XMAS SAVINGS – UP TO 40% OFF RAMPS

60% OFF MTB CLINICS – CODE: XMAS

Teri Ayotte – Outreach Director

2,173 REVIEWS – 5 STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Adventure always finds Teri, so it was no surprise that adventure racing fell into her lap while working at a local outdoor retail store in 2003.  Mountain biking was part of the gig and it’s the piece of the puzzle that stole her heart.  She has since raced both XC and endurance because giving up is never an option.  Now utilizing her experience to instruct others is where she finds her stoke.

Home base

San Diego, California

The Gig

Ninja’s Fixer, working with NMBP to secure venues for our growing locations of clinics and camps

Instructor Certifications         

BICP Level 1 and 2

Favorite Type of Terrain

Fast and flowy/berms and drops/Conquering a good climb and the reward down the other side

Go-to Trail Snack   

Olives, hardboiled eggs and Swedish fish

Riding Tips      

“Comparison is the Thief of Joy” – Theodore Roosevelt. Ride with people who make you stronger and that inspire you but don’t compare yourself to them.

Don’t forget to look around; the Joy of that moment, being on your bike and outside, is a gift that keeps on giving.

Visualize, Breathe, Play

Favorite Riding Partner

Tessa (9) and Maddox (6) My kids keep me learning, laughing and playing on and off the trails. Plus they are willing to try new things and push me to do the same.

As a military family we have lived all over. Every time we move it’s a new chapter meeting new amazing people to ride with. I love the mountain biking community, its welcoming no matter where you call home.

How did you get into mountain biking?       

My foray into mountain biking came via adventure racing over 15 years ago. My husband and I playfully competed in 6-36 hour adventure races. After starting a family and having less time to devote to all the disciplines in adventure racing my natural fit and love was being on two wheels and in the dirt. Since focusing just on mountain biking I’ve raced both xc and endurance. I enjoy pushing myself both physically and technically. After starting with Ninja, behind the scenes, I felt the desire to become an instructor. I received my level one and two instructor certification in Canada and have been loving passing on the stoke. It’s great to see the gains riders can make in such a short time given the correct inputs and encouragement.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

Still exploring….I keep looking around the next corner

Looking to ride with Teri? You can usually find her instructing at one of our many clinics in California

Best investment ever.

Best investment ever. The Ninja mountain bike skill clinics will definitely bring up your riding level a notch or two....
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2014-03-19T14:41:16-07:00
Best investment ever. The Ninja mountain bike skill clinics will definitely bring up your riding level a notch or two. Being able to get instant feedback from the instructor (s) in this case Richard La China and his assistant is invaluable. From getting the correct riding position to improving the skills necessary to have a fast flow through the trails builds confidence and is the key to having more fun when mountain bike riding. Also I've taken one-on-one lessons (with Richard La China) and it really speeds up the learning (in my case it was basic jumping) in any area where you deem to be weak in or just need improvement. ~ Thad G.  

I would recommend this to riders of all skill levels and ages.

I want to thank the Ninja Mountain Bike Camp and instructor Richard La China for a great weekend on April...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2017-05-04T08:04:07-07:00
I want to thank the Ninja Mountain Bike Camp and instructor Richard La China for a great weekend on April 22-23rd. As an 59 year old ex-MX racer and 28 year Mt bike rider, found the personal instruction and group demonstrations were instrumental in my growth as a rider. You can teach an old dog new tricks. The seeing "new" lines, different jumping techniques and cornering skills all helped me open my eyes to a world of riding I had not experienced on my own. I want to all of the attendees for a great experience. I would recommend this to riders of all skill levels and ages. ~Joel Palmer

The coaches were awesome!

I went to the clinic that was offered April 6-9 at Mulberry Gap in Elljay Georgia. The coaches were awesome!...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2017-06-05T14:20:28-07:00
I went to the clinic that was offered April 6-9 at Mulberry Gap in Elljay Georgia. The coaches were awesome! I was riding faster with more control than ever before! If you want to get better take one of their camps! ~Bill S.

Within one hour we we clearing a 5 foot jump easily!

Wow, a friend and I just did a one day private lesson with Richard and I can’t believe how much...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2017-08-19T13:52:49-07:00
Wow, a friend and I just did a one day private lesson with Richard and I can’t believe how much we learned. I’ve been riding for over 10 years but with all self taught skills. We wanted to learn fundamentals the right way and Richard took us through all of that (along with critical bike setup) and the intermediate stuff that they teach in one day plus he spent an extra hour at the end to teach us jumping which I had always been nervous about. Within one hour we we clearing a 5 foot jump easily and with confidence, we even learned to move the bike in the air on a crossed take off and landing. I think my favorite part thpugh was riding fast on the very gnarly technical descent. We will be booking up more private lessons during the summer at Big Bear. Thanks Richard you are a very good teacher! ~John U.

My riding improved instantly!

I attended an intermediate skill clinic last year and had an awesome time.  My riding improved instantly and I have...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2014-03-19T14:16:07-07:00
I attended an intermediate skill clinic last year and had an awesome time.  My riding improved instantly and I have really enjoyed the increased confidence jumping my bike over obstacles. My muscle memory takes a while to kick in and Coach Richard and his crew of master Ninjas were really patient with me.  I even got some bonus education on climbing faster during one of our warm-up laps! Even though I have been riding for years I learned something new with every skill taught.  The clinic was worth every penny and I will be signing up for an advanced one this summer. ~Michael W.  

Richard and Kristen were awesome!

Went to the beginner Ninja clinic at Alison. Richard and Kristen were awesome!  We all got the opportunity to work...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2014-03-19T14:41:56-07:00
Went to the beginner Ninja clinic at Alison. Richard and Kristen were awesome!  We all got the opportunity to work on improving our skills with their feedback. Next time I would definitely do the intermediate clinic or do a one-on-one session. Richard is super patient and provides great feedback and riding tips. ~ Lisa D.

My speed and confidence going down steep descents have been SIGNIFICANTLY improved!

I just had my first race (XC endurance) since I did the camp and both my speed and confidence going...
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills
5
2017-05-04T08:06:22-07:00
I just had my first race (XC endurance) since I did the camp and both my speed and confidence going down steep descents have been SIGNIFICANTLY improved. I would not have attempted 50% of the drops and jumps on the course prior to participating in the clinic, and my overall time would have been much slower. The first two hours of the class (int/adv Sedona) made the whole thing more than worth it, and the rest of the two days seemed like a bonus. Both Courtney and Richard were encouraging and patient, and both had that classic mountain biker charm and humor ready when the moment called for it. Overall a very enjoyable and valuable weekend. For reference, I participate in amateur XC endurance races (with no hope of ever coming close to winning anything) and have been riding for about two years. I was worried before taking the class that I would not be skilled enough, but the int/adv was appropriate for my skill level. If you're worried, just go for it anyway. There is a good mix of people and everyone was very friendly! ~Alana Bencivengo
5
7
Ninja Mountain Bike Skills