I do realize that unisex clinics exist, but I've just realized mine have all been women's clinics -
I did a few evening sessions with Luna Chix (Luna Bar MTB team) back when they did free clinics in south Boulder (I don't think they still do that?) - that was really cool. I remember asking how to deal with the square red rock on the inside corner of this one particular turn - instructor said, "I don't know what rock you're talking about, but I do know that if you can describe it that well, you're spending way too much time looking at it instead of looking forward!"
A one-day lesson with two other women at White Ranch with a pro rider for Cannondale. Her husband patched me up during the clinic when I insisted on re-riding a particular section until I finally nailed it. My skin was ribbons on forearm and hip. Still have the scar below my elbow. We became friendly with the husband - when someone backed over my bike, he talked to the insurance adjuster and explained why we could not be sure the frame wasn't cracked, so that it was declared totaled.
Two Dirt Series weekend clinics, 2011 and 2012. These were at Winter Park - in the morning we all did skills together, then in the afternoon the lift-serviced and XC groups split up. I did lift-serviced. Tracy Moseley (!) showed me how to better arrange the shifters and levers on my handlebar so they would work well for MY hands. Unfortunately, the Trek Series lesson plan - morning drills, afternoon rides - didn't play well with the typical afternoon monsoons that time of year, which I assume is why they no longer do Winter Park.
I have some great memories from the Dirt Series. They bring their own obstacles so that everything is standardized with progressions. I rode a teeter-totter - several times - the last time going too fast and launching off it while it was still in the air! I successfully rode an elevated (few inches) wooden bridge with a bend in it - that's the lesson in which I learned to pay attention to where my rear wheel was tracking. On the actual trails, I rode a rainbow feature that felt near-vertical (photos prove otherwise).
I also did a Gravity Goddess weekend at Trestle/Winter Park, except I was the only student to show up. I got a private lesson the first day, which was great (although man I am so bad at timing jumps. So bad), but the second day they grouped me with two teenage boys. I understood the financial reasons, but you can well imagine that they did not have my issues with timing jumps, and between being mentally drained already from the previous day and then having to deal with two teenage boys instinctively doing what I'd spent more than a day trying to learn - I split off and rode for fun with a friend I saw in line.
Honestly, I don't know why I haven't done more clinics. Just like skiing, I always learn a lot. Laziness, I guess. That and self-consciousness about how slowly I climb.
Looking forward to Dirt Series in Park City in a month! Sadly, despite several great bike parks in the area, they don't do lift-serviced for the clinic.
I did a few evening sessions with Luna Chix (Luna Bar MTB team) back when they did free clinics in south Boulder (I don't think they still do that?) - that was really cool. I remember asking how to deal with the square red rock on the inside corner of this one particular turn - instructor said, "I don't know what rock you're talking about, but I do know that if you can describe it that well, you're spending way too much time looking at it instead of looking forward!"
A one-day lesson with two other women at White Ranch with a pro rider for Cannondale. Her husband patched me up during the clinic when I insisted on re-riding a particular section until I finally nailed it. My skin was ribbons on forearm and hip. Still have the scar below my elbow. We became friendly with the husband - when someone backed over my bike, he talked to the insurance adjuster and explained why we could not be sure the frame wasn't cracked, so that it was declared totaled.
Two Dirt Series weekend clinics, 2011 and 2012. These were at Winter Park - in the morning we all did skills together, then in the afternoon the lift-serviced and XC groups split up. I did lift-serviced. Tracy Moseley (!) showed me how to better arrange the shifters and levers on my handlebar so they would work well for MY hands. Unfortunately, the Trek Series lesson plan - morning drills, afternoon rides - didn't play well with the typical afternoon monsoons that time of year, which I assume is why they no longer do Winter Park.
I have some great memories from the Dirt Series. They bring their own obstacles so that everything is standardized with progressions. I rode a teeter-totter - several times - the last time going too fast and launching off it while it was still in the air! I successfully rode an elevated (few inches) wooden bridge with a bend in it - that's the lesson in which I learned to pay attention to where my rear wheel was tracking. On the actual trails, I rode a rainbow feature that felt near-vertical (photos prove otherwise).
I also did a Gravity Goddess weekend at Trestle/Winter Park, except I was the only student to show up. I got a private lesson the first day, which was great (although man I am so bad at timing jumps. So bad), but the second day they grouped me with two teenage boys. I understood the financial reasons, but you can well imagine that they did not have my issues with timing jumps, and between being mentally drained already from the previous day and then having to deal with two teenage boys instinctively doing what I'd spent more than a day trying to learn - I split off and rode for fun with a friend I saw in line.
Honestly, I don't know why I haven't done more clinics. Just like skiing, I always learn a lot. Laziness, I guess. That and self-consciousness about how slowly I climb.
Looking forward to Dirt Series in Park City in a month! Sadly, despite several great bike parks in the area, they don't do lift-serviced for the clinic.
