Perhaps you can update your website from two years ago as well. I went looking around it yesterday and it makes it seem like it's forgotten about - not a good impression if you are trying to bring in new business
True enough, but not really….that is a brand new site that I paid way too much to have built(updated) last April.
1 year. Currently have more work than I can handle and not looking for too many new clients. I manage about 30 riders right now and a 10 rider team, plus 20 more private clients. I am a coach and I take a much deeper interest in my riders than most.
We could argue all day about youth development.
In regards to it being "fun", or kids being "pushed too hard", or not needing "work ethic".
Keep in mind that when MTB is over this is the kid that will turn 18 and come and ask you for a job bro. I'm sure he will love to have fun all day while you pay him the $32/hr he thinks he deserves for piling 2x4's.
I believe in the value of structured sports and team dynamics in terms of "life skills", and "human development".
C4 teaches 30% riding, and 70% simple, necessary life skills. Being a racer is great way to teach a kid how to succeed in life, making plans, being prepared, working well with others etc.
In my experience kids like being challenged, they enjoy setting and achieving goals, and need to be pushed.
The problem I see in DH racing is best outlined like this:
You don't put your kid in "hockey games", you put them in "Minor Hockey". This is a skills and dev system that teaches kids that if they want to play (race), then you better put in the work.
In racing be it DH or even say Motocross, you race. You learn to race at races. Kids smash bikes, kids get hurt. Parents spend a lot of $, and after this happens a couple times they don't come back.
This is not a healthy dev model.
I am aiming to change that with C4, and it is working. We are leading the world currently as I do not know anyone that trains their athletes for 4 to 6 months once a week prior to the first BC Cup. This has been going on in Squamish for 3 full seasons now.
In 2013 I stepped up and provided them with better management, and free training programs. Other coaches/programs charge out the wazoo for this. I know riders that have been paying in the neighborhood of $2500 for a winter of dryland training. Ludicrous at best. I paid a trainer $500, and have 3, 6 stage training programs that my riders get for free in their email boxes.
I have the support of the right people at CBC, but it will take time to integrate this into the racing system.
In 2012 C4 offered Learn to Race clinics at 80% of the BC Cups, and will be there in full swing in 2013 with a full dressed pit and in house Marzocchi tech support.
My record? For years I have been traveling to BC Cups with a minimum of 5 riders a race under my direct supervision, and we have never had a major injury we have a record off less than 5% race run crashes and a see of red on the podiums. I will not knock on wood. I will keep them dedicated and training. My guys show up and know what to do when they get there. I time them and we do race sim starting in Feb.
My ultimate goal is to build this program and then "GIVE" it to CBC, or possibly the CCA. Keeping kids dedicated to more than "fun" keeps them on the bike, and on the track. This keeps parents coming back.
So yes, I have room for about 5 to 10 rippers that are serious about racing. Regardless of age and rules, I will have a group of 13 yr olds in 2 years that show up and will seem like they have been racing their whole lives.
C4 actually focuses on training parents as much as the kids.
Rider receive a P.I.T. Pack. 30 page booklet where I put everything I could think of that will assist a parent that has never been to a race. P.I.T is an acronym for Parents In Training.
CBC as attempted things like this, but mine is in place and working. They are in a rebuild process and in the meantime I will do my best to keep the plan on track.
Some may see this as a shameless plug but it is not, as I said I am in over my head as it is, and will be building 7 fresh Aurums next week.
This will total 18 total C4/Norco bikes since 2010, and Nick Geddes, Zander Geddes, and Lee Jackson all launched to the Norco Factory team thru the C4 Program.
This makes us essentially a farm team and gives kids something real to shoot for.
So ya I can be hard on them. I am a coach, and that is my job. I value and appreciate this opportunity.
Pretty awesome that an old dawg like me, that kinda blew his own career 11 times being afforded the opportunity for a fresh chance in the industry after 15 years.
Kids see my dedication to the sport, and they all want to grow up and coach. This is the red infection that is spreading in BC haha
Is that enough…..
c.