Ladies Freeride Coaching Weekend - Glentress

Forestry Commission Scotland has teamed up with the Scottish Women's Downhill Development club to host a weekend of freeride coaching at Glentress Forest, near Peebles. Based at the 7stanes Freeride Park within Glentress, some of the country's best coaches, namely Tracy Brunger and Emma Guy from The Hub and Chris ball from Dirt School will pass on top riding tips and techniques to ladies keen to try out the harder edge of mountain biking. Lynne Aitchison of the Scottish Women's Downhill Development club is organising the event, she said: “After staying in Canada for a year I noticed how many women of all standards rode their bikes and how many “women only” skills days/events took place to assist them and help them gain more skills. It really was great because we all know that most women learn well together. When I came back home however I realised that for Scotland to be the mountain bike capital of the world there was very little to entice girls to try new things. We have the facilities, just no organised events to get everyone of all abilities together and having fun. And so the concept was born!” The Ladies Freeride event will take place on weekend 4th and 5th October. On the Saturday riders will get the chance to learn new skills to get both wheels off the ground or nail wall rides, jumps and drop offs, followed by a BBQ. All the new skills learned will be put to the test on the Sunday with fun 'Air Maiden' competition on the freeride park. Will Huckerby of Forestry Commission Scotland in the Borders added: "The 7stanes Freeride Park is a great venue for coaching as you can start off easy and progress slowly through the range of jumps and technical features found on the trails. We are setting aside the whole park exclusively for the freeride coaching event so that all the riders can concentrate on improving their riding skills without interruptions." To sign up for the Ladies Freeride weekend, log on to www.downhiller.co.uk. For more information on Glentress's Freeride Park, log on to www.7stanes.gov.uk.