Mountain Biking

Technical Skill Level

• Advanced Novice: You enjoy riding single-track that has small obstacles that may include roots and rocks that are a couple inches tall, as well as some mud and sand. You understand how to shift your gears and are often able to shift your gears in response to terrain. You are learning how to use both front and back brakes to control your speed, and to be comfortable and reasonably balanced standing up off your seat while descending. You are just learning how to climb effectively. Exposure is still intimidating.

• Intermediate: You are comfortable riding single-track that has various obstacles including tight trees, mud, small loose rock, roots, and sand. You are able to mostly shift gears in response to terrain demands and use both front and rear brakes to control your speed. Descents are fun as long as they do not contain any obstacles and everything is easily and visibly rollable. You are practicing shifting your weight forward while climbing over technical terrain. Exposure with little to no consequence is fine.

• Advanced: You love riding single-track and aren’t deterred by obstacles including roots and rocks that are up to 6” tall, loose sand and rock, mud, tight trees and corners. You are able to shift gears in response to terrain and modulate both front and back brakes in steep terrain. Descending is super fun and you are not intimidated by long descents with obstacles. You are able to climb technical single-track and understand how to shift your body weight to achieve ultimate traction. Exposure is acceptable on moderate trails.

• Expert: You love to ride your bike in all terrain. Tight trees and corners, loose rock and sand, long descents with obstacles are all welcomed challenges that make the ride more fun. Modulating both front and rear brakes in varied terrain is a given, and shifting your body weight over your bike to respond to the terrain is brainless. Long descents with obstacles are exciting, and exposure with reasonable consequences often goes unnoticed.

Fitness Level

• Level 1: Exercise weekly and are reasonably fit. Could ride at a comfortable pace for 3 – 4 hours including 45 min climbs.

• Level 2: Exercise 2 or 3 times a week with a focus on fitness. Could ride up to 6 hours a day at a moderate pace, including 1.5 hour climbs, for a few days.

• Level 3: Exercise 3 or 4 times a week and are very fit. Could ride up to 8 hours a day at a good pace, with 2 hour climbs, for multiple days.

Trail Running

Skill Level

• Advanced Novice: You are comfortable running on some single-track that has few obstacles. You prefer trails with few hills or descents.

• Intermediate: You enjoy running on single-track that has various obstacles including small loose rock, roots, mud and sand. You like to test yourself with medium sized hills, even though you find them difficult. Exposure with little to no consequence is fine.

• Advanced: You love running single-track and aren’t deterred by roots, rocks or most obstacles. You are not intimidated by long singletrack climbs and are confident with your personal pace. Exposure is acceptable on moderate trails.

• Expert: You love running in all terrain. When someone says “loose rock, mud, roots, and uneven terrain”, you say “bring it on”. Long climbs and descents with obstacles are exciting, and exposure with reasonable consequences goes unnoticed.

Fitness Level

• Level 1: You trail run weekly and are reasonably fit. You can run at a comfortable pace for 2 – 4 hours including running through some hilly terrain. Your average run is about 10 – 15kms, with some longer runs as a challenge.

• Level 2: You trail run 2 – 4 times a week with a focus on fitness. Your average run is 4 – 6 hours at a moderate pace. You often find your runs including 1.5 – 2 hours of hilly or steep mountainous terrain using a run/hike techniques. Wearing a running vest with gear is not abnormal. Running multiple days is found challenging but welcomed.

• Level 3: You trail run more than 4 times a week and are very fit. You could run/hike up 6 – 8 hours a day at a good pace, including 2+ hours of hilly and at times steep mountainous terrain. You are used to wearing a running vest ~10 lbs or more and love challenging yourself with big, back to back days

Hiking

Fitness Level

• Level 1: You exercise weekly and are reasonably fit. You could hike at a comfortable pace for 3 – 4 hours including hiking through some hilly terrain.

• Level 2: You exercise 2 or 3 times a week with a focus on fitness. You could hike up to 6 hours a day at a moderate pace, including 1.5/3 hours of hilly and at times steep mountainous terrain ( for multiple days).

• Level 3: You exercise 3 or 4 times a week and are very fit. You could hike up 8-10 hours a day at a good pace, including 2+ hours of hilly and at times steep mountainous terrain at a time (for multiple days).