Ontario Weekend Skills Camps
Ride Highlights
- Hands-on instruction with friendly, experienced instructors
- Riding on beautiful singletrack trails
- Workshops on nutrition, training and maintenance
Be a weekend (mountain bike) warrior.
Looking for a big jolt of confidence on your mountain bike? After a full weekend with our top-ranked instructors, you'll be riding with poise, grace and self-confidence - a true mountain bike warrior! Our Ontario weekend camps take place at Hardwood Ski and Bike (near Barrie) and Buckwallow Cycling Centre (near Gravenhurst), two of Ontario's best riding destinations. Camps include expert instruction, healthy and nutritious lunches, snacks, and workshops on maintenance, nutrition and fitness.
Weekend camps consist of a 2- to 3-hour sessions in the morning, a break for lunch and a post-lunch workshop, then another 2-3 hours in the afternoon. There are lots of stops on the trail to work on specific skills, so if 4-6 hours of riding sounds like a lot, not to worry - it's totally manageable if you have an average fitness level.
Embrace your inner warrior!
Accommodation
The June 16/17 Hardwood camp includes Saturday night accommodation at a nearby hotel and/or B+Bs.
The Buckwallow camp will take place in mid-to-late July - stay tuned for details!
June 16/17, Hardwood: $350
Is This Ride For You?
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"Just wanted to drop a line and let you know that Diana and I had an awesome time!
Your team are top notch, super professional, and made our experience the best time we've had on a bike....EVER!
I was really concerned that my wife and I were not advanced enough for the weekend. However, the Coaches quickly made us feel at home with them. Heather was real helpful today for Diana (who lost a little confidence on some of the more technical stuff on day one). I was real impressed with her patience and encouragement. It really made Diana's day. I also enjoyed riding with Heather today. She took time today to give me some personal challenges. I enjoyed both days; got out of my comfort zone, and your people really boosted my confidence this weekend.
Derrick Hamilton was great Saturday, and helped me get over my confidence issues right out of the gate. That is exactly what I wanted out of the weekend, and the instruction and encouragement from him made the difference for me. Mission Accomplished! Derrick is a real positive, technical and patient guy. I Iook forward to riding with him again, gain some more knowledge, and be a better mountain biker.
That segues into Jason. That dude knows his stuff man! I'll have to say that at first, the thought of riding with him was a bit intimidating. By the end of today, I regret that I didn't get the chance. I'll be begging Diana to go back in September. I want to learn some of his techniques.
You have a great team Mike. I have always believed that if you want to learn something, you need to find the best teachers. You have them without any doubt. Thanks for a great weekend!"
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"Jay and Heather were awesome - this is the second camp I've done with them and I'd sign up again just to ride with them! Buckwallow is a perfect mix of flowy and technical. I've never ridden there before, but will definitely return! Trails were well marked and well-maintained, something for everyone."
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"It was the best experience yet! The 2 instructors I had the previlege of being taught by where Heather and Derek - truly skilled amazingly wonderful people. A totally postive experience I would definitely do again and again & most definintely refer friends too! I haven't stopped talking about how great the whole experience was since I've returned. Thank you and if you can pass my thanks on to Heather and Derek it would be greatly appreciated. Note: I didn't have the ability to be in Jason's group but his personality and friendliness was infectious -- tremendously skilled and wonderful instructors you have! Great Job!!!"
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"Really good stuff! Happy and energetic instructor team, experienced and knowledgeable - also, humble yet confident. Great location.
The group was arranged in an intelligent and fun way AND (and this really impressed me) the self assessment of skill level was revisited after the first session of riding. People re-evaluated their skill level and placed themselves in a different order. This really helped with the interaction between Instr and participant.
The instructor ratio was great. It allowed small to medium sized groups.
Each session allowed for flexibility to change at some stage or to repeat skill sets.
I think everyone appreciated the instruction. I made leaps and bounds and left this camp thinking I can achieve much more even though I really advanced in application of skill and in confidence. Georgina also reckons it's a great location and a very good camp. The 1 hr maintenance advice session was appreciated.
All of the instructors were excellent!"
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"I had a fantastic time on the Skills Weekend at Buckwallow. Jason, Heather, Chris, Laura, Derek and Derek did a fantastic job instructing and motivating the crowd. I'm back home and can't say enough good things about the camp and what I got out of it.
I'm ready to sign up for next year's camp and should be bringing some of my riding buddies with me!
Thanks,
Peter" -
"Jason was a super guide. He was patient with the group when they wanted to stop and keep trying new obstacles, even if they weren't sucessful. Very knowledgeable and skilled as a rider and willing to let more experienced riders take their own line over obstacles. I highly recommend Jason as a guide, he was fun to ride with and very entertaining."
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"Pat and I just wanted to say what a fantastic time we had at Hardwood this past weekend. We couldn't have had a more enjoyable group of people to experience this with (and such great cooks as well, Saturday's meal was delicious!)
Heather and Jay, you are amazing instructors! We learned so much, and have already started to apply it already in the trails these past couple of days (We've been yelling attack position and head up at each other the last couple of days). You were so positive over the those days that it was an absolute delight. Also your hospitality on Saturday was greatly appreciated as well."
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"Over the years, I've done other clinics, put on by Hardwood, Flygurlz, and Trek Women and I've lead group rides for Fly Gurlz....and by far, you have the most experienced instructors, with a great lesson plan! Mike from Buckwallow is always smiling, the food very nutritious!! And D-Rock's bike mechanic talk was superior (and I've attended a few in the past)
So, I had a crash, and although I wish I could say it was over the boulders, doing epic stuff, but no, it was over the practice log (in front of the whole crew), but it was exactly what kept happening to me on my new bike, hence why I signed up. Your instructors knew exactly what I was doing wrong, and off I went, purple, but much more confident. I'm not a new rider, but I have a new bike....and I foolishly keep pulling off endo's....
you really are the #1 biking company! I will sign up for Hardwood next year, and start saving my $$ for your trips!
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"The ride at Hardwood Hills was great, and doing the Radical section was an experience to remember!! By the way, Jason and Heather are great instructors like the other Sacred Rides instructors!"
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"Heather was awesome, super supportive, and a really great and supportive teacher. Her introductory games and interactions were also really well planned and appropriate for the course!"
Friday - Check In (optional)
Want to get there early and get a good night's sleep before your big weekend? Check in on Friday night and get the driving over with! n.b. Friday night accommodation is not included.
Day 1 (Saturday)
After a meet-and-greet, we'll spend the first morning getting a solid grounding in fundamentals (important regardless of your level!) such as bike handling and proper body position, while breaking up into different skill level groups. After working on the basics, it's off to the trails for some on-trail sessions. You'll head out with yourinstructors in groups of six (or less), working on all aspects of your riding. Today we'll work on gear shifting techniques, climbing and descending, braking and cornering, with a stop for a yummy group lunch. At the end of the day, we'll head back to our lodge or campsite, wash up, then head out for a lively group dinner nearby.
n.b. dinner is not included in the trip price.
Day 2 (Sunday)
The fun and the learning continue today with more on-trail sessions and hands-on instruction with your instructor. Today we'll work on more advanced techniques and skills, such as steeps, wheel lifts, trail reading and technical riding, and race training. We'll wrap up by 4:30 to give you plenty of time to get home and savour an incredible weekend over a good night's sleep.
Getting to your Starting Point
The meeting point for the weekend camps are as follows:
1) Hardwood Camps: please meet your lead instructor in front of the main building at 9:30 am on Saturday. Click here for directions to Hardwood Ski and Bike. (approx. 70 minutes from downtown Toronto)
2) Buckwallow Camps: please meet your lead instructor in the parking lot at 10 am on Saturday. Click here for directions to Buckwallow. (approx. 100 minutes from downtown Toronto)
Waivers and Medical Forms
please download, print and fill out these forms and bring them with you to the starting point to hand to your guides.
waiver (this is legal size - print on legal paper if possible, otherwise print on 2 pages and staple)
Accommodation, Check-in, and Meals
Hardwood weekend: accommodation is included on Saturday night at nearby Forks in the Trail B&B. Click here for directions (scroll down to the bottom of the page). Check-in is from 5 pm onwards on Saturday night.
Buckwallow weekend July 23/24: accommodation is not included. in cabins at the Gravenhurst KOA. Click here for directions. Check-in is from 6 pm onwards on Friday night.
Buckwallow weekend Sep.10/11: accommodation at a nearby lakeside cottage is included - we'll head there after Saturday's session, around 5pm.
Please note that breakfast and dinner is not included in the camp price, so you should make arrangements for these meals. There are plenty of restaurants in Barrie and Gravenhurst that will serve you yummy meals - often we will eat together as a group.
Flights
Because our clients come from all over the world, we do not book flights for our clients. Please contact your local travel agent for information on booking flights for this trip. The airport for flights for this trip is Toronto International Airport, code YYZ.
Arrival and Departure Airport
If you are flying in for this camp, the closest international airport is Toronto Pearson (YYZ). Please note that we do not offer airport pickup and dropoff service for this trip. By far the easiest option is to rent a car at the airport and drive to Hardwood Ski and Bike or Buckwallow.
Bike Rentals
Although we strongly recommend using your own bike, you can rent locally if you'd prefer not to. Please contact the following locations for bike rental information and to make a bike reservation:
Hardwood Ski and Bike: click here
The Bike Store in Gravenhurst (Buckwallow weekend): (705) 687-RIDE | EMAIL: thebikeshopingravenhurst@hotmail.com
Travelling with your bike
If you've never traveled with your bike, don't worry - it's much easier than you think! If you don't have a case for your bike, we recommend one of two options:
1) if you think you may be travelling more than once with your bike, then we recommend purchasing a purpose-made bike bag. This will protect your bike from damages, and makes shlepping your bike around a little bit easier than with a rigid box or cardboard box. We sell beautiful handmade bags by PikaPackworks in the United States. For more information, visit our online store.
2) If you think this is the only trip you'll take with your bike for a while, then you can pick up a cardboard travel box for your bike at your local store. Some stores will also pack your bike up for you for a fee.
Alternately, you can courier your bike to our partner store in Fernie. For $40 they will take delivery of your bike and assemble it. We will then pick up your bike and have it waiting for you at our lodge.
What to Bring
your bike (or you can rent - see above)
bike gear: jersey, shorts, gloves (2 sets are ideal in case of inclement weather)
gear for wet weather: riding shell, rain pants
casual clothes for post-riding relaxing
Camelbak or some sort of hydration system (bottles, etc...)
extra tubes and a bike pump
small multi-tool for trailside repair (optional)
Emergency Contact
If you need to contact us in an emergency, you can reach us during office hours at the following numbers:
Dialing within North America: 1 (888) 423-7849
Dialing outside of North America: +1 (647) 999-7955
If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Health Requirements
Vaccinations are not required for Canada, and Canada has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Should you experience illness or injury while in Canada, rest assured that you will receive the best care possible.
Fitness Requirements
You should have a reasonable level of fitness and be able to bike at a relaxed to moderate pace for up to five hours a day in order to fully enjoy the camps. There will also be plenty of time for relaxation in the evening on Saturday.
Tipping
Gratuities of 10-20% are common in Canada. We encourage you to tip your coaches if you feel you have received excellent service and have had an enjoyable trip. A typical gratuity is $10-$50 per guide.
Currency exchange
The Canadian currency is the Canadian dollar (CAN). For the latest currency exchange information use the Yahoo! Currency Exchange Calculator
Our Guarantee
We're so sure you'll have an amazing time on this trip that we're offering a satisfaction guarantee. View more information about our guarantee.
Lead Instructor.
Heather Stanley has been working as a health-care provider and personal trainer since 1986. She has competed in several disciplines including cross-country mountain biking, trail & road running, duathlons, road triathlons and Xterra events. Her passion is cross-country mountain biking and she has been racing at a senior elite level since 2002. Heather's practical skills & education - a Masters degree in nutrition, NCCP certification, certified yoga teacher - give her clients a comprehensive coaching experience. |
Lead Instructor.
Derek's passion for cycling has allowed him to make a living completely in the cycling world. He is a NCCP Level 3 coach and learning facilitator. Derek has also been running a successful high end mobile bike service business for 10 years allowing him to influence the riding experience of many. |
Lead Guide, Lead Instructor and Owner.
Owner and founder of Sacred Rides, Mike now lives in Toronto with his wife and 3 kids after spending 10 amazing post-university years in the Canadian Rockies. He takes great delight in spreading the 'gospel' of mountain biking around the world, and believes bikes can change the world. He is also the founder of Bikes Without Borders, a nonprofit using bikes as a tool for development, and Project Wildfire, a Toronto-based incubator that finds, sparks and supports youth business ideas that serve the greater good. |
Lead Instructor.
Jason is a multi-talented rider! Riding and racing anything with two wheels since 1994 including cross country, downhill, dirt jumping, road, trials and his true love … single speed. When not riding, his time is spent as a bike mechanic or out in the bush cutting new trail. As an NCCP certified instructor he has the ability to teach any level of rider, from those new to the sport to the elite racer looking for an edge. Jason loves to share his passion for riding and his enthusiasm is infectious and if possible he will have you hopping on your back wheel by the day’s end. |
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 Verboten Wald, Fernie, BC |
Airport
What's Included
- 2 full days of instruction with experienced, friendly instructors
- Saturday night accommodation (Hardwood camp)
- Lunches
- Nutrition, training and maintenance workshops
For More Information
Send us your questions by email
