Evangeline Leclair - Calgary/BraggCreek Instructor

With an extensive background in coaching elite girls basketball, coaching mountain biking fits well with Evangeline’s spontaneous and adventurous personality. So spontaneous in fact that a few years back she joined up with two brand new acquaintances on a bike-packing adventure from Spain to Morocco on a cheap, quickly purchased bike. She coaches mountain biking to be achieved as one would build a brick house: once one brick is set, then you can look to the next one. With a lot of guidance, dedication and practice Evangeline will help get you to build your own brick house! As a calculated risk taker, she will also impart her knowledge and experience with her students so they can not only increase their confidence but also grow their skillset safely. Join one of her classes this season in Calgary, you will not regret it!

When did you first start riding and how did you get into it?

I had my first mountain bike experience in 2013 while visiting my sister in Kimberley. She took me on some very green trails that were very fun yet terrifying at the time (many trails feel terrifying when you are a beginner!!). I instantly fell in love with the feeling it cultivated. I felt excited, scared, proud and wanting more!

If you were to describe your riding style in one word, what would it be?

Calculated risk taker

What’s the best thing about mtb for you?

Being on my bike is the only thing that makes me feel like a kid. I feel like the most authentic version of myself when I’m riding.

How long have you been coaching?

I’ve instructed mountain biking for one season. I started off my mtb coaching when my functional fitness coach requested that I take out members from her gym while it was closed during covid. After coaching my fellow gym members, I realized how much I loved watching people progress. I love seeing a student confidently conquer something that was terrifying when he first started.
Prior to that, I coached an elite junior girls basketball team for a couple years along with numerous basketball camps. I loved every moment of coaching, except cutting players. I am very grateful that no one will get cut from mountain biking!!
I was also the the clinical preceptor at my company for several years for the nuclear medicine students and was awarded preceptor of the year.

What’s unique about your coaching style?

There’s no pressure to improve quickly. I don’t expect students to go from 0 to 100. Mountain biking is like building a brick house. You can only set down each individual brick one at a time to slowly build a strong foundation. Once one brick is set, then you can add the next , and so one. With a lot of guidance, dedication and practice you’ll be a brick house!!! Nothing will take you down.

What makes you, you? What’s your best quirk? Fun Fact about you or story?

I’m spontaneous and adventurous and I’m not really afraid of much. I have been lucky enough to take a few year long sabbaticals from work. During my most recent one in 2018, I bought a one way ticket to Europe without a plan. Ended up in a hostel in Barcelona, met a few English bloakes from England. (One of them being the queen’s former butler). They invited me to join them on their bike packing adventure across Morocco. To their surprise I bought a cheap bike (equivalent to a CCM), and all the necessary bike packing gear, stored my other belongings and jumped on a 26hr ferry ride with them from Barcelona to Tangier. We rode for several days in all sorts of different weather, mainly cold rainy weather. We were taken in by friendly arabs, slept in rooms with families and livestock, ate freshly churned butter, camped in olive grooves, went to Hammons, and drank ALOT of morroccan mint tea.

Favourite trail?

so many…. Moby dick in valemount or SNow white and the seven wasps – Bootleg mountain, Kimbereley or the whole enchilada in moab.

What do you want your students to gain from your coaching/teaching?

I want my students to acquire a skillset that will increase their confidence and keep them safe.

What has been the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given or received in mountain biking or any other sport?

Look where you want to go, and People care less than you think. No one cares how fit or unfit you are. No one cares if you rode a certain feature or walked it. No one will remember what you’ve accomplished because the only one who care’s is you. That’s REALLY empowering.

Evangeline 2021 Schedule

Experienced Beginner