Mad March Racing - Private Coaching

I’m not a bad rider. I can get down most things without parting company with my bike - most of the time. I even I tried some downhill racing again this summer and I’m pleased to say it went ok. I even made the podium at one of the first races but I had no idea this would be the shining pinnacle of my race season. As the summer continued my riding improved and the speed built but somehow I only managed to hold my place in the ranks. There were still a few old boys who were just, well, faster. If only I could find a few seconds per run, I’d be chasing the win and not the podium. What to do? Phone a friend!

After talking to a few people it seemed all those who’d tried MMR coaching were raving about it, so I put it at the top of my ”to do” list.
Initially dubious about the cost of private coaching I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the prices on the MMR website: $150 for a 2-hour session at Squamish with $50 for each additional hour. After a couple of emails/calls, my session was booked.

Shaums March has been operating MMR for ten years now with customers ranging in ability from beginners to World Cup racers and geographically right across North America. His credentials as a World Cup downhill racer and twice Master World Champion certainly prove he has the skills to ride, but does he have the skills to teach? I would soon find out.


I pulled into Squamish a few minutes early to find Shaums waiting for me. After filling out the necessary paperwork we headed to a nearby park to assess the basics. Shaums had me ride in a straight line, through slow and fast corners and do some braking exercises. With my money burning away by the minute I wasn’t keen to stay too long at the park but I soon learned to trust Shaums’ judgment as he almost immediately spotted I was suffering from an old shoulder injury. He also diagnosed that I was putting too much weight on my arms – only slightly but enough he claimed to make a difference on the trail.

Freshly armed (no pun intended) with a couple of points to work on we headed up to the trails. Before dropping in I asked Shaums how fast I should go: “what ever is comfortable” came the reply. Moments later I found myself going flat out with Shaums just a few feet behind shouting instructions: “elbows out”, “turn in earlier”, “pedals level”. It was like that little voice inside your head – except this little voice was over 6ft of World Class racer and he wasn’t in my head!


Of course Shaums was right on with the adjustments he suggested. I spent the first lap getting used to the changes and trying to keep them all in my head. It’s amazing how difficult it is to think about your elbows, pedals, wrists and weight distribution when you’re trying to go fast down a trail you’ve never seen before – so much to think about! By lap 2 the changes had sunk in a little more and I started to get more of a feel for it. By this point Shaums and I were switching up the lead in each section of trail – the aim (I think) was to both show me how it should look and also to remove the added complication of line choice from my already overwhelmed grey matter. Things were certainly coming together. By the end of lap 2 I was feeling much more balanced and stable on my bike which was inspiring confidence and with it, speed! Yes! It was working! The proof of the pudding came right at the end of the second lap. I came into a rocky s-bend with way too much speed – or so I thought. As I saw how tight it was I surrendered to the notion that I’d soon be riding through the undergrowth! But I didn’t! To my surprise, amazement and elation, and by focusing on all the points Shaums had schooled me on I found myself ripping round the corner like a pro! Hmmm. Impressed I was.

On our final lap, Shaums took us back to the first trail again. This was a great idea as it enabled us both to compare my riding with the earlier lap. By this time I was feeling quite tired, so I felt that I wasn’t quite as fast as the first run, but of course with better technique I was able to go faster while expending less effort. This time I had the speed to air sections and obstacles that I’d rolled on the first pass. Shaums confirmed the speed increase saying that it was like “following a different rider” (some amongst you are no doubt thinking “he would say that wouldn’t he?!” - bah! cynics!). Once we’d finished riding, Shaums talked over the points with me once again to ensure I understood everything and to highlight what I should keep working on.


It’s been a few weeks now since my session with MMR and I’m still blown away by the improvement in my riding. I feel more balanced, more in control and so much more confident to go fast. It will come as no surprise to anyone who’s read this article that I’d thoroughly recommend MMR to anyone who wants to improve their riding. It’s great for racers but any rider will get a lot out of this. This is by far and away the most bang you can get for your biking buck. After all, there aren’t many bike components available for $150 that will give such a significant improvement in your riding.

We were shuttling ourselves so my session ended up being 4 hours but I would have got just as much out of 3 hours – I was just having too much fun to stop! A basic 2 hour session costs $150 with each additional hour another $50. MMR also offers a number of other packages including the option to share the cost with other riders on the session. Probably one of the best value for money packages is a two hour session at Whistler for $175; lift access would ensure the maximum time being coached and minimum shuttling. Equally, you could bring along a buddy to another riding spot to shuttle you for a regular 2 hour session.


Click here for more info on coaching options.

-Martin Newman

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