Flight School - Information

For 1 - 6 riders        From £40 per rider for a Day, £25 for half a day

The progression from Nail It! this course takes the intermediate airborne specific skills developed onto larger jumps and combinations and begins development of transfer techniques, and getting more air.

Who are you?

You are an intermediate rider comfortable riding red trails at speed, and launching off most drop-offs. You have been getting air from rollers and drop-offs, but want to build your confidence, get more air, and gain more control, especially on landing. You'd like to begin developing alternative strategies to different kinds of jumps too.

what are you riding?

You're probably riding a trail bike, hard-tail, or a full-suspension bike. You have around 120mm travel in your fork, maybe more, and it is a quality fork with a reasonable level of adjustability. You have effective brakes.

where will we be riding?

We'll be riding mostly in a skills park or trail centre. Reasonably Local for a half day, or perhaps somewhere with more facilities for progression for a whole day. We will be concentrating on jumping throughout the session so will be fairly static within an area, although for a whole day session we may well finish on a trail that allows us to use our new found jumping skills on the trail. Beecraigs, Cambusbarron, Glentress, Carron Valley

how physical will it be?

Much of the session will be spent concentrating on short sections of trail with the specific set of jumps that we're concentrating on. However, there will be a lot of repetition so you will be working quite hard - jumping is a whole body skill, so it will be a good workout. We won't be travelling much so no great height gain or distance will be travelled.

how technical will the riding be?

We'll progress with your comfort levels. The technical input into your technique will increase, but the technicality of the riding will be fairly basic throughout. If you are on a whole day there may be some technical elements to trails ridden later on, but not likely anything over a few red sections.

what do you need to bring?

  • Helmet- in good condition under 3 years old - Trail or Full face, your choice
  • Knee and hand protection (compulsory)
  • Elbow and leg protection (Recommended)
  • Bike - in good repair - ideally with flat pedals (get in touch if you need to rent)
  • Small personal first aid Kit
  • Food and Water enough for the session
  • Appropriate clothing for the weather forecast
  • Small repair kit:
    • Pump
    • Spare tube (even if you are tubeless)
    • Tubeless repair kit (if you're running tubeless)
    • Small multi-tool
    • Spare Chain link or two
    • Spare rear derailleur hanger specific to your bike
    • shock pump

session specific content

We'll start with a brief kit check, and then go into a brief bike check, then look at the following:

  • Body Position - revision
  • Foot position
  • Bike set-up, suspension set-up and its effects
  • Pumping revision
  • Jumping straightforward skills
  • Slowing it down - jumping from slow speed
  • Gaining height (adding a manual or bunny hop)
  • Changing direction
  • Larger jumps and trains
  • Transfers

By the end of the session, riders should be jumping higher than previously with more confidence. Their landings should be more controlled, and they should have an increased ability to pick their landing spot better, change direction and take control of their flight - they should leave riding trail looking for opportunities for air more often,  and getting it.

A whole day session will involve changing trail and utilising the skills coached in a new environment, with some guided riding.