Archives: Skills Instruction

Advanced Mountain Bike Skills Courses

Cog Wild’s advanced mountain bike courses are designed for experienced riders who want to refine their skills and go faster with more control and style. These courses dive into the nitty gritty of cornering and technical riding; feel the speed gained with refining cornering technique, clean rock gardens with more confidence and control. Offered multiple times per season, select the session that works for your time frame.

Browse the options below to choose the course that fits your needs. If these options feel too advanced, try a Progression Session to hone in basic mountain bike skills, learn to jump or drop a mountain bike through our popular oldies series or take a private lesson with a certified coach.

Corners For Dough

Rider Level and Requirements

Cornering is the holy grail of mountain biking, we all chase the “perfect turn” and there is always room for improvement. Learn techniques that you can take to the rest of your riding career. Corners For Dough is two sessions scheduled a week apart, to give you some practice time before the second day.

-Leaning, when and how much
-Angulating, adjusting in the corner and maximizing traction
-Rotating, driving the bike through body movement
-berm turns
-flat and off camber turns
-loose corners and how to rail
-line choice for flow and speed through corners
-maximizing traction with pressure control

Be prepared
-Bring a well maintained bike with disc brakes and full suspension.
-Wear a helmet and knee pads, elbow and other body armor is recommended.
-We will shuttle, but be prepared for some pedaling and climbing to get to the sweet corners

Terrain & Trails

Bend is a corner mecca, they are everywhere. Funner has a wide variety of corners and is easy to shuttle, so day one will be Funner! On the second day we will choose a trail based on conditions and group desires Instruction on the trail includes cornering demonstrations, drills and tasks to work on better cornering and lots of practice with continued feedback using verbal cues, video review and coach demos.

2026 Corners For Dough

Two day clinic, one week apart for maximum progression. If these dates don’t work with your schedule, consider a private lesson for you or a group of friends for a specific jumping class.

  • May 4th and 11th, Mondays 5:00 – 7:30 PM
  • June 1st and 8th, Mondays 5:00 – 7:30 PM
  • June 23rd and 30th, Tuesdays 9:00 – 11:30 AM
  • September 14th and 21st, Mondays 5:00pm-7:30pm
  • October 3rd and 10th, Saturdays 9:30am-noon

The first week, meet at Cog Wild, we will shuttle Funner for maximum corner time

2nd week, meet at Cog, we will choose where to ride, conditions dependent

$175 for a two day clinic of corner smashing

Crushing Tech

Rider Level and Requirements

Riders must have the basics down and feel comfortable riding blue trails safely.

  • Bring a well-maintained, modern full suspension bike with dropper and disc brakes
  • Open face helmet is fine, or full face if it has vents and you’re used to it.
  • Knee pads and gloves highly recommended.
  • Elbow pads or other armor if you’re used to riding in it and can pedal without restriction.
  • Bring snacks, water and personal items like repair kit

Terrain & Trails

Bend has plenty of rocks, roots, steep ups and downs and technical features to challenge even the most competent riders. Areas like “Black COD” and Funner Canyon have excellent features and classroom areas for this class. Instruction on the trail includes demonstrations from high-level riders, engaging drills to learn the skills & maneuvers needed to clean technical terrain; and lots of practice with continued feedback using verbal cues, video review and coach demos.

Skills Checklist

We will pick several items from this list to work on:

  • Steep(er) or rougher climbing
  • Riding up or down single rock features
  • Flowing through extended rock gardens
  • Refine body position & movements to flow through techy terrain
  • Switchbacks and slow speed turns
  • Adding rotation, angulation to increase body-bike separation
  • Pumping and absorbing to carry momentum in the jank

Be prepared

  • Bring a well maintained bike with disc brakes and full suspension.
  • Wear a helmet and knee pads, elbow and other body armor is recommended.
  • Be prepared for some pedaling and climbing to get to the techy goods

2026 Crushing Tech

Two Saturday mornings. If these dates don’t work with your schedule, consider a private lesson for you or a group of friends for a specific jumping class.

  • September 12th and 19th, 9:30am-noon

Meet at Cog Wild, we start on our skills loop then ride out onto the trails

$175 for single day 4.5 hours tech course

Professional Coaches


Cog Wild is home to the best coaches in Bend. With multiple certifications from  Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches or Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association, years of racing experience, a lifetime of playing around on bikes and lots of coaching and teaching at all levels, our coaches are pro. You are guaranteed to come away from these courses with new riding tools and a refined sense of how to ride.

Mountain Biking for Oldies Group Instruction

Cog Wild’s Mountain Biking for Oldies classes are designed for experienced mountain bikers who want to learn how to safely jump or hit drops. Both Drops for Oldies and Jumping for Oldies feature instruction on body position, anatomy of the feature and merciless practice along with individual and video feedback from the coach.

Riders are encouraged to take Drops for Oldies before Jumping for Oldies, because the drops course reviews basic body position, which is a foundational skill of mountain biking. In addition, drops are easier to learn than jumps. Graduates of the Jumping for Oldies class are invited to participate in Jumping for Golden Oldies, where jump skills are applied the trails west of Bend, Oregon.

Drops for Oldies

Rider Level and Requirements

Drops for Oldies is designed for experienced riders who can trail ride well, have attempted drops before and who are ready to dial in the fundamentals to progress safely. Coach Erika strongly recommends this class before Jumping for Oldies.

Be prepared

  • Bring a well maintained bike with disc brakes and at least a 120mm of full suspension travel.
  • Wear a helmet and knee pads, elbow and other body armor is recommended.

What to expect

Drops for Oldies takes a deep dive into the body position, speed and timing of drop technique. Instruction begins with rolling drops and progresses to larger drops, as appropriate for each rider. The coach then mercilessly drills the participants in safe drop technique.

2026 Drops for Oldies Schedule

  • April 9
  • April 30
  • May 12
  • September 10

Each class is one evening only. All classes are from 5 PM to 7 PM. If these dates don’t work with your schedule, consider a private lesson for you or a group of friends to learn mountain bike drop skills.

The class meets at the mountain bike skills area at the Seventh Mountain Resort. Park in any spot and find the skills area near the tennis courts.

  • $95 for a two hour drop progression course

Jumping For Oldies

Rider Level and requirements

Jumping for Oldies is for experienced riders who can trail ride well, have attempted jumps before and who are eager to understand the fundamentals in order to maximize air time and control.

Be prepared

  • Bring a well maintained, modern mountain bike. Hardtails are ok, a full suspension with disc brakes is recommended.
  • Either a full face or open face helmet is ok, knee and elbow pads are recommended.
  • Must be willing and able to repeatedly ride or push a bike back to the top of a jump line.

What to expect

Day #1 begins at the Seventh Mountain Resort skills park, where participants learn and practice safe jumping technique. On Day #2, participants apply their new skills at the The Lair, a popular jumping spot near Cog Wild. Graduates of Jumping for Oldies are eligible for Jumping for Golden Oldies, which are single evening, alumni sessions on jump trails west of Bend.

2026 Schedule

  • April 14 and 16
  • May 5 and 7
  • June 9 and 11

If these dates don’t work for you, consider setting up a private group lesson for you and some friends to cover the same content.

Session #1: The class meets at the Seventh Mountain Resort Bike Skills Area.

Session #2: The meeting location for day 2 will be shared via the confirmation email and confirmed by the coach.

  • $175 for two days of jump progression and practice.

Jumping For Golden Oldies

Rider level and requirements

The Jumping for Golden Oldies sessions are available to riders who have “graduated” from Jumping for Oldies in the past couple of years. Class size is limited to 6 riders to reduce trail cluster.

Be prepared

  • Bring a well maintained modern mountain bike. Hardtails are ok, a full suspension with disc brakes is recommended.
  • Either a full face or open face helmet is ok, knee and elbow pads are recommended
  • Must be willing and able to repeatedly ride or push a bike back to the top of a jump line.

What to expect

Take the skills learned in Jumping for Oldies to the trail! Each 2.5 hour, stand alone class becomes progressively more difficult: A is the most basic, B is a bit more difficult and C is the most advanced.

Sign up for one or all three sessions:

  • A: Golden Oldies at the Lair
  • B: Whoops for Golden Oldies
  • C: Tiddlywinks for Golden Oldies

2026 Schedule

  • June 10: Whoops for Golden Oldies
  • June 15: Tiddlywinks for Golden Oldies

If these dates don’t work for your schedule, consider setting up a private group lesson for you and some friends to cover the same content.

Each session is a stand alone 2.5 hour class that meets at the following trailheads:

  • May 26: Golden Oldies at the Lair: meet at Cog Wild at 5 PM and ride to the Lair.
  • June 10: Whoops for Golden Oldies: Meet at the bottom of Whoops Trail on Forest Rd. 300.
  • June 15: Tiddlywinks for Golden Oldies. Meet at Green Gate at 4:45 to catch a shuttle at 5 PM sharp!
  • $95 per session

About Coach Erika

Erika Schmid has been riding her mountain bike forever yet she continues to push herself to the more extreme aspects of the sport as she ages. Erika is a PMBI Level 2 certified instructor with a major in jumps and drops.

Mountain Bike Skills Clinics in Oakridge, Oregon

Come to Oakridge to learn or refine mountain bike skills. The terrain is great for skill building: switchbacks, flow trails and steep tech trails. Whether you are looking for fundamentals, downhill specific lessons or flow skills, we have the coaches for you.

Cog Wild’s coaches are certified through the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches or Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association, they are trained to help you become a more confident and skilled rider. Private instruction for individuals to small groups is available daily from mid April through the end of October.

Private SkillsMeet our Coaches

Private Mountain Bike Skills Session

  • For solo riders or a private group. From beginners to advanced riders, we can accommodate everyone.
  • On demand, personalized instruction from a certified coach.
  • The coach will discuss goals, assess skill and tailor instruction to each client’s ability and interests. Lessons typically focus on what the client needs, which typically includes fundamental skills, technical trail riding over rocks & roots, cornering and switchbacks, rollers, jumps and cornering.
  • 9:30 to 1:30, up to 4 hours, which may include shuttle time in a van.
  • Includes snacks, Cog Wild water bottle, transportation during the lesson and cold beverages post session.

Pricing

Solo rider: $320
2 riders: $175 per person
3 to 4: $135 per person

Oakridge Mountain Bike Coaches

Lev Stryker

Lev is Cog Wild’s head skills coach. In addition to going fast downhill, he’s a high level skills coach. He’ll break down the nitty gritty of becoming a faster and smoother rider.

Qualifications

  • PMBI Level 2 Instructor
  • PMBI Level 1 Coach Course Conductor
  • Wilderness First Responder

Dennis Sibilia Young

Dennis is passionate about introducing people to mountain biking and the Oakridge trails. As an experienced educator and rider, he’s our go to coach for fundamentals and intermediate skills for newer riders, families and folks who identify as older.

Qualifications

  • PMBI Level 1 Instructor
  • NICA Level 3 coach and National Trainer
  • Wilderness First Aid certified

Frequently asked questions about skills instruction sessions

Yes! Your own mountain bike is best because you are used to it and you’ll likely ride it after the lesson.

Our coaches have ample experience with all skill levels:

Beginners and intermediate riders progress quickly through a skills lessons or a guided ride.

For more advanced riders, our instructors ensure your fundamentals are solid, then move into more advanced skills like drops and jumps, and maneuvers on technical terrain like rock gardens, jump lines and higher speed corners.

For central Oregon locals and long term visitors, we recommend multi-week clinics such as Progression Sessions, Jumping or Drops for Oldies or an Advanced Mountain Bike Course at our Bend location.

Additionally, it’s possible to schedule multiple private lessons or a full day tour with a coach or guide to refine your riding abilities.

In Oakridge, skills instruction is available for children on a case by case basis. Please contact the office to discuss options at info@cogwild.com or call 541-385-7002.

Mountain Bike Skills Instruction Bend, Oregon

A mountain bike coach assesses a rider and gives instruction on how to corner on a mountain bike trail.

Cog Wild has provided mountain bike and gravel skills instruction in Bend since 2015. All of our coaches are certified through the Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches or Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association. Choose from on demand private instruction for individuals to small groups or multi-week group instruction sessions focused on the fundamentals of mountain biking or advanced maneuvers like jumps and drops.

Private LessonsProgression SessionsJumps & drops for oldiesAdvanced MTB Skills: corners & Tech

MTB Progression Sessions

  • Prescheduled group classes
  • Beginner to intermediate riders
  • Strengthen fundamental skills in a fun group environment
  • 7.5 hours of instruction over three weeks (1x week for 3 weeks)
Progression Session Info

Advanced Mountain Bike Courses

  • Prescheduled group classes
  • Intermediate to advanced riders
  • Corners For Dough
  • Crushing Tech
  • 5 hours of instruction: 2 lessons a week apart
Advanced MTB Courses info

Private Mountain Bike Skills Lessons

  • For solo riders or your private group
  • All abilities, the coach will assess your skill and tailor instruction to your ability and goals.
  • On demand, personalized instruction from a certified skills instructor
  • Half day (3 hours) or full day (5-6 hours)
Private MTB Skills info

Mountain Biking for Oldies

  • Prescheduled group classes
  • For riders age 30+, intermediate & experienced riders
  • Jumping for Oldies
  • Drops for Oldies
  • Golden Oldies
  • 4.5 hours of instruction over 2 lessons per session (2x week for 1 week) OR a single 2.5 hour session
Mountain biking for Oldies Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Mountain Bike Skills Instruction

Yes! Your own mountain bike is best because you are used to it and you’ll likely ride it after the lesson.

If you are traveling or you’d like to try a different bike we have DEMO BIKES for rent.

Our coaches have ample experience with all skill levels:. Beginners and intermediate riders progress quickly through a skills lessons or a guided ride. For more advanced riders, our instructors ensure your fundamentals are solid, then move into more advanced skills like drops and jumps, and maneuvers on technical terrain like rock gardens, jump lines and higher speed corners.

For central Oregon locals and long term visitors, we recommend multi-week clinics such as Progression Sessions, Jumping or Drops for Oldies or an Advanced Mountain Bike Course. Additionally, it’s possible to schedule multiple private lessons or a full day tour with a coach or guide to enhance your riding abilities.

Check out Cascadia Junior Cycling for junior-specific after school mountain biking sessions, summer camps, mountain bike clubs & race teams.

Cascadia Junior Cycling

Group Mountain bike instruction for adults

Master the trails with Cog Wild’s Multi-Week Progression Sessions

Join Cog Wild’s progression sessions to improve your mountain bike skills with like minded adult riders in Bend.

Cog Wild’s coaches have advanced coaching certifications and are highly trained to guide your progression, wherever you are on your mountain biking journey. If group lessons aren’t your thing, check out half and full day private skills sessions in both Bend or Oakridge.

Progression Sessions

For entry and intermediate level riders who want to gain confidence and improve stability and balance on a mountain bike through an intentionally laid out series of lessons.

Rider Level

Cog Wild’s Progression Sessions are designed for beginner to intermediate riders who have some experience and are ready to short cut the learning curve with intentional instruction.

The Experience

  • The classes meet at Cog Wild and at various trailheads.
  • Three 2.5  hour mountain bike lessons led by certified skills coaches with the same cohort.
  • Each lesson builds upon skills learned during the prior session. Please plan to attend all three sessions.
  • Complimentary Deschutes Brewery beer, Polar Seltzer or Humm Kombucha  to close up the final session.

Fall 2026 schedule:

  • September 8, 15 and 22 (Tuesday evenings, 5 to 7 PM)
  • October 3, 10, 17 (Saturday 10 AM to noon)

    The first session meets at Cog Wild’s office in Bend. The coach will determine the location for the later two dates based on the weather and which trails are open at that time of year.

    • $275 for three 2.5 hour sessions of intentionally planned mountain bike skills instruction for adults

    COGWILD SKILLS CLINICS – PROMO from JAYMOVISION on Vimeo.

    Private Mountain Bike Skills Instruction in Bend, Oregon

    Cog Wild’s private mountain bike skills session’s are designed to help you become a more confident and skilled rider. Choose from a full or half-day clinic for you or a your private group.

    Private Mountain Bike Skills Class

    Each private skills class is customized to the participant(s). To begin, the coach will assess rider ability and determine goals. All instruction and feedback is designed around client goals. After the session, relax and debrief the experience and summarize the skills learned with a cold beverage from  Deschutes Brewery, Polar Seltzer or Humm Kombucha. 

    • Half-day sessions are 3 to 3.5 hours and include on-trail snacks. Cog Wild recommends a half day session for newer riders because practicing skills and drills is mentally and physically demanding.
    • Full-day sessions are 5-6 hours and include on-trail lunch and snacks. The first half of the day is usually for skills practice while the second half of the day is devoted to applying newly learned skills to the trail.

    Private skills sessions meet at Cog Wild, which is located at LOGE Bend, adjacent to the Deschutes National Forest. Lessons take place at Cog Wild and National Forest roads and trails.

    Half Day Private Skills

    • Solo rider: $230
    • 2 riders: $120 per person
    • 3 or more: $95 per person

    Full Day Private Skills

    • Solo rider: $350
    • 2 riders: $180 per person
    • 3 or more: $135 per person

    Santa Cruz rental bikes are available, add one to your reservation upon checkout.

    COGWILD SKILLS CLINICS – PROMO from JAYMOVISION on Vimeo.