Skills Assessment

BEGINNER

Expected Bike Skills

• Average balance and control on a bike
• Can control the use of hand brakes

Cross Country MTB and/or Bike Park Experience Experience

• Limited mileage on city streets and paved bike paths with a road and/or urban bike  
• Little experience on a mountain bike on terrain such as dirt roads and man-made gravel bike trails

AND/OR

• No experience in a downhill mountain bike park

 Suggested Programs: FYR, Private Lesson, or Summer Ride

 

NOVICE

 Expected Bike Handling Skills

• “Beginner” Bike Handling Skills listed above plus-
• Good balance and control on a bike
• Can control the use of hand brakes

 Cross Country MTB Experience

• Some experience on green technical XC trails (ie: easy gradient with roots and/or rocky terrain)
• Limited mileage on a XC mountain bike

AND/OR Bike Park Experience

• Limited experience in downhill mountain bike parks  
• Able to ride comfortably at slower speeds on Green Freeride/Flow (Small) trails similar to Freedom Trail 
• Very limited experience at Highland

 Suggested Programs: FYR, Private Lesson, Kids Camp, Summer Ride 

 

INTERMEDIATE

 Expected Bike Handling Skills

• “Novice” Bike Handling Skills listed above plus-
• No jumping or drop experience
• Can ride, balance, change gears and brake without thinking about it.

 Cross Country MTB Experience

• Comfortable at slower speeds on Blue Technical (Intermediate) trails with roots/ loose rocks & tight single track
• More experience on a XC mountain bike than DH bike

AND/OR Bike Park Experience

• 5-10 days of bike park experience on green and easy blue trails
• Looking to learn how to drop and jump safely

 Suggested Programs: FYR, Private Lesson, Kids Camp, Summer Ride, or Ayr Academy

 

STRONG INTERMEDIATE

 Expected Bike Handling Skills

• “Intermediate” Bike Handling Skills listed above plus-
• Limited jumping or drop experience
• Can ride, balance, change gears, and brake without thinking about it at higher speeds and on steeper terrain.

 Cross Country MTB Experience

• Can ride all Blue XC (More Difficult) trails & some Black Technical XC (Most Difficult) trails
• Able to handle small drops, roots, rocks, and steeper, descending terrain

AND/OR Bike Park Experience

• Comfortable on all Green (Easier/Small) & Blue (More Difficult/Medium) Technical & Freeride/ Flow trails at Highland  
• Can comfortably ride wide Blue Freeride/Flow (Medium) trails with rollers & easy jumps
• Focused on improving jump, drop, & cornering skills to handle harder Blue Freeride/ Flow trails
• Experience riding on elevated wooden features 

 Suggested Programs: Private Lesson, Summer Ride, or Ayr Academy

 

ADVANCED

 Expected Bike Handling Skills

• “Strong Intermediate” Bike Handling Skills listed above plus-

• Jumping or drop experience
• Able to ride smoothly, retain balance, change gears, and brake comfortably at higher speeds and on steeper and rougher terrain.

 Cross Country MTB Experience

• Comfortable on all Blue Technical XC and Flow/Freeride trails with jumps and drops
• Has significant mileage on Black Technical (Most Difficult) trails & Freeride/Flow (Large) trails with jumps and drops.

AND/OR Bike Park Experience

• Comfortable on all Blue Technical (More Difficult) trails & Freeride/Flow (Medium) trails with jumps and drops. 
• Spent significant time on Black Technical (Most Difficult) trails & Freeride/ Flow (Large) Freeride/Flow trails with jumps & drops. 
• Working on improving technique on Black (Large) jump & drop features.

 Suggested Programs: Ayr Academy

 

EXPERT

 Expected Bike Handling Skills

• “Advanced” Bike Handling Skills plus-
• Regular jumping or drop experience. Can ride smoothly, maintain balance, change gears, and brake without thinking about it at high speeds and on steeper/ rougher terrain.  

Cross Country MTB and/or Bike Park Experience

• Might not ride XC or trail at all due to commitment to riding downhill
• Mileage & skills will usually be high with all trails being ridden confidently & quickly.

• Significant time spent &  proficient on all Black Technical (Most Difficult) trails and Freeride/Flow (Large) trails with jump/drop trails. 
• Working on gaining experience on Double-Black Technical (Extremely Difficult) trails and Claymore Slopestyle Course.

 Suggested Programs: Ayr Academy