Junior Holiday MTB Coaching in Sheffield & Manchester

  • Are you looking for MTB coaching for young riders from 7 years upwards?
  • Do you want to help your child improve their riding skills while having a great time on the bike?
  • Would your teenage mountain biker benefit from coaching in advanced jumping & descending skills?

My junior MTB skills courses help to improve jumping skills, descending skills for all disciplines. As well as the MTB fundamentals to ride confidently & safely.

MTB skills coaching is run from Grenoside Woods & Parkwood Springs, Sheffield & Farmer Johns Bike Park, Marple. All sessions are coached by me, Michael Guilford and also Martin Bernstein.

Junior Course Structure – from March 2026

Its important you book on a course at the correct level. The courses are seperated into three levels. All riders need to complete all of the courses in order, i.e. Level 1 before, Level 2, Level 2 before Level 3.

During the session I take a record of which riders have met the technical criteria to move onto the next course.

  • Level 1 – This is for all riders who havent been on one of my courses before. These courses work on pumping & absorbing, weight shift, & fundamentals of cornering & braking. (Riders who’ve had coaching before or have a few years experience riding red graded trails, maybe able to join Level 2 courses. Contact me first).
  • Level 2 – These courses work on red graded trails. Taking through the fundamentals for riding flow trails as well as descending techniques. Jumping/technique technique, cornering, line choice & weight shift for rolls & drops.
  • Level 3 – These courses are for experienced riders, who’ve been coached in the key techniques for descending. These course progressing the above techniques in more challenging & complex trails. Including steep & technical terrain, and skills for DH & Enduro racing. Typically this is suitable for riders who’ i’ve ‘ve had coaching for a few years.

The table below gives the dates for the various locations and age groups.

For Riders Who Joined Courses before March 2026

If you attended a course in 2025 but didnt join a Level 1 course, please contact me so I can advise on the suitable course to join. Even if you joined a Level 2 course.

Junior Courses in Sheffield

AgeLocationDates
Click HereLevel 1Fundamentals Session 1>7yrsParkwood Springs17 Jan, 31 Jan
Level 1 Fundamentals Session 2>7yrsParkwood SpringsSpring 2026
Click HereLevel 2 Jumping & Flow11-16Grenoside Sheffield30 Mar
Click HereLevel 2Descending Skills11-16Grenoside Sheffield1 Apr
Click HereLevel 3Race Skills & Descending Series – Session #1 & #3 (see below for #2)11-18Grenoside Sheffield14 Dec,
18 Feb
Click hereLevel 2Power Hour Weekly Sessions 11-18Grenoside SheffieldTuesdays PM from Mar 2026

Junior Courses near Manchester

AgeLocationDates
Click HereLevel 1 Fundamentals Session 17-16StockportTBC
Level 1 Fundamentals Session 27-16Farmer Johns StockportTBC
Click HereLevel 2Jumping & Flow 11-16Farmer Johns Stockport2 Apr
Click HereLevel 2Decending Skills11-16Farmer Johns Stockport28 Mar
Click HereLevel 3Race Skills & Descending Series – Session #2 11-18Farmer Johns Stockport4 Jan
Michael Guilford

I have been coaching junior mountain biking for over 12 years, as well as extensive experience working with school groups of all ages. I have delivered youth cycling sessions for British Cycling, Access Sport & local councils. I am a mountain biker & racer, having raced MTB XC, Downhill & Enduro for many years.