Downhill cornering is a fantastic skill in mountain biking and allows us to get down a hill fast, safely, staying in control and whilst having maximum grins. I decided when coaching this to ten kids at The Trax to use a technique called Whole-Part-Whole. This is where you first demonstrate the final set of techniques together and then break it up to coach each one individually and end by demonstrating again and bringing them all together. It's effective at building confidence in increments and also a good means to get multiple technique bits of information to be taken in in a realistic time frame.  I used this because it is a complex technique that revolves around 3 skills i.e. 1) Downhill riding body position 2) Braking whilst downhill 3) Cornering . I also felt it was a safer way of coaching as it is whilst cornering going downhill when out on the trails that I feel most accidents occur.

First I took the kids through the above goals and the way the day was going to progress so they were clear on what the end goal would be. Then I set up the @100 metre downhill course using markers on a hill to mark out a downhill Slalom that ended with a breaking section and a final line they had not to cross known as a Stop Box (see later)

I demonstrated the technique a couple of times and then I left the course and moved down the hill.

Braking

On the flat at the bottom of the hill I told the kids what the key techniques were to achieve the skill:

• Cover the brake with two fingers,
• Body weight back behind saddle
• Back break just before the front to steady but slightly more force on the front brake
• Avoid skidding

Then on the flat I set up a wide column section with a starting gate and then two markers for the start of the Stop Box and two markers a good few bike lengths later. The intention being you build up speed in the first section and then you start stopping at entry to Stop Box and have to stop without skidding by the final Stop Box line.

This is how I recommend progressing this skill:

1. Get kids to tell you which brake does what gear and get views on what they think each brake does
2. Standing brake with front and apply forward force on bike. NB Good demonstration of going head over and that bike does stop
3. Standing brake with back and apply forward force on bike. NB good demonstration that back brake doesn't stop the bike
4. Standing brake with first back then front brake
5. Repeat exercise walking with bike into Stop Box
   1. i.e. first front brake then back brake, then both
6. Demonstrate yourself the proper braking technique whilst riding
7. Now bring together reinforcing the correct technique and get them to ride to stop box, apply brakes and stop before final stop line without skidding
8. Kids are likely to sit so get them to practice standing off the saddle
9. Gradually get them to increase speed and increase the entry point to enable this
10. Gradually decrease size of Stop Box and bring finish line in
11. Can be turned into a game. Where they have three lives each and lose a life every time they skid or overrun the final stop line of the stop box.
12. Talk through and ask for main techniques raised

Downhill Riding

• Now set the exercise up on a steeper downhill gradient.
• Talk through what they think the difference is when riding downhill in a straight line and braking
• Talk through techniques:

1. Look ahead not down
2. Body weight back
3. Brakes covered but no more than two fingers
4. Stay in control hands and arms wide and down
5. Best off the saddle
6. Demonstrate
7. Few practice runs and re-run game above
8. Talk through and ask for main techniques raised

Downhill Cornering

• Back to original Slalom course
• Demonstrate
• Ask for input on cornering skills and talk through:

1. Brake before not in the corner
2. Outside pedal down, Inside pedal up
3. Look up and ahead around the corner in direction you are going (horizon)
4. Choose your line. Enter wide, aim for apex and leave wide
5. Carve corner with steering
6. Lean into corner to turn

I recommend focussing on point 1-3 and progressing to 4-6 as they get the hang of it.

• Turn into a dual slalom race by setting up a parallel course and creating two mixed ability teams.

Finish off with feedback and getting them to re-iterate the main points