IMBA Instructor Certification Program Ups Options and Support for 2017
The International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) Instructor Certification Program has opened registration for a portion of its 2017 course schedule, offering dozens of training options across the country. The ICP plans to roll out new training opportunities this year including Level 2 Recertification and a revamped Level 3 Certification with additional skills: pumping, jumping and berm cornering.
“We’ve accomplished so much in these first four years of the program yet have much more we want to offer and keep this momentum going!” said Tammy Donahugh, IMBA Instructor Certification Program Manager.
IMBA’s Instructor Certification Program offers professional training and certification for individuals who lead group rides or teach mountain bike skills clinics. Building on proven, successful methods nearly two decades in development, the program has been establishing the national standard in mountain bike instructor certification whilst creating a visible and accessible network of instructors. While it is common place in many sports for a beginner to start by taking lessons, that is not yet standard in mountain biking. A growing network of instructors is now reaching new riders with the skills and safety knowledge needed to have a great mountain biking experience.
IMBA’s Instructor Trainers are comprised of current and former professional racers and coaches in various off-road disciplines who are long-time advocates for mountain biking.
Fox Racing, Five Ten and REI are the key program sponsors in 2017. These brands understand that certified instructors play an important role in bringing new riders into the community. Fox Racing and Five Ten keep Instructor Trainers outfitted and support new instructors, while REI will host over twenty courses through their regional markets this year.
Courses are offered year-round with three levels of certification:
Level 1 Certification: A twenty-hour course that certifies an individual to guide rides and perform fundamental skills analysis with a high level of competence. This course focuses on group and risk management including an introductory to skills instruction.
Level 2 Certification: A thirty-hour course that certifies an individual to teach intermediate mountain bike skills. Skills covered include body position, braking, shifting, climbing, descending, bike/body separation, wheel lifts and much more.
Level 3 Certification: A thirty-hour course that certifies an individual to teach advanced mountain bike skills. Skills covered include bunny hops, drops, high speed cornering, pumping, jumping and more.
See the full schedule here. Courses and dates will continue to be added, including Level 3 courses.
imba.com/icp/schedule
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Squamish, BC, Canada
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Also, getting every one on the same page may be harder than you think... it will take all of us to fight the "us and them" mentality so let's keep an open mind and share the shred!
@bikeholme is bang on though! It's not about one way being better than another, but more being able to set a high standard of instruction, technique and terminology that can be somewhat uniform in the industry. All the while keeping the fun, progression and passion at the core of it all!
Check out the quick presser on the partnership here:
www.imbacanada.com/news/imba-canada-announces-partnership-professional-mountain-bike-instructor-association
Cheers!
I also have a friend who is an IMBA instructor (certified a few years ago) and we were just trying to compare and contrast programs and thought they were vastly different. I hope the partnership helps level things out for everyone,because let's face it, more well educated riders is better for everyone.
I've helped build trail with and without IMBA guidelines in place--my original comment was more of a dig on some of their silly rules in general. I give them a lot of respect for what they have done up until recent years for the sport, but it really appears to me that their path is wandering a bit as of late. That said, I'm all for people learning bike handling skills, from whatever outlet is available to them. Progression is half the fun!
Much of IMBA's curriculum seems to be cased on Shaums March's methodology. Living in Bellingham, I've been able to take a number of classes with Shaums and some of his staff, and whatever you may think about IMBA's trail building efforts (personally, I think you are giving them a little too much grief there...), the methodology is solid. The skills are broken down neatly and taught with amazing clarity. I've experienced a huge progression in my own riding, and I've seen huge progression in just about everyone participating in those classes. From a coaching standpoint, that program is rock solid - and his coaches (whom he trained using that methodology) are consistently awesome as well.
And the whole idea of making MTB instruction something that's widely available, and something that's a bit standardized - well, that's worked out very well for skiing, for example. And given how many people get frustrated and stop progressing because they dabble, they get hurt a few times, etc., there's definitely a need for it. This way, if someone tells me they want to get into riding, I can take them on an easy ride, show them some things I like to ride (and why they're fun), and then send them to take a class with Shaums or his coaches (and know they'll have a good time, make progress, and not be held back by my not-very-useful pointers).