Another Successful Clinic!

Last Sunday August 17, Mountain Biking Marin had another successful downhill clinic focused on "air" techniques. Click on this link to read what one of the participants, Andy, posted on his blog about our fun day. Below is an email from another participant, Jason:

"Celia put on a jump clinic for me and my friend Andy, and invited Micheal Brill to help out to help out with the teaching. I'm useless at jumping so they really had their work cut out for them, but they stuck at it and by the end of the day I was far more confidant with getting both wheels off of the ground. My friend Andy (who was a little more advanced with the jumping to start with) came away hitting gaped doubles with style! It's two weeks later, I'm in Whistler, and the proof of their teaching is in the pudding of my riding, as they sit like spectral avatars on my shoulders guiding my technique. On my first day, and I write this testimonial to tell you that I've nailed more than a few 8-10 ft table tops with confidence and in comfort.. .but most of all with a massive grin on my face! Thank you Celia for putting on the clinic, and thanks to Mike for expert guidance through the air.. .you guys gave me the skills to make a great week into an awesome one!" 

~ Jason Spencer-Galsworthy

Intermediate and Advance Downhill Clinic

On Saturday December 11th, a group of 4 great riders (Andy, Meredith, David and Chris) signed up for our last downhill clinic of the year.  It was a great way to close Mountain Biking Marin's 2010 season year.  Brian and Celia were teaching the clinic supported by Michael from Reel Motion Sports who took great videos of the participants to create movies. Click here to watch the super fun group movie that Michael produced! Andy Proctor, one of the participants sent us an email saying: "Hey Celia: Thanks for putting on a great clinic last weekend. Such good fun. I can't wait for the next clinic! I've noticed a big difference in my riding since the clinic.  If things get steep and sketchy, where before I'd loose confidence and go over the bars, now I just relax and settle into it and cope".  Andy also documented the clinic in his personal blog so click here to see cool pictures and read a thorough description of what we did that day including riding gnarly and steep technical DH trails and getting air hitting drops and dirt jumps.  And here is the testimonial of David Hamasaki, another clinic participant: "Hi Celia and gang, just wanted to let you know I rode Solstice last night and those last "little" rock drops at the end [which] are usually a little sketchy for me... not this time! Got balanced, got my weight back, and rode right over them, was so surprised, had to go back and try again, yep, nailed it!".
(The picture in this blog was taken by Andy Proctor)

Increasing Safety in Your Rides

Here is a testimonial from John Monroe, who has taken several of Mountain Biking Marin private and group clinics.  John likes to take risks and do difficult moves during his rides and our clinics helped him become a safer biker even when riding technical trails.

"I often use the things that Celia, Jackie, and Brian talked about in our classes. And you know what, my medical bills have dropped considerably!"

John Monroe

Mountain Bike Downhill Private Clinic in Marin

"In continuation of my back to basics bike skills discipline, I started to look around at clinics. Google graciously pointed me to Celia Graterol's website.  After reading one glowing testimonial after another I decided to sign up. I wanted to join those beaming people who's MTB lives had been improved at the hands of this Marin legend. So, after an introductory chat over the phone we arranged to meet at China Camp for some drills and practice. This was to be a precursor to a more downhill intensive session at Pacifica.

Having recently done the Bikeskills downhill clinic at Northstar, I knew the leaps and bounds possible from spending time with the pro's. But having focused, one on one attention makes a big difference. Celia quickly assessed my ability and we rode appropriate trails. Taking me to the edge of my comfort zone to make progress, but never out of my league. So the whole experience was extremely satisfying and rewarding. I learned a lot. I'm already looking forward to the Pacifica session. In fact I bought a new full face helmet and body armor in anticipation!"

Andy Proctor
Proc Mountaing Biking

Mountain Biking in the Winter

I WILL be riding this rainy season! I’m lucky to have some trails in Pebble Beach near my house which stay in pretty good shape and are a nice mix of riding. I am still practicing the skills Celia taught me, and have gotten much better at The Manual; I regularly clear obstacles I couldn’t before. Thanks!

I was talking to my brother the other day about coming up to ride Tamarancho with him as soon as both our schedules calm down a bit. I told him you mentioned the great switchbacks there and there are very few around here on the Monterey Peninsula.

Hope to connect with you again sometime on the trails! Say HI to Jackie for me, too.

Dave Whipple

Mountain Bike Tour with Title Nine

Celia of Mountain Biking Marin organized a ride near Muir Beach for a group of us from Title Nine. We were a diverse set, some of us were road riders and others mountain bikers of fire roads with not much single-track experience. Celia brought us onto some amazing trails, with climbs that snaked back and forth through switchbacks up into the hills along the coast.

We were challenged in ways that we never imagined, and she coached us through. There were many challenges and obstacles that we would have never tried on our own but with Celia we were able to make them. She let us each decide if we wanted to try challenging sections and never made us feel bad if we wanted to walk a section. She was motivating and totally supportive. She is an AMAZINGLY experienced rider and seems to know every trail in Marin that exists (and some that don't).

Overall, it was an awesome afternoon – a complete blast of an adrenaline rush and I now have a ton more confidence in how to handle myself on the bike on all kinds of terrain! - Will K.

The Hot Mama Mountain Bike Clinic was a Success!

Thanks to all the Hot Mamas for the great clinic on Saturday, May 29th!

Below is a picture with almost everyone... we took the picture at the end of the clinic after some of the hot mamas were already gone. :-(

Here are some of the comments and emails we received after the clinic:

"Saturday's clinic was so fun.  Thank you for all you do to empower and strengthen women - in mind, body and spirit.  I will be in touch within the week to schedule another one on one instruction. Have a great day!"

"Christina: I am going to tell my husband to send you flowers 'cause I ended the day a more confident rider"

"Celia, The clinic was awesome.  I feel that I "got my groove back" and that mountain biking will again be a joy for me.  You are a skilled athlete and a talented instructor.  I also enjoyed Jackie and the other women that taught the clinic.  Sincere gratitude."

"Hi Celia, Thank you again for a great clinic.  I have to say your first clinic I took built my confidence up so much, I don't know if you remember I was a brand new to mountain biking and fell on a few switchbacks.  The second clinic has made another big advance in my riding skills. I rode Tamarancho the next day and practiced the moves you taught and felt I rode it the best I ever have...(made every switch back and went through the rock garden without dabbing). You are an amazing instructor.  I am recommending your clinics to all my friends!"

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about upcoming Mountain Bike clinics.