AIR INSTRUCTOR COURSE | 4-DAY INTERMEDIATE– ADVANCED INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION

The AIR Instructor course is designed for PMBIA instructors to up their game as part of both the PMBIA Level 2 and 3 Certification Pathways. This fun and inspiring course trains instructors to teach intermediate to advanced riders through skills-based teaching concepts for descending, steeps, cornering and technical terrain. The Maneuver-Based teaching component of the AIR course focuses on training instructors to safely introduce students to tabletop jumps and drops. The AIR course focuses on the following common intermediate to advanced student goals;

• Cornering, descending and pumping with more confidence/consistency/speed
• Riding steeps with more speed control and technical terrain with more flow and efficiency
• Riding jumps and drops with more confidence and consistency

The AIR Instructor Course typically takes place in lift-accessed bike parks in which we recommend instructors use a modern enduro bike for the course. Over the four days, the course will help develop the five core skills sets of PMBIA instructors: People Skills, Guiding Skills, Teaching Skills, Riding Skills and Instructor Traits. Instructors will learn how to better connect with their students while managing risk, given the higher speeds and more challenging terrain of intermediate to advanced riders. The course is designed to train instructors how to build their own skill-based lessons, using the proven PMBIA templates, tools and methodologies, allowing them to provide the optimal lesson for any rider, in any terrain. During the four days, instructors will get plenty of time to ride and practice teach, allowing a comfortable space for instructors to learn, grow and support each other through the course. The PMBIA Trainer will work the the candidates to mentor and provide daily, ongoing feedback to ensure the most effective training experience possible.

The AIR Instructor Course is designed to train PMBIA instructors to teach and guide mountain biking:

• to intermediate to advanced riders
• on green, blue and single black diamond (red in Europe), single track terrain
• on typical terrain/location: lift accessed bike parks, trail centres with jump/flow trails
• with common instructors goals (skill based): Bermed Corners, Flat Corners, Descending, Steeps/Tech, Rock Rolls, Pumping
• with common instructors goals (maneuver based): Introducing riders to Jumps & Drops
• in a “front to mid-country” environment, no more than 2 hrs away from emergency medical care
• during private or group lessons, ranging from 2 to 6 hrs
• for an established mountain bike school, club or coaching service

Course Duration: Four days + pre-course reading and worksheet (2-3 hrs), totalling 35 hrs, including assessment.

PREREQUISITES

• PMBIA Level 1 Certification mandatory minimum
• Current PMBIA Membership. Membership is not included in the cost of the AIR course and must be purchased separately.
• 2+ seasons teaching experience highly recommended, but not mandatory.
• Kids Module is an asset, but not mandatory
• Confident riding at speed with consistent form and technique on technical and flowy intermediate to advanced terrain; including green, blue and black trails.
• 40hr Wilderness First Aid (or equivalent) expected but not mandatory, as per the Level 1 recommendation.
• A minimum age of 17 is required for Level 2 Certifications. Guiding and teaching mountain biking is inherently dangerous and being legally responsible for other adults and children, warrants a minimum age for certified instructors.

HOW THE AIR COURSE WORKS FOR BOTH LEVEL 2 AND 3 CERTIFICATIONS... LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATION PATHWAY | The Level 2 Certification requires instructors to attend either the four-day AIR Instructor Course, or the four-day TECH Instructor Course. This allows instructors at the Level 2 stage, to choose which type of course best suits their needs as a rider and instructor. After the instructor has passed both the riding and teaching components from the course, they will receive the Level 2 Certification. LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATION PATHWAY | The modular Level 3 Certification requires instructors to complete both the 4-day AIR Instructor Course and the 4-day TECH Instructor Course, plus the Kids Module. The purpose of this modular approach to the Level 3 Certification is to provide a training pathway that builds a diverse, adaptable and refined, advanced instructor that can truly benefit the mountain bike industry. A PMBIA Level 3 Instructor will be able to work to a high degree of competency in a wide variety of mountain bike programs and industry positions. PRECAP ASSESSMENT SYSTEM | PROCESSING | EMERGING | CONSISTENT | AUTONOMOUS | PROFECIENT LEVEL 2: When an instructor takes their first Intermediate - Advanced Instructor Course as part of the Level 2 Certification, they must show at a minimum, a ‘consistent’ level of skill to pass both teaching and riding assessments. LEVEL 3: When an instructor takes their second Intermediate - Advanced Instructor Course as part of the Level 3 Certification, they must mostly show an ’autonomous’ (refined) level of skill, to pass both teaching and riding assessments.