How To Find The Right MTB Skills Event For The Right Price

by Malia Burcham

Why MTB Training Companies Charge What They Charge

Have you ever come across an MTB instructional training ad and thought to yourself, “Woah, they are WAY too expensive!”?

We totally get it -- events can be out of budget for many people! But unfortunately… It costs a lot of money to put on certain types of events.

For example, to put on events in a great location, this is a low-ball operating cost for a single weekend (rounded down):

  • Venue permit: $500
  • Trail-use Permit: $150
  • Transportation Fees: $400
  • Food: $20 / participant x 6

= $1,170.00

… and that’s not including accommodations for the staff, equipment rental fees, and miscellaneous expenses (that are unpredictable)!

And here’s the part that hurts... 

At many locations there are restrictions of 6 participants! So if event organizers are to charge only $195 for a registration fee for a clinic, that is barely breaking even! Ouch! 

So if you were wondering why certain events are priced the way they are, it is because the organizer has to cover many costs behind the scenes to give participants the experience they pay for and deserve! And let’s be real… if there’s no profit for the company, then how can they be in business and provide for their families and their employees?

The good news is that there are more than 1 type of events to attend! Knowing what to register for gives you the confidence and freedom to register for the event that is right for you.

When you are looking for the right event to attend, consider the following:

What are you wanting to learn?

If you are wanting to focus on specific skills like only cornering or drops, then consider a shorter workshop! You can typically find shorter sessions for less than $100 and will consist of 6-20 participants, depending on the location and the organization. They are typically 1-4 hours long and cost less in some areas because they require less hours on permits and can have higher volumes of participants.

If you want a more in-depth training, then consider a skills clinic that focuses on a specific, FULL set of skills such as Fundamentals or Intermediate. These clinics will cover the majority, if not all of the skills within, are extremely valuable, and are fun group experiences. You will typically find clinics for $300 (give or take) and consist of 4-12 participants.

There are also multi-day camps that you can find that cover either both fundamental and intermediate skills or a more in-depth focus on one set of skills. These are super fun events that can be physically demanding, but absolutely worth it! They can be quite the adventure. Multi-day camps typically range from $450 to $1,000 depending on the organization and how many days their camp is. 

Then, there are private sessions. Private sessions are usually the most expensive of the bunch because you are paying for an instructor to give you (and sometimes a partner) their undivided attention for a specific amount of time. You will typically see private sessions priced around $75 an hour with a 2-hour minimum. For example, at $150 you will get 2 hours that can focus on 1 to 4 skills.

Things to consider when reviewing MTB event organizers:

  • What do they cover in the event you are looking at? Are they specific and detailed in the skills they are offering?
  • Does their price range seem fair for what they are offering?
  • Is the organization absorbing taxes and fees, or charging on top of expensive registration/ticket prices?
  • Do they have good reviews?
  • Are they certified instructors?
  • Do they feed you at the event? (Lunch or snacks and water)
  • Do they provide discounts?

Psst! Not to brag, but... we do all of the above. Sign up for our newsletter (found in the footer) to receive special discounts only for our subscribers!

So which event is right for you?

WORKSHOPS

If you are looking to hone in on just a couple skills like roll downs or cornering specifically, then maybe a 2-3 hour workshop is for you! We offer our workshops at $55 to $150, depending on the location (some permits are more expensive than others). They typically take place on the trail or in a small bike park with a focus on 2-4 skills and can consist of 6-20 participants.

CLINICS

The best bang for your buck is a single-day clinic at $300 or less. With Ride Guide you will learn ALL of the skills in the fundamentals or intermediate category you choose. We noticed other organizations will only cover a handful skills and will skip many important ones. It is our duty at Ride Guide to efficiently cover all of what you pay for and to never skimp on our delivery.

We price our single-day clinics at $200 to $285, and we absorb all the fees and taxes so that is ALL you pay. We cap our registration at 12 participants per clinic to ensure everyone gains equal value but some permits only allow us to have up to 6. We also maintain a 6:1 ratio with 6 participants per 1 instructor.

MULTI-DAY CAMPS

If you want it all in a short amount of time (like a weekend) and you are prepared to really invest into your riding skill development, then signing up for a multi-day camp is for you. Ride Guide camps can consist of 10 to 40 participants, but are divided into groups of 5 per instructor. 

Our multi-day camps typically consists of 2-days (Sat-Sun) and is priced at $450 to $495 and we absorb all fees and taxes so you don’t have to worry about any hidden costs.

PRIVATE SESSIONS

You will absolutely get the most value from a private session simply because the instructor only has one focus, you. From polishing up your cornering, to learning a full set of fundamentals or intermediate skills… you get what you pay for! You can spend as little or as much as you feel comfortable with and will gain tons of value in return!

Ride Guide currently does not offer private sessions. If we do in the future, we would charge the said above $75 per hour with a 2-hour minimum for private sessions. So if you’re shopping around, look for a price around there!

Closing Thoughts

So, that basically covers it! Events are costly, but are so worth it when done right. When we first started operating our events, it was a BIG learning experience. It is important to give our participants the experience they deserve and pay for. It is also important to us to always be accepting of feedback to make the next event even better. We hope you have a great experience no matter which event or event organization you choose to attend!

 

Cheers,

The Ride Guide Team

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