Summer Gravity camps for adults

[coiler_guy]

Anyone have any experience with the camp? My wife and I are thinking about going this summer.

[mbell]

I'm headed up this year for the second adult week. I'd like some more info as well.

[bear]

That's been on my wish list for a long time. Please guys, do a write-up when you get back so I can sell it to the household financier!

[myarmisonfire]

I did it a few years ago. Best week of DH riding I have ever had. I would sell a kidney to go again! Is there anything in particular that you want to know about the camp?

[mattsavage]

It's pretty awesome. I've been 5 times in the past 6 years. The best vacation I could ask for! It's nice to ride with people at your skill level and be guided by a pro. You don't have to worry about hitting a trail for the first time or be all sketched out cause the coaches know what you're capable of and they aren't going to take you anywhere you can't handle, yet they're always pushing and challenging you. Midweek they'll probably offer a heli-drop. It's pretty cool starting a ride up on top of a mountain on a glacier, but the trail down kind of blows... It's pretty much just rutted out fall line stuff. Unless you've never been in a helicopter and want to see your bike dangle thousands of feet in the air, I'd pass. Take a rest day or ride some XC or pumptrack or something, cause you'll need a break from the park at that point. You'll pretty much have blood blisters all over your hands from 30 laps a day, unless you've already been dh'ing ALOT. The air dome is super fun, a little bit street course and then the foam pit of course. Jordie is usually good for a couple beers while hanging out there for a couple hours. You'll be throwing tail whips and 3's in no time.

If I was you, I'd find my own accomodations up there though. Either through VRBO or AirBNB. The Tantalaus Lodge is okay for kids and young adults, but it's kind of ghetto for more mature audiences.

Just remember to hold back the first few days. It's super easy get over confident and too loose while following those guys around. Let you're guard down for a second and the next thing you know you're on the ground... About 10% of people are out after the first 3 days.

[coiler_guy]

I am just curious about the level of the coaching. Every coach there is a spectacular rider but can they coach? There is a huge difference between the two. I saw a how to vid by one of the coaches and he is so vague about re skill he is teaching that it was basically useless. I am hoping the rest of the coaches aren't the same. Teaching the skills progressively would be a good thing. I attended the coed trek dirt series course in whistler and those coaches are great. They taught those skills small steps. I spoke to a girl I know in town who was at the camp and she said their coach took them down the GLC without any coaching at all. The coach just had them train the jump. One of the gals in the group ended up in the hospital after that!

But my wife and I are attending the camp and we are hoping for a good time. I'll definitely tweet and write up a review as I go along. We ate going back to the trek dirt series coed camp in July and September so I'll have something for that as well.

Andy

[mattsavage]

Originally Posted by coiler_guy

I am just curious about the level of the coaching. Every coach there is a spectacular rider but can they coach?


Andy

Shandro does a pretty good job of finding people that can communicate well, not just ride well.

Some of them are super good. Katrina, Lorainne, Joe Schwartz, Shandro, Vanderham, Watson... They're really good. Morland, Cho, Billinghurst are fun to ride with and pretty good coaches, they like to say "just follow me off it..." Kyle Jamieson is super fun to ride with and a super cool guy, but he could work on his teaching/communication skills a little. He's best for those days you just wanna make fun laps, go fast (not really stop and work on technique or study a feature) cause he knows the fun lines. Most of the other coaches mentioned on the website are only there for one or two sessions and usually not the adult week. The kids like the dj/slopestyle guys more I think. Edit: I shouldn't have singled out Jamieson that way. He's a great coach too, I just went in my order of Best-Good experiences, there is no Bad experience there!

Karina and Lorainne are my favorite. They're ladies, they teach well, they rip, and they know all the other chicks on the mountain so there's lots of talking to other ladies in line or on the chair...

Also, with all these coaches, there's lots of opportunity for beer drinking and boozing afterwards...

[whodaphuck]

I did one of theTrek series camps last year and it was extremely helpful. 3 different coaches (switched off @ half day) in 2 days and I had at least 2 light bulb moments that alone made the camp worth the $, not to mention the swag I got (tshirt, socks, grips, RF knee/shin armor). If you do their last one of the year (in Sept. last year) they sell off all their gear and loaner bikes pretty cheap too.

[Jason B]

Are there any instructors that fly out to other locations to do camps (they all seem to be in CA, CO, or Canada).

I'm into tech diving and several organizations do that (GUE and UDT). Get the guys together for the class, contact the instructor and he'll fly (or drive) to your location to give the class. Of course you have to pay for the instructors flight and hotel but that is split between all those in the class so it is not as bad.

Scuba diving is nowhere near as popular as mtb is so it would seem there could be a huge money making opportunity if it was done. Most areas have some sort of trail systems where basics could be taught.

Anyone know of such an outfit?

[Ollie B]

Mattsavage- roughly how many riders were in your group and did the size just depend on the level?

[myarmisonfire]

Originally Posted by Ollie B

Mattsavage- roughly how many riders were in your group and did the size just depend on the level?

They keep the group size to about 6 or less people. They group you together by skill level but you are not chained to a group. You can ride with friends or if a group does not match your skill lever you can switch.
As for the coaches I found that the three I rode with were all positive, constructive coaches.
If you get a chance to do the heli-drop on Rainbow Mountain it is a must!

[LarryFahn]

I was thinking about hitting that one, but the price! Does anyone know how the 'Richie Schley's Mountain Bike Adventure' camp is? It's only on the weekend and leaves the rest of the week open for riding on your own. Thanks, Fahn

[mattsavage]

Originally Posted by Ollie B

Mattsavage- roughly how many riders were in your group and did the size just depend on the level?

On average, 6-7. The less experienced groups were a little larger at times, the most advanced, maybe 2-3.

[jasevr4]

While I have no experience with the camp, definitely consider all of the options. There are a lot of instructors in town!

In the early season it's $319 for a full day private lesson with a coach employed by Whistler Blackcomb, and there are some extremely talented coaches/riders working there!

For the price, you could have 5-6 days (I'm sure if you booked a week you could get a deal for the same price as SGC) and it would be one on one lessons.

Granted you don't get to ride with the big names, but just thought it would be worth mentioning some of the options.

Also Camp of Champions could be worth looking at too. I know their groups are a lot smaller and their price is a fair bit cheaper.

[mattsavage]

Originally Posted by LarryFahn

I was thinking about hitting that one, but the price! Does anyone know how the 'Richie Schley's Mountain Bike Adventure' camp is? It's only on the weekend and leaves the rest of the week open for riding on your own. Thanks, Fahn

I think the price is worth it. Two meals a day, lodging, potentially several hundreds in free swag, lots of beer, memories, no wait in the lift line, etc... I only get one vacation a year, I'm not rich, but I don't want to half ass it either, so to me this is going all out. Still less than an all inclusive Mexico or Caribbean trip.

I've heard the Schley camp is good. A good way to go if you have your own lodging and are there for only a week or and want some free time to do other things as well.

[LarryFahn]

Originally Posted by mattsavage

I think the price is worth it. Two meals a day, lodging, potentially several hundreds in free swag, lots of beer, memories, no wait in the lift line, etc... I only get one vacation a year, I'm not rich, but I don't want to half ass it either, so to me this is going all out. Still less than an all inclusive Mexico or Caribbean trip.

I've heard the Schley camp is good. A good way to go if you have your own lodging and are there for only a week or and want some free time to do other things as well.

That's cool. I hear where you're coming from. None of us have the 2.5g's though (at minimum) to throw into this camp not to mention the flight and car rental too ($700+300). Plus we'd like the free time to chose if we wanted a day off to try Vancouver or maybe some XC/AM stuff. Ttyl, Fahn

[mattsavage]

Originally Posted by LarryFahn

That's cool. I hear where you're coming from. None of us have the 2.5g's though (at minimum) to throw into this camp not to mention the flight and car rental too ($700+300). Plus we'd like the free time to chose if we wanted a day off to try Vancouver or maybe some XC/AM stuff. Ttyl, Fahn

Oh, yeah, didn't consider all that. I just drive up from Portland. I guess I'm moderately spoiled...

[snojcb]

I just paid for my place in the 2nd week Adult camp of SGC. Can't wait! Me and a buddy are coming from the East coast USA (North Carolina). We're arriving two days before the camp and staying two days after. Flying in to Vancouver and taking Pacific Coach Lines to/from Whiz.

It'll be my first trip to Whistler and I'm SO stoked! My biggest concern right now is how to pack the bike and all my gear and stay under the airline's size/weight regulations. I have no idea how that's going to work. FF helmet, Leatt brace, body armor, arm/leg/knee pads, extra set of tires, a few tools, ... Ugg! I'll never get it to fit!

[jasevr4]

FYI there is a limited supply of tools and an air compressor at GBB if you can't fit them in.

Plus the shops are pretty good if you just rock up and ask to borrow an allen key for 2 minutes.

[mattsavage]

Originally Posted by snojcb

My biggest concern right now is how to pack the bike and all my gear and stay under the airline's size/weight regulations. I have no idea how that's going to work. FF helmet, Leatt brace, body armor, arm/leg/knee pads, extra set of tires, a few tools, ... Ugg! I'll never get it to fit!

What airline?

[turborobo]

Pretty stoked! Just signed up for the 2nd adult camp 7-14th. Think my turner highline will b enough bike?

[elistan]

i went last year and i am going again this year. First adult week.

I went up with my girl. I have been to whistler 5 times prior for week stays. I decided to take my girl to the camp so we would both be happy riding and learning. I race cat1 19-29 and this was her second time at a lift access place. It was a great idea, she got to learn with Katrina and and Loraine all week. I got to chase around the young kids and coaches down everything i wanted. We would meet up after camp and rip a few runs, have a beer, go to the hot tub, ect.

The groups for advanced riders were smaller, my group was 4-5 + coach. The other groups were 6 mostly. Be vocal if you think you are in a the wrong group or want to do something other than what the group wants. Some of the people only want to rip dirty merchant and aline. If thats not your steeze, talk to shandro, he will put you in a group that you want to be in. After all, you paid a lot of money and they want you to have a great time. I hopped groups during the week just trying to find out what was right for me.

No heli last year as the snowpack was still pretty high, this year i am going to guess the same as whistler had the 2nd biggest snowfall on record.

Some coaches had stronger points than others. I rode with wade, Lorraine, cho, kyle, cho, Lorraine. I learned the most from Lorraine. The most fun riding was with kyle.

You meet a ton of new people that just love to ride, provided lunch and breakfast ( they get old by the last day tho), some good schwag, ect

The highline will be plenty bike.

[whodaphuck]

Originally Posted by turborobo

Pretty stoked! Just signed up for the 2nd adult camp 7-14th. Think my turner highline will b enough bike?

Took the Highline last summer on my first trip. It was plenty of bike, but I do have a 40 on it. I would like to try a true DH bike next time I'm there.

[mattsavage]

Originally Posted by turborobo

Pretty stoked! Just signed up for the 2nd adult camp 7-14th. Think my turner highline will b enough bike?

As long as you're not trying to race Morland or Stevie Smith down Whistler Downhill, you should fine...

+1 on Lorraine and Katrina... They're seriously the most confience inspiring coaches there. Stuff you might find yourself edging up to and rolling into, they'll have you pre-jumping and airing into in no time, totally opening up new lines! It's so awesome...

[lokomonkey]

Originally Posted by turborobo

Pretty stoked! Just signed up for the 2nd adult camp 7-14th. Think my turner highline will b enough bike?

I've been there with my Highline, and I believe is the "perfect bike" for whistler! ....is freeride, not DH racing, my set up was a t the time; totem and a pushed DHX coil, have fun!