Mountain Bike Instructor Qualifications

Level 5 Mountain Bike Instructor

Scope of Leadership

• This qualification will provide the outdoor recreation sector with individuals who are able to operate independently and provide instruction and leadership for participants during specific outdoor activity. The emphasis of this qualification is on developing participants’ competence through safe, sequenced, learning experiences in dynamic outdoor environments.
• Graduates of this qualification are able to work independently and contribute to the daily operation of, and work under, a Safety Management System (SMS).
• Graduates of the Mountain Biking (Grade 4) strand will also be able to instruct participants in the mountain biking skills required for a positive experience up to and including Mountain Bike New Zealand (MTBNZ) Grade 4 trails through effective planning, delivery and evaluation

Learning Outcomes

• Apply knowledge of personal safety in mountain biking
• Use appropriate equipment and systems in mountain biking
• Select and use appropriate emergency equipment when responding to an emergency in mountain biking
• Demonstrate environmental responsibility and kaitiakitanga including respect for tikanga and Kawa of local iwi and hapū on mountain bike courses
• Apply an organisation’s safety management system while leading mountain bike activities
• Instruct participants in the skills required for safe educational mountain bike experiences
• Manage a group to safely experience mountain bike
• Evaluate mountain bike leadership and review the planned program

Topics Include

• Inspecting and explaining equipment used for mountain bike activities
• Emergency equipment used for non-routine situations and rescues
• Responding to non-routine situations
• Responding to emergencies and rescuing participants
• Pre activity tasks and checks
• Procedures and management techniques for preparing to lead mountain bike activities
• Preparing and checking equipment and a venue
• Instructing participants to use mountain bike Equipment
• Safety roles for instructors and participants
• Instruct participants to safely use mountain bikes
• Facilitation, communication and teaching techniques
• Monitoring and managing needs of participants and participant behaviour
• Cultural awareness
• Minimum impact principles for mountain bike activities

Qualification Delivery

Self-directed online learning

Teacher-directed online learning

Teacher-directed in-person training

Assessment Tasks

Prepare a plan to lead a group

Demonstrate leadership skills

Demonstrate personal skills

Review and evaluate leadership

Prerequisites

The following outlines hours and experience that must be completed for the qualification to be awarded. We recommend participants start with all of these conditions met. You will need to provide a plan that clearly shows how you will demonstrate these conditions before the final date of the qualification.

At least 60 hours of personal mountain biking experience on a wide range of MTBNZ Grade 3 and 4 trails, including:

• at least 20 rides on MTBNZ Grade 4 trails
• at least 2 rides that are of 5 hours in duration

At least 40 hours experience leading or instructing on MTBNZ Grade 3 and 4 terrain, including:

• at least 10 hours on leading or managing on Grade 4 trails
• at least 20 hours instruction
• experience can be in a co-instructor or an assistant role.