Guest Coach: @jessthemaker

Intro to Drops: If you are a mountain biker and on Instagram, chances are that you follow @jessthemaker. Jess makes some of the best funny videos about mountain biking that we can all relate to. Did you know that Jess is also a highly trained, experienced, and high quality skills instructor? We’re partnering with Jess to bring her coaching expertise (and humor) to offer this Intro to Drops clinic.

Looking to tackle the wooden drops in the skills area at Kanuga or eyeing up the rock drops on Hemlock Epoch Trail? Learn how to modify your technique to safely tackle drops with different angle take-offs and landings, when approaching at different speeds. This clinic will start with fundamentals in the skills area and work up to intermediate level drops out on the trails.

• Who should take this clinic?

  • You want to hang out with Jess Hana!

  • This clinic is appropriate for all level riders wanting to learn to ride drops with more intention, control, and confidence.

  • Riders who have never had their wheels off the ground will learn proper technique to get started, get PLENTY of repeatable practice in the skills area on the wooden platform drops AND be able to ride a few natural drops in the park.

  • Intermediate level riders will benefit from refining the essential fundamentals to ride drops with control and expand their ability to ride different shape and size drops at different speeds.

  • Advanced level riders will benefit from isolating each skill component of riding drops and get plenty of guided practice refining the use of each of those skills for different shape and size drops at different speeds.

• Who are the instructors?

  Jess Hana, a certified Level 2 “AIR Instructor” through the PMBIA, and the mastermind behind @jessthemaker

• What to expect

  • We’ll start with an intro to listen to your previous experience and goals, then set expectations and a plan for the clinic

  • Then, we’ll move into a skills assessment and move through the essential pre-requisite skills including Body Position / Balance and exploring effective “Press, Poke, and Absorb” techniques.

  • We’ll spend a lot of time on the wooden platform drops in the skills area. We’ll also venture up on the mountain to practice on individual natural drops. As always, we need to dial back the challenge of the terrain to be able to actually practice new things!

• Cost

  $125 per person

• Ride pass for Kanuga

  In additional to the cost of instruction, you'll need to purchase a day pass or membership to Ride Kanuga separately at their website www.ridekanuga.com or in person when you arrive at our Adventure Center.
  

• What to bring

  Required for this lesson:
  

  • Day-pass or membership to Ride Kanuga. If you don't already have one, purchase separately at www.ridekanuga.com or in person at the Adventure Shop when you arrive.

  • A bicycle in good working order. You can bring your own bike (regular mountain bike or eBike)

  • Helmets are required, full-face or half shell are acceptable

  • Water and food to last the duration of your lesson

  • Closed toe shoes (no sandals, flip-flops, or crocs)
    

  • Optional (but highly recommended) equipment:
    Knee Pads
    Gloves
    
    

Meeting Location:
Ride Kanuga
1249 Kanuga Lake Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28739