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Welsh youth and junior mountain bikers descended on Coed Y Brenin for the first mountain bike residential camp last weekend, as part of Welsh Cycling’s Wiggle Project 2018.
Coed Y Brenin Mountain Bike Centre, Gwynedd is home to some of the most technically challenging trails in the UK, replicating the black grade obstacles found in mountain bike cross country events. Used as a base for the Wiggle Project 2018 mountain bike camp, the trails and skills sections challenged the riders over the two days of led rides and skills sessions. The riders were given the opportunity to enhance their technical and lifestyle skills, preparing for life as a professional athlete.
Two led mountain bike rides on the MBR trail ensured the riders got stuck in and took on the difficult parts of the trails. Coaching activities on the new Coed Y Brenin skills section and pump track challenged the riders, enhancing their technical ability on the bike.
Despite it being a cold, wet weekend the fun continued back at the accommodation in Dolgellau with flood lit challenges. Replicating competition seen at the Inter Regional Mountain Bike Championships and the Youth European Mountain Bike Championships, the riders continued to develop their skills on the bike.
A 10-mile off road ride, using the Sustrans route from Dolgellau warmed the riders up on Sunday morning. The ten athletes, a mix of Youth A and Junior riders form across Wales returned to Coed Y Brenin putting into practice what they had learned on Saturday. Now more confident, the riders took on the trails and obstacles rounding off the weekend with some friendly competition on the pump track. Time was also set aside to look at goal setting, an important part of the life of an athlete to progress in their sport.
Ian Jenkins, Project 2018 Development Officer accompanied the riders in Coed Y Brenin: “This weekend was the first of a number of mountain bike camps and activities that will take place through the winter and into spring 2014 as part of Wiggle Project 2018.
The camps provide the youngsters with an opportunity to enhance their skills, looking at aspects of being a cyclist on the trails but also off the bike, thinking about nutrition, recovery and lifestyle skills. All important elements that together will help them reach their potential in competitions.
It has been a fun and challenging weekend, with the riders who took part all taking away something that will improve their bike riding. We are looking forward to returning to Coed Y Brenin in December!”
The Wiggle Project 2018 Mountain Bike activities were open for applications during October, and include weekly led rides as well as residential camps at trail centres across Wales. For more information on the activities please contact Project 2018 Development Officer, Ian Jenkins ijenkins@welshcycling.co.uk
