In Episode 12, Liz talks mountain bike coaching with Stephanie Beritsky, a certified mountain bike instructor, NICA coach, and former REI instructor, to compare three common training pathways: PMBIA, BICP, and NICA’s in-house coach training. They unpack the real differences in how each system prepares instructors/coaches, especially the tradeoff between classroom/testing vs. on-trail learning, and why teaching skills in a grassy field doesn’t always translate to confident trail riding. You’ll also hear a practical deep-dive on what’s missing from many coach trainings: learning how to notice errors in real time and correct them effectively, plus how attention, fear, and muscle memory shape what young riders can actually apply on the bike.
