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Video: Unleash Your Speed - Boosting Techniques for Faster Riding

Jul 5, 2023
by Christina Chappetta  

Sometimes when you've ridden a trail many times and have it memorized, it's hard to spot new places to have fun and different line choices. Christina Chappetta heads out on trail to talk about training the eyes to better spot trail gaps, and in turn gains some valuable speed as well.

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33 Comments
  • 59 1
 I'm great at the trail gaps on technical terrain. It's just finding my bike after that slows me down.
  • 3 0
 
  • 18 0
 @christinachappetta While I like reading about the latest tech and gears, what makes mountain biking awesome (to me anyway) is actually riding a bike so I appreciate these skills articles and videos. I'm old and I have no aspiration to do any crazy gap, but I feel learning to bump hop/gap over small obstacles has added an extra dimension/depth to my riding - I'm constantly finding new lines on familiar trails as my skills improve. The better I get, the more fun riding becomes. Nice job, hopefully this video inspires others to work on their skill set. Cheers!
  • 9 0
 Thank you! That was the intro I needed in the video haha very well said and I appreciate the feedback.
  • 6 0
 Two of my buddies took a few jumps and gaps lesson last year, I passed It improved their riding lots, until they each stuffed it with their newly acquired skills and are spending the next 6 weeks one with a banged up ankle the other with a broken hand. My gang has reached the age where maybe you look to slow down or maybe pass on "that" feature.
  • 10 0
 Oh goodness! Well wishes to them. Having broken my foot on a paved bike path.. I'd rather have done it catching air and actually riding my mtb haha but I am a tad smarter when it comes to trying new features than I used to be. Just a tad.
  • 10 0
 With great Send comes great responsibility. Your friends learned the Power but Sent too hastily.
  • 6 0
 Appreciate the video, Christina (and crew), thanks. I'm in year 2 of a return to MTB after a 14 year hiatus. Bikes AND trails have changed drastically while I was out! Tips in videos like this help me bridge the gap (yeah, I went there) and catch up on lost time. Cheers!
  • 2 0
 Ah too good, thanks for the pun. Stoked this one hit home for you. It's the little things that make a good ride even better. Welcome back!!
  • 4 0
 Great video. It challenges one to think about/view what may be familiar trails a bit differently. I find it really easy to get in a bit of a rut (terrible MTB pun) when it comes to riding my local trails (e.g., taking same lines etc.). I can see this approach/mindset spicing things up a bit in addition to putting another skill on the list of things to work on (which is a long and growing list it seems).
  • 3 0
 It's true, the skillset is never fully dialled and we can always improve. I do find myself getting distracted more on trails I know really well. I like the engagement of trying something new or just hitting different lines, even if they aren't always to go faster.
  • 2 0
 @christinachappetta: that's a really good point.
I've seen a few decent crashes where the less experienced rider 'relaxes' because the trail is boring to them, meanwhile others are boosting off of almost nothing and being 100% engaged. Not to mention dialing in skills with little to no serious consequence.
Good video Christina!
  • 2 0
 @BarryWalstead: It's so true..once I find myself thinking about dinner on a ride, I tell myself "think about biking when you're biking!" and less accidents happen.
  • 1 0
 @christinachappetta: nice meeting you at the top of Creekside this morning, I actually put your boost over some rough shit advice to use on Midgard this afternoon.
And thanks for the tips on trails, Del Boca Vista is a hoot!
  • 3 0
 One thing I do to scope new lines is walk up the trail instead of riding up the climb trail. Granted, it’s not always appropriate or safe on a busy trail but where it safe I’ve found it to be a great way to spot new lines without impacting your ride too much as it often takes a similar time. It really helps, Even on trails you know very well. It provides a Good chance to session something trickier on the way up as well. Every time I’ve done it I’ve posted a quicker time down my next full run and I’ve still managed to get to the top Relatively efficiently.
  • 2 0
 And I tend to really remember those features after sessioning a few times. Good tips and stay safe on the hike!
  • 2 0
 Excellent video Christina - as a former elite athlete and long time ski coach, I can really appreciate how this video is organized, edited, and presented. How you've split it into sections (vision, line, unweighting, lifting, multiple ways of approaching a feature, progression, focusing on jumping for this vid but also mentioning absorbing). There's alot going on and this stuff is complex (trail/feature variety, technique timing etc) you've explained it so well with terms that should be reasonably understood by the viewer. Seriously its impressive also how this is packed into only a 12 min video. Bravo!
  • 1 0
 Thank you! So tough sometimes because it's a can of worms when I dig into these topics. SO much to uncover that would take multiple private lessons with a coach to cover and practice, but at least with a video viewers can pause to understand and rewind if needed. Thanks for the kind words
  • 6 2
 Best intro
  • 2 0
 Thank you, simple but we had fun...
  • 1 0
 More of this, please. Less of feature articles on new thumbies.

@christinachappetta this is one of the best guides on doubles, will share. Thanks much.
  • 1 0
 Boosting isn't always faster but it's almost always more fun
  • 1 0
 I feel attacked
  • 1 0
 
  • 3 5
 Why'd she look like Kenny from south park at the beginning
  • 8 0
 How could you see me!?! I was in camo...
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