Bike Orientation Guide
Learn to Mtn Bike, become an instructor or just develop your skills!
Save when you plan ahead and purchase before arriving at the mountain! Many of our Lessons & Programs offer early booking savings. See the Rec Guide for details!
Click through to pages below for specific information.
Click through to pages below for specific information.
Bike Park Ability Levels
Find out your bike park riding level and discover what trails, lessons, or camps are best suited to you and make your experience in our bike park a memorable one.
Never-Ever / Beginner - First Time Riders
- No experience in a downhill (DH) mountain bike park.
- Limited mileage on city streets and paved bike paths.
- Little experience on a mountain bike and/or terrain such as dirt roads and man-made gravel bike trails.
- Average balance and control on a bike and can control the use of hand brakes.
- Limited to no experience in DH mountain bike parks.
- Some experience on green technical trails (easy gradient with roots and/or rocky terrain) and are able to ride comfortably at slower speeds. Very limited to no mileage in the Mt. Washington Bike Park.
- You are able to control your bike but you have challenges with roots, rocks, and/or narrow single track.
- Good balance and control on a bike and can control the use of hand brakes.
Suggested Lesson
- MTB Kids Camps (ages 7 to 12)
- Alpine Adventure Camp (ages 7 to 12)
- Learn to Ride (7+)
- Step Up (7+)
- Private Ride (all ages)
Suggested Trails / Areas
- Learning Centre courtyard
- Skills Park
- Greenline
- Panda Garden
- Hwy 19
LEVEL 1: Novice - Limited Experience
- Ridden a DH mountain bike park once or twice with very limited experience.
- Already a capable rider and may have taken a course before.
- Have a fair amount of experience riding XC but not as much DH.
- Can ride any green trails and some blue with confidence, although you occasionally find challenging sections.
- No jumping or drop experience but you can ride, balance, change gears and brake without thinking about it.
- Looking to learn how to drop and jump safely.
- Looking to improve your confidence for more technical trails, roots, and rocky sections.
Suggested Lesson
- FreeRide Camp (ages 7 to 12)
- Alpine Adventure Camp (ages 7 to 12)
- Step Up Ride (7+)
- For the Groms (ages 6-9)
- Private Ride (all ages)
- Guided Cross-country XC (all ages)
- Private Ride (all ages)
Suggested Trails / Areas
- Skills Park
- Greenline
- Hwy 19
- Finger Trail
- Panda Garden
LEVEL 2: Intermediate - Moderate Experience
- Comfortable on all green and blue technical and flowing trails with jumps and drops and can comfortably ride the blue wide flowing blue trails with rollers and easy jumps in the Mt. Washington Bike Park.
- Comfortable at slower speeds on technical blue trails with roots and loose rocks and tight single track.
- More experience on a XC Mountain bike than DH bike.
- Able to ride on green and blue trails with confidence.
- Comfortable on a variety of terrain including roots, rocks, and technical trail features.
- Ready to improve your style, get comfortable with steeper more technical trails, doing jumps/drops, and higher speed cornering.
- Limited jumping or drop experience.
Suggested Lesson
- FreeRide Program (7 to 12 years old)
- Alpine Adventure Camp 7-12
- Guided Cross-Country Ride
- Private Ride (all ages)
- For the Groms Guided Ride
- Jump and Drop Clinic
- Jump & Drop Clinic
Suggested Trails / Areas
- Skills Park
- Blue Hammer
- Hwy 19
- Call it In / Mix It Up
LEVEL 3: Advanced - Experienced Rider
- Can ride almost anything, from single track to downhill. You are confident at riding black trails and some double black, both technical and flow trails with jumps and drops.
- Can ride blue trails and some black XC or technical singletrack. Able to handle small drops, roots, rocks and steeper, descending terrain.
- Some jumping or drop experience.
- Able to ride smoothly, retain balance, change gears and brake comfortably at higher speeds and on steeper and rougher terrain.
- Working towards improving jump, drop and cornering skills to handle the harder blue and black flow trails.
- Looking to improve your jumping technique, drops, and being able to ride technical trails. You are interested in getting faster, more stylish, and discerning line selection.
Suggested Lesson
- Private Ride (all ages)
- Guided Cross-Country Ride
- FreeRide Program (7 to 12 years old)
- Guided Cross-Country Ride
- Private Ride (all ages)
- For the Groms Guided Ride
- Jump & Drop Clinic
Suggested Trails / Areas
- Skills Park
- Hwy 19
- Blue Hammer
- Call It In / Mix It Up
- Helter Skelter
- Time Warp
- The Wiz
- Back in Black (experts only)
- Monster Mile (experts only)
- Straight Shot (experts only)
Progression Guide
SAFETY Bikers Responsibility Code
POLICY INFORMATION
IMPORTANT Know Before You Go
Reservations are strongly encouraged. Please go online to mountwashington.ca for more info and call (250) 338-1386 ext 384, to speak with a lesson specialist and book. Class sizes are limited to ensure fun and safety.
Know before you go! Prepare to make the most of your time with us in the bike park.
- Allow a minimum of 45 mins between your arrival in the resort or departing your condo and the lesson start time (i.e. for a 12 pm lesson, plan to arrive by 11:15 am, especially on weekends).
- Even if you already have equipment we ask that you please check in with us in the bike shop. If you require a pass please visit the Ticket Windows outside of the Alpine Lodge.
- You are responsible for supervising your child (6+ years) prior to meeting the instructor under the white bike shop tent.
- Please be aware that all lessons start promptly at the scheduled start time regardless of weather conditions. There are no refunds for missed lessons.
- You are responsible for meeting your child under the white tent where you dropped off. Mount Washington is responsible for supervising your child during scheduled lesson times only. children will not be released on their own and you may be charged for additional care.
Knowing your reservation number will speed up the check-in process. If possible, please also have this handy upon arrival. Thanks for choosing to visit us at the Mount Washington Bike School! We look forward to welcoming you to the Bike Park.
Lesson Cancellation Policy
- All lessons must be paid in full at the time of booking.
- Lessons can be cancelled or rescheduled more than 48 hours in advance. Please call the Bike School at 250-338-1386 ext. 384 or email bikereservation@mountwashington.ca
- There are no refunds or changes allowed within 48 hours of the lesson time unless due to a medical issue or illness.
- No refunds will be issued due to weather conditions.
- Guests who are late for their lessons will not be able to join. We will do our best to rebook for later that day.
INSTRUCTIONS For Lesson Day
LESSON Cancelation Policy
Bike School
We highly recommend booking your lesson in advance to guarantee your spot. Our instructors book up quickly and can't always accommodate last-minute walk-in requests. email us at bikereservation@mountwashington.ca
Bike School Call Centre
1-888-231-1499 or email: bikereservation@mountwashington.ca
Contact Us
Mount Washington Alpine Resort
P.O. Box 3069, STN Main
Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 5N3
1-250-338-1386
Toll-Free: 1-888-231-1499
First Aid 1-250-334-5741
P.O. Box 3069, STN Main
Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 5N3
1-250-338-1386
Toll-Free: 1-888-231-1499
First Aid 1-250-334-5741
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