*Please note this is just a general assessment and might not capture your exact fitness level. Please contact us with any questions.
You like to cruise around the flats and only get out about once a week for a short ride. You like a relaxed pace and don’t like to get your heartrate up too much. The smaller hills poop you out and you definitely do everything you can to avoid any bigger hill climbs. Bring me some oxygen!
You ride one or more times per week and are comfortable at a moderate pace for about an hour or so. The hills are challenging and you try and go as far up as you can before you have to walk. Technical hill climbs are very challenging since they require more effort and you just don’t have it in the tank. You choose gentler rolling terrain and are just happy being out on your bike and are not trying to break any speed records!
You are a keen weekend warrior who gets out 2-3 times per week and enjoy riding for a couple hours at a moderate pace. You can handle some moderate hill climbing efforts as long as you can take breaks on the way up. You’re not racing to the top, you’re just happy to still be on your bike! You don’t love going anaerobic and are looking forward to getting fitter and better at the harder hill climbs. Riding 2 days in a row is manageable as long as the 2nd day is a bit mellower.
You ride 3 or more times per week on a regular basis and also incorporate other exercise during the week. You like to go on longer rides and can handle riding consistently for 3 hours at a time with a few breaks here and there. You can make it up most hill climbs without stopping but might get hung up on those technical moves at the top. You can handle some shorter anaerobic intervals during your ride and can ride 3 days in a row no problem. You’ve done a couple longer adventure rides and at a mellower pace you could last most of the day.
You do some form of exercise 5 times a week and are on the bike for most of those days. You don’t mind challenging yourself on harder hill climbs and only need a small break to recover. You like a quick pace with some longer anaerobic intervals and can maintain that for 3 or more hours. Riding longer days at a moderate pace for over 4 hours is manageable and you love the longer adventure rides in the mountains! Riding multiple days in a row is not a problem.
This category can be considered Fitness Freak, you know who you are! You can’t get enough exercise and it’s almost like an addiction. You like riding with a faster group and can handle a sustained challenging pace with longer anaerobic intervals. You don’t mind long adventures and hike-a-biking and can handle a full 8 hour day on the bike with enough water and food. Multiple days in a row is totally manageable and you love the challenge of a harder ride, a faster pace, or a longer day on the bike.
WAIVERS
Each guest will be required to sign a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement prior to start of trip. Click here to view and fill in the online waiver at time of booking. Participants are required to inform Sweet Skills of any allergies, medical conditions or injuries that might affect their riding or health and any medications taken. Please only fill out 1 waiver per year with us if you are doing multiple clinics.
*The following booking & cancellation policies do not apply to Peru, Croatia, Italy, follow this link for the Big Mountain Adventures Cancellation Policy: Big Mountain/ Peru/Italy/Croatia
BOOKING & PAYMENTS
A $600 deposit is required at time of registration to confirm your booking, with the balance due 60 days before the camp start date. Payments can be made by credit card (with 2.9% fee) or pay etransfer and have no fees to info@sweetskills.ca (please note your name and camp in the comments). US payments must be done by credit card only.
A detailed list of what to bring and other information will be emailed to participants within 1 week of registration. Meeting locations and final details will be emailed within 2 weeks of camp start date if not earlier.
CANCELLATIONS
Guest Cancellation:
Outside of 60 days:
Payments made for any camp cancelled outside of 60 days before the start date of your reservation will be refunded less $75. Or $50 fee to either transfer balance to another camp during the current season or carry over for 12 months. After which time it is non-refundable. Please note any credit card processing fees are non-refundable.
Within 59-30 days:
Payments made for any camp cancelled between 59-30 days of the start date of your reservation will be refunded less 50% of the total fees paid. Or transfer balance less $75 admin fee to another camp during the current season or carry over for 12 months. After which time it is non-refundable. Please note any credit card processing fees are non-refundable. (Sol Mountain cancellation transfer fee is $150)
29-0 days:
Payments made for any camp cancelled within 29 days of the start date of your reservation are non-refundable and no credit is available for future camp. Your camp entry can be transferred to your friend (of similar ability) for no cost. If Sweet Skills is able to fill your spot you will receive a refund less 50% of fees paid. Please note any credit card processing fees are non-refundable.
Trip Cancellation Insurance:
Our guest cancellation policy is firm and we recommend you purchase a trip interruption/cancellation insurance policy to avoid disappointment should you need to cancel your trip last minute. Travel insurance can be purchased through World Nomads. Ensure your travel insurance covers you and your equipment and that your current health insurance covers the unforeseen like medical flights and back-country emergency rescue.
Sweet Skills Cancellation:
Sweet Skills reserves the right to cancel or adjust a reservation at any time due to minimum participation requirements not being met, or any other circumstance that arises. Should Sweet Skills need to cancel or reschedule your reservation you will be offered 100% credit to reschedule for another date, or option of a full refund less credit card fees.
Cancellations due to a 3rd Party/Unforeseen Circumstances:
Should your booking need to be cancelled due to extenuating circumstances beyond our control, including
(but not limited to): border closures, cancellations of any sort from Lodges or other 3rd party operators, government-initiated shutdowns due to a pandemic or wildfire, extreme weather which is deemed by Sweet Skills to be a safety issue. Sweet Skills may offer you a 100% credit to reschedule for another date, or give you the option of a full refund minus 10% of the deposit paid (for Sol Mountain Camp, fee is $175).
Should any necessary changes affect your pre and/or post-tour travel plans, Sweet Skills will not be responsible for additional expenses incurred by guests (non-refundable airline tickets, rental cars, hotel reservations, etc.) Again, we recommend you have purchased your own trip insurance policy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
All camp prices are based on double occupancy. Single rooms may not available due to limited number of rooms. Please contact Sweet Skills to discuss as all camps are different. If a single room is available there will be an additional fee. Guests travelling alone will be requested to be paired with another single traveller.
ITINERARY CHANGES & WEATHER:
Every attempt will be made to adhere to our scheduled itinerary, we do not plan to make changes ahead of time. However, there are possibilities of unexpected changes to our route, timings and itinerary at any time. Safety issues, weather and/or any extenuating circumstances beyond our control may contribute to this possibility. Should these changes affect your pre and/or post-tour travel plans, Sweet Skills will not be responsible for additional expenses incurred by guests (non-refundable airline tickets, rental cars, hotel reservations, etc.) No refunds will be given for itinerary changes. We ride rain or shine! Riding in the mountains means we can encounter variable weather at any time and participants must be prepared for this. Weather can also change very last minute, therefore we do not cancel trips with forecasted rain or smoke unless our accommodation and transportation partners are shut down.
TRAVELLING TO CAMP LOCATION:
Participants are responsible to get themselves to the camp location or specified meet up spot at the required time. Any flights or transportation pre/post trip is the responsibility of the participant to arrange. We ask that clients confirm with Sweet Skills prior to booking flights to ensure the camp is meeting minimum numbers to run.
AGE:
Minimum required age is 18 for our camps and clinics. Requests can be made on a case-by-case basis. It’s recommended for youth between the ages of 14 and 18 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
ABILITY LEVEL:
Participants are asked to read and understand the ability level required for the trip and ensure they are well suited for the demands of the trip. Participants are strongly advised to follow our pre-trip fitness training recommendations. A booking questionnaire will be filled out at time of booking asking specific questions relating to biking experience and fitness, we ask that you fill this out completely and honestly so we can ensure you are signed up for the right trip. If you are unsure if the camp is the right fit for you, please call us.
WAIVERS:
Each guest will be required to sign a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement prior to start of trip. Click here to view and fill in the online waiver at time of booking. Participants are required to inform Sweet Skills of any allergies, medical conditions or injuries that might affect their riding or health and any medications taken.
BOOKING:
Full payment is due at time of booking. Payments can be made by credit card (with 2.9% fee) or pay etransfer and have no fees to info@sweetskills.ca (please note your name and camp in the comments). US payments must be done by credit card only.
Meeting locations and details will be emailed to participants within 1 week of start of lesson.
CANCELLATIONS:
Guest Cancellation
Outside of 30 days: Payments made for any lesson outside of 30 days before the start date of your booking will be refunded less $30. Or transfer 100% of balance to another clinic during the current season. After which time it is non refundable. Please note the credit card processing fee is not refundable.
Within 29-15 days: Payments made for any lesson cancelled between 29-15 days of the start date of your booking will be refunded less 50% of the total fees paid. Or transfer 100% of balance to another clinic during the current season. After which time it is non refundable. Please note the credit card processing fee is not refundable.
Within 14-0 days: Payments made for any lesson cancelled within 14 days of the start date of your lesson are non-refundable and no credit is available for future lessons. If Sweet Skills is able to fill your spot you will receive a refund less 50% of fees paid or a 75% credit towards another clinic within the current season. After which time it is non refundable. Please note the credit card processing fee is not refundable.
Trip Cancellation Insurance:
Our guest cancellation policy is firm and we recommend you purchase a trip interruption/cancellation insurance policy to avoid disappointment should you need to cancel your trip last minute. Travel insurance can be purchased through World Nomads.
Sweet Skills Cancellation
Sweet Skills reserves the right to cancel or adjust a reservation at any time due to minimum participation requirements not being met, or any other circumstance that arises. Should Sweet Skills need to cancel or reschedule your reservation you will be offered 100% credit to reschedule for another date, or option of a full refund. Please note the credit card processing fee is not refundable.
Cancellations due to a 3rd Party/Unforeseen Circumstances:
Should your booking need to be cancelled due to extenuating circumstances beyond our control, including (but not limited to): border closures, government-initiated shutdowns due to a pandemic or wildfire, extreme weather which is deemed by Sweet Skills to be a safety issue. Sweet Skills may offer you a 100% credit to reschedule for another date, or give you the option of a full refund minus 10% of payments made. Please note the credit card processing fee is not refundable.
ITINERARY CHANGES:Every attempt will be made to adhere to our scheduled itinerary, we do not plan to make changes ahead of time. However, there are possibilities of unexpected changes to our route, timings and itinerary at any time. Safety issues, weather and/or any extenuating circumstances beyond our control may contribute to this possibility. Should these changes affect your pre and/or post-tour travel plans, Sweet Skills will not be responsible for additional expenses incurred by guests (non-refundable airline tickets, rental cars, hotel reservations, etc.). We recommend you have purchased your own trip insurance policy.
AGE:
Minimum required age is 18 for our camps and clinics. Requests can be made on a case-by-case basis. It’s recommended for youth between the ages of 14 and 18 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
ABILITY LEVEL:
Participants are asked to read and understand the ability level required for the trip and ensure they are well suited for the demands of the trip. Participants are strongly advised to follow our pre-trip fitness training recommendations. A booking questionnaire will be filled out at time of booking asking specific questions relating to biking experience and fitness, we ask that you fill this out completely and honestly so we can ensure you are signed up for the right trip. If you are unsure if the camp is the right fit for you, please call us.
Our skill level assessment and rating for our camps and clinics is based on riding technical trails in Western Canada – BC and Alberta. Perhaps if you’re from an area with very little technical you may be one level down.
*Please note this is just a general assessment and might not capture your exact level. Please contact us with any questions.
You are very new to mountain biking and perhaps have never ridden off road. You need to learn everything there is to know about riding including how your bike works. From brakes, seat dropper, gears… everything! You’re looking for a gentle approach since you might feel pretty nervous about getting into the sport. You’re looking to get rid of the nerves and just have fun on your bike on double track and be able to corner, brake safely, manage some hills, stand on level pedals, and eventually try the easiest of singletracks.
You might be in your first or 10th season of biking, it all depends on your experience – and that’s ok! You’ve generally been cruising around the double track trails without much problems and are fairly confident with your basic body position of level pedals on these trails. You’re looking to get more experience with the easier singletrack trails. You’re pretty new to mountain biking but are keen and excited for the challenge. Or perhaps you’ve taken some time off the bike and need a refresher of the basics. You’re looking to be able to control your bike on the downhills, manage small roots and rocks that you might find in the singletrack and get some tips on the bridges and corners. You want to cover all the basics to develop a solid foundation for a fun future of mountain biking and learn how to take care of your bike. You would like a gradual introduction to the trails at a manageable pace.
You have at least a season or 2 of riding under your belt and are looking to increase your confidence to be able to ride more of the technical features on the blue trails and get out of the green trails. You are comfortable on the green trails and need a boost to push your skills to the next level and explore some more challenging blue terrain. You can roll through a blue flow trail but not as great on the technical blues. You can get over some easier technical features but not quite sure what you’re doing. You need a review of the fundamentals to be able to learn how to approach and ride technical features and control your bike on steeper pitches and keep some flow on the bumpier terrain.
You love the blue trails and can ride most of the features you come across except perhaps some elevated bridges with corners or sometimes harder technical ups and exposed downs. You dable in some easier blacks but walk some of the harder features. You’re looking for confidence and tips to help you figure out how to look for your lines and commit to the more challenging obstacles on the harder blue trails. You’re ready to improve your switchback corners, your traction on steeper climbs, and your control down rock faces, roll downs and steeper technical pitches. You need to learn more about your braking to avoid skidding at the wrong time. You generally keep your wheels on the ground but are keen to learn how to get some small air for the first time.
You have at least a few years of experience and are confident riding most types of singletrack and don’t mind riding in varying conditions (wet, dry, loose). You can keep some good speed and flow on the blue trails and can ride features on a black trail if they’re in good condition. You’re able to do small drops of up to 2ft and can get a bit of air on small jumps but need more tips on your timing and speed when doing them in the trail. You can descend moderately technical steep sections including rock and uneven roots but are looking for more control and tips with some more advanced braking skills and the right body position. Multiple consecutive technical features are a challenge mentally and physically. You’d like to gain confidence on approaching challenging sections and looking for the right line. You’d like to learn how to be a bit faster and more stable while cornering.
You’re comfortable riding most black trails and maybe even the odd double black. You can keep your speed through technical sections but need some tips on how to control your speed at the end of some of the features. You can ride most rock faces but still skid a bit on some that aren’t perfect so you could use some tips on advanced braking. You don’t mind a good challenging technical climb and just need some refinement on your line choice and body position. You love a good high speed corner but would like to improve on your speed and traction. You like a bit of airtime on the right trail and can handle some moderate tabletop jumps, 2-4ft drops and the odd gap jump if it’s not too big. You’re ready to be challenged with some more advanced skill progressions.
All participants will be required to fill in a Release of Liability Waiver at time of registration. Please only fill in 1 per season if you are signing up for multiple clinics.
Waiver can be viewed here: Sweet Skills Waiver
Sweet Skills Mountain Bike Coaching & Personal Training (“Sweet Skills”) takes your privacy seriously. Accordingly, we have developed this Privacy Policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. Your personal information as disclosed will be protected, will never be sold, and will be used only by Sweet Skills. By submitting personal information to us, you are consenting to its use and disclosure for the following purposes:
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Sweet Skills
1708 Highway 99
Pemberton, British Columbia
CANADA V0N 2L0
604-966-8330
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