The Beginner Mountain Bike Clinics are part of the Loppet Foundation’s Trail Kids year-round programming.
These clinics are designed for youth ages 7-13 who have no experience riding single track trails (for programming for 13 and older, check out LCW Juniors programs). If you are new to the Trail Kids program, these clinics are highly suggested before taking one of the six-week evening sessions. Mountain bike clinics will be held primarily on open grassy areas with some single track riding at the end of each session. During clinic practices, participants will be coached by trained Loppet Trail Kids coaches on a variety of mountain bike skills, so they can become safe and confident riders. Fundamental Skills include:
- Ready/neutral position for descending hills
- Side/Side bike body separation
- Pedaling/shifting efficiently
- Controlling speed and braking safely
- Cornering confidently
- Handling obstacles and rocky terrain
- Riding with vision
- Ratcheting
Participants will be tested at the end of the session on different bike skills and will be able to move up in levels if they progress through additional tests throughout the season. For a full description of our mountain bike skill level progression, view the Trail Kids MTB Skill Level Guide.
Equipment/Bike Rental
Equipment Needed: All participants will need their own mountain bike, helmet, and water carrier. Bikes need to have both front and back wheel brakes on the handle bars (no peddle brakes or kickstands allowed). Tires must have tread and be wide enough to ride safely on mountain bike trails. For more on mountain bike equipment, view the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide.
Loppet Bike Rentals: Trail Kids has a limited mountain bike rental fleet for those who do not have one for an additional fee of $30. If you need to rent a bike, make sure to select this add-on when you register (as supplies last).
Registration Information
Lottery Registration *New for 2023*
Due to increasing participant demand and our desire for a more equitable registration process, Trail Kids has moved to a lottery registration system. The Lottery registration window for Clinic 1 and 2 will be open from January 16, 2023 at 9am. Lottery selection will take place on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 9am. You can submit your registration entry any time within this window. Selected participants will be automatically notified on February 14 at 9am and you’ll have 48 hours to accept the spot and complete the registration process. Good news! Once lottery selections are complete, the participants not selected will be automatically added to a waitlist, and you’ll be notified right away if a spot has opened up for you. While the initial lottery selection took place on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, the automated system will continue to pull participant names from the waitlist lottery as spaces become available.
Registration FAQs: For answers to many common registration questions please visit our Registration FAQ page
2023 Beginner MTB Clinic Dates
Mountain Bike Beginner Clinic 1 – Wednesdays
- Dates: May 31, June 7, June 14, 2023
- Days/Time: Wednesday 5:30 PM – 7 PM
- Location: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
- Cost: $75
- Rental Bike Add On: $30 (limited stock, rental bike add-on NOT guaranteed)
- Equipment needed: Mountain bike, helmet, and water bottle carrier *must meet guidelines in the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide
Mountain Bike Beginner Clinic 1 – Early Thursdays
- Dates: June 1, June 8, June 15, 2023
- Days/Time: Thursday 4 PM – 5:30 PM
- Location: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
- Cost: $75
- Rental Bike Add On: $30 (limited stock, rental bike add-on NOT guaranteed)
- Equipment needed: Mountain bike, helmet, and water bottle carrier *must meet guidelines in the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide
Mountain Bike Beginner Clinic 1 – Late Thursdays
- Dates: June 1, June 8, June 15 5, 2023
- Days/Time: Thursday 5:30 PM – 7 PM
- Location: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
- Cost: $75
- Rental Bike Add On: $30 (limited stock, rental bike add-on NOT guaranteed)
- Equipment needed: Mountain bike, helmet, and water bottle carrier *must meet guidelines in the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide
Mountain Bike Beginner Clinic 2 – Wednesdays
- Dates: July 26, August 2, August 9, 2023
- Days/Time: Wednesday 5:30 PM – 7 PM
- Location: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
- Cost: $75
- Rental Bike Add On: $30 (limited stock, rental bike add-on NOT guaranteed)
- Equipment needed: Mountain bike, helmet, and water bottle carrier *must meet guidelines in the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide
Mountain Bike Beginner Clinic 2 – Thursdays
- Dates: July 27, August 3, August 10, 2023
- Days/Time: Thursday 4 PM – 5:30 PM
- Location: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
- Cost: $75
- Rental Bike Add On: $30 (limited stock, rental bike add-on NOT guaranteed)
- Equipment needed: Mountain bike, helmet, and water bottle carrier *must meet guidelines in the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide
Mountain Bike Beginner Clinic 3 – Thursdays
- Dates: September 7, September 14, September 21
- Days/Time: Thursday 5:30 PM – 7 PM
- Location: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
- Cost: $75
- Rental Bike Add On: $30 (limited stock, rental bike add-on NOT guaranteed)
- Equipment needed: Mountain bike, helmet, and water bottle carrier *must meet guidelines in the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide
Mountain Bike Beginner Clinic 3 – Saturdays
- Dates: September 9, September 16, September 23
- Days/Time: Saturdays 9 AM – 10:30 AM
- Location: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
- Cost: $75
- Rental Bike Add On: $30 (limited stock, rental bike add-on NOT guaranteed)
- Equipment needed: Mountain bike, helmet, and water bottle carrier *must meet guidelines in the Trail Kids MTB Equipment Guide
Payment & Financial Assistance Information
Ability Guide
Registration based on ability: All participants who attend the program must be able to ride their bikes safely on paved paths. When registering your child make sure to indicate their ability level as described in the Mountain Bike Ability Registration Guide.
Financial Assistance and Sibling Discounts
Financial Assistance: Trail Kids provides financial assistance for those in need, up to 100% of the registration cost. To apply, please fill out our Trail Kids Financial Assistance Application. We will follow up with you with instructions on how to register at a price that is manageable for your family. Applications for programs that start two weeks or less from the date of submission will not be approved.
Sibling Discount: For those families who have three or more kids in the program we will given a fifteen percent discount code. Please email trailkids@loppet.org for more information.
Refund Policy
Program Session Changes: Due to the high demand of our programs we cannot change registered participants into different sessions. Please keep this in mind when you register for our programs!
The Loppet will issue a full refund of the program fee minus the original processing fee up until 6 weeks before the program starts. Between 6 weeks and 4 weeks from the program start date, a 50% refund will be issued. Between 4 and 3 weeks from the program start date, a 25% refund will be issued. There are no refunds for any cancellations within less than 3 weeks of the start of a program. During the program, if your child has a medical issue that makes it impossible to participate, we will issue a prorated refund minus the processing fee. If the Loppet cancels a program, a full refund will be issued. For instructions on how to request a refund, click here.