Even though Steve Wilson lives in the lower Fraser Valley, his passion for mountain biking through trails in Smithers is evident.
“The riding is insane, it’s a really great community,” said Wilson. “I would actually like to move my whole family to Smithers . . . Big picture, we’d like to settle in a smaller community, and for me, Smithers would be the spot for sure.”
Wilson is the owner of Trail Dynamics which is returning to town for the second annual Four Aces mountain bike camp this fall.
The two-day camp targets intermediate to advanced riders who are 18 years or older.
According to Wilson, riders will learn to improve their downhill riding skills with cornering, jumping, body position, braking and line selection, and finishing the weekend with a ride down a challenging trail on Hudson Bay Mountain.
“It will give them an opportunity to learn the fundamentals, learn the progressions and learn safely, and to progress their skills without getting injured,” said Wilson, who also has experience teaching other bike camps in Whistler.
“Our sport is dangerous, it’s one of those things where if you hit the ground fast with your bike, generally, something’s going to get injured,” he noted.
Last year, nine riders signed up, however, this year Wilson expects the camp will grow to about 12 participants.
“There’s a lot of riders in Smithers and the terrain will support everyone from raw beginners right through to advanced,” he said. “I would be fired up if the demand was there to do a beginners camp all the way up to an intermediate to advanced camp. That’s what my vision is long-term.”
While this is the only mountain bike camp he’s offering in the Bulkley Valley, Wilson is also working on potentially setting up an instructors camp in Burns Lake.
But for now, he will continue to focus on Smithers.
“If we can teach people to ride safely and recognize that mountain biking is a progression, that’s going to help them have a healthier, longer life in the sport of mountain biking,” he said.
Participants will need to bring their own bikes, helmets and riding gear.
The camp runs Sept. 6-7 and costs $150. To register, visit traildynamics.ca.