I.M.I.C. 2011 Instructors Schedule
The International Mountain Bike Instructor Certification (IMIC) brings a new standardized method of teaching to the mountain bike community and is leading the way for mountain bike instruction across the U.S. and Canada.
Squamish, British Columbia - As mountain biking continues to grow in popularity there has become an increasing need for individuals who are qualified to give lessons or lead groups on guided trail rides. The International Mountain Bike Instructor Certification (IMIC) is filling that need and taking mountain bike instruction to the next level by using proven methods and standardized guidelines to teach the fundamentals of mountain biking in a safe and effective manner. After completing five courses in 2010, we are pleased to announce five more courses for 2011.
April 1, 2, 3 Seattle, Washington
April 18, 19,20 Richmond, Virginia
April 29, 30, 1 Squamish, British Columbia
June 8, 9, 10 Brown County State Park, Indiana
June 13, 14, 15 Snowshoe, West Virginia
For information on custom events in North America and Europe, please contact info@beimic.com
For the past 15 years mountain bike instructors in Canada have been taught and certified through the Canadian Mountain Bike Instructor Certification (CMIC).
Established in 1995, the CMIC has become the leading mountain bike instructor training and certification program and the first of its kind to be recognized in the mountain bike industry. Since its inception it has taught mountain biking skills to over 4,000 individuals using proven methods and techniques developed over time by top mountain biking professionals.
In 2009, two-time World Masters Downhill Champion and CMIC Master Coach, Shaums March, acquired the CMIC program’s intellectual property and copyrights. Since then, March has expanded the course offerings and made them available outside of Canada, thereby establishing the International Mountain Bike Instructor Certification (IMIC). The IMIC builds on the same standardized theories and guidelines to now offer four (4) levels of certification: Ride Leader, Instructor, Coach and Master Coach. To obtain certification an individual will need to meet the requirements of the certification level, successfully complete the class, and pass both a written and practical test. For additional information on the IMIC program please visit www.beimic.com.
Squamish, British Columbia - As mountain biking continues to grow in popularity there has become an increasing need for individuals who are qualified to give lessons or lead groups on guided trail rides. The International Mountain Bike Instructor Certification (IMIC) is filling that need and taking mountain bike instruction to the next level by using proven methods and standardized guidelines to teach the fundamentals of mountain biking in a safe and effective manner. After completing five courses in 2010, we are pleased to announce five more courses for 2011.
April 1, 2, 3 Seattle, Washington
April 18, 19,20 Richmond, Virginia
April 29, 30, 1 Squamish, British Columbia
June 8, 9, 10 Brown County State Park, Indiana
June 13, 14, 15 Snowshoe, West Virginia
For information on custom events in North America and Europe, please contact info@beimic.com
For the past 15 years mountain bike instructors in Canada have been taught and certified through the Canadian Mountain Bike Instructor Certification (CMIC).
Established in 1995, the CMIC has become the leading mountain bike instructor training and certification program and the first of its kind to be recognized in the mountain bike industry. Since its inception it has taught mountain biking skills to over 4,000 individuals using proven methods and techniques developed over time by top mountain biking professionals.
In 2009, two-time World Masters Downhill Champion and CMIC Master Coach, Shaums March, acquired the CMIC program’s intellectual property and copyrights. Since then, March has expanded the course offerings and made them available outside of Canada, thereby establishing the International Mountain Bike Instructor Certification (IMIC). The IMIC builds on the same standardized theories and guidelines to now offer four (4) levels of certification: Ride Leader, Instructor, Coach and Master Coach. To obtain certification an individual will need to meet the requirements of the certification level, successfully complete the class, and pass both a written and practical test. For additional information on the IMIC program please visit www.beimic.com.
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I think the guys at PMBI did over 20 courses last year and train many of the staff of other bike parks and leading mtb camps... to say they are starting a new standardized method for teaching mountain biking is a little hard to believe since others have been leading the way for a while now! It's great IMIC are trying to do their thing, but they need to realize what they are trying to do and saying they are doing, has already been done by the PMBI Courses and the Whistler Bike Park Courses!! CMIC training people for the last 15 years??! I don't think so! Especially as they haven't been around since at least 2006. The statements in this article don't seem to add up to what's actually happening in the instructor training industry at all!
How can one company claim 'standard' without working with other groups?
No discredit, only praise, to PMBI, IMIC and WB, good to see the drive to grow the sport!
There are lots of options for training but please, let's all get together and work as one! Don't worry about the size of the slice of pie, let's make bigger pies!
DB@EB
Anyway - CMIC/IMIC aren't really "leading the way" in terms of introducing a standardised teaching methodology - in fact that's exactly what Zep Techniques "led the way" with, with the PMBI qualification (www.professionalmountainbikeinstructor.com ), and the 5 courses IMIC ran last year were somewhat outnumbered by the 25+ PMBI courses run across North America last year. I understand (and really like) the idea of standardising teaching methods/qualifications, but introducing yet another one (using IP from a company that went under about 5 years ago) actually works against its own ideology in this case!
PMBI is already very widely recognised and accepted, by locations including Whistler, Panorama, Kicking Horse, Sun Peaks, Idaho, Utah yadda yadda, and to try to basically talk over the top of that seems somewhat self-defeating. In fact, the whole reason PMBI was created was because CMIC, whilst well-intended, wasn't up to scratch and went under due to lack of widespread recognition. It has also been founded on a very similar base to the CASI/CSIA standards, which are globally renowned for ski and snowboard teaching, and comes from a teaching/instruction background much moreso than a world cup racing background (no disrespect to Shaums March intended!), in fact IIRC, Paul from Zep is or was actually the head snowboard trainer in North America's biggest ski resort... says something about his understanding of teaching standards.
"ZEPtechniques hopes to establish the industry standard for the training of mountain bike instructors with their PMBI courses, believing that a professional instructor should be able to do more than just tell someone how to ride better."
So, everyones trying to achieve the same common goal.. but there is still no one globaly/nationally/even provincially recognized.
www.pinkbike.com/news/ZEPtechniques.html
Sure Pauls done a great job and run a number of courses and presumably had many riders who've improve their teaching ability.
Don't forget that the PMBI stll requires WB's course to fulfill their DH component as you still NEED WB's DH course taught and assessed by Johnston to be able to guide the park.
Comment from 2006
caradock (Oct 14, 2006 at 9:34)
I think that for a true standard to be delevloped it needs to be done in conjunction with a committee of coaches and athletes all working together, and the National associtations. It is a crazy idea to think that one or two people can create the standards on their own. To be a true standard it needs to be created by a collaborative effort of experts and professionals who crtically discuss each teaching point before they vote on teh standards. It is not complete or correct if one or two people try to do it on their own. Good idea though.
Still holds true 4 1/2 years later.... but opposed to caradocks comment in this thread, what he suggested in 2006 hasn't yet happened.
WB recognises PMBI Level 1 but not Level 2 (without their own level 2) if I recall correctly, because their insurance dictates that they assess anyone working within the park internally (Paul knows this, he works for WB as the head snowboard trainer in the winter!). It's not an issue of coaching quality - in fact having personally seen many of the WB coaches/guides in action over the past two seasons... compared to ZEP, a lot of them are certainly not delivering the same quality of instruction. Regardless, it is undeniable that as it stands, there is more industry buy-in to the PMBI standard than CMIC. Unfortunately there isn't really one governing body who has the authority to arbitrarily grant legitimacy to one standard or another - the UCI would be the closest thing but as far as I'm aware, they don't get involved in that, or at least haven't so far.
I believe the biggest benefit of Zep's approach however lies not in the push to standardise coaching (which is a necessity and will eventually happen somehow I'm sure) but the fact that they invest in skill-based teaching rather than the maneuver-based teaching that pretty well everyone else uses.
It will be interesting to see how it all pans out in the next few years. I suspect there will probably be some initial hostility/competition between the rival companies and their respective methodologies, that will probably end up in cooperation and amalgamation at some point down the track. I do really hope that the best standards of instruction and instructor training shine through though, rather than whatever gets marketed most loudly.
For the record, Endless Biking is totally interested in combing forces to work together. We always have been committed to this and we'll continue to work towards this goal.
Great to see the sport growing!
DB@EB
I know from personal experience that the PMBI courses offered my Paul from Zep Techniques are of the highest quality and standard. His courses are on par with the likes of CASI (Canadian standard for snowboard instruction) and the CSIA (standard for skiing). You would be hard pressed to find something more comprehensive or professional. PMBI is the chosen standard for instructors at the Kicking Horse Bike Park.
If you are interested in obtaining certification please be sure to review all of your options.
Only NCCP throughought Canada.. but thats a start as I think it would need national application before you could go international.
Bear in mind that there is already the SMBL standard and the French have their own issues going on.
So, to try and persuade the NCCP that they need new school industry help with redefining their program is another matter.
Having done NCCP.. again, as above, its just another useful tool in yoru guiding/instructor tool kit... although needed for working with Kids programs in Canada I think?!
I believe Endless have trained WORCA's kids programs coaches... making Endless's program the only one recognised by WORCA. So, that puts them a the top of the current stae of affairs in terms of program recognition/adoption?
Doing ALL of these courses is the best way to become the best instructor you can.. but sadly there's not enough money in being a 'professional coach' to warrant the time and money for each and every course out there.. you pays yoru money, you take your choice.. just chose whichever serves you best for the job you want!
FWIW, the BEST coaches I've come across haven't done Endless, PMBI or IMIC courses.. they are just solid riders with a passion for teaching people and helping other get enjoyment from the sport they love.
People could do all the courses in the world.. but if they're not a personable individual who loves to share their knowledge, NONE of these courses will do a thing to help
Radke and Johnston have spent years developing their course and coaching techniques to meet their own operational needs and liability. Whistler Blackcomb won't give up controlling who qualifies to guide/coah on their bike park,.
Sure Shaums's program is likely very good and he has some awesome guys working with him here in BC (e.g Mark Bunyan) but both MMR and another awesome company with a great coac coaching program Endless Biking also still need to satisfy Whistlers coaching certification to be able to host their own guests on the bike park!
Great that we are getting formal coaching back, but until MMR, Endless, WB and NCCP combine their programs to create ONE certification mutually agreeable program, each one can simply be considered just another tool in your coaching tool kit with ONLY the WB program actually required to work.
Once we truly have an internationally recognised program.. pick whichever you need to get the job you want!
For the record, Endless Biking is totally interested in combing forces to work together. We always have been committed to this and we'll continue to work towards this goal.
Great to see the sport growing!
DB@EB