Mountain Bike Summer Camps

Our camps are tailored to different age and ability riders by location:

• DuPont State Park is the best location for younger (age 9-14) or less experienced riders. We ride mostly green and blue rated trails. We pedal loops mostly but also have the option to occasionally shuttle campers for an altitude bump. Riders need to already be competent mountain bikers, able to ride their bike, use the brakes, shift gears, and have at least some experience riding trails.

• Rocky Knob Bike Park near Boone is better for slightly older (10-15yo) riders with more intermediate level experience. There are lots of green, blue, and black rated trails there with jumps, tech, and flow. All require a fair amount of climbing to access. The paved pump track there is also camper favorite! Riders need to already be fairly comfortable on a mountain bike and capable of climbing 500ft or more of elevation on rides.

• Beech Mountain Resort is our most advanced camp for older youth riders (age 12-17). Held at the chairlift access downhill park, the trails at Beech range from blue to black rated jump, flow, and tech trails. This is the best camp for the avid shredder of your family who likes downhill!

Camp runs 9:30am-3:30pm each day. DropOff is from 9-9:30am and PickUp is from 3:30-4pm.

Each day, MTB Skills Factory staff will greet you at the DropOff to “check in” your rider. At the end of the day, staff will “check out” your rider to you at PickUp.

The purpose of the MTB Skills Factory youth summer camps is to:

• Have Fun

• Learn New Skills

• Prioritize Safety

This is a riding camp! Each day, campers will ride on purpose made mountain bike trails and skills features designed to hone and develop rider skills. Campers will work with our certified and experienced coaches to build confidence and ability on and off the bike.

We’ll also have a lot of fun off-bike, enjoying a range of age appropriate activities, games, and skills.

We strive to keep the staff to camper ratio small to ensure lots of individual attention to each rider. Each day we will split into different groups on rides to ensure similar riding abilities. We generally do a morning ride, return to the trailhead for lunch, and then head out for a 2nd ride in the afternoon.

After meeting your camper and introducing the group, the first day of camp starts with a full equipment and rider skill assessment as we train riders how to adhere to the “rules of the trail” and rider etiquette. We’ll use this info to be able split into different groups and create a development plan for each camper’s skill progression throughout camp.

Our experienced coaches are able to accommodate learning outcomes for a wide range of ability from competent beginner to more advanced youth rider.

Dupont and Rocky Knob: $495 5 day camp. Group snacks are included.

Beech Mountain: $395 4 day camp. Lift tickets must be purchased separately. Group snacks are included.

• Mountain Bike.  Mountain bikes should be in good working condition and fit the child well. Bikes should be fitted with disc brakes, with quality gears and mountain bike tires, as a minimum. 24in wheels or bigger

• Helmet. Please make sure your young rider is wearing a cycling / mountain biking-specific helmet that fits them properly. Beech Mountain requires full-face helmets. Half shell are fine for other locations.

• Gloves. If a rider falls, 9 times out of 10, the first thing to hit the ground will be their hands. We require that all riders use some kind of gloves that fit them properly. There are many mountain biking specific gloves on the market, but fitting a young rider for gloves can be tricky. Dick’s Sporting Goods has youth batting gloves in many sizes, so you may find some there. Also some Home Depots have synthetic work gloves for youth that work well. Ideally, full-finger gloves are best for mountain biking. Gloves do not need to be thick, or even cushioned. They should simply provide a layer between the hand and grip or ground for extra protection.

• Shoes. We require closed toe shoes for riding (no crocs or sandals).

• Pads. Knee Pads are required for Rocky Knob and Beech Mountain (optional for DuPont). Other pads are optional as well. For Beech Mountain we recommend back/chest protectors and elbow / knee pads.

  G-Form is a great brand of pad that is soft, thin, and breathable but with squishy padding in the important spots on elbows, forearms, shins, and knees.

  At MTB Skills Factory Camp, we focus on teaching riders skills and focus on riding smoothly and under control at all times. Riders who are riding to exceed their skill level will be asked to slow down. Our #1 focus is SAFETY. If you rider has aggressive “teeth” or pins on their pedals, consider shin guards as well.

• Rain Jacket. A thin shell layer is great for rain, wind, and basic protection from the elements. It should be easily packed and stowed in their backpack so they can keep it with them just in case. An adult large shell can fit inside a sandwich bag. Riders should be able to fold and roll their own jacket so it fits inside their pack they wear when riding.

• Hydration. Riders should be able to carry 20oz or more of water with them. This can be in a water bottle ON the bike, or in a hydration bladder in a pack or hip pack. We’ll have the ability to refill bottles on site.

• Pack. All riders will be required to carry a small backpack or hip pack that can fit their rain jacket, snacks, and possibly water. Hydration packs from OSPREY are superior to CamelBak which are almost impossible for most young riders to open/fill/close by themselves. Ozark Trail hydration packs from Walmart are almost as good as Osprey at a fraction of the price ($25).

What happens if it Rains? MTB Skills Factory Camps run rain or shine. During the summer it is common to have afternoon thunderstorms. We’ll make sure to return to a lightning safe area out of the rain if that happens. Our trails do NOT close for rain, so we can make smart decisions on which trails are appropriate to ride in wet conditions. We can also focus on activities under the pavilion such as bike maintenance and trailside repair practice. Worst case is that we can go for a hike in the rain to see how proper trail design manages water to prevent damage.

Other Questions? Feel free to email us at info@mtbskillsfactory.com or text/call 828-222-0890