Beginner's course 130411

I am sure that some people when booking a midweek day would anticipate a very small group, but as luck would have it 4 people booked the beginner's course this Wednesday. I'm saying luck as it turned out that everyone got on exceptionally well together, sharing crash stories and encouraging each other in all the events of the day. Some were more crash prone than others but everyone were very quick to put all the techniques into pracise, even simple ones as setting off on a climb! Lovely group to teach where everyone had their own personality but being equally wonderful to spend a day with!

 Saf had a great attitude and boundless enthusiasm and literally threw himself down some of the slopes, his development of skills only just keeping pace with his ambitions! Speed didn't frighten Saf so once we fine tuned his descending position making him put his weight a bit further back there was no stopping him!

 James and Nigel both took things slightly more cautiously and increased their speed and confidence as the day progressed, finding out that with the right techniques and body positions even quite difficult terrain feels easy to ride. Especially James had only limited experience of riding technical terrain, did very well even on the last big rooty drop off which he rode beautifully and in complete control, despite me being a little hesitant to let him have a go at first.

 Mark had done quite a bit of riding before and used the beginners course to brush up on the basics and confirm what he had been doing was correct and learn the theory behind these things. Mark had added on a private day the following day which we used for intermediate skills such as jumping off stuff, bunny hoping etc as well as doing a 33 km loop with nearly 1000m of climbing around the rockiest and ruttiest (hope that is the correct word for it!) terrain the Peak District has got to offer (and it is very rocky and rutty!!), this possible due to Mark's good fitness levels. By the end I think he had become immune to both rocks and ruts and nothing the Peak District could offer would make him bat an eyelid! Another great day with some great riding too.