All photos courtesy "Angel Fire Bike Park."ANGEL FIRE, New Mexico (September 5, 2018) – One of the most popular women's mountain bike camps is returning to New Mexico. After 18 years of bringing "more skills more fun" to thousands of women across Western Canada and the US, the Trek Dirt Series will be bringing their two-day XC and DH skills camp to Angel Fire Bike Park on September 29-30, 2018. The Trek Dirt Series program has a history of sold-out camps, so it's best to register as soon as possible.
With a reputation for professional and confidence-inspiring instruction for riders of all levels, the Trek Dirt Series team is excited to return to teach on Angel Fire's legendary trails. The cooler temperatures and fall colors make it an ideal weekend for the local women's mountain bike community to hone their skills.
"The Trek Dirt Series program was created to give women a place to learn new mountain bike skills, build their confidence and connect with other women who are passionate about the sport," explains Patrick West, manager, Angel Fire Bike Park. "We are thrilled to bring this camp back for the second year. With the level of professionalism the program offers, it's a fantastic chance for women in our area to progress their mountain biking skills no matter whether they are a beginner, intermediate or advanced rider."
For Trek Dirt Series founder Candace Shadley, the skills imparted through the weekend clinics are only the beginning of what riders gain by attending.
"Participants come away with newfound confidence in their riding, and that confidence spills over into everyday life," says Shadley. "They see that they can learn something new, conquer their fears, and achieve things they didn't even think possible."
As mountain biking's longest-running skills program, Trek Dirt Series rolls into 15 different locations across the western US and Canada and offers their own custom-built progressive learning stunts, demo fleet, rental gear, gobs of swag, and enough coffee to fuel the masses to over 1300 women throughout the season. To ensure each rider gets a personalized experience, whether they're XC-oriented, downhill aficionados, first-timers, or folks who remember the days before suspension, the instructors begin their work long before rider check-in.
Professional staff from diverse backgrounds spend days doing trail reconnaissance and going through participant surveys, weighing individual skill levels along with desired experiences to create small peer groups of riders with similar aptitudes. Mornings are spent working on specific skills like front-wheel lifts and switchbacks, where techniques are broken down into step-by-step progressions that meet riders wherever they are. In the afternoons, groups put their skills to work on the trail under the tutelage of professional and enthusiastic coaches and assistants.
"This camp is truly for a variety of levels and interests. Whether you're new to the sport or the kind of person who's often in the role of helping others progress, we can create a program that will work just right for you. And whether you'd prefer to ride cross-country, downhill, or a combination of both, we'll tailor your skills and rides for the weekend that way," says Shadley.
Though the program's success is rooted in small group instruction, many women attending the camps aren't accustomed to riding with other females, let alone experiencing the feeling of being surrounded by more than 40 women of all ages and backgrounds who share a passion for dirt. While riders walk away with skills that are leaps and bounds above where they started, the real magic of the Dirt Series can be seen when the whole group gathers to share stories and camaraderie while devouring catered lunches, cheering for raffle prizes, and enjoying beers during evening bike maintenance clinics.
"The Trek Dirt Series is more than just a weekend," says Dee Lamberton, who participated many times in previous years. "It goes far beyond those two days. What I took away from every single weekend has improved my riding and boosted my confidence on the bike far beyond what I would have ever expected."
For more information onthe Trek Dirt Series camp in Angel Fire, and to register, visit http://www.dirtseries.com/angel-fire. For additional information on the program as a whole, including the entire season's schedule, visit www.dirtseries.com