First Tracks coaching a huge success

May 05

First Tracks is a dynamic mountain bike coaching and guiding business designed for riders for people who want to ride. Coaching by top Irish downhiller, Glyn O'Brien, the numerous coaching sessions that have been active over the past few months have been growing in success.

First Tracks accommodate for beginners wanting to have fun, right down to the advanced rider who wants to learn new skills and tackle the toughest terrain on offer.

Based in Newry, Northern Ireland, close to the Mourne Mountains, Glyn takes numerous coaching courses. Examples of these over the past few weeks are Advanced Downhill Coaching Days, A Mountainbike Mayhem Weekend in conjunction with Real Cycles, Downhill Coaching Techniques with Ben Reid, an XC coaching day and on Wednesday 18th May Glyn will hold the first ever 4X training Day on Moneyscalp 4X course.

Stevie Millgate of Reac Photography who attended a downhill techniques course at Yellow Water, the 2005 Irish NPS venue, told IrishDH "It was a real insight into the finer points of mountain biking that most of us don't pay attention to- little tricks that make slow corners fast! Most of us just hack our way through the technical sections in anticipation of the fast flowing bits that we love, Glyn teaches you how to negotiate these tricky bits brings you to a totally new level of mountain biking. Opening the twisty, muddy and difficult bits you thought you could never do and turning them into hair-raising roller-coaster rides, you appreciate every aspect of the trail."

At Stevie's coacing There were 6 riders alltogether. The morning started @ 9am with bike set up and intro as to what was happening on the day. We then walked the course from the bottom up to give us an idea of the track and conditions.

The 1st section of the coaching involved cornering. Then we moved onto the next
section which was switch-backs. The next section was cornering on a tight berm and then along an off-camber section. Just before lunch we sessioned some step downs and drops.

Lunch was from 1-1.45. After lunch we headed up the fire road and spent the next few hours doing timed runs, trying to use
what Glyn had taught us. It was sweet as :)

Stevie has covered 2 of Glyns coaching days, the 1st one was just a photoshoot but he was so impressed that he had to go on the next one.

People from all over the country and of every level sign up for the courses. Mairtin Savage of Oldcastle, Mullingar said 'I had a brilliant days riding - I'll be back again soon,you can never learn enough!!

Conor Mansell of Bryansford-Newcastle: "Quality session - learned alot. Happy with my first run time but could do better!!! 1.59 next time!!

Ragnorak, Kilkeel "it was a great day, I learned alot. its just a matter of lots of practice now. I would definitely recommend the coaching!!

Stevie (aka Reac Photography) Bangor: A real eye opener, it was a real sweet session and nobody better to learn of than our own Irish pro rider Glyn O'Brien. Sweet as!!!

Glyn's next session will be held in Moneyscalp at the 4X, and he constantly has other downhill and XC coaching courses in operations. For more information contact Glyn by logging on to his website at www.firsttracksguiding.com

Photos courtesy of Reac Photography