Courses Overview
PMBI Certifications
The PMBI Certifications train instructors to how to teach using modern, proven teaching theories and methodologies combined with the proven, skill-based model approach to gravity sports that provides a detailed analysis of the skills, physics and biomechanics within mountain biking.
This model gives instructors a deeper understanding of mountain bike skills and techniques while providing them with an organized framework of knowledge from which to teach. Together with the PMBI Teaching Models, this enables mountain bike instructors to offer safer, more effective lessons to a great variety of students, than ever before.
The PMBI Certifications are unique in this ability to train instructors how to teach in both cross country and downhill environments, while also training and evaluating instructors on both their teaching and guiding skills to the highest standards in instructor certifications.

CERTIFICATION COURSES
The PMBI Association currently offers four levels of certification courses for instructors and guides.
The 1-day Ride Guide course is an entry-level course designed to train local volunteers and biking advocates who wish to safely lead small, beginner groups on green and blue trails.
The 3-day Level 1 course is designed to train instructors how to teach skills and manoeuvres to beginner to intermediate mountain bikers, on green and blue trails.
The 4-day Level 2 course trains experienced instructors how to teach advanced riders, and beyond. The Level 2 course comes in two options, “Air” and “Trail”. Both courses are the same, except for the manoeuvre portion of the course where participants either learn how to introduce students to jumps and drops (Air), or technical trail manoeuvres such as drops, wheelies, bunnyhops and rear wheel pivots (Trail).
The 5-day Level 3 course is for very experienced instructors wanting to learn the necessary skills and tools to transition into coaching advanced to expert riders, during long term programs.
All PMBI Instructor Certifications courses train instructors how to teach and guide mountain biking in both cross country (all mountain, enduro, xc race) and downhill (bike park, shuttle runs) environments.
The one-day PMBI Refresher Course is for those instructors wanting to refresh their riding and teaching skills.
RECERTIFICATION COURSES
The PMBI Association currently offers two recertification courses.
The PMBI Association require instructors to re-train every three years, by attending a recertification course. This system is key in ensuring the PMBIA maintains consistent, professional teaching and guiding practices within the industry.
The 1-day L1 Recertification course is for Level 1 instructors looking to refresh their knowledge and skills to continue to teach beginner to low intermediate riders.
The 2-day L2 Recertification course is for Level 2 instructors looking to refresh their knowledge and skills to continue to teach intermediate to advanced riders.
DEVELOPMENT COURSES
The PMBI Association currently offers three professional development courses. These courses are not certifications, by provider PMBI Level 1 and 2 instructors further opportunities to train, learn and progress their teaching and riding skills.
The 1-day L1 Teaching Kids Module is designed to train Level 1 instructors how to apply the knowledge and methodologies specifically to teaching kids mountain bike programs.
The 2-day L2 Air Module covers the jumps and drops riding and teaching progression from the full Level 2 course. This course acts as either great preparation for the full Level 2 course, or for a Level 2 “Trail” instructor to learn more about teaching jumps and drops.
The 2-day L2 Trail Module covers the technical maneuvers riding and teaching progression from the full Level 2 course. This course acts as either great preparation for the full Level 2 course, or for a Level 2 “Air” instructor to learn more about teaching technical, trail maneuvers.
COURSE | DURATION (days) |
MIN. AGE |
PRE- REQUISITES |
PASS/FAIL ASSESSMENT |
FIRST AID REQUIREMENTS | TYPICAL TEACHING ENVIRONMENT | EXAMPLE MANEUVERS | TYPICAL STUDENT ABILITY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RIDE GUIDE | 1 | 15 | Strong Intermediate riding skills | Yes | 40hr Wilderness First Aid [or equivalent] Strongly Recommended | “Front Country” < 1hr from emergency services.
No teaching. Guiding only on green & blue trails |
Only Guiding Skills will be developed | Beginner to low Intermediate |
LEVEL 1 | 3 | 15 | Strong Intermediate riding skills | Yes | 40hr Wilderness First Aid [or equivalent] Strongly Recommended | “Front Country” < 1hr from emergency services.
Introducing skills on green and blue trails |
Front & rear wheel lifts, pedaling wheel lift, hairpins, rolling drop | Beginner to low Intermediate |
LEVEL 2 | 4 | 17 | PMBI Level 1 | Yes | 40hr Wilderness First Aid [or equivalent] Strongly Recommended | “Mid Country” < 2hrs from emergency services.
Developing skills on green, blue & black trails, with more speed |
AIR: Introducing students to Drops & Jumps on blue trails
TRAIL: Introducing students to Trail Drops, Manuals, Wheelies, Bunnyhops, Rear Wheel Pivots |
Intermediate to Advanced |
LEVEL 3 | 5 | 19 | PMBI Level 2 + L2 Air Module or L2 Trail Module | Yes | 40hr Wilderness First Aid (or equivalent) Mandatory
80hr Wilderness First Responder Recommended |
“Back Country” 2+ hrs from emergency services.
Refining skills on all trail difficulty levels and terrain types. Coaching Athletes |
Refining Drops & Jumps on black trails. Refining Manuals, Wheelies, Bunnyhops, Stoppies | Advanced to Expert |
RECERT L1 | 1 | 15 | PMBI Level 1 | No | See Level 1 | See Level 1 | See Level 1 | See Level 1 |
RECERT L2 | 1 | 17 | PMBI Level 1 | No | See Level 2 | See Level 2 | See Level 2 | See Level 2 |
L1 KIDS MODULE | 1 | 15 | PMBI Level 1 | No | See Level 1 | See Level 1 | See Level 1 | Kids 4 – 14 yrs old |
L2 AIR MODULE | 2 | 15 | PMBI Level 1 or 2 | No | See Level 2 | See Level 2 | AIR: Introducing students to Drops & Jumps on blue trails | See Level 2 |
L2 TRAIL MODULE | 2 | 15 | PMBI Level 1 or 2 | No | See Level 2 | See Level 2 | TRAIL: Introducing students to Trail Drops, Manuals, Wheelies, Bunnyhops, Rear Wheel Pivots | See Level 2 |
PLEASE NOTE: |