Below are a selection of comments and testimonials from past clients of ZEPtechniques... from both our Coaching Clinics and PMBI Instructor Training Courses.
COACHING
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."
PMBI INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
The first few are a selection of anonymous comments as they 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. The last question on this form asks them to give the course a mark out of ten and to leave a general, overall comment.
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!"
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