Registration Opens:

March 2nd - 6th 2026 (Downhill Program) 

March 2nd -  6th 2026 (Cross Country Program)

 Lottery System for public registration

See below for details 

​

​

Options for Youth Mountain Bike Program

​

Option 1: XC (age 5 ONLY)

• Price: $115 (+KTS Trail Pass)

• Age Requirement: Must be 5 by Dec. 31, 2026

​

Option 2: XC (age 6 - 17 ONLY)

• Price: $115 (+KTS Trail Pass)

​

Option 3: Freeride at Bootleg (age 10 - 15) 

• Price: $115  (+ KTS Trail Pass)

• Age Requirement: Must be 10 by December 31, 2026

 

Lottery system registration details:

​

Registration will be available during the designated time slots. Once registration is closed, spots will be filled through a lottery system and those who secure a spot will be notified and charged the program fees. Reserved spots will be held for siblings who have been accepted into the program.  Once spots have been filled, remaining registrants will automatically be placed on the waitlist.  

 

If you missed the registration window and the program is sold out, please click the WAIT LIST button.

 

Additional Information

 

Program Overview

The Freewheelers Youth Mountain Bike Program offers a seven-week skills development opportunity with options for both cross-country and downhill focus. It emphasizes safety, fun, and instilling confidence while highlighting the importance of trail stewardship. Over 70 volunteer coaches, many certified by PMBIA and GSMBC, lead the program.

 

Cross Country Program (Ages 5-17)

• Duration: Seven weeks

• Time: Tuesday evenings, 5:30 to 7:00, May 12 - June 23

• Location: Primarily Kimberley Nordic Centre, with other locations occasionally used

• Prerequisites: Participants must be able to independently ride a two-wheel bike on dirt trails

 

Freeride Program (Ages 10-15) *NEW NIGHT- NOW ON WEDNESDAYS*

• Duration: Seven weeks

• Time: Wednesday evenings, 5:30-7:30, May 13 - June 24

• Location: Bootleg Mountain Recreation Site

• Prerequisites: Intermediate mountain biking competency required, advanced group requires full suspension bike and ability to ride all black trails at Bootleg.  3 levels of rider: intermediate, expert and advanced.

• Mandatory Gear: Full face helmet, knee pads, gloves; body armor highly recommended

• Parental Involvement: Expected to assist with shuttle service for at least two sessions.  Shuttle Sign up will be required at registration, a $200 shuttle deposit will be charged at the end of the season if you miss your shuttle requirement.  This program can not be run without the help of parent contribution.    

• Riders must be 10 years old by December 31, 2026

• Riders must be a minimum Level 6 rider according to the 'Rider Ability Level' listed below.  If you are unsure of your child's ability level, feel free to reach out.  freewheelerscoach@gmail.com

 

Registration Details

• All participants require a Mandatory 2026 Kimberley Trail Society Youth Trail Pass.

• Freewheeler youth program participants must also be club members (free membership).

 

Refunds and Support

• Refunds will be considered on a case by case basis.  

• Financial support may be available for families facing challenges with the program's financial commitment.

 

Additional Offerings

• All riders registered in the Youth Program receive a Kootenay Freewheelers jersey.

• Additional jerseys can be purchased from available stock, including discounted leftover items from the previous year.

 

Jersey Size Selection

• At registration, participants will choose their jersey size from Men's, Women's, or Youth options, with size charts provided for guidance.

​

Kimberley Trail Society (KTS)

• KTS refunds trail pass fees for participants who take part in organized trail maintenance nights.

​​

For further inquiries or to volunteer as a coach, please email: freewheelerscoach@gmail.com

​

KFCC Rider Ability Levels

​

Definitions:

• Comfortable: can ride the described trail most of the time, but it is near the limit of the rider’s ability

• Confident: can ride the described trail all of the time, with good control, and is able to pay attention to having good form while doing it.

• Attacks: the described trail is well within the rider’s ability level; they are searching for ways to ride it faster, or in a more playful manner.

Levels:

1. Is comfortable pedaling seated on flat pavement, perhaps starting to climb slight grades standing up; just ready to start riding on flat dirt trails.

2. Is comfortable riding flat dirt or gravel paths like Mark Creek Trail and can effectively use brakes to slow down.

3. Is comfortable riding the rolling green MTB trails like Happy Hans & Nuts n Volts, can comfortably stand up while steering and braking. 

4. Is confident riding and maneuvering up and down inclined green MTB trails like Levirs in a Dangerous Time,  Electric Avenue & Trickle Charge, understands and uses neutral and ready positions, and uses only one finger to brake.

5. Is comfortable on blue trails like Rainbow Rock Rodeo, John Travoltage, Magic Line 1, 2 & 3, still getting used to berms, rolling bigger jumps, starting to pull up on the smaller jumps.

6. Rides confidently on blue trails like Rainbow Rock Rodeo, Magic Line 1, 2 & 3 and Nimby, is comfortable on the small and medium sized jumps on those trails, and can climb trails like Amps Go Marching, Watts Up, Ohm My without stopping.

7. Attacks both flow and technical blue trails, is confident riding some black trails like Pinch n Roll at Bootleg and can ride up the Magic Line 1 climb clean and without stopping.

8. Rides black trails with confidence and is clearing some larger jumps like those on Matts trail at Bootleg.

9. Attacks all black trails (both tech and flow/jump) at proper trail speed, with fluidity.  Flows comfortably through all the black technical trails like Yikes, Penelope’s Cruise, Snow Mexican & Atlas and is comfortable on jump trails like Shoodilley, Matt’s and most jumps on White Lightening.

10. Attacks all black and double black trails aggressively, including all bike park trails, with no apparent regard for self preservation. Confident enough to attack any jump on any trail without scoping.  World Cup DH level rider.