PMBI INSTRUCTOR COURSES

Anonymous comments are taken from the PMBI Course Evaluation Feedback Forms given to each candidate at the end of a course, on which they do not have to include their personal details.

Chris Kovarik and Claire Buchar, Pro Mountain Bike Racers / Legends and founders of KOVARIK RACING: Chris and I completed our Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Level 2 with ZEP Techniques, and it took our teaching to the next level! Now we can ensure that when we coach, whether it be for Kovarik Racing clinics, ZEP Bike Camps or when we contract ourselves out, we can provide quality instruction to help riders effectively improve their skills safely and easily.

Anka Martin, Pro Mountain Biker, SRAM Ambassador: Getting an instructors qualification was something that I have been wanting to do for a while now. I was super excited, but also nervous, because even though I know how to ride my bike, I didnʼt know how to teach people how to ride a bike. Thanks to the PMBI Certification Course, I now have a much better understanding of how this works, and what I need to do to teach people the valuable skills of riding a bike better. I canʼt wait to start coaching, and learning how to become a better coach, and hopefully Iʼll be able to take his Level 2 course sometime in the near future.

Kyle de Hrussoczy Wirth, Kicking Horse Bike Park Mountain Sports Manager: KHMR chose the PMBI Course because it is the best program that weʼve come across. Our insurers wanted to see a comprehensive program and they were familiar and happy with PMBI. We see a benefit to all the experience and training our staff receive - the more the better. I learned firsthand how beneficial these courses are to develop not only one's instruction abilities, but riding as well.

Katie Holden, Professional Mountain Bike Racer: ZEP Techniques not only taught me how to teach mountain biking safely and effectively, which is much harder than you think- but it was also a ton of fun. We got in a lot of good riding while we were learning. I came out of this course a much better teacher and rider. I would recommend this course to anyone that would like to instruct/teach/coach mountain biking...

Andy Bostock, UK National Champ, UCI World Masters DH Champ, Retired Pro Racer: What a great course, ZEP has taken the time to breakdown the art of mtn biking and deliver it in easy to understand, teach and learn pieces. During the PMBI course I reevaluated my riding, and after many years of racing and winning I came away not only having learnt how to teach but also how to ride better. You can teach an old dog new tricks, this course is for anyone who wants to improve there biking and is a must for anyone wanting to go into teaching.

Ryan Kuhn, Co-manager and Coach, PerformX Downhill Team: As the sport of mountain bike racing evolves, it's apparent there's a need for high-level coach training and I've been impressed by what ZEP has put together with their PMBI instructor training courses. I will be participating in the new Level 3 coach training this season with the goal of improving my coaching skills, professionalism and credentials.

Candace Shadley, Founder-Director, Dirt Series Mountain Bike Camps: Seeing the PMBI continue to develop their courses is fantastic. The better we are able to coach and instruct, the better our sport will grow. And just like we provide lessons and coaching in order to help our clients improve, it's smart for us to take courses to make sure we're continually growing and evolving what we offer to them as well. Providing the best product you can is the most rewarding of all, and I'm excited to see the PMBI working to help us do that.

Lindsey Voreis, Specialized All Ride Tour: Getting officially certified to teach people this glorious sport was so fun. The PMBI course was so worth it! We learned great ways to explain the "six skills" of mountain biking while also gaining new skills ourselves. Now I'm really ready to get more ladies confident riding! I'm coming for YOU!

Kalen Boland, Angel Fire Resort Bike Park Manager: Thanks again for the great course. It sure helped me instruct and come up with new drills and ways to help others improve their riding. I got to put it to practice the day I got back from Whistler taking some travel writers out on a lesson. Focusing on the warm-up and initial skills got them relaxed and ready and they had a great time.

Anonymous: Thanks Paul, the course was a 10/10!! The information on the PMBI courses is amazing. I cannot wait to spend my free time applying it to my own riding and racing in the future, as well as helping others.

Anonymous: 9/10. I think the breaking down of skills to 6 individual areas helps incredibly with teaching mountain biking to beginner-intermediate riders. Great, fun course.

Anonymous: 10/10. This was amazing and taught me so much about my teaching style and made me very aware of myself and how I explain things. What-why-how helps keep it simple and to the point. This course was excellent and I want to do the PMBI Level 2!

Anonymous: 8/10. What a great course... I particularly liked the practical aspect with lots of riding time and it was great having all the practice teaching and feedback. It was good to learn from others in the group as well as the Evaluators, who were obviously very experienced.

Anonymous: 9/10 only because there is always room for improvement! The PMBI is a terrific program and I would recommend to anyone looking to improve their riding or wanting to learn how to teach... or both!

Anonymous: 9/10. I really enjoyed the instructors (PMBI Course Conductors) and their teaching style. The course thoroughly helped me understand MTB better but also how to teach it properly... how to get my point across clearly and concisely.

Anonymous: 9/10. I've often had a hard time organizing my thoughts into a logical order. This course gave me a great model to work from and made me focus on the basics of my own riding.

Anonymous: 10 out of 10, glad I enrolled!

Anonymous: 10/10 - I feel I learnt more on this course than any other MTB Instructor Training course I have previously done.

Anonymous: I would give this course a 9 out of 10. I really enjoyed learning some new skills and being part of a course that is going to help standardize the teaching of mountain biking.

Anonymous: 10/10. I found the course very informative both personally and professionally. The PMBI courses seem to be setting a new standard for MTB Instruction.

JF Gringas, BaSE MTB CAMPS, Alberta: As an MTB Camp Director, I feel confident that my instructors with teach mountain biking in the safest and most relevant manner while providing a fun time. I would for sure recommend this course to others... it simply does not get better than that.

Greg Jones, MTB Instructor, BaSE MTB CAMPS, Alberta: 9/10. The course exceeded my expectations. The content, structure and materials, the PMBI course ZEP have developed was impressive enough but the fact that Paul managed to convey it in a fun, to-the-point manner is what made the course so good. The PMBI courses definitely set the standard that instructors should strive for.

Jeff Henkel, Revolution Cycle, Alberta: 9.5/10. The course is effective and informative; a great example of how to properly train mountain bikers.

Dan Eastwood, 24 yrs old, UK: "Paul's enthusiasm and professionalism define him as an instructor. He has been a huge inspiration to myself and all the trainees he has worked with, both adults and children. His passion and drive to continuously evolve his teaching and learning style to incorporate every individual makes him shine above others in his profession." Dan Eastwood, School Teacher, 2004 Co-Director

Nick Fuller, 19 yrs old, Alberta: "The progressions and techniques presented on the PMBI 1 course were great - my riding has improved and I now have a much better understanding of how to teach properly! I give it 9.5/10... the drop-off and jumping sessions were rad!"

Janet Loedon, 31 yrs old, British Columbia: "I'd give the PMBI Level 1 course 9/10 - not only did my own riding skills improve but I also learnt some great progressions and teaching theory from which I can continue to improve my instructing skills."

Gavin Lawson, 26 yrs old, Sydney - Australia: "After spending three months with Paul as my Director in '2005' on a mountain biking program in North Carolina, USA, my skills and confidence in my riding just kept growing continuously. As a result, I am not just a Mountain Bike Instructor at Blue Star Camps now but also the '2006' Director of that very same program Paul taught me to teach.

In this time I found Paul to be a very technical almost textbook rider as I recall looking back over our numerous videotaped downhill sessions. During these sessions under Paul's Instruction, my progress in both the speed and style of my riding would excel within a couple of hours. After having a great summer training to be and working as a Mountain Bike Instructor with him, Paul suggested I visit Canada where he works as a Snowboard instructor for the winter. I ended up spending the season there and once again was stoked to have the chance to better my skills under Paul's guidance."

George Rose, 18 yrs old, UK: "Paul taught me both as a student and also as a trainee instructor. His ongoing instruction on my own riding acted as the perfect guidance towards me becoming a better instructor. However, not only did he help to further my biking skills, he also taught me (and set the perfect example in his own teaching) several other key instructional skills such as communication (which was tested massively in our instruction of children!) and also safety while on the trails. The coaching I received has also helped me in numerous other activities I have participated in and I am sure will help me no end in my first season as a ski instructor this winter (I only hope the instruction I receive there will be as good as that I got from Paul!)"

Craig Anderson, 28 yrs old, British Columbia: "I learnt a variety of new techniques that actually improved my riding within the three days and which I can now pass on to clients... the (PMBI) course was also a lot of fun!"

CAMPS & CLINICS

Lewis Collins, 5 week Instructor Training Camp: Riding with, and being coached by some of the best people in the industry, in possibly one of the best riding locations in the world... was just incredible. My experience of the PMBI course was progressive and professional as well as being in a fun and relaxed environment. The camp exceeded my expectations and the ZEP Coaches were awesome!

Nathan Spencer, 4 week Instructor Training Camp: My 4 weeks with Paul (aka Captain Zep) were exactly what Mountain Bike Australia magazine described it. LIFE CHANGING! The natural progression and the incredible teaching skills of Paul made all my dreams come true. Right from having the time of my life in the incredible setting of Lost Lake trails to the cloudy mountains of Whistler & Silverstar Bike Parks. Smashing the world renowned “A” Line was a highlight, of which there were many. ZEP really gave me the opportunity to step it up, to learn to teach and have the time of my life. Thank you ZEP, I will be back!

Matt Szabo, 4 week Instructor Training Camp: I wanted to set up my own coaching company in Australia, and after lots of research ZEP MTB Camps seem to provide the best Instructor Training Programs in the industry. During my time with ZEP in Whistler, my riding evolved to a level that I never expected and I was blown away by how good the camp and PMBI courses actually were. Paul's teaching style is great, learning how to really be a PMBI we rode some of the best trails in the world, everyday, developing every aspect of our riding, teaching and assessment; it was an epic adventure. ZEP has provided Biketechniques Australia (my new company!) with the confidence, tools and certifications we needed to introduce the best mtb training here in Australia.

Jennefer Traynor: I just wanted to thank you again for all your help! You have an amazing gift of breaking down seemingly impossible/difficult concepts into the most basic and simplest elements. Your easy to follow instructions, focusing on the "down and dirty", rather than on all the 'fluff', acted like a bell going off in my head - things just 'clicked'. Learning to jump and actually control the jump is the skill that I was most excited to learn this weekend and feel that with you help, I'm well on my way! Even days later, I feel like I'm on 'Crank it up' yelling, 'wee, wee, WEEEEEE!!!!!' and am smiling ear to ear like a giddy mountain biker!"

Candace Shadley, Founder-Director Dirt Series Mountain Bike Camps: Paul's an excellent instructor. He has a great understanding of mountain bike skills and development, and a supportive and encouraging nature. I love learning new tips and conquering new bits of trail and I feel safe doing that with Paul.

Anita Nadiu: Paul Howard has refined my abilities as a coach, competitor and all around freerider. His coaching style is made unique by his intuitive ability to understand what individual riders need to achieve their goals, from dissecting a trick to visualizing the end result. What Paul offers is a rare brand of insight, foresight and experience, and most importantly the skill of infusing confidence.

Barbara Clarke, Washington: "Thank you sooo much! I had several successful days after our coaching and feel like I am now able to implement some of your wisdom into my riding. I took my husband and his buddy on "River" again and not only did they love it I was showered with complements from the boys. COOL!."

Brad and Jo Monteith, Ontario: "Brad and I left Whistler the end of August and made it back to Ontario. Brad and I both wanted to thank you for your skills and support this summer. Brad had great experiences under your direction and felt more comfortable and able to deal with trails both on the network and the mountain park. We hope to return to Whistler on a full time basis in 2008 and will require your coaching in the spring. All the best this fall and winter!"

Alexa Kravitz, 16 yrs old, Texas: "Paul has taught me everything I know about mountain biking. Every lesson that I've had with him, which is a lot!, has been so helpful and of course, fun! I haven't met anyone that knows as much as he does about biking, from everything to technique to just knowing the trails."

Paul Kluge, 35 yrs old, Brighton, UK: "Paul is an excellent instructor with an easy-going manner that puts people at ease. His lessons are fast-paced and fun but his first priority is always the needs of the student and how they can progress their skills and understanding. Paul's students always end a lesson feeling that they have had a great time and learned a lot." - Paul Kluge, co-instructor

Wendi Hausfeld, 23 yrs old, USA: "People always say that once you learn how to ride a bike, you never forget. I was 22 years old and had never learned to ride a bike when I met Paul Howard. He not only taught me the technical skills I needed to ride, but also gave me the confidence I needed to not be afraid. There are few people who really change your life and I can confidently say that Paul Howard has changed mine and I think of him every time I ride my mountain bike through the trails, loving every bump along the way."

Amy Fleischer, 19 yrs old, USA: "Paul Howard is a fantastic mountain biking instructor. When he introduced me to the sport many years ago... Paul was patient with his students and presented obstacles well suited to our skills and experience. He has confidence in his students to overcome these obstacles on the way to having fun and experiencing the thrill of downhill biking.

Much of Paul's clear instruction and practical advice still sticks with me today, over six years later. I'll never forget the value of proper hydration and weight distribution or body position while racing downhill on a bike. Safety was always a priority, but so was fun.

Mike Brennan, 29 yrs old, S.A.: "I have observed Paul Howard in an instructional capacity over a five year period, he connects with his pupils and has a passionate understanding of biking, it's great to see someone find their calling" Michael Brennan Cape Town South Africa, Father of Jack Danger Brennan

Shelley Moskowitz, 17 yrs old, UK: "Paul has the incredible ability to combine teaching and fun into his instruction of biking techniques. There is never a dull moment on the trails and at the end of the day you know you've improved as a rider and have also had an unforgettable time."