Level Description

Double track = two trails that run parallel to each other (also called a quad trail).

Single track = a narrow mountain bike trail that must be ridden single file.

1. Green

Beginner Without Experience: You want to learn to ride single track mountain bike trails while making new riding friends. You ride a road/urban bike and have some mileage on city streets and paved bike paths. On occasion, you have tried packed dirt and gravel double track trails and find these fun. You are keen to learn the fundamental skills of mountain biking, build confidence, and progress in a safe and encouraging environment.

Some of the trails you will ride in this class: Quarry Lake, Low Line, Fish Creek, Bowmont, Moonraker trails, CBT, Déjà vu, Johnson trails, Lois Creeks Trails, Happy Haus, Pilsit, Elephant Run, Juniper Lane, Home Run,

Programs: Intro to Mountain Biking – Beginner Weekly

2. Green / Blue

Beginner With Experience: You have started riding single track mountain bike trails and are gaining confidence on a mountain bike. You are comfortable on smooth mellow singletrack and can ride the all green and some blue trails in your area. While you ride in control, you are seeking to be more efficient in your climbing/descending, shifting, braking, and cornering so you can navigate more challenging terrain and small obstacles safely.

• Example of trails you can ride: Quarry Lake, Low Line, Fish Creek, Bowmont, Moonraker trails, CBT, Johnson trails, Lois network in Kimberley, Magic Line 1, Happy Hans Loop, Mike’s Loop, South Star
• Example Trails you will progress to: Pneuma (easier section of this trail that are considered blue), Merlin, Sugar Daddy, Snagmore, Ridgeback, Horseshoe, Low line, CBT, Moonraker, Arch Potential, Juniper Heights, Magic Line 1-2, RollerCoaster, Blake’s Single Track, Elephant Run

Programs: Experienced Beginner – Weekend or Weekly

3. Blue

Intermediate: You are a capable rider with a fair amount of experience on a mountain bike and/or have taken a course or two before. You are able to ride any green and most blue trails with confidence. You can climb and descend under control on moderately steep singletrack, are comfortable and confident rolling over small obstacles, and may have experimented with black trails. You occasionally find challenging sections, however you know when to walk a section that might be too difficult. You are looking to tackle these challenging sections, to increase confidence on challenging blue trails, and improve your skill through roots and rocky sections.

• Example trails you can ride: CBT, Mountain Shadow Blue trails,  Merlin, 727, Family Guys, Ridgeback, Juniper Heights, Arch potential, Johnson trails, Magic Line, Horseshoe, Montane, Lower Turkey, Ewok, Elephant Run, FiftySiz Twenty, FlowDown
• Example of trails that you are looking to conquer: Mighty Queen, Kobe, Highline, part of Horseshoe, part of Montane, Traverse, Kloosifier/Johnson, Race of Spade, SHAFT, Full ThunderTurkey, Shapeshifter, RollerCoaster, Tantrum, Loggin Leftovers

Programs: Intermediate Weekend or Weekly – Intro to Downhill – Intro to Drops & Jumps

4. Blue / Black

Strong Intermediate: You have taken lessons before and can ride almost anywhere. All green and blue trails are ridden with a high level of confidence and you feel comfortable riding some black runs. You are familiar and at ease on a variety of terrain including roots, rocks, and technical trail features. You are looking to up your game and improve your style, getting more comfortable with steeper trails, doing jumps and drops, high speed cornering. Skills you want to learn: Wheelies, Jumps, Drops, Speed, Steeper Terrain

Example trails you are capable to ride: 727, Family guys, Race of Spade, Prospector, Kloosifier, Blue Trails on Mountain Shadows, Flowdown, Loggin Leftovers, Fifty Six Twenty , Tantrum south

Example of trails that will take your skills up a notch: Jean Guy on the Rock, No homers, Terminator, Rock the Flume, LSD, Cliff Side, Super Happy Fun, Sex on The Beach, UFC, UpperBoondocker

Programs: Strong Intermediate/Maneuverer Level 1; Weekend or Weekly – Intro to Drops & Jumps – Level 1 Drops & Steeps

5. Black

Advanced: You are capable of riding almost anything, from single track to downhill. You are confident riding black trails and some double black. You have tried some jumps and small drops, and are comfortable on steeper technical terrain. You want to ride faster, be more stylish and more discerning in line selection to improve efficiency. Skills you are looking to learn and improve on: Steep climbs, Wheelies, Manual, Bunny hop, Nose, Medium Jump, and Medium Drop

Example trails you are capable to ride but still get challenge by: Prospector, Razor Edge, Jean Guy on the Rock, No homers, Hula Girl,

Example of trails that will challenge you: Razor Edge, Pioneer, Swan Donkies, No Respect,  TDub (features)

6. Black/Double Black

Advance/Expert: You have been mountain biking for a number of years and can ride very technical trails including jumps, drops and narrow elevated trail sections. You can confidently take on all types of terrain including sections with exposure and large natural/manmade features. You are eager to hit the mark with larger jumps and drops, to create finesse in your riding, and kill the steeps.

Example trails you are capable to ride : Razor Edge, Pioneer, T4, DeadDog, Skidmark

Example of trails that will offer challenges and to aim to: Rock N Roll 2, DeadDog, Skidmark, Crazy Train

FITNESS LEVEL 1

• Your work and lifestyle requires little movement or activity.
• You can ride up to half an hour on flat terrain at a time, and the thought of climbing on a bike is daunting.
• You exercise less than 1-hour per week.

FITNESS LEVEL 2

• You live a fairly sedentary life with little physical activity other than walking.
• You can handle a 1-hour bike ride on flat terrain at a relaxed pace.
• You can ride 1-day at a time then a day or two rest.
• Small, short hills are challenging to climb, but are sometimes manageable.
• You exercise on average 2-hour per week (including riding a mountain bike).

FITNESS LEVEL 3

• You are capable of 2-hours of pedal time in a day at a relaxed pace, as long as there are several breaks.
• Riding for multiple days in a row sounds daunting, but you could handle 2 or 3 days of it at no more than 2-hours of pedal time per day.
• You can handle one or two easy climbs of up to 150 vertical metres (330 ft.) total.
• You exercise on average 3-hours per week (including riding a mountain bike).

FITNESS LEVEL 4

• You are capable of riding for multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 2-hours of pedal time each day. You could handle adding in a day requiring up to 3-hours of pedal time.
• You are capable of climbing up to 200 vertical metres (650 ft.) in a day.
• You exercise on average 5-hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 5

• You are capable of riding for multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 2-3 hours of pedal time each day. You could handle adding a day requiring up to 4-hours of pedal time.
• You are confident climbing up to a total of 300 vertical metres (1,000 ft.) in a day.
• You exercise on average 6-7 hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 6

• You are capable of riding for multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours of pedal time each day. You could handle adding a day requiring up to 5-hours of pedal time.
• You can handle moderately steep climbs of up to a total of 500 vertical metres (1,650 ft.) in a day.
• You exercise on average 7-9 hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 7

• You are capable of riding for multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours of pedal time each day. You could handle adding a day requiring up to 5-hours of pedal time.
• You can handle moderate climbs up to 750 vertical metres (2,450 ft) total in a day.
• You exercise on average 8-10 hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 8

• You are capable of riding for multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours of pedal time each day. You could handle adding a day requiring up to 6-hours of pedal time.
• You have little trouble climbing 1,000 vertical metres (3,280 ft.) in a day on steep terrain.
• You exercise on average 8-12 hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 9

• You are capable of riding for multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours of pedal time each day. You could handle adding a day requiring up to 6-hours of pedal time.
• You can handle steep, sustained climbs of up to 1,500m (4,920 ft) in a day.
• You exercise over 12-hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

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