Coaches will work with riders to fine tune technique and improve not only speed, but also style and flow to make even the most challenging trails look easy. Riders will ride a combination of technical singletrack and flow trails and expect to cover 7-10 miles over two hours.
This group will combine a variety of games and skills practice to improve balance, maneuverability, and confidence on the bike. With these improved skills, riders will be able to safely jump higher, tackle more challenging trails, and learn some tricks.
Program Information
How does the progression program work?
SMBA meets riders at their current skill level and builds confidence while growing their bike handling and trail riding skills over a series of lessons. There are 5 ability levels within the progression program based on rider experience (explore each tab):
Fun with Fundamentals
Rippers
Shredders
Hucksters
Freeride
From the beginning, riders session trail features and learn about line choice, proper bike/body position, brake modulation, and gearing to find flow and fluidity over a variety of terrain. Coaches work with riders to safely develop their skills, promote progression throughout the season(s), and achieve their riding goals in a fun and supportive learning environment.
Pathways within SMBA
Riders may join SMBA at any of the five progression stages or start with us at the very beginning by enrolling in Fun with Fundamentals.
Fun with Fundamentals is aimed at instilling enthusiasm and excitement for mountain biking while our most advanced progression program, the Freeride program, provides a pathway to expert-level riding.
After completing the Huckster program, riders may choose to join the Junior Development Race Team then unto the Elite Race Team. If racing at an advanced level is not a rider’s goal, riders may continue to advance their skills through the Freeride program.
Alternatively, riders may also work with a coach to design a custom program to meet their competitive aspirations or specific progression goals.
Remote coaching and training plans are available as well.
Policies and Guidelines
Please review the policies below prior to attending practice. Email info@stowemtb.com with any questions
Schedule/Register
Spring After-School and Saturday Progression Programs
Spring 2024 is 5 fun weeks of progressive cycling instruction!
Build your program!
SMBA’s Spring after-school progression programs enroll as one-day 5 week sessions! Customize your schedule. Register for one day or add multiple days to your riders schedule!
Spring After-School progression session:
Dates:
May 6 - June 7, rain makeup (weather permitting) June 10-15
Pricing:
Fun with Fundamentals: $285 - 1 day per week/5 weeks
Rippers and Shredders: $300 - 1 day per week/5 weeks
Hucksters, & Freeride: $315 - 1 day per week/5 weeks
Schedule:
* Stowe Elementary school pick-up (Rec Path ride with a SMBA Coach to Cady Hill Lodge) is offered Monday through Friday for no additional cost.
* Families are welcomed to drop off bikes or equipment in our office or at our designated bike racks during the day of practice. We can lend a bike lock if needed.
Fun with Fundamentals, Ripper and Shredder
3:30-5:30pm Monday - Thursday
4:00-6:00pm Friday
9:30-11:30am Saturday
Hucksters and Freeride
3:30-5:45pm Monday - Thursday
4:00-6:15pm Friday
9:30-11:45am on Saturday
Policies
Reservation Cancellations/Modifications:
Cancellations outside of one month are refundable less a $25 administration fee. Cancellations within one month but outside two weeks of the program start date results in a refund of 50% of the program fee. Cancellations within two weeks of the program start date results in forfeiture of all program fees. WHY? SMBA hires and trains coaches based on enrollment to maintain rider to coach ratios developed from years of experience in creating fun and safe programming. We sponsor the cost of first aid programs and other certifications for our staff, enroll all coaches into our insurance programs and run background checks. All of this investment in your rider’s coach takes place months before our sessions starts. Please support this policy by communications all changes to your reservation as soon as possible by contacting Shannon at info@stowemtb.com.
SMBA cancellations (example, due to extreme weather) will be credited back to your account automatically or rescheduled.
Please contact us info@stowemtb.com for remaining availability!
General Registration Information
All registrations require a Mindbody account. Mindbody is a secure booking tool and database.
Mindbody questions? Please contact Shannon at shannon@stowemtb.com
Space in our progression program are limited BUT please add your rider to waitlist if your desired session is full. The waitlist will help us determine where to place additional coaching staff.
Mindbody Registrations Tips
You can access Mindbody selecting “My Account” the button above or from the link at the bottom of our webpage under the “Client Portal” section.
When creating a profile, enter your information then add your rider's information under Family Relationships in your profile so you can select them for the program. It is helpful if you complete all profile information (you may add your cell phone or email as the rider’s contact information). When printing attendance sheets, SMBA administrators will see the contact information in the rider’s profile.
When enrolling or booking an appointment, Add the Participant’s Name to the enrollment.
Waivers
Complete the waivers via the “sign our waiver” button at the bottom right of our webpage.
New waivers per participant are required each calendar year. If you have already completed waivers in the current calendar year you do not need to complete again when registering for additional programs for the same participant.
For 2024, your media consent is implied as a participant of any SMBA program or activity. If you do not wish to have your or your rider’s image used by SMBA, please send an email to info@stowemtb.com with the subject “No Media Consent.” For more information on our Media Consent Policy, click on the General Information tab.