A few mates are looking at doing a days coaching and we have a couple of coaches at different venues in mind. One coach is in the FoD, where we ride a lot, the other at Cannock Chase, where we don't. I wondering, assuming the quality of coaching is equal, which would be more beneficial. Does anyone have any experience of coaching in different venues?
depends what you want to learn
actual location isn't all that important for learning/teaching a lot of skills
It's a mixed ability group and we'll most likely be focusing on drops and jumps.
Ok so (obviously) all you need is an area that has a variety of (safe/well built) jumps and a few drops of varying sizes.
Assuming both places have what you need go with the coach you have the best feeling about being able to deliver what you are expecting rather than the venue you prefer.
You're probably already aware but with a mixed ability group focusing on jumps and drops it may well mean some of your group will be learning very little while others are being overloaded with new stuff they may be struggling to get their heads round. This takes really good organisation and planning of the session from the coach for you all to get the most out of the day. What I'm saying here is it's even more important to choose your course based on the coach rather than the location.
Just an extra thought.
You're really local to FOD aren't you though?
i'd have thought there'd be more than a few coaches/coaching companies using FOD to deliver courses. I'd ask around locally and speak to all your local skills coaches.
Up here there are loads and I know exactly who I would recommend for pretty much every ability and/or skill.
The only real advantage I see to being coached locally is that you can return easily to practice using the exact same features you were coached to ride. But having said that any good coach should be able to teach you the skills so that you can then take away what you've learned to apply to other drops/jumps anywhere.
I had some coaching @ Chicksands from Tom Dowie.
Venue was great for progressive sizes of jumps and drops. Tom was also very good and helped lots. My briefing to him was just to concentrate on doubles and 'dirt jump' style jumps.
Most other stuff i'm happy to ride, but big doubles always freaked me out. I'm now jumping lots more doubles with ease and confidence.
Pick the one closest to A&E 🙂
Ive done 4 skills sessions, pick the one thats eaisest to get to. The coach will sort the rest.
